lo Aug.. 1909.] Trafalgar Maize Crop Competition. 



':i^?> 



Mr. Alfred Dean, Moe Swamp. — An entirely different soil. It con- 

 sisted of a grey clay mixed with peat with a yellow clay subsoil. The 

 land had been in pasture for previous five years. It was ploughed once, 

 disc harrowed twice, and during the first week in October was sown broad- 

 cast with seed at the rate of i| bushels of Yankee Flat Red variety to 

 the acre. This was a very even crop, and averaged about 8 feet in height. 

 It stooled and cobbed fairly well and weighed about 22 tons 3 cwt. to the 

 acre. Owing to it being broadcasted it lost points in feeding value; it 

 was also inclined to be dirty wdth sorrell, docks, sour thistles and young 

 blackwood trees. This farm generallv showed industry and enterprise, but 

 the present system of broadcasting the seed maize might be improved on 

 next year by drill-sowing the seed. The land should be broken down 

 much finer by surface cultivation before sowing. Total points 71. 



The following are the details of the points awarded: — 



Oidtr. 



25 



James Brannigan 

 Alfred l)ean 

 Walter Giblett 

 James Grant 

 Peter Stewart 



20 

 15 

 22 



'1^ 

 



100 



75 

 71 

 69 

 6:i 

 41 



The plots judged far from complied with the full educational require- 

 ments of the competition. 



Too much dependence is usually placed upon pasture for summer feed- 

 ing and your district is no exception to this rule. At best, this system of 

 dairy farming is uncertain ; the w' ise farmer will insure a high yield during 

 the summer months, by providing a succession of green succulent crops 

 which can be fed to his dairy herd when pastures fail. Pasturing high- 

 class land like that in this much favoured district is not putting it to its 

 l^est u.se. No dairyman who has ever grown maize under proper conditions 

 would forego the advantages derived from its cultivation. 



I was more than surprised to find that there was not a silo to be seen 

 in your district, which is one that lends itself so admirably to inten.se cul- 

 tivation. The silo is a necessary part of the equipment of any fully 

 profitable dairy farm, and its value is highly appreciated by feeders of 

 all kinds of live stock. Silos would be particularly advantageous in your 

 di.strict because they constitute a cheap and effective means of disposing 

 of the large number of deleterious weeds .so prevalent throughout the dis- 

 trict. To secure large yields and economical results it is essential that 

 some succulent foods be fed to the herds during the summer and winter 

 months. This can be effectively done by conserving the weeds and plant 

 rubbish which at the present time are allow-ed to germinate and spread over 

 the country ; at the same time the land will be cleaned at a nominal cost. 

 I cannot understand how farmers are so blind to their own future welfare 

 in allowing their valuable farms to be over-run with dodder, thistles, fire 

 Aveeds. and other equally obnoxious weeds. 



