4-8 Journal of Agriculture. [lo July, 1909. 



On one of the two plots mentioned as not ha\ing had proper working 

 after it was sown, what thus might have proved of some value in deciding 

 the drought-resisting properties of some of the varieties, was spoiled by 

 the inteTvention. of some of the dairy stock. Even this happening, how- 

 ever, was not without some interest as an experiment as to the more 

 nutritious growth resulting from wide sowing as compared with broad- 

 casting when tested b}- the stock themseh-es. Although sown a dav or 

 two later than some which had been close-drilled (broadcasted) on the ad- 

 joining land, this plot had made much the better growth of stalk at the 

 time the cows got to it. Neglecting the broadcast crop, which grew on 

 three sides of the wide drilled plot, the cows ate the stalks of the latter 

 down to within a foot of the ground. As seen a few days later it looked 

 as though the cows had been carefully herded on the drilled area, so con- 

 centrated was their work on that particular part. The onlv reason that 

 can be suggested to account for the partialitv of the cows for the drilled 

 maize is that it was the sweeter feed. This wo^uld agree with botanical 

 and chemical observations ; for it is by the action of the sun's rays on 

 the growing plant that it is enabled to build up within itself its valuable 

 food constituents. This action is in a great measure prevented by broad- 

 cast sowing; and the weak spindlv growth which usuallv results there- 

 from is of comparatively poor feeding value. Further details regarding 

 five of these plots are herewith furnished. 



(i) INIr. C. Rout, Kew, sowed 5 varieties on 2nd October, viz. — 

 Hickory King, Solomon's Pride, Early Leaming, Sibley, and the farm 

 sample White Horse Tooth. Of these, Hickory King and White Horse 

 Tooth made the best growth, the former being fairly even at 6| feet. 

 Later sowings of the farm crop gave a growth of 9 to 10 feet. 



(2) Mr. G. Hobbs, Kew, sowed, six varieties on 2nd November, viz. — 

 Hickory King, Funk's Yellow Dent, Earlv Leaming, Solomon's Pride, 

 Longfellow, and the farm sample of Victorian Flat Red. On 25th 

 January Yellow Dent and Flat Red were well cobbed at about 7 feet in 

 height. In the .second week in February. Hickory King was 8 to 10 

 feet high and cobbing. Longfellow was the poorest growth of the plot 

 being only about 5 feet high, and fine in stalk. 



(3) Mr. R. Blair made a small sowing of Hickorv King. Eclipse, 

 Funk's Yellow Dent, Solomon's Pride, and Victorian Flat Red on nth 

 November. Owing to the dr\ weather, there w-as uneven germination. 

 With the showers in January the plot as a whole made fair growth. 

 Funk's Yellow Dent was the first to mature at 5 feet high, and. was 

 estimated to yield at the rate of 11 tons per acre. Hickorv King grew 

 to 7^ feet and was then estimated to yield at the rate of 22 tons per acre. 

 The other three varieties were fairly clo.se together at about 7 feet high, 

 and yielded at the rate of 19 tons per acre. 



(4) Mr. F. H. Lithgow, of Coldstream, sowed six varieties on 17th 

 November, \iz., Hickorv King, Eclipse. Solomon's Pride, Hildreth's 

 Yellow Dent, Funk's Yellow Dent, and the farm sample which proved to 

 be Hickory King. All grew well. Funk's Yellow Dent was the first to 

 mature at about 6i fee't high. Hildreth's Yellow Dent matured at 

 2>\ feet and the rest grew to an average of 9 feet throughout. Hildreth's 

 Yellow Dent was very fine in the .stalk compared with the rest ; and both 

 lots of Hickorv King made the strongest comparative growth of the plot, 

 and were the latest to mature. This i)lot was l)eing kept for seed but it 

 was blighted by a severe frost. In this test Hickorv King is reported to 

 have been also the most liardv varietv. 



