Maize

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 December 1911, Page 4

Maize

PLANTING FOR GREEN FEED. (By Mr J. Drysdale, in Agricultur-

ial Journal.)

In growing maize the first consideration should, be to select good land.—new land if possible, well sheltered from the prevailing wind. To get the best results it i; most essential that the land should >.-o of good quality. To sow in poor soil or land that has been overcn.ppf-'J would be a waste o£ time anl labour.

I would recommend the sowing of the . medium early varieties, such, as Clanerce Wonder, Large Yellow Morigane, Ninety Days, and Red Hogan. As regards analysis, it has been arranged to have analysis made of a large number of varieties this season, and next season we shall» be in a position to give feed-ing-values of these. With regard to dates of sowing, I would recommend the first sowing to be made early in October; further sowings at intervals up to January. This would allow the maize to be fed. during th'e whole season at about the same age, and would' also give the small farmer an opportunity of preparing, his ground in small sections, so that.his land would be in better form for producing a good icrop. Maize being a vigorous grower under favourable conditions — such as good soil, well worked and free from weeds, with a diberal ap4 plication of manure—it will notf give tho. weeds a chance to grow, 'thereby doing away with the necessity of wide sowing, when scarifying or cultivating is imperative. On the other hand, if the soil is of t poor medium quality and good cul.tivation neglected the growth will ;be much slower, thus allowing the -weeds to make headway and retard the growth) of the plant. Scarifying and cultivation under these conditions are a necessity. To enable scarifying to be carried out the rows should at least be 2£fc Gin 'apart. The ck>rn could be sown with the ordinary grain drill, shutting Hp. the required number of coulters to get the proper width. With close sowing the grain could be sown out of every second coulter; this would be 14in wide. Under favourable conditions as mentioned above close sowing will give the heaviest yield per acre; but in regard to feeding-value this can only bo determined by, analysing variety, close versus wide sowing. This mil also be undertaken at Weraroa this year. The influence of various fodders upon the ; quality of milk produced will require careful investigation. With the . number of varieties on the market, and' the absence of analysis of varieties with regard to feeding-value, it is a difficult matter to advise as to. the most profitable varieties to sow. There are recognised early _ varieties and late varieties. It is not necessarily important in all cases that early varieties should he sown if it can be found that late varieties give a larger feeding-value per acre. The (greater number tof late varieties will be at a feeding stage before the season would call for artificial feeding. If . sown in the middle of October this would allow twelve weeks before required for feeding .purposes. We have found Red Hogan and Yellow uVTorgane, although, recognised as late varieties. when, sown in October have grown to the proper stage for green fodder early in January. ,1 recognise that it is most important for the farmer that a few 'only of . the best varieties should be recommended, as it is difficult and expensive to procure many early and late varieties of maize. The sowing of the most vigorous growers, apart from the analysis, will to a great, extent have to be taken into consideration.'

To obtain the best results of feeding maize as green fodder it would be a mistake- to allow it to become too far advanced.. Maize sliould bp fed in the early stages, some time before coming into flower. Tie stems are then -juicy and sweet and are eaten greadilv by all stock without! any waste. If allowed to cob before, feeding the succulence departs,, and the stems becoming dry and -woody- are rejected by tlie stock.. ' -Although, it is recognisedthat the cobs in the early _ stag© possess a groat amount of nutrition, it does not counterbalance the loss of about .75 per cent, of tlie fodder, as would be the case in allowing to cob. On the father hand, if maize is grown for the purpose of converting into ensilage, the cob stage is the right time to cut.