MAIZE FOR DAIRY COWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1307, 9 December 1911, Page 6

MAIZE FOR DAIRY COWS.

THE GREEN PRODUCT. The use of green maize as ■ a foragt cron for cows is rapidly extending. Evi-a in England its value is being recognised, aud (hiring tho late dry season- in that country it proved a most useful stand-by in the autumn. Referring to this "Tho Field" says Dint those who planted a few acres of mnizo had reason to oongratulato themselves upon their foresight! for no catch crop bettor withstood the influences of tho drought or yielded anything lika so large n return of palatable food. Tho uncertainty of the climate makes the advantageous cultivation of a crop liko maizo a matter of chance, for last year and in 190!) (he conditions were not congenial to its welfare, while tho need for supplementary feeding was not of nn urgent character. Many grew the crop with indifferent results, and it is just possibla that two successive years of unsatisfactory experience induced somo to discontinue maize growing in the season which, above all others, demonstrated its peculiar qualities. It is always difficult for farmers to make provision for exceptionalseasons; they are just as likely to b* wrong as right in their attempts to foretell, the nature of a summer. The best plan is that adopted by uiaray of observing the law of averages. Even on thii basis maize is .entitled to a place, among tho summer catch crops, and although in a summer like 1911 many would . havo been.thankful for an extended area, tho few acres of maize cultivated on most dairy farms isdro of the greatest servieo when.the pastures.were bare And.cabbages and vetches of stunted growth. Maize is entitled to rank among catch crops in the some, way. that lucerne docs among tho .temporary pastures and meadows. In seasons of drought both will be invaluable for immediate use, and when not required for pasturage or soiling purposes tho ono can be'preserved as silago. aud the other as bay for feeding as may bo .required. Thoy are useful crops to havo as a.safeguard against shortage in tho ordinary food supplies. If maize can bo so. strongly recommended to English dairy fanners tho advice applies with i more, than equal force to dairy, fanners in New Zealand, whore the climate is moro favourable to the growth of maize. Estimates which havo been prepared of tho maize crops of ihe world show that t.ho' shrinkage in these crops is much greater than the shrinkage in the. wheat, crops. In maize the total shrinkage, is no less than 70,000.000 quarters, wink*, according to tho highest. estimate, the shrinkage in ivhcat is not moro thojj 6,000.000 quarters. Tho maize returns for 1911 show a yield, of 411,000,000 quarters, as against 451,G00,v ' 000 quarters for 1910 and 411,000,000 quaiy. 1 ters for 1909. , , , ' TnIDOS tho crons amounted to 4KI,000;OOt ■ quarters,' in 1907 to 381,000,000 quarters, in 1900 to 447,000,000 quarters, and in 190J 'to 415,000,000 quarters.' 'Hie United State* ; is by far and away tho largest produce* ;of maize her crop for 1911 amounting U» f 3-30,000,000 quarters,' against a crop o! VrJicat of 82,000,000 quarters.