72 



AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



how to use maize as human food.) The extent of land in 

 Australia suitable for growing maize is very 

 great. Victoria has considerable tracts 

 where good returns arc gathered, and the 

 whole of the seaboard country of New 

 South Wales, Queensland, and the Northern 

 Territory, in so far as climate is concerned, 

 is a vast corn area, sufficient to produce 

 grain for millions. The season for plant- 

 ing extends from August to January. 

 In warm, sheltered localities in the 

 Northern districts, corn is planted all the 

 year round, and three distinct crops are 

 gathered, but not from the same land, of 

 course. The usual practice is to sow in 

 August, September, or October, some of the 

 large varieties for a summer crop, which 

 is gathered in January or February ; and 

 some of the smaller sorts in December or 

 January for a winter crop, gathered in 

 April. In the cooler districts, but one crop 

 is grown between October and February. 

 Maize changes in character and appearance 

 in different localities ; and favorite kinds 

 are found in each district. In reality there 

 or five varieties of maize ; and botanists 

 reduce these again to two. We will mention five distinct 

 sorts, in so far as the farmer is concerned, and then 

 proceed to see how they are grown to the best advantage. 



1. The large, yellow, or whitish corn, with stalks from 

 9 to 14 feet; cobs from 10 to 15 inches in length. There 

 are many sub- varieties in this family, all of which require 

 from four to five months of tropical weather, with sun heat 

 from OOdeg. to 120deg. and rich soil to come to maturity. 

 Under such conditions the yield is from 60 to 120 bushels 

 of shelled corn per acre. (Two bushels in the cob, as a 

 rule make one bushel shelled.) 



2. Small yellow or flint com very hard grain. Stalks 

 from 5 to 7 feet high ; cobs from 6 to 9 inches long. Comes 



Maize. 



are but four 



