32 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



Of 4,662 to 5,990 lbs. of corn per acre stood at the head of a list of 79 varieties 

 averaging 2,442 lbs. of corn and 5,085 lbs. of stalks, etc., to the acre. Among 

 7 out of 12 varieties, the first Natal generation produced higher yields than 

 did the freshly imported seeds, the averages being 2,119 lbs. and 1,774 lbs. of 

 corn, respectively. Breeding, seed selection and judging, and cultivation are 

 fully discussed with reference to regional needs. 



Cultivation alone increased the yield of corn from 360 to 390 lbs. per acre, 

 while subsoiling increased the yield by 116 lbs., and subsoiling and cultivation 

 together by 312 lbs. An application of 170 lbs. sulphate of ammonia, 300 lbs. 

 superphosphate, and 100 lbs. potassium chlorid without cultivation produced an 

 increased yield of 1,330 lbs.; the same fertilizer with cultivation, an increase 

 of 1,160 lbs., and with subsoiling, an Increase of 1,448 lbs. ; while subsoiling, 

 cultivation and fertilizer combined increased the yield of grain by 1,664 lbs. 

 Corn cut before an early frost yielded 25<S lbs. less grain but 410 lbs. more stover 

 than that harvested when ripe about 5 weeks later. 



The chief conclusions resulting from numerous other experiments are that vlei 

 lands show a considerable profit from subsoiling, although the hill soils do not 

 so respond. Detasseling, stripping and topping are of doubtful value. Hilling 

 shows slight advantage over drilling, especially )>y reducing the cost of cultiva- 

 tion. Equal spacing in rows is advocated for all jiurposes and at all centers. 



Long continued experiments with fertilizers showed that on the soils of 

 Cedara and the Weenen Valley a mixture of phosphate and potash sowetl in the 

 drills with the seed was the most profitable for corn production. It made little 

 difference whether slag or sui)erphosphate supplied the phosphorus, but if 

 phosphates were omitted the yield was little better than without any manures 

 whatever. The artificial supply of nitrogen on these soils proved unnecessary 

 but was very beneficial on coast soils after the first years' cultivation. Heavy 

 api)licatious of fertilizer produced lower yields than moderate ai)plications. 

 The residual effects of successive applications reduced the effect of later appli- 

 cations by 40 per cent, and after 7 or 8 dressings it became necessary to replace 

 only the actual wastage. 



Fertilizers apijlied in the most favorable way had more than 5 times the effect 

 produced l>y those applied in the least favorable way and the nearer they came 

 to the seed the bettei-, except in case of saline fertilizers, especially nitrate of 

 soda, which sometimes retarded the germination and early development of the 

 plant when applied in contact with the seed. In some cases residiies produced 

 effects twice as great as did the original applications, and the general effect of 

 applications of nitrogen to these soils is illustrated by the fact that the total 

 4 years' result was less with niti'ogeu than without in one series of experiments. 

 Applications of 300 lbs. of superphosphate, slag, and bone dust singly gave 

 total yields during 3 years of 2.135, 1,887, and 2,180 lbs. of corn per acre, 

 respectively, leaving as residues in the soil at the end of the period 25, 41, and 

 50 lbs., respectively, of phosphoric acid. The net profits were £3 4s., £2 14s. 6d., 

 and £3 Id. per acre, while the same fertilizers applied in the first, second, and 

 fourth years of a 4-year test produced net profits of £5 10s. 9d., £5 14s. 6d., and 

 £6 Is. 9d. The greatest average effect of an application of lime alone at a cost 

 of £1 Is. 3d. per acre was only 4s. 



Wheat and corn were irrigated with profit, the latter 6 weeks after planting 

 and again at tasseling. Carolina rice failed to mature in the cooler areas, 

 but certain other varieties can be grown under flood irrigation at the various 

 elevations from the Natal high veld to the coast, and Mashona rice produced 

 satisfactory results under dry cultivation. A rotation recommended for irri- 

 gated laud is corn, winter wheat, tobacco, and field peas. 



