8 >fAY. 1908.] Grozving Greenstulf — Three Crops a Year. 281 



cultivation area; and wlien necessary the Yan Yean water service is availed 

 of for irrigation. About the end of September last, having taken off a 

 ^-acre section of green-stutt (black oats), the ground was given a dressing: 

 of about 35 cwt. of the shed manure, and 2 bushels of Flat Red maize 

 were broadcasted and ploughed in. The other two sections of the paddock 

 were similarly sown at intervals of about three weeks. A splendid crop- 

 of maize resulted — from 8 to 9 feet high. The September sowing was cut 

 out by the 14th January, and re-sown without further manuring. The- 

 second section was re-sown about the beginning of February and 

 the third section at the end of that month. Owing to the low state 

 of the water supply this last — the sixth — sowing was left to take its- 

 chance, and has made so little headwav that the section is to be re- 

 ploughed and sown with oats and peas. 



The maize illustrated is part of the January sowing and when photo- 

 graphed was a nine weeks' growth and feathering. Close beside this to- 

 the left of the picture is part of the February crop, 6 to 7 feet high at 

 7 weeks from sowing ; and these should come close to record growths for 

 a second crop of maize in one season. At the sowing of each of these 

 two plots the seed was previously steeped in water for 24 hours ; and it 

 was showing above the ground within a week. As previously mentioned, - 

 about 3^ cwt. of this maize is chaffed daily for the stock ; and, as each 

 :^-acre lasts from four to five weeks, the yield of maize for the season 

 from this f-acre block should amount to about 25 tons. A week after- 

 the photograph was taken the January sown section was ploughed and 

 sown for early green-stuff with a mixture of 5 lbs. rye, and 3j lbs. eacl> 

 of oats, barley and peas. 



Of course the successful carrying out of this continual cropping is. 

 dependent on an unlimited supply of both farmyard manure and water, 

 a combination which unfortunately is beyond the reach of many ; still there 

 are many others so situated that for a small outlay thev could secure a 

 supplv of water, and the manure available would yearlv increase as the 

 growing of fodder allowed for more stock being kept. It might be again 

 r.oted that only under this condition of an unlimited water supply for 

 irrigation can the broadcast system of sowing maize be practised with the 

 sure prospect of a good crop. Where there is anv chance of the crop 

 suffering from lack of moisture the sowing in drills and repeated stirring 

 of the soil between the rows with hoe or cultivator is the only sure methocf 

 of growing this fodder. The failure of the sixth sowing previously re- 

 ferred tO' is a case in point. 



