Maize as a Fodder and Silage Crop, [april 



Note. — It is proposed in future numbers of the Journal to 

 give a summary of the weekly weather reports of the Meteoro- 

 logical Office, special attention being directed to all variations 

 from the normal described above as " moderate." In order to 

 illustrate and give point to these records the Board will 

 endeavour to collect and publish a series of observations of the 

 effect of such abnormalities on the progress of the crops of the 

 farm and garden, and their influence on live-stock and the wild 

 life of the country. They will be glad to receive the names of 

 persons who are prepared to make short but systematic and 

 carefully prepared records and send them to the office of the 

 Board, 4, Whitehall Place, London, S.W., at the conclusion of 

 each month. A list of the subjects on which reports are 

 wanted may be obtained on application (see p. 54). 



MAIZE AS A FODDER AND SILAGE CROP. 



When William Cobbett returned from America early last 

 century he brought with him some maize seed, hoping to intro- 

 duce to British agriculture a new and highly promising cereal 

 crop. With characteristic energy he sounded its praises, and in 

 fact called it one of the " three great undertakings, or rather, 

 great additions to the wealth of the nation, introduced under 

 the name of Cobbett." But " Cobbett's Indian corn," as it was 

 called, soon failed, for it would not ripen here, and for a long 

 while it was almost totally neglected. 



During the last twenty years, however, the value of green maize 

 as a fodder crop has been repeatedly urged ; it has at various 

 times and in many parts of England been shown that considerable 

 crops can be obtained, furnishing valuable food during September 

 and early October. Mr. T. J. Young, at Holmes Chapel, has 

 produced up to 36 tons per acre ; reports from Norfolk show 

 that 30 tons can be obtained there ; similar crops are recorded 

 in Essex, in East Kent,and elsewhere. It is even customary in 

 some places to adopt the American plan and convert maize into 

 silage for use in spring when roots are beginning to give out, and 

 before the weather is sufficiently warm for the cattle to be put 

 out to grass. 



In order to discover whether maize could profitably enter into 



