384 



/"unial of Agriculture. 



[lo June. 1909. 



conditions of storage. The \'erv important ])r(Mlileni remains to determine 

 whether means can be found to hasten or control the process of ripening 

 so that from any given harvest in which the grains ha\e this 

 peculiar delayed germination a malting establishment may 

 be able to insure a supply for each month's consumption of barley 

 which has just reached its maximum germination capacity. The first step 

 will be to detemiine the processes involved in this apparent after-ripening, 

 and whether they involve a production of ferments, changes in the food- 

 materials or in the cellular or protoplasmic structure of the seed. For 

 this purpose a fresh supply of similar grain will be needed, which it is 

 hoped the next harvest may yield. Apart from the economic aspects of 

 the problem, it will be of interest to determine whether this peculiaritv is 

 a biological adaptation acquired by this variety of barley for the purpose 

 of delaying germination until the autumn and winter rains set in and pro- 

 vide moisture for the germinating seedlings. 



KILMORE MAIZE CHOP COMPETITION. 



G. H. F. Baker, Silo Supervisor. 



The Kilmore Agricultural and Pastoral Society recently offered a prize 

 for the best 3 acres of maize grown in the Shire of Kilmore. At the 

 time of judging, 23rd February last, only three growers remained in the 

 competition although nine entered originally. Those remaining had 



HARVESTING THE MAIZE CROP. 



drill-sown crops; the rest had sown their crops broadcast. It might here 

 be mentioned that "broadcast " is the term usually applied to all maize- 

 sowing that is not done on the principle advocated by the Department, 

 vjz. .sowing in rows with sufficient space between each to permit of the 

 intervening ground being hor.se-hoed or scarified at least twice after the 

 maize has shown. 



Drill-sowing as advocated Ijy the Department allows of the sowing in 

 every fourth furrow, or not less than that distance between rows. Any 

 closer sowing than this is equivalent to broadcasting, as such method pre- 

 cludes any inter-cultivation, consequently moisture is allowed to evaporate 



