Hydrocyanic Gas for Bud Mite. 



73 



growers in America, that the most profitable time for cutting 

 the maize, either for green food or for ensilage, is after the 

 cob has formed and when the grain has arrived at the 

 " cheesy " stage, the plant having then attained its maximum 

 feeding value, and if properly grown the stem has not had 

 time to become woody nor the leaves withered. 



The maize grown in the Wye experiments was used chiefly 

 as green feed for dairy cows and farm horses ; the cows 

 milked well on it and produced excellent butter. 



Before feeding to the stock, the maize was passed through 

 a chaff cutter, as it was found that the animals cleared it up 

 rather better when cut short, and that the diminution in waste 

 more than repaid the additional labour. In order to test its 

 value for silage purposes, some small silos were filled with 

 chopped maize. When opened, the silage was found well 

 preserved, and was much appreciated by the cows. It had a 

 slightly acid smell which soon disappeared, and there was 

 little waste. 



Hydrocyanic Acid Gas for Currant Bud Mite. 



The results of the experiments, carried out in 1900 and 

 1 90 1 under the direction of the South Eastern Agricultural 

 College, Wye, in the fumigation of currant bushes for the 

 destruction of bud mites, have shown that while this treat- 

 ment will in most cases diminish the attack by destroying a 

 great many of the mites, it has apparently no effect upon the 

 eggs, and will not entirely get rid ol the pest. In certain 

 of these experiments the strength of the fumigant was 

 increased and the fumigations were repeated, but it is held to 

 be doubtful whether any alteration in the amounts of the 

 chemicals used, or in the length of time during which the 

 bushes are under treatment, would be able to effect a per- 

 manent cure. 



Bullock Feeding Experiment. 



An experiment was carried out in 1900-01 by the Mid- 

 land Agricultural and Dairy Institute with the object of 

 comparing the feeding value of undecorticated cotton cake, 



