BIG MAIZE CRIB

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 43, 31 July 1939, Page 5

BIG MAIZE CRIB

RECORD FOR NEW ZEALAND 2700 BAGS STORED A familiar sight on the Rotorua road, just after the Tauranga turnoff at the store, is Mr L. Sisam's lengthy maize crib, but not every one who glances at it in passing knows tha't the crib is the /biggest in New Zealand. About 340 feet long by eight feet by an average of nin? feet six inches, the crib stretches right across the paddock from the road to the far boundary and at present contains from 2600 to 2700 bags of maize. The crib was a big one last year but extensions this season have made it of record dimensions. The quality of its contents is high, artd the yield is considered an excellent one in spite of the generally unfavourable season. The species of maize is Early Butler, which is generally grown in, this district. The harvest came off about 108 or 109 acres ? leaving a balance of about 40 acres which were not plarfted in maize. This is the third crop to be taken since the farm was largely devoted to maize. The first crop was fairly good, but the second crop was damagedjiy storms a,nd<was practically a failune, so tha't though this present harvest is a good one the picture is not so rosy when the average is taken,. Last year the crop did not oay working expenses; this year the Government may 'take half of it; nextf year the Government may take the crib as well, said one mail.