8 April, 1907] 



Maize Plots at Colac. 



237 



Agriculture, and must moreover have become the purchaser of the Vcar- 

 Book published by the Department. It is suthcient evidence of the popu- 

 larity of these classes to state that the original number of entries was nearly 

 50, of which no less than 28 crops survived accident and neglect, and, as 

 indicated by the illustrations, attained complete maturity. 



The prizes attached to the competition were on a 

 viz. : — 



■f. 



First prize ... ... 5 



Second prize ... ... 2 



Third prize ... ... i 



Fourth prize ... ... i 



Fifth prize ... ... i 



PLOT CULTIVATED BY DONALD RANKIN. 



The fourth prize was for the best essay on the way the competitor 

 actually grew his i)articular crop, manures used, &c. The area of the 

 experiment, although small, being only 18 feet x 30 feet, was sufficient 

 for the purpose. 



The growing crop was required to be inspected by a iud^e, who would 

 later award the prizes on the basis of (]uantitv and quality of the shelled 

 grain from the area. 



The Appearance of the Plots in February. 



The variety of seed uniformly used and furnished bv the Department 

 of Agriculture was " Yankee Doodle," one of a number of maize varieties 

 recently imported from the United States, where it has the reputation of 

 being a prolific yielder and capable of withstanding droughty conditions 

 well. So far as could be judged at that ])eriod' the variety appeared much 

 more suitable than the one generally used by the farmer for his ordinary 

 crop (mostly Ninety Day). 



The seed having been hand planted in rows 3 feet ajiart had ample 

 room for development, and in a number of the jjlots insjjected was from 



