Co-oprrativp Forage Ex-perimfnts nt Southern Vlctorid. Ill 



liability or not to late spring frosts will largely determine tlie question. 

 The order in which the crops may reach maturity and the 

 time taken to reach maturity will also differ somewhat in 

 different localities. Generall}^ speaking the principal crops may 

 reach the proper cutting stage in about the following order : — 

 Rape, Maize, Japanese Millet, Amber Cane, Kaffir Corn, Egyptian Corn, 

 Pearl Millet, Planters' Friend, Teosinte. The returns from the field 

 of Mr. Henderson, of Baimisdale, in which the date of sowing and the 

 date of harvesting of the different crops are given, will indicate 

 -approximately the position the crops hold to each other in regard to 

 earliness in reaching the proper cutting stage. All the crops in this 

 field were sown on the 20th of October. The maize, Japanese millet and 

 rape were cut on the 13th January, 85 days after sowing. The maize 

 was well out in tassel and might have been cut a little earlier. The 

 rape was also a little too advanced. The amber cane was cut on the 

 olst of the same mouth, 103 days after sowing. The maximum yield 

 in the case of Kaffir corn and Egyptian corn appeared to be reached 

 .about a week later in the first plant and ten days to a fortnight in the 

 second. The Planters' friend showed to best advantage three to four 

 weeks after the cutting of the amber cane. Teosinte on this field was 

 ■cut on the 25th March, 158 days after sowing. The majority of the 

 forage fields were sown between the 15th October and the middle of 

 November. With the exception of the cow pea, soy bean, and Florida 

 bean, the earlier date generally speaking gave the best results. 



Returns from a few Individual Fields. 



. So far we have only dealt with average results, calculated from 

 results obtained from all classes of soils. As indicating what might 

 be expected from each class of soil, the individual returns of four 

 fields representative of soils that might be classed as very i)Oor, 

 medium, good upland and good fiat, deserve careful consideration. 



