lo June, 1910.] Maize for Fodder — Last Season' s Results. 



389 



.at all favourable for the growth of this fodder, for at planting time several 

 weeks of drv weather intervened ; and in several places the germinationl of 

 the seed was uneven from this cause. However, those who practise the 

 principles of dry farming in connexion with their summer sowings have 

 got fair crops, and in some cases very good ones. 



Messrs. Newman and Spaven had a very fine crop on their farm at 

 \\'est Warburton. This property, " Yarra Lea," contains 100 acres, and 

 is situated within half-a-mile of the railway station. Being on rich 

 friable river-flat land, with a fine frontage to the Yarra. it is exceptionally 

 suitable for dairv farming ; for at verv little cost the water from the river 

 could be made available for irrigation. 



Since purchasing this farm early last year, the owners have made good 

 progress in improving it. The cultivation area has been largely increased, 

 new ground has been cleared and broken up, an overground silo has been 

 erected, and nineteen cows are now in profit. 



BROADCAST SOWING ON NEWLY CLEARED LAND. 



This season eight acres were sown Avith four varieties of maize, \-iz., 

 Flat Red, Hickory King, Yellow Moruya, and Sunshine. About half of 

 this area was sown in drills from 2| feet to 3 feet apart ; and on the rest 

 of the land the seed was sown broadcast and ploughed in j the latter sowdng 

 was on the newly cleared land. When clearing, some of the heavier timber 

 was left standing, to be dealt with later on when it would burn more 

 easily. In the meantime, the intervening ground was broken up and sown. 

 This serves to check the growth of scrub, bracken, and burr ; and at the 

 same time a fair return is obtained. Potatoes may be frequently seen 

 planted under such conditions, and at times almost as much bracken as 

 potato-haulm will cover the ground on this first breaking up ; but the har- 

 vesting of the crop considerably reduces the vitality of the fern. The 

 accompanving photograph shows a first sowing of maize on newly broken 



