100 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Feb. 2, 1920. 



occasional workings to destroy weed growth and keep the surface soil loose. 

 Others, instead of leaving the land in fallow, go in for growing field peas, 

 vetches, etc., and either turn the whole crop under as a green manure crop, or 

 use the growth as a soiling crop, afterwards'turning the residue under. The 

 growing of legumes — either cowpeas sown amongst the crop after the last 

 cultivation of the maize in November, or field peas sown early in the autumn — 

 and ploughing under in sufficient time for them to rot before the next spring 

 crop is sown, is strongly recommended. 



The Varieties. 



Improved Yellow Dent, a variety now grown extensively over the whole of 

 the coast, again yielded consistently. This can safely be regarded as the most 

 reliable cropper under all conditions, and, owing to its heavy yielding 

 capacity, its rather small stalks and its capacity to maintain its sap, is 

 preferable to other varieties for green fodder and silage. It may be mentioned 

 that from seed originally obtained from the Grafton Experiment Farua, a 

 Manning River farmer harvested the magnificent yield of 125 bushels to the 

 acre, gaining first honors for the best plot of maize given by the Manning 

 River Agi'icultural Society for the district. This variety matures in six 

 months and can be sown early or late. 



Other varieties to yield well in the plots were Golden Beauty, Red Hogan, 

 Narrow Red Hogan, Golden Nuggett, Leaming, and the four white varieties, 

 Boone County, Hickory King, Giant White and Silvermine. Red Hogan gave 

 the highest yield, namely, 92^ bushels to the acre at Mondrook ; some 

 exceptionally fine cobs were harvested. Narrow Red Hogan cx'eated a very 

 favourable impression in the Upper Manning, its heavy yield (8-i bushels) and 

 shelling percentage (84'8) earning for it the reputation of " a good bag filler." 



The comparatively dry season on the Coiuboyne was responsible for some 

 very fine yields of Leaming being harvested, and in a manurial trial nearly 

 69 bushels to the acre were obtained. Several other varieties were tried, but 

 Leaming appears to be the most suitable here. Later maturing varieties have 

 difficulty in ripening off the grain owing to the high altitude. 



Owing to the high prices ruling, and the scarcity of maize that is usual 

 towards the end of the year, a number of farmers have adopted the plan of 

 sowing a portion of their farm to very early maturing varieties to catch this 

 market. Golden Superb in the Macleay district has proved useful in this 

 respect, and is being grown extensively along the Manning this season. 

 Another vai-iety, Brewer's Dent, yielded 67| bushels at Charity Creek ; it 

 matures in a little over four months. The increase obtained from stud seed 

 over ordinary seed again shows the advantage of field selection and the gi owing 

 of a stud plot. It is a pity (as the following figures indicate) this method of 

 obtaining seed is not carried out more extensively : — 



bus. lb. 

 On the Coiiibuync, Stud Leaming yielded ... ... ... 60 9 



,, ,, Ordinary Leaming yielded ... ... 51 ;}1 



At Charity Creek, Stud Improved Yellow Dent yielded ... 78 4 

 „ „ Ordinary Improved Yellow Dent yielded 72 



