300 



Journal of Agriciilim c. 



[8 :\Iay, 1908. 



PIUZE MATZE COBS. 



'I'liL' abiAc illLKslraliuii is repruclucril irom a pliolugraph of ciif of the 

 prize maize cobs recently exliibited at the Orbost show. The variety is 

 " Sibley." There are about 50 grains in each row. or a total of 700 on 

 the cob. It will be noticed in the cross section tliat the size of the core 

 is comparatively small, the length of the grain constituting a large pro- 

 portion of the cob. In order to grow colis of this character it is necessar\- 

 that the plants should grow vigprouslv on rich land, and there should not 

 be more than alxjut 3 stems to the square \ ard or ] 5,000 to the acre. The 

 phenomenal yields which are obtained in Eastern Gippsland are partly due 

 to the rich river flats on which the maize is grown, but also, and to a very 

 large extent, to the fact that the summer rains come at the oeriod that the 

 plant requires them. Careful preparation of the seed bed and systematic 

 inter-tillage between the rows are, however, capable to a very large extent 

 of neutralizing the effects of a dry summer. The dried grains on the 

 al;Ove cob weighed 10^ ounces. 



TREATMENT OF EA:\IBING EWES. 



//. ir. Ham, S//ccp ILxpcrf. 

 During the month of May, merino and fine comeback ewes are lambing 

 in full swing over the greater portion of the State, and where feed is 

 .scantv, or of p<Jor (|ualitv, there is sure to be trouble in many forms. Where 

 ewes leave their lambs, the main cause is low condition. Breeders who 

 ha^•e watched this matter closely observe that ewes, when lambing in good 

 order, and in a season when grass is fresh and plentiful, have ver\ full 

 udders of milk. This fullness of milk is one of the chief calls of nature, 

 for observant shepherds have seen ewes repeatedly stand o\er and assist 

 lambs to get to the udder, especially so when very flush. On the other 

 hand, when ewes laml.) in low condition and are hungry, there is very little 

 rnilk pressure, and they show little or no regard for their lamb. Maiden 

 ewes give proportionately more trouble in this respect, mainly from the 

 .severe time thev undergo in lambing. Many maiden ewes apj^ear dazed 



