lo JuLV, 1909.] Maize as i'odder. 431 



plots were a failure. Owing to careless cultivation the same cannot be 

 said of the general run of maize sowings in this district. Too many of 

 the farmers leave the preparation of their maize land until just prior to 

 sowing This is too late. Instead of this, it should be ploughed as early 

 as possible, say as soon as the general sowing of the hay crop is finished. 

 It should be then worked over at intervals, so as to keep it in good con- 

 dition for a satisfactorv sowing of the maize crop when the proper time 

 arrives. It is not unusual in the.se districts to hear a farmer excuse him- 

 self for neglecting to provide green fodder for his stock bv saying that 

 "in a good year it is not required, and in a bad year it won't grow." 

 However, besides demonstrating that there is considerable difference be- 

 tween the yields from the several varieties of maize for fodder purposes, 

 these experimental plots have served as object lessons to many farmers to 

 prove that in a dry season, with drill sewing and proper cultivation, a 

 profitable crop of maize can be grown here." 



Little River and Werribee districts. — Supervisor P. F. O'Bryan 

 reports : — 



" Owing to the verv dry season none of the experimental maize plots 

 sown here would be classed as a success when compared with the results 

 obtained in more favoured districts. However, the maize on them was from 

 3 to 4I feet high. Siblev, Eclipse, Hickory King, Funk's Yellow Dent, 

 and White Horse Tooth were sown. Of these, Sibley and Hickory King 

 showed to best advantage. Taken on the whole, Sibley was rather the 

 best of the lot. The onlv lot that was weighed was the Sibley variety 

 on Mrs. McXaughton's farm at Little River, and the yield was estimated 

 at 7 tons 9 cwt. per acre."' 



Summary. 



Reviewing the results of these experiments the outstanding feature is 

 the success of the Hickory King variety. Average samples ot this maize 

 were weighed on 18 plots; and the average estimated vield throughout 

 was 21 tons 3 cwc. of green fodder per acre. Out of 41 plots of which 

 reports have been furnished, Hickorv King was grown on 33. In 21 ot 

 the.se it was considered to be by far the best ; and in four others it divided 

 the honours. Its yield was surpas.sed in onlv 8 plots out of the 32. Siblev 

 with 7 fir.sts and Eclipse 6 firsts are those next in order of excellence. 

 In several instances, however, the.se two and the Sydney and Victorian 

 Flat Reds as well as a few others have shown up very well in comparison 

 with Hickory King. As other new varieties become more commonly grown 

 it is quite possible that they mav prove superior even to our present best ; 

 but, as it is, even with Hickory King, a much larger quantitv of seed 

 than can at present be obtained will need to be available before this 

 variety can be very extensivelv grown as a fodder crop. In many 

 instances, therefore, it will be necessary to make u.se of some of the other 

 prominent yielders ju.st referred to. 



That there is also a further variation in the growth of the several 

 varieties under other climatic conditions is seen bv referring to Mr. 

 Lee's article in the April issue of the Journal. In Ea.stern Gippsland, 

 where ^Ir. Lee's experiments were carried out. Funk's Yellow Dent, 

 Longfellow, and Eclip.se gave the heaviest returns in fodder ; and Hickory 

 King was onlv 7th on the li.st. In the drier districts in which the Dairy 

 Supervision experiments have been carried out, the two first named, being 

 early maturing varieties, did not show at all to advantage. For all dis- 

 tricts Eclip.se appears to be the mo.st generallv consistent vielder. However, 

 enough proof has been brought forward bv this past season's work to show 

 that some varieties are more specially suited for each district than are 



