THe JOURNAL 



OF 



LIBRAMV 



•'EW yOHK 



GaKI/EN. 



Tfie ©eparfmenf of S^gricurfure. 



Vol. VII. Papt 4. 



loth April, 1909. 



SOME FACTS CONCEllXING MAIZE. 



F. E. Lee, Agricultural Superintendent. 



Public attention has been pointedly drawn of late to the maize-growing 

 industry in Victoria. That the crop can be profitably grown in many 

 parts of the State, both for grain purposes as well as fodder for dairy 

 stock, is generally admitted, but the fact remains that it is only within the 

 last year or two' that any extension of the area under this crop has taken 

 place. 



Maize Statistics for the Commonwealth. 

 Season 190fi-7. 



During the Season 1907-8, the Victorian acreage fell off to 10,844 acres of maize for grain. 



The above table indicates that Victoria is very much behind the other 



States in the total area of maize grown for gxain. Many sound reasons 



can be given why this is so, but it would appear from the systematic 



inquiries recently made from dairymen and also from the purveyors of 



seed maize that there is in reality verv little accurate knowledge regarding 



the characteristics of different varieties and their suitability for fodder 



or grain. Except in Eastern Gippsland, the growing of maize for grain 



on a commercial scale is practically unknown. A lengthy experience at 



^Bruthen, Orbost and other centres and the trial of numerous varieties im- 



cr. ported from time to time by enterprising growers have given the maize- 



'" growers in Eastern Gippsland a great fund of knowledge as regards those 



varieties for grain purposes only. Truly phenomenal but perfectly 



■ authentic yields have been recorded in especially good seasons and upon 



^ soils of the best quality, but a glance at the avierage yield shows that 



_ there must be many growers who only realize very moderate returns. 



2843. G 



