beft. 2, 1920.] 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



639 



the most suitable time, and sowings made then usually yield the heaviest 

 and produce the best quality brush. In recent years late sowings have 

 not always been successful, bince the autumns have usually been wet and 

 conducive to blight. 



llolling of tliH surface prior to sowing is generally practised ; it enables 

 the maize drill (with which the seed is sown) to work more satisfactorily, 

 the seed to be sown at a uniform depth in the moist soil, aud the large clods 

 to be broken, thus enabling the subse(iuent cultural operations to be carried 

 out earlier and without fear of damaging the young plants. 



AVhere there is a possibility of much early weed growth or "nut weed," 

 sowings are made in shallow furrows, pi-eviously opened with a small mould- 

 board plough, or a single-horse cultivator with a suitable tine attached at 

 the rear. The subsequent rolling and the cultivating given when the plants 

 are 3 or 4 inches high gradually till in the drill and smother weed growth. 



Brush cut and laid all one way on tables to field cure. 



An ideal plan would be to have the plants 4 to 6 inches apart, in drills, 

 say, .3 feet apart. This latter distance allows of easy cultivation with a 

 one-horse cultivator. Using a 10, 12 or 14 hole sorghum plate, according to 

 the make of maize drill and the distance apart of the rows, gives satisfactory 

 results. It requires from 3 to 4 lb. of seed per acre. Sowing into the moist 

 soil about 1 inch is advisable. 



The variety most widely grown is White Italian. 



Fertilising. 

 While not generally practised, it has been found beneficial, even on our 

 richest soils, to apply about 1 cwt. of superphosphate per acre with the 

 seed. Beside giving the plants a quick start — necessary when weeds are to 

 be dealt with— it helps the crop to mature earlier, and in most instances 

 increased yields are the result. At Mondrook much. benefit has been derived 

 from fertilisers, even when applied to the previous crop. 



