390 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Nov., 1898. 
HILLING UP CORN. 
Oprrntons differ on the subject of hilling up a maize crop. But it must be 
obvious that, under certain conditions of locality and aspect, hilling up is not 
only advantageous to the growth of the plant, but is an absolute necessity if a 
good crop is to be harvested. When corn is grown on new scrub land, hilling 
up is an impossibility, owing to the quantity of roots which interlace the soil 
in all directions. All that can be done here is to keep down the weeds. As 
the surrounding scrub forms a shelter from heavy gales of wind, the corn is 
not so liable to be blown over as it is when growing on exposed plains. The 
soil, again, being very loose and of marvellous fertility, repeated or any 
cultivation is rendered unnecessary. But the case is different where maize is 
planted on open downs country. here, there is nothing to impede the sweep 
of the winds, and deep and frequent cultivation are necessary to enable the 
plant to root deeply and firmly, and, by hilling up, the staying roots, which 
spread out like the spokes of a wheel sometimes in double tier, are thus 
enabled to take hold of the soil and perform the same office for the plants as 
do the shrouds of a ship for the masts. When growing maize is blown down, it 
naturally attempts to recover itself, and it does this not by rising again to a 
perpendicular position, but by curving upwards towards the light in the same 
manner as sugar-cane under like circumstances. But the crop will not be as 
_good as it would otherwise have been. lt needs no prophet to tell what 
will happen to ripe corn when it is blown down and wet weather ensues. 
Every farmer has found this out to his cost, in grana cobs in which the grain 
has sprouted and has anchored the cob to the ground, The moral, therefore, 
is: Hill up corn, at all events in open country exposed to wind. 
During the prevalence of very dry weather, the hilling up should be 
deferred until more favourable weather, as the loosening of the soil causes it to 
lose what little moisture it possesses to the detriment of the coming crop. 
HANDLING A VICIOUS BULL. 
‘Mr. C. A. A., of Truro, N.S., inquired in The Farmers’ Advocace how to deal 
with a tour-year-old vicious Ayrshire bull. He prefers not to dehorn him, as 
it may detract from his show-ring success, and he fears his prepotency would 
be reduced. The following remedy, which proved of value in many cases, is 
given. The accompanying illustration shows the necessary tackle adjusted on 
the bull, so that one strong man, by drawing heavily on the rope, can quickly take 
a bull off his feet. It seems to overpower him, so that he will give up imme- 
diately. In fact, one Ayrshire bull, to our knowledge, is never led out in any 
other way, as he will fight from start to finish when taken out by the ring in 
his nose. ‘he rope is put around the horns in noose fashion, brought back to 
just before the shoulder and given a half hitch, brought back behind the fore 
legs and given another half hitch around the body, and again brought back and 
placed around and given a half hitch, as shown in the illustration. The thing 
looks simple and may appear ridiculous to some, but it will not cost much time 
or trouble to give it a trial. 
