LOCAL EXPERIENCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1602, 12 August 1882, Page 6

LOCAL EXPERIENCES.

Indian Corn.

TO THE ETJITOH.

Sib,— l was much pleased with your article on ' Indian Corn' in last week's Witness. You give forcible arguments in favour of farmers cultivating a variety of crops, and it is to be hoped that trials will be made more generally and extensively to test the feasibility of adding to the common and limited list of crops now cultivated. In regard to the successful experimental trial in growing flint corn, a superior kind of maize, I may mention that last year I distributed a good many pickles of the corn to several farmers in this neighbourhood. I procured the seed from Mr W. D. Sutherland, and it gives me pleasure to corroborate the testimony of Mr Cormack, near Timaru. Although the season was partly against the successful growing of a plant requiring a good deal of moisture, yet the result was in many instances extremely encouraging. Mr William Grey, of Pukeuri, succeeded in growing a fullymatured crop, and I have now before me a few pqbs ( o£ splendid quality. On one of these— ah' 4 not by any means the best— there are 240 pickles qfc 'fiWff- ' superior in every respect to !the .pickles £ rpm .wjh^h they originated. Whether ,if will pc PPPS^ble tp grow this corn on any extensile scale with profit, remains to be proved by further and "ulqre fended trials ; but my own opinion is _that ,$e assults from the seed grown here will be even j»nr,e peering and valuable than from imported aom, I trust farmers will be induced to give it a trial, and, if found profitable, there may spring up the new industry of manufacturing nwizena,

an article which we now import somewhat largely. — I am, &c, J. Churoh.

Oamaru, August sth.