410 



TBM AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



Correspondence- 



To the Editor Agricultural Journal. 



one or two places 



A MEALIE SPORT. 



DEAR SIR— The above drawing is 

 taken from a mealie plant handed to 

 me by Mr. G. T. Colenbrauder ot New 

 Guelderland. It was observed by him 

 growing in his mealie crop, and. tne 

 peculiadty of its development induced 

 him to send it on as being probably a 

 Bpeciman of some interest. 



The spike— which in a normal plant 

 carries the plume-like male inflorescence 

 terminally— in this case was accompanied 

 by the female spike, both growing to- 

 gether at the top of the stem, instead of 

 the male terminally, and the seed-bearing 

 Bpike auxiliary below ; the m^eahe cob 

 Bprung with the plume, the two kinds of 

 inflorescence, staminate and pistillate 

 arising from the same point, the base ot 

 the cob spike being, if anything teimiual 

 to that of the plume. Another note- 

 worthy feature was the absence ot any 

 Hheath or covering to the cob The mealie 

 Heeds were quite bare and exposed, and 

 had not the slightest pretence to a sheatli. 

 The cob itself was ruther small, but the 

 seed rows were fairly regular, except m 



where they were 



undeveloped. 



The peculiar misplacement ot tHe re- 

 productive parts is evidently due to a 

 freak of nature, a diversion from the 

 normal development which is hard to 

 account for, due probably to some 

 physiological cause whereby a disturo- 

 ance of the tissues has led to a slight 

 disorganisation of the system. ' 



I do not know if there is any great 

 advantage pertaining to a selection ot 

 seed which will return unsheathed cobs ; 

 in fact, this may prove a disadvantage m 

 many ways, and from the appearance ot 

 the specimen the terminal setting does 

 not seem to be so strong as that arising 

 lower down, where the cob has the 

 support of a strong stem to maintain its 

 weight ; but, as a matter of interest, Mr 

 Medley Wood has kindly co-isented to 

 rear the seed next season, so that it may 

 be ascertained whether the variety will 

 be perpetuated through them or revert to 

 the original type. 



Alex. Pardy, F.O.S., (fee, 



Agricultural Analyst, 



A PIG MALADY. 

 Dear Sir,— I keep a good many pigs, 

 and iust now three of them about three 

 months old, and in fine condition, have 

 contracted a disease with which I am not 

 conversant 



The symptoms are not unlike gall- 

 sickness in cattle. Staggering of the 

 hind legs, and evidently, from the way 

 thev hold themselves, tenderness across 

 the loins. They are inclined to lie down 

 all day, but occasionally get up to eat a 

 little. If you can give me any informa- 

 tion as to the disease and its treatment, i 

 shall feel much obliged. _ 



I am informed by a neighbour that 

 hundreds of pigs (principally Kafirs ) are 

 dvins from the same cause, mostly in the 

 district between here and the coast.- 

 Yonrs faithfully, i T 



rProm the symptoms described, 1 am 

 of oi.inion that these pigs are suffering 

 from rheumatism, and would recommend 

 the following be given a trial :— 



