maize. :i 9 5 



This is an invaluable met }i< >« I in dry districts oi hot climates, where 1 1 » * - top 

 soil dries up quickly. It is especially recommended for late spring and early 

 summer plantings on the North Coast, as the young weeds which come up in 

 the furrows with the maize can be easily smothered as the furrows are ii 11< •< 1 

 in by cull ivation. 



.">. Th» Wheat Drill. -This implement uiay be used in sowing maize for 

 fodder. There is some difficulty in getting it to sow a crop thinly enough 

 for grain. With a L3-tube drill every tube but two should be plugged. 

 This will give rows about •"'>.', feet apart. 



1. Broadcasting foVowed by Harrowing. This method is only permissible 

 when maize is being grown tor green toed or ensilage in good districts, ami 

 then is only to be recommended where the ground is unevenly shaped, as on 

 the edge of a creek or river hank. Under most circumstances better results 

 will be obtained by sowing in drills, although there may he some justifica- 

 tion for broadcasting on newly broken paspahnn sod, where cultivation is 

 difficult. 



Width between Drills and Distance between Plants. 



Sunlight is essential for the proper fertilisation and development of the 

 cars, and if the rows are planted too closely, especially in a cool, cloudy 

 season, the crop does not '"cob" properly. Dry spells also seriously interfere 

 with proper "cobbing" if the rows are too close, owing to moisture limita- 

 tions or lack of available plant-food material. With late tall-growing varieties 

 on the North Coast, the rows should not be planted closer than 4.! feet 

 apart. In the North-west, Central Tableland, and Central-western Slopes, 

 the same distance, or even 5 feet, should be observed, not on account of the 

 tall growth, but because of the limitation of moisture. 



The plants can average from 10 to IS inches apart in the rows, according 

 :*< the fertility of the soil, the closer planting being adopted on richer soil. 

 Tn cooler districts, and where moisture is not so likely to be a limiting factor, 

 e.y., the South Coast, Northern Tablelands, South-western Slopes, or under 

 irrigation in the west, the rows may be 3| to 4 feet apart, and the plants 

 from 12 to 15 inches apart in the rows. These distances might also apply to 

 the earlier varieties on the North Coast. On rich soils, or under conditions 

 in which varieties of maize sucker freely, it is better to sow three grains 

 every 2i to 3| feet apart in the rows, as this " hill " sowing inhibits the 

 formation of suckers to some extent. 



For green feed or ensilage the rows may be 2^ to 3 feet apart, and the 

 plants average from 6 to 9 inches apart in the rows. 



Quantity of Seed per acre. 



The foregoing recommendations cannot be exactly translated into a given 

 quantity of seed per acre, as this depends largely on the variety of maize, 

 and the number of grains required to weigh a pound. The following figures 

 can therefore only be regarded as approximations. For late varieties on the 

 coast, from 8 to 10 1b. will be required; for earlier varieties, 10 to 12 !!;. 

 In the drier districts in the west, from I to <> lb. is sufficient. 



For green feed and ensilage from 2 to 2', times as much seed as is used for 

 a grain crop has given the best yields. 



For broadcasting, from ( ; to 1 \ bushels per acre are required. 



