April i, 1892. j 
THP TROPICAL AQftl6ULtURlST. 
783 
of one or two years' work are of little avail in solving 
a problem. The plots used forth© application of this 
fertilizer contained (KX) square feet of area, and were 
thought to be fairly even in fertility ; but the results 
showed so little value that no proper interpretation 
could be given them if tljcy were published. The 
teat last year was also equally unsatisfactory, and 
was not published. 
The plan of the test comprised a series of three 
plots treated with each of the chemicals, separately 
used, in full ration, half ration, and double ration, 
and an unfertilized plot was left after each series. 
Then tollowed combinations of all throe of tlie chemi- 
cals in the same pronortions, always leaving each 
tourtli plot uufertilizou. Thus was arranged a series 
of twenty-four plots, making all possible combinations 
which could be made with the in^n’edionts named, in 
full, half, and double ration quantities. This, it 
appears, ought to have given a sulTicient series of 
tests to show somewhat the needs of this soil, but 
on the contrary the results teach absolutely nothing. 
There is difference of yieldinthe dilToront plots, but 
th^ bear Utile relation to the treatment. 
The soil of these plots was carefully prepared in 
the same manner as for the variety tost, and planting 
was the same and done at the same date. The variety 
used was Hunrise, and the crop was of excellent 
quality. 
We are not at all satisfied with such results, and the 
work will be continued but it is much to be hoped 
that tests of this character can be carried to a region 
of the State where sandy soils of fairly even quality 
can be tested with a similar aeries of fertilizer work. 
“-W. B. Alw(»od. — Southern 1‘lautrr. 
[The above was referred to Mr. Nock, who remarks: 
The methods of cultivation with tlie implements 
mentioned could not he pnt in practice in Ceylon 
owing to the steepness of the land where the pro- 
fitable cultivation of Potatoes is likely to succeed. 
With regard to size of tubers for sets, cutting of 
tubers, ttc., I don*t think I need say any more tlian 
what was printed in l)r. Trimen’a last report, page 18.” 
—Ed. 7’. A.] I ’ F 6 
CULTIVATION OF MAIZE. 
Although the leaimed author is somewhat out in 
some of his statements, when viewed from a Queens- 
land standpoint, the following article which is from 
ihe pen of Prof. Shelton and has been issued by 
the Agricultural Department, is so excellent that we 
I'oproduce it in extenso : — 
Indian Corn is in its organisation the most ilexible 
m plants Certainly no other farm plant is presented 
us under such an infinite variety of forms. In 
the far north it scarcely attains to a heiglit of 8 
f^et, and makes this growth in less than throe 
months’ time, while in semi-tropical regions it rivals 
the palms in its treinondous development of stalk 
und blade. In its northern growth the grain of 
maize is presented in the form of tiny ears of small, 
^^ounded, flinty grains, while in tlio southern-grown 
product the kernels are greatly longthonod, flattened, 
mdented discs, which on account of the large amount 
^f starch possossod l)y them are comparatively soft 
^ud easily pulverised. Again, as is usual, each oar 
}s closely enveloped by a tough husk, or this may 
be, as in self-husking sorts, more or less wanting, 
each individual kernel may have its separate 
busk envelope, as is said to have been the case 
"'ith the original wild maize. The writer has wdthin 
a few years experimented with nearly or quite 200 
matinct varieties, or rather sub-varieties ot maize, 
the practical inference from all this is that there 
exists for nearly every condition of soil and climate 
^ variety of maize suited to it. 
MAIZE IN QllEFNKLANn. 
the southern portion of the colony niaizo-growing 
as long been a favourite specinltv witli farmers, 
be aggregate annual production of corn must bo 
S^uat, altliongh I am unable to quote autliori- 
bRures. But be that as it may, Queensland 
Jrf®. 'mt nearly grow the corn tliat is consumed 
turn her Ijorders. During 1H89 the colony im- 
ported, mostly from New South Wales, an aggregate 
of ‘21(5,254 bushels, valued at £35,414. This, with 
maizena, cotnflour, and maizemeal, brings the total 
value of our imports of maize and its products for 
tlio year up to £39,r)4l, a very handsome sum cer- 
tainly. From the fact that much of this imported 
grain paid heavy railway and ocean freight cliarges, 
and finally an import duty of 8d. per liushel, it is 
clear that Queensland prices of maize must bo very 
high as compared with ruling prices elsewhere. Thus, 
during the past year, corn was selling for 7d. a bushel 
at railway points in the great corn-growing States 
of America. 
