Jiiue 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 391 



A very brief review of the market's movements should help the farmer to 



realise the value of early marketing. For the last seven years the highest 



.price has been reached in January, after which values have gradually receded 



until April, have then remained stationary until August, and then commenced 



to rise again. < 



AvEUAOE price for last seven years. 



s. d. s. d. 



January ... 5 9 per bushel March ... 5 5 per bushel. 



February... 5 8 „ April ... 5 2 „ 



In 1916 maize brought 6s. 2d. in January and fell to 5s. 5d. in February, 

 and this year the price realised on 4th February was 10s. 6d , and on 5th 

 March 7s. 



Freshly husked maize in a condition suitable for.drying contains approxi- 

 mately 35 to 40 p«r cent, of moisture, while maize barely dry enough to shell, 

 but too soft to prevent heating, contains 20 to 25 per cent, moisture. Maize 

 fit to keep shelled contains 10 to 15 per cent, moisture. 



Maize that would be fit for kiln-drying in January (containing, say, 35 per 

 cent, of moisture, and dried to 15 per cent, moisture) would realise 5s. 9d., 

 which, with an 80 bushel crop, would mean a return of £23. The same crop 

 ripening naturally, and reaching the market in March would realise 5s 2d., 

 which Avould mean a loss of nearly £2 10s. per acre as compared with the 

 January return. 



Kiln-dried maize iveighs heavier than field-dried. — One would naturally 

 conclude that the application of artificial heat would have a detrimental 

 effect upon the grain, especially when applied at such an immature period, 

 but such is not the case ; instead of a withered appearance, the grain retains 

 its fullness and bright colour, and has the " rattle " so desired in the 

 market. It is also noteworthy that the Chapman hag, which oi'dinarily 

 holds 3 bushels of field-dried grain, holds slightly over 3^ of kiln-dried — in 

 other words, about 14 lb. extra. 



To the casual observer, very little difference is noticeable in the two 

 samples of grain, the artificially-dried perhaps having a more brittle "rattle" 

 and a slight smoky smell, neither affecting the grain from a marketable 

 point of view. 



The husk coveriy^g more easily removed. — To " husk " maize when the cobs 

 are covered with a dry, hard, tight-fitting husk is no easy operation, and to 

 those who have experienced the diflficidties this consideration should especially 

 appeal. Usually the operations are carried out in the field when the crop is 

 dry, the cob with the few inner layers of husk being removed fi'om the 

 stalk — although some farmers remove all the husk. It is necessary to have 

 the hask removed for kiln-drying, and harvesting and husking when the crop 

 is in a partially immature state is, therefore, distinctly less tedious ohan >7hen 

 it is in the dry state. 



Stalks ai d husJcs make useful rough fo:lder. — To the farmer who combines 

 maize-growing with either dairying or stock-raising, the husks (usually dry 

 and unpalatable) are of some value, because they can be thrown out for the 



