Vol. XV. No. 368. 



THE AGFJCULTURAL NEWS. 



187 



CORN CULTIVATION. 



The following information is reproduced from the Report 

 on the Botanic and Experiment Stations, Antigua, for 

 1914-15. 



tillal;e exferimknts. 



These experiments were laid out wlih a view to obtain- 

 ing information as to whether suilace tillage operations 

 would prove remunerative if performed regularly on land 

 growing maize. Tne question of moisture conservation as 

 brought about by means of a frequent breaking up of tjie 

 soil surface has often been brought forward in Antigua, 

 especiall}' in connexion with sugar-cane cultivation. 



Seeds were sown in j'ly-acre plots at distances of 

 1 foot X 4 feet on February 21, and in each case two plants 

 were left in each hole. The plots were Harvested on June 16. 

 The tillage accorded to each plot was as follows: Plot No. 1 

 was tilled weekly; Plot No. 2 was tilted fortnightly; Plot 

 No. 3 was not tilled. 



The tilling was done by means of hoes, and during each 

 operation the land was thoroughly loosened. 



The following calculations show the value of the produce 

 reaped per acre, after deducting the cost of tillage: — 



The yields obtained were as follows:- 



Calculated 



yield shelled 



corn, in S). 



1,290 

 it.iO 



Calculated 



yield per acre 



shelled corn, in 



bushels. 



2G 

 23 

 If) 



In converting the return of unshelled corn into terras 

 of shelled corn, the normal local allowance of 75 per cent, 

 is made; 56 B). are reckoned to the bushel. 



The results obtained are interesting, and indicate that 

 increased yields may be expected from lands receiving regular 

 surface tillage. Although the yields obtained are by no 

 means high, yet the ditiercnce between No. 1 plot and No. 3 

 shows an increase in favour of the former of 61 per cent. 



When considering the result from a trial of a nature 

 similar to this, the actual cost of the various operations taken 

 in conjunction with the yields obtained should not be lost 

 sight of. 



In the following table the value of the cultural work is 

 based on estates' rates, and the cost of the tillage operations 

 per acre subsequent to planting may be taken as follows: — • 



It may be pointed out, with reference to the charges 

 given in the above table, that the wOrk would have been 

 more effectively performed if harrows had been used, and the 

 cost would have been much less. In this connexion it may 

 be stated that one man can in one day till from 3 to 4 acres 

 with a Planet .Junior harrow: for such work he would 

 receive from Is. to Is. &d. per day. 



In the above, the corn is valued at 4s. 3d. per bushel. 

 The tigures indicate that weekly tillage gives the most 

 economical results. 



DISTANCE PLANTISi; KXPEEIMESTS. 



On account of maize being grown locally as a catch crop 

 with sugar-cane, some uncertainty exists as to the maximum 

 number of plants that can economically be matured on 1 

 acre of land. 



As will readily be seen, this involves such factors as soil 

 fertility, rainfall, etc, which necessitate modifications to suit 

 dilTerent localities. 



Unfortunately all the plots were not planted at the same 

 time, but in spite of this, the results are of interest. 



In every case two plants were left in each hole, 

 results obtained are given in the following table: — 



The 



There was practically no difference in the returns obtained 

 from the first two plots, but the «|uality of the corn reaped 

 varied considerably. A large proportion of that obtained 

 from plot 1 was indifferent, and the cobs could only be 

 classed as 'nubbins ' : those reaped from plots 2,3 and 4 were 

 normally good. No good ears were reaped from plot 5 — -in 

 fact nothing worth recording was obtained. It will be seen 

 that 1 foot X by 1 foot is the best planting distance. 



Concerning the manufacture of hydrosulphite of soda, 

 which is used for bleaching sugar in factories, the Intcrmi- 

 tional Sugar Joxcrnal for April 1916, provides the following 

 interesting information. Since the outbreak of war, the salt 

 in the form of powder appears to have been unobtainable; 

 however, a well-known French chemist has now evolved 

 a process which can be installed in the sugar factory or 

 refinery for the manufacture of the bleaching agent in the 

 state of solution ready for use. The plant is stated to be 

 comparatively simple, and for its operation the services of 

 an intelligent workman only, are required. The article 

 containing the above information is accompanied by a plan 

 of the plant. 



