CHAP, 

 IX. 



382 



MAIZE 



343. Time of Planting. — South- African farmers have a dis- 

 tinct advantage in being able to plant for at least eight consecu- 

 tive weeks, whereas in the Maize-belt of the United States the 

 time is only three to four weeks : this means that with the same 



Fig. 140. — Part of the gang of fifty-two " Champion " planters at work on 

 Messrs. John Fowler & Co.'s demonstration farms at Vereeniging. 



amount of labour we can plant double the acreage. The time 

 of planting undoubtedly has an influence on the yield. Late 

 planting does not allow the plants time to develop a full crop 

 before the frosts set in, and is responsible for much loss. In 



