t 252 ] 



Maize may be grown either as a kharif or a rabi crop, but 

 it is not profitable to grow it as a rabi crop unless there are 

 special facilities for irrigation. 



333. Cultivation. In May or June after a good 

 shower of rain, land already ploughed up once in the 

 cold weather, should be ploughed and cross p loughed and 

 harrowed and the seed should be dibbled \\ to 2" deep in 

 regular lines of 18" x 18" at the rate of 3 to 4 seers per acre. 

 When the plants are all well up, one hand-weeding should be 

 given. If the soil is found too dry 3 days after sowing and no 

 rain is immediately expected, it is safe to irrigate the land 

 once. Early sowing with irrigation (if necessary) gives much 

 better result than late sowing when no irrigation is required 

 owing to the monsoon being in full swing. Heavy rain does 

 the greatest harm to maize plants when they are yet of small 

 size. No harm is done to maize plants by heavy rains if 

 they come after they are 9" to 18" high. If irrigation is easy, 

 it is better to sow the seed in April or May after irrigation, 

 as the drought subsequent to a free germination, is not so 

 injurious to maize plants which are deep rooted plants, and 

 irrigation may be resorted to if there is prolonged drought. 

 After one hand-weeding two hoeings with the Planet Jr. hoe 

 would give the plants a very good start. The use of saltpetre 

 would be of further benefit. If the land is known to be poor, 

 cowdung or some other general manure applied in the cold 

 weather or before sowing would give better result. Continuous 

 rainfall is not helpful to the growth of maize. There should 

 be periods of fair weather intervening between heavy showers 

 of rain. Before the rains set in earthing should be done that 

 there may be no waterlogging at the base of the plants. 



334. Outturn. It is more profitable to sell the green 

 cobbs and use the stalks for fodder than to let the grain ripen. 

 The cobbs can be picked and sold in June, July and August. 

 If they are allowed to mature, harvesting should be done 

 in September or when the grains are quite ripe and dry. 



