4:16 THE FAKMEHS' HANDBOOK. 



The next cultivation sliould be do e with a riding implement which 

 :sti*iddles the rows — -either a spring-tooth or rigid-tooth cultivator, or a disc 

 cultivator. The last-named is an implement which has rapidly. gained favour 

 in the maize districts oh account of the good clean work dune by it. Tt can 

 be made to throw as much hill to the rows as is desired by altering the set or 

 cut of the discs, and it is a considerable improvement on the objectionable 

 practice of hilling with the plough. The rigid-tooth cultivator is a better 

 implement than the .spring-tooth for tearing out summer grass, couch or 

 pasalpum, which threatens to obtain a hold, and which is not so easily dealt 

 Avith by the disc cultivator. 



When the maize becomes too high to "straddle"' with a two-horse culti- 

 vator, recourse must be had to a single-horse implement, the use of which should 

 be continued for as long as practicable up to the ta«selling stage. 



The depth of the cultivation should be regulated according to the height of 

 the crop, it being borne in mind that as the crop grows in height its roots move 

 nearly approach the surface. During the early stage of growth, cultivation 

 may be given to a depth of 4 or 5 inches, but, la'ex*, this must be reduced 

 ^o 2 or 3 inches, or a large number of valuable feeding roots will he destroyed. 



Hilling. 



For this reason the practice of hilling with the plough is not recommended, 

 :as, when the maize is 18 inches or 2 feet high, a large number of roots are 

 -cut through by ploughing close to the rows. If billing is thought necessary 

 at this stage, it should be done with a disc cultivator, or with mould- 

 board sweeps on the single-horse cultivator, it is thought, however, that 

 hilling is a practice for which, in many cases, no good reason can be 

 given. In some instances, where hilling has been done to prevent the stalks 

 being lodged by wind it has been observed that the stalks were snapped on 

 account of their too great rigidity. Where young maize " goes over " with 

 the win 1, it usually " picks U|>" again readily of its own accord, anil hilling 

 is not necessary for this reason alone. The only justi tic it ion for hilling with 

 the plough is in a wet season when a heavy weed growth or grass ln-s obtained 

 a go id hold in the rows, and requires early smothering t> kill or check it. 

 But this cond tioncan be avoided in m >st s>as ms by a thorough prepiration 

 of the soil before planting, and by harrowing after planting both bof >re and 

 after the maize is up. 



Harvesting and Other Problems. 



(1) For Silage. — As the maize plant matures it increases in water-free 



substance, feeding value, and digestibility. Although this is the case right 

 up to maturity, it has been found advisable to cut for silage while the crop 

 is fairly green and contains a fair amount of moisture, as otherwise it dots 

 not pack well in the silo ; air spaces are left and mould develops. The best 

 stage to cut for silage has been found to be when many, but not all, of the 

 ears are dented or "glazed," a portion of the husks dry, and the upper leaves 

 still green. If maize is cut before or after this stage, the loss in the silo is 

 the greater. It is, of course, possible to ensile maize beyond this stage of 

 maturity when other green material, such as lucerne, is chatted together 

 with the maize, or even when water alone is added. ' Too immature or 

 succulent a growth is apt to cause an over-acid condition in the silage. 



{'!) For Fodder. — The best stage for fodder is slightly more mature than 

 that recommended for silage, and the grain should he fully glazed or dented. 

 Maize is, however, often cut in the milk or "roasting ear " stage for fodder 



