43° Journal of Agriculture. [lo July, 1909. 



the Victorian Flat Red was the best of all. The growth all round was 

 comparatively poor. The Victorian Flat Red yielded about 8 tons 5 cwt. ; 

 and the other three would average about 7 tons 17 cwt. each." 



Mr. Kerr comments as follows: — "One of the most satisfactOTy re- 

 sults from these demonstrations is the changing of the opinions of many 

 farmers in this district as regards the value of drill sowing as compared 

 with the broadcasting method. The growth of the maize on the different 

 plots was watched critically ; and the results obtained have been an 

 effective demonstration to many. It is now apparent to those who pre- 

 vious!) doubted it, that, though under the broadcasting svstem in an un- 

 favorable season a farmer may not get a return equal to the value of the 

 seed sown, yet by the practice of drilling and intercultivation a fair crop 

 of fodder may, with tolerable certainty, be relied on always. Although 

 maize was sown broadcast close at hand to some of the drilled plots, in 

 no case did its growth exceed two feet. In plot No. i the ad\-antages of 

 the Departmental system were particularly apparent. In that instance a 

 hill top was deliberately chosen to sow on, because every attempt to get 

 a crop of maize from that place by broadcast sowing had failed. The 

 returns in this instance were highly satisfactory. Also on this same 

 farm — !Mr. Bertram".s — the maize crop broadcasted on the rich black 

 flats of the Merri Creek were a failure this year. On these flats in 

 former more favorable seasons the broadcast system had given good 

 crops. This shows that, in a bad season especially, there is only one 

 system of maize sowing worth considering, viz., drilling, followed by 

 intercultivation." 



Broadmeadows and Bulla Shires. — Supervisor H. W. Budd re- 

 ports : — 



" (i) Mr. T. Wallbridge, Somerton, .sowed four varieties on 30th 

 October — Hickory King, Funk's Yellow Dent, Solomon's Pride, and 

 Sydney Flat Red. The growth on the whole was fairly even, being from 

 5 to 5J feet; Solomon's Pride being if anything the best. Funk's Dent 

 stooled out fairly well. The crop was estimated to be about 6^ tons 

 per acre. 



(2) Mr. J. Twomey, Broadmeadows, sowed five varieties on 26th 

 October — Sibley, Early Teaming, Solomon's Pride, Little Yankee, and 

 Ninety Day. The sowing was made in two places, so a full comparison 

 was not obtained. Sibley reached a height of 9 feet and was estimated 

 to yield 13 tons 7 cwt. per acre. 



(3) ^^''- J- ^- How.se, Tullamarine. sowed four \arieties on 27th 

 October — Sibley, Pride of the North, Early Teaming, and Solomon's 

 Pride. Owing to dry weather the crop did not come up regularlv. some 

 appearing as late as 16th January. Pride of the North averaged 4 feet 

 high ; Early Learning 4I feet ; Siblev and Solomon's Pride about 5 feet. 

 Siblev showed the better growth all round and the yield from it was equal 

 to 7 tons 17 cwt. per acre. 



(4) Mr. McMahnn, Sunburv. sowed fnur varieties on 3r(l December — ■ 

 Sibley, Eclip.se, White Hor.se Tooth, and Longfellow. This plot had a 

 good soaking a week previous to planting and the ground was moist. The 

 seed therefore germinated regularlv and the crop averaged a font high 

 inside a month from sowing. The ultimate height of each variety was 

 Longfellow 4 feet ; Sil>ley 6 feet ; White Horse Tooth 6| feet ; and 

 Eclipse 7 feet. Eclip.se made the most successful cropping, and gave a 

 return equal to 23 tons it cwt. per acre." 



Mr. Budd adds: — "On the whole, it is satisfactory to be able to 

 rennrt that, though the sea.son was very dr\ . none of the demonstration 



