330 Auririflfin-al Gazette of X.S.tr . [^pv7 2, 1908. 



Notes oil Lucerne at Wagga Experiment Farm. 



(;. M. M(KK()\Vi\. 

 TilK site occujiicd 1)V t lie croii is otic of I lie liinhrst ])ai'ts of the t';inii, situated 

 between two liills of yraiiite formation, froiii wliiih it is considei'ed tliat 

 moisture reaches the inter\'eiiiiiL:' d']iicssion hy soakage at a de|itli at uhii-h 

 it is aA'ailabh' for the hcMelit of the crop. -'I'lie land was jiloii^hcd to a 

 (k'jjth of 6 inches with rotar\- disc jiloughs in the second ueek in .\iiL;ust. 

 and the seed was s(jwn about tlie middle of the month. 



Hunter Kiver seed was sown at the rate of 3 lb. per acic by means of 

 a irra.ss-bo.x attached to an ordinai'\' wheat-drill, t !)L;'ct her with .")() lb. df 

 superphosphate ]m'1- acre. 



The land was rolled after sowing, and the seed germinated eaily. Three 

 months after sowing, the crop was cut and harvestefl for a yield of \ cwt. of 

 hay per acre, which was then worth 7s. per cwt. A month latei' it was stocked 

 with slieep consisting chiefly of rams and large fi-amed cross-bred wethers at the 

 rate of seven per acre. Portion of the crop was cut and allowed to lie rs 

 the mower left it, for the stock to ]iick up. These sheep were allowed to 

 remain on the cro}) for eighteen ilavs, and after the lapse of twenty-fl\(' davs 

 they were again put in, remaining for eleven days. 



Fourteen days lat(>r it was again fit for moderate stocking, although the 

 growth was too shoi-t for cutting. 



Tt is intended to cut foi' hay all growths of suHlcient length, and when the 

 growth is too short for this purpose it will be cut for feeding on the ground. 



The rainfall from 1st darmary to the (>nd of October was 907 points, and 

 tilt.' subsequent recor<ls were — November 209, L)ecend)er 286, January nil. 

 February 219. 



Linseed (Limmi iisittftissunum). 



In view of the fact that bounties are being offered by the Federal (lovern- 

 ment for the production of linseed, oi- the fibre \\ liich is obtainable from the 

 plant under favorable conditions, attention is drawn to the desirability of 

 farmers testing tins crop in Kiverina. 



At Wagga fair crops of linseed liaAc been obtained ; but tliegrowth of the 

 iilaiit for iil)re has not been satisfactory, as it has been slioi't and branciiinij-, 

 defects which depreciate its value. 



Tt is yirobable that in the higher })ortions of the district fibre of the best 

 (juality can be grown, while the seed yield should also be increased. The 

 land intended for the crop should be ploughed as deeply as the soil will 

 admit, without biinging sour subsoil to tlu> surface. It should be well 

 pulverised and levelled by hairowing. 



Seed at the rate of 40 lb. per acre should be sown broadcast, and lightly 

 covered by harrowing, followed by the use of the roller. 



The seed may be sown from I\[arch to the middle of May, April being the 

 best month. 



