1 10 CEREALS 



all our operations is to reduce the weed crop as economi- 

 cally as possible. The zigzag harrow is used after every 

 considerable rain to break the soil crust or kill ger- 

 minating weeds. Two or, if possible, three crops of 

 weeds should be killed in this way before planting. 



Maize seed is drilled in with a two-row American 

 " planter," which places the grain in rows 2 ft. 6 in. to 

 3 ft. 6 in. apart, and drops the seed at varying distances 

 of 12 to 18 in. In the Transvaal we find that 3 ft. 6 in. 

 between rows and i ft. 6 in. to 2 ft. in the rows is a suit- 

 able distance for the ordinary breeds. 



Time of planting is regulated by altitude and time of 

 arrival of spring rains. On the high veld (5,000 to 

 6,500 ft.) October is the safe month for most breeds; in 

 the middle veld (4,000 to 5,000 ft.) Novem'ber to middle 

 December is, broadly speaking, more suitable; in the 

 upper and lower bush veld (below 4,000 ft.) December 

 to middle of January is the usual time for planting, 

 because the rains usually begin later. 



Immediately after planting we harrow with the zigzag- 

 harrow, and try to harrow off two crops of weeds before 

 the maize plants get too large; the harrow can be used 

 until the crop is 6 in. high. Then we begin to cultivate, 

 using one of the numerous American walking cultivators 

 which straddle the row, drawn by two muzzled oxen or 

 mules. I find the duck-foot type of cultivator superior 

 to the disc type for this purpose. Our object is to keep 

 on with this cultivation continuously until the plants are 

 too tall to be straddled safely. Then we begin with 

 adjustable tooth cultivators between the rows, drawn by 

 a single ox or mule. This work is maintained con- 

 tinuously until the ears on the stalk become so large that 

 there is danger of their being broken off by the animals 

 in passing. 



The object of this constant cultivation is : (i) The 

 retention of soil moisture and proper aeration of the 

 surface soil, and (2) the destruction of weeds. It is this 

 constant cultivation which is the secret of success in maize 

 growing. As a Yankee farmer once quaintly but very 

 truly remarked: "There ar'nt but one way o' raisin' 

 corn: cultivate, and cultivate, and keep on cultivatinV 



