. TILLAGE, PLANTING, AND CULTIVATION 3S3 



good seasons late planting may give satisfactory returns, but CHAP, 

 one cannot depend on the seasons; ; to plant late is to " tempt IX ' 

 Providence". On the other hand early planting means danger 

 of injury from late frost. It also tends to induce ripening 

 before the summer rains are over, with consequent injury to 

 the grain. However, it has been shown on a large scale 

 that in the South African Maize-belt seed can safely be 

 planted and germinate before the rains begin, as early as 

 26 August. 



Fig. 141. — Fowler's steam planter. 



At Vereeniging (4,750104,900 feet) large areas have been 

 successfully planted during the last week of August. Here the 

 season usually ends about 5 December, though in some seasons 

 it has been successfully extended to 26 December. There are 

 some disadvantages in planting very early (1) because the 

 weeds do not start as soon as the maize plants, and when they 

 do come they cannot be destroyed as easily by the harrow, on 

 account of the size of the maize plants ; (2) there seems to be 

 more loss from cutworms and other insect pests. This diffi- 

 culty can usually be overcome by clean cultivation and winter 



