Additional Cro^ys for Cows and Sheep. 151 



The recent long and hot summer, with the excellent yields 

 which such a season produces, have brought maize into 

 prominence as a fodder crop ; and so far as varieties imported 

 into this country have shown, it is only as a fodder crop that 

 it has value here, for though cobs ripened in 1868, 1887, and 

 other hot years, ripening is too uncertain to warrant its being 

 grown to produce corn. As a fodder crop it is, however, 

 highly valuable, and there is good reason to believe that its 

 ' growth will be considerably extended for this purpose. About 

 thirty years ago the Royal Agricultural Society made experiments 

 with varieties likely to prove most useful for fodder purposes, 

 having them grown in several districts ; one set coming into 

 my hands when in charge of the Woburn Experimental Farm. 

 The results in all instances were not satisfactory, as the trials 

 happened to take place in the cold wet sunless years of the 

 early eighties. But gradually the area has extended, and 

 particularly in the east and south-east counties there are 

 many who never fail to put some land under maize. This 

 plant stands out prominently as an insurance crop against 

 short food supply from drought ; the weight produced is extra- 

 ordinary, the feeding value great, and it prospers in years 

 when roots are imperilled. It is by no means a difficult crop 

 to grow, and should all the yield not be required green, it can 

 be chaffed and converted into excellent silage. It is especially 

 valuable for cow food, as it becomes fit for cutting in August 

 when such keep is often poor as well as scarce, and it can be 

 used until cut back by frost. A yield of 20 to 30 tons per acre 

 of food richer than mangolds or swedes may be obtained under 

 good management and favourable conditions, and 15 tons 

 upwards are good ordinary crops, so that there can be no 

 doubt as to its value. The White Horse-tooth type of maize 

 and the Giant Caragiia are mainly relied upon for seeding in 

 England, and experience has shown that it is a mistake to 

 plant any maize corn that may come to hand. A germination 

 capacity of 85 per cent, should be insisted upon, and there 

 are several seedsmen who import maize specially for seed ; 

 ordinary corn is apt to "heat" in the hold of the ship and 

 so lose its vitality. On all but cold wet soils maize does well ; 

 and even on these with good tillage it can be made to produce 

 much valuable food. As the land has to supply so much, 

 good, deep, well-drained, medium loams are best adapted to the 

 crop, and those climates with the best summer sunshine 

 records are most suitable. Excellent crops, however, are 

 grown on the light sands in Suffolk and other counties. As 

 a matter of fact there need be little hesitation in growing 

 maize where other farm crops do well. It is important not 

 to sow before risk of frost has passed and the isoil has 