It is clear tliat credit Is not due to New South 
Wales for the large amount of corn which accord- 
ing to the Customs returns, came from tliat colony. 
New South Wales imported in the year in question 
287,6(>(> bushels of corn, of w’hich 25,000 bushels camo 
from the United States of America, and wo hav 0 
outside means of knowing tliat a good deal of this 
foreign grain ultimately reivches Queensland ; it fetched 
in Brisbane Ss. lOd. to 4s. 2d. per buBhel. At the 
present time, while corn is selling in the face of a 
very sliort crop, due to a protracted drought, at 
Is. 3d. per busliol, at the same placos in America, it 
iH quoted in the Brisbane papers at 4s. Id., and 
Queensland farmers tell me that a corn crop is not 
profitably produced in the colony when tlie price 
rules below 28, Gd., equal to about (50 oent.s, per bushel 
at the f^*m on wliich it i.s grown. From these facts 
It would appear that cither Queensland soil and 
climate are less well suited to the growth of Indian 
corn than America and the other Sates from which 
our supplies are drawn, or our fanning methods arc 
WAstofni, directly in the use of labour, and indirectly 
by reason of our failures to employ modern method 
and appliances. The United States is, of course, 
the great corn-producing nation. The corn-product 
of America in 1887 amounted to the enormous total 
of 1, 455,101, (KX) bushels, exceeding in quantity and 
value all other grain and potato crops produced 
during the year. What Mr Webster said of the 
English tuniip crop may bo said with euiphasia of 
the American crop of Indian corn— “Its failure for 
tliroo successive yoar.s would bankrupt the nation.” 
Tlie yield of corn per acre in the United States, 
tiiken as a whole, was, according to the report of 
the Department for Agi-icuUure for 1887, 20T bushola. 
J’lie average yield per aero of the five great corn- 
growing States — Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and 
Missouri — according to the same authority, was 21 
bushels. The yield of maize per aero in Queensland 
during the saruo year was 22-31 bushels per acre. 
Inasmucli as farm labour is certainly no more costly 
in Queensland than in the United States, it would 
seem tliat either corn at present prices is prodQOi.fl 
at a very great profit to the farmer, or clso hli 
methods of production arc uiinocessarily expensive. 
My own opinion la that the present cost of making 
a corn crop may be niatorialiy reduced, and quite 
likely the yield incroAsed and the crop made more 
certain, esiXicially in dry years. The present bulletin 
has no more practical aim than to present to Queens- 
land farmers some of the American methods in con- 
nection with the corn crop, in the hope that Queens- 
land fanners may be able to gather some useful hints 
therefrom. 
THE AQUICULTIJK.LI* L'OLLHOE AND EXl»EItlMENT FAUM. 
Until the Colony provides a propt'riy-equippod ex- 
periment farm and moans for teaching modern im- 
provements wo siiall be forced thus to deal in facta 
at Hocondhand. We ought to be able to test the 
methods of other lands under QuceiiHland condi- 
tions, and tlius do for the agriculturalist what all 
experience hIiows ho cannot or will not do for him- 
self. Not alone in method.s pertaining to tlic growth 
of maize does tlio (.Queensland farmer fail to 
get the benefit of modern improvements in the practice 
and science of farming, but in general grain-growing 
the cultivation of the improved grasses, in dairying* 
in fruit-gi'owing and preserving, and indeed in 
every department of the agricultural effort. Prevail- 
ing high prices enable the Queensland fanner for the 
present to discount niodorn improvements; but when 
