164 , Journal of Agriculture. [9 March, 1908. 



that ; they are always lean forequartered, no matter how they may be 

 covered on the hind parts. 



For some cold districts fine comebacks are best suited, and this must 

 always have an influence, for in such situations, the coarse crossbreds are 

 at a disadvantage in the winter, their size being too great to keep in good 

 condition on scanty feed. For graziers on light carrying second class 

 country, a comparatively small sheep is required, such as fine comebacks 

 or thick set Merinoes ; for small farmers Southdowns or Shropshires. 

 There are of course tracts of country where it is an uphill game to raise 

 any cross or breed successfully, being particularly liable to diseases due 

 to excessive rainfall and faulty drainage, &c. 



MAIZE GROWING EXPERIMENTS. 



/. M. B. Connor, Dairy Supervisor. 



On the 19th October last, with the object of ascertaining by practical 

 experience and observation the most profitable maize to grow for fodder 

 and seed purposes respectively, nine varieties of maize obtained from the 

 Department were planted, viz. : — 



Atnerican Varieties. — Hickory King, Triumph Flint, North- Western 

 Dent, Boone County Special. 



Victorian Varieties. — Flat Red, Ninety Day. 



Sydney Varieties. — Flat Red, W.hite Horse Tooth, Yellow Moruya. 



Preparation of the Seed Bed. — The experiment was conducted on 

 a very poor light sandy soil with a red clay subsoil (see analysis on page 

 168). The plot was dug twice a spit deep, and farmyard manure that had 

 been exposed to the weather for three years was dug in. Before the seed 

 was planted, the ground was thoroughly pulverized and worked up to a 

 very fine tilth, and marked oif into check rows 2 ft. 6 in. apart, two seeds 

 being dropped into a hole three inches deep at each intersection. 



Growth. — Every seed germinated, and threw up a strong healthy plant. 

 Triumph Flint was the first to show through, nine days after planting, 

 the ground having been kept constantly stirred with the hoe. As the plants 

 came up, the weakest was pulled up, and only one stalk allowed to remain. 

 On the 29th October there were 78 points of rain, 3rd November 60 

 points, 17th November 80 points. Up to the i8th November, the North- 

 western Dent was the highest, and showed the most vigorous growth and 

 stooling properties, the Victorian Flat Red and Sydney Flat Red varieties 

 coming a close second. 



On 22nd November, a thunderstorm registered 47 points. On the 

 4th December, nearly every plant of the Triumph Flint had stooled, 

 but showed a more delicate green in its foliage than the other varieties. 

 The North Western Dent up to this time was a vigorous grower, showing 

 a deep green colour with plenty of foliage. Some of the plants of Boone 

 County Special were short of growth and delicate looking. The Victorian 

 Flat Red had made vigorous growth, was a good colour, and next in 

 abundance of flag to North Western Dent. 



On 14th December, Triumph Flint and North Western Dent com- 

 menced to flower (4 feet high). During the latter part of that month a 

 couple of days of rain (4 inches) was a great help. 



