90 CHAPTER VI 



returns. Experience has shown that the best method of appli- 

 cation is by means of the fertiliser attachment, found on most 

 planters, at the time of planting. 



Bone dust and basic slag are also used and are to be recom- 

 mended on acid soils and in damp situations. An application 

 of 200 to 300 pounds per acre is generally advocated. These 

 fertilisers have a residual eil'ect beyond that of superphosphate. 



Where available, well-rotted kraal manure at the rate of 

 6 to 8 tons per acre is to be recommended, and if supplemented 

 by the addition of small dressings of phos])hates may be looked 

 on as a fairly complete manure. 



KoTATioNS. — There is a decided tendency towards a con- 

 tinuous single-cropping system among the maize farmers in 

 South Africa to-day. In fact the majority are growing this 

 crop continuously on the same land. This pernicious practice 

 is attributable firstly to the extensive phase of farming in the 

 Union, in which larger returns are obtained (often more pro- 

 fitably for the time being) by the simple expedient of cultivating 

 larger acreages of the available comparatively cheap land ; 

 secondly, a failure to appreciate the underlying advantages to 

 a permanent agriculture of rotative farming ; lastly, the neces- 

 sity of providing food for the live-stock on maize farms has 

 hitherto not received the attention it merits, as farmers seem 

 satisfied with maize stalks left on the land as the only winter 

 feed for their animals. 



Maize rotations will naturally vary w^ith local conditions 

 and the needs of the farmer. The following have proved 

 suitable in many cases, viz. : — 



1. 1st Year. — Maize fertilised with bone dust or superphos- 



phate. 

 2nd Year. — Maize. 



3rd Year. — Cowpeas (kaffir beans), or velvet beans 

 ploughed down as green manure. 



Cowpeas will naturally be used on the highveld and velvet 

 beans on the lowveld. This rotation is suitable for the man 

 growing maize chiefly for grain on relatively poor soils. On 

 more productive soils the same man may employ : — 



2. 1st Year. — Maize fertilised with bone dust or super- 



phosphate. 

 2nd Year. — Maize manured with available kraal manure. 

 3rd Year. — Maize. 



