MAIZE. 391 



Two-thirds of the ruaize pivductd in New Sc#th Wales is grown on the 

 s% chiefly along the river Hats, and two-fifths of the State total < >n the 



North Coast. Apart from the coast, th ilv districts devoted to maize to 



any extent are the Northern and Central Tablelands, and the North western 

 and South-western Slopes. Some is also grown on the Southern Tableland 

 and the Central-western Slopes, but very little elsewhere. The Northern 

 Tableland i- a district that is rapidly increasing its area under maize: the 

 results obtained there, though not large,are profitable and dependable. The 

 are. i in the Enverell district lias increased rapidly of late, years due to 

 generally better results being obtained with maize than are se< ured from 

 wheat, particularly on the rich black soils. There is also room for further 

 expansion in the districts of better rainfall, on the Central- western Slopes, 

 and (with the introduction of very early varieties) on the Southern Tableland. 



The best development and the highest yields of maize are obtained on the 

 coast with warm, moist, long-growing seasons, nnd deep, rich soils such as 



obtain on the alluvial river Hats. Frost will injure maize at almost any time 

 in its growth, but more particularly during the flowering and cobbing stages. 

 Young maize has often been observed to withstand frosts of several degrees — 

 especially on the tablelands —apparently the result of acclimatisation. 



A good summer rainfall is almost essential; indeed, many districts that 

 have suitable soil are impossible for maize just on this account. A suttieient 

 supply of moisture in the soil is urgently needed at the tasselling and c bbiug 

 stages, and if this cannot reasonably be expected, maize growing is hazardous. 

 Many soils can, however, be considerably improved in their water holding 

 capacity by the addition of large quantities of stable manure or green crop 

 residues ; and in districts of good winter rainfall, methods of cultivation can 

 he adopted to conserve sufficient moisture to enable an early maturing variety 

 sown in spring to produce its crop before the dry summer, with its attendant 

 high rate of evaporation, can affect the result. This is often done on the 

 western slopes. Another alternative is to plant in midsummer and depend 

 on the monsoonal rains during the late summer and autumn. This practice 

 is resorted to on the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, with the exception that 

 irrigation takes the place of rainfall. It is found that pollination is not 

 interfered with when tasselling takes place during February, whereas the 

 hot scorching winds of midsummer " blast " the tassels and kill the pollen — 

 preventing fertilisation and the formation of grain. 



Excess of rainfall is injurious, especially on heavy or badly-drained soils, 

 for maize will not stand " wet feet," especially also if the ground is cold. 



A free, deep, well-drained loam, well provided with organic matter, is the 

 ideal soil for maize, and these conditions are best satisfied on the alluvial 

 Hats of the coastal and of some of our inland livers and creeks. Deep 

 volcanic soils of basaltic or basic character grow excellent crops, both on the 

 coast and tablelands, and even the lighter granitic soils on the Northern 

 Tablelands are extensively used for growing profitable, though not heavy 

 crops. 



Preparation of the Soil. 



Maize, being comparatively shallow-rooted, especially in the later stages of 

 its growth, requires a thorough and deep working of the soil, for it is mainly 

 in this depth of worked soil that the roots are distributed and on which they 

 depend almost wholly for the nourishment of the plant during later growth. 



