42-4 Journal of Agriculture. [lo July, 1909. 



In all cases the seed was sown in rows 3 feet apart, so as to permit 

 ■of the systematic intercultivation of the growing crop. So far as the 

 amount of seed axailable would allow, each farmer who agreed to take 

 part in the experiment could obtain a sufficient quantity of seed to sow 

 at least half an acre of ground; as well as three or four i-lb. samples of 

 other varieties. A small quantity of the farmer's own seed which he was 

 using for the growing of his usual summer maize crop was also in most 

 instances sown adjacent to the Departmental samples, and under the same 

 conditions. It was optional with the farmer whether he manured the plot 

 or not. As a rule, the farmer picks out a good piece of ground to cul- 

 tivate for summer fodder ; but if manure was being used for the ordinary 

 crop the Department also supplied sufficient at the same rate for the 

 demonstration plots free of charge. 



Apart from such notes as each Supervisor made on his several inspec- 

 tions of the plots under his charge, each grower was also requested to 

 fill in a short observation sheet regarding the development of each variety, 

 and its apparent value at maturity. Many of these sheets were full of 

 interesting details. Where the weight per acre is given this was arrived 

 at by weighing a section of the crop and calculating from that the 

 average of the whole. From the combined information thus obtained 

 the following epitome has been compiled. 



Beginning with the coastal districts lying to the south-east of Mel- 

 bourne, those plots that were grown in Malvern, Caulfield, and 

 Brighton were dealt with in the April issue of the Journal by Supervisor 

 J. M. B. Connor. 



In Berwick Shire, Supervisor A. V. Beecher reports : — 



" (i) Mr. F. Green, Narre Warren, sowed five varieties, viz. — Eclip.se, 

 Hickory King, Hildreth's Yellow Dent, Longfellow, and the farm variety 

 ^ii Sydney Flat Red. Some variation in habit of growth was seen here, 

 particularlv as regards the stooling out. The three first-named varieties 

 made a fairly even growth; averaging about 6 feet high, and producing 



3 to 4 stalks per seed. Longfellow, with an average height of 4 feet 

 produced as manv as 11 stalks per seed in some instances. The other 

 varieties, however, appeared to have had an extra advantage in the thick- 

 ness of the stalk, for the estimated weights per acre were as follow : — 

 Hickory King 16 tons 14 cwt. ; Eclipse 10 tons 6 cwt. ; Longfellow 8 tons 



4 cwt. ; Hildreth's Yellow Dent 8 tons. The sowing of the Departmental 

 samples of seed was delayed on this farm until 19th December in the 

 hope of a suitable rainfall, and the germination as a whole was poor. 

 This fact is probably accountable for the extra weight of fodder obtained 

 from the main farm crop (Flat Red). This was drilled in rows 3 feet 

 apart as advi.sed by the Department, but with i| bushels of seed to the 

 acre. With good germination this would ha\-e been a much too heavv 

 seeding; but as it was this j)artirular sowing resulted in a crop of 18 

 tons 12 cwt. per acre. 



(2) Mr. J. F. Evans, Gembrook, sowed four varieties on 26th October, 

 viz., Eclipse, Longfellow, Hildreth's Yellow Dent, and Hickorv King. A 

 later sowing was made on 9th Noveml)er (►f Eclipise, and the farm varietv 

 Victorian Flat Red. In I)Oth .sowings, the Eclipse showed best. Both 

 crops were harvested for silage on 26th April and following davs ; and 

 ■consequently the earlier sown crop was rather too drv to allow for a com- 

 parison between the two sowings. In the first sowing. Eclipse gave 7 tons 

 12 cwt., and Hickory King 6 tons 17 cwt. ]>er acre. The weights of 

 Yellow Dent and Longfellow an- not reconlcil. The second sowing gave 

 Eclipse 9 tons 12 cwt., and Victorian Flat Rod to tons 8 cwt. 



