344 . MAIZE 



chap. 294. Third Seasons Results, Cedara, Natal. — "In 1905-6 



VI1 ' tests were carried out on the same grounds as in the previous 

 season, but as there were more varieties to be tested the ground 

 had to be extended into Block iD. This block in the previous 

 season had been manured with 10 tons per acre of farmyard 

 manure, and 200 lbs. superphosphates and 50 lbs. potash 

 chloride. The whole ground was manured again in 1905-6 

 with 10 tons per acre of farmyard manure ploughed in, and 

 415 lbs. per acre superphosphate applied in the drills with the 

 seed. The seed used was from the previous season's variety 

 plots in all cases except those marked ' n.s.' which means new 

 stock or newly imported seed, or with the words Zululand, 

 Greytown, or Ingogo. The rows were, as before, 35 feet long 

 and 3 feet apart, and the plants were 1 8 inches apart in the 

 rows. There were two rows of each variety. The seeds 

 were all planted on 9 December, about ten days later than 

 they should have been, but the 1905-6 season was favourable 

 to late sowing, so that no great harm was done by the delay. 

 Some very fine yields were obtained : the average of seventy-five 

 varieties was at the rate of 2,424 lbs. grain and 5J085 lbs. stalks, 

 etc., to the acre, and the highest yield was only 10 lbs. short of 30 

 muids of grain per acre, or actually io6| bushels." 



Table XLIX gives the results in detail. 



295. Relative Weight of Grain per Bushel of Different 

 Breeds. — The standard weight of a bushel measure of maize, 

 in the United States, is 56 lbs. But there is great difference 

 between the relative weight per bushel of the different breeds. 

 The grain which weighs heaviest in the bag or bushel measure 

 does not necessarily give the heaviest crop, in fact the re- 

 verse is generally the case ; the flint breeds usually weigh 

 heavier than the dents, but we generally find that they give 

 fewer muids per acre of ground. 



The weight per bushel varies with the degree of dryness, 

 so that to make a reliable comparison between them, it is 

 necessary to take all the weights at the same time. It would 

 be more accurate to take them in conjunction with a moisture- 

 test. The comparative weights per bushel of some leading 

 South African breeds, taken at the Johannesburg Maize Show, 

 July, 1 910, are given in Table L. 



