Experiments in Growth of Maize. 



5i5 



(16) . Kent, Staplehurst — The whole piece appeared much 

 stunted and too thick on the ground. All the varieties were 

 severely affected by frost. 



(17) . Kent, Harden. — The American commercial seed failed, 

 and was not weighed. The plants were slightly wet at the time 

 of weighing, so that the quantities are probably some 5 per cent, 

 too high, 



(18) . Kent, Chiddingstone. — Quite one-quarter of the whole 

 crop was destroyed by rooks. After the damage was done 

 stringing was carried out, and the rooks left the crop entirely. 

 Practically all of the Horse-tooth, and some portion of the other 

 varieties, was accidentally cut without being weighed, so that the 

 weights are not considered reliable. 



(19) . Surrey, Merstham. — Besides the commercial seed sup- 

 plied by the Board, two " local " varieties of commercial seed 

 gave, the one 3 tons 17 cwt., and the other 18 tons per acre. 

 Two plots were also drilled with local commercial seed in rows, 

 r| feet apart (equivalent to 2§ bushels to the acre); these yielded 

 12 tons 1 cwt. and 15 tons 15 cwt. to the acre. The plots had 

 suffered from frost, and were patchy and irregular. The patchi- 

 ness is ascribed partly to an attack by rooks and partly to some 

 of the seed being unable to break through a slightly caked condi- 

 tion of the soil which followed the drilling. It is thought that 

 the calculated yields are below the reality, and that they might be 

 increased by 10-25 per cent. On another farm in the district a 

 local variety of commercial seed gave a crop estimated at 30-40 

 tons per acre. Some of the ordinary commercial varieties were 

 fed to stock, one kind being greedily eaten, while another was 

 not much liked. 



The conclusion that these experiments lead us to is that where 

 the conditions of soil and climate are favourable maize will give 

 a large yield of useful fodder. No doubt a warmer and drier 

 season than 1902 would have produced better results; inTact, 

 it is when the conditions are unfavourable to the growth of 

 ordinary green crops that maize grows best and proves most 

 useful. Great care should be taken to select a variety with a 

 good reputation, and failure is certain to follow any neglect to 

 thoroughly protect the germinating seed against the ravages of 

 birds, especially rooks. 



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