710 AgricuUiiral Gazette of N.S.W. [Sept. 2, 1908. 



Sowing. — I )iilliii,i,' in seed is lict tcf \\ lien t lie soil can be got into a fine state 

 of tilth, Imt ill w et seasons broadcusting may lia\c to he resorted to. The quan- 

 tity of seed used when sown bydrill at the beginning of J une sliould be about 50 

 lb. per acre, and thn'e weeks later at the rate of (iO lb. per acre ; as sowing early 

 is not recommended, thick sowing is practi.sed an(] early maturing is hastened. 

 If grain is broadcasted, about 90 lb. of grain shciuld he sown, say, for the jniddl'^ 

 of June. Too mucli rolling in New Kngland is'not desira))li' as land consoli- 

 dates (|uicklv enough without ; but when rolling is ic(|nire(l to hi-cak down 

 clods, liarrowing should immediately follow the i)peration — freijuent harrow- 

 ing in dry weather during growth of cro]) up to ."> inches higli is iidvised. 



H (truest i-iig. — The use of the reajx'rs and liinders in preference to strippers 

 is strongly recommended here as thei'e is a tendency to uneven i-ipening, and 

 the straw is of great value in the winter both for bedding and fodder for 

 stock. When cut early the straw is more \alual)le in every respect. 



Wheat-growing should only be adopted here as part of a system of mixed 

 farming, and can be well carried on in connection with hnnb -raising and 

 breedirig sheep for mutton purposes. 



Wet harvests are a deterrent both in wheat and oat gi'owing, but it is 

 hoped that destruction and deterioration of grain may be minimised by the 

 results of experiments now in progress at the State farm hei'e, whereby the 

 covering of stooks for weeks, if necessary, with cheap rye-straw caps devoid 

 of grain is aimed at. 



In favourable years .several weak tlour wheats liave produced heavy yields 

 of hirge, soft, giaiii, weighing at a heavy rate per bushel, but their milling 

 (pialities were bad. Farmei's are advised to try some of the Departinent's 

 crossbreds which are good yiekler.', less liable to rust, and of hiuh-class Hour 

 strength ; such as Jonathan and Comeback. The formei' has undergone 

 severe trials during four years on all (|ualities of soils in the district ; the 

 latter has not had the same trial as yet. 



Sussex, a wheat of fair strength, has given very good yields for several 

 years, proving very suitable for the disti'ict. Power's Fife (a Manitoba of 

 splendid Hour strength) and the Blue Stems have also done very well, but 

 should be sown earlier than the others on account of slow matm-ing. 



Zealand, Tardent's Blue, Power's Fife, and the IMue Stems (Minnesota, 

 Haynes', and Bolton's) are recommended for hay wlieats. 



In comparison with the driei- districts with lighter soils the tillage of the 

 soil is expensive, and strong tt^ams of horses must be used ; but on the oiher 

 hand the rains being more regular, larger average yields can be expected. 

 However, the right varieties must be selected, the propei- time and methods 

 of cultivation adopted, befoiv wheat-growing can reach its most profitable 

 limits in New England. 



