Mar. 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S. W. 249 



Seasonable Notes. 



f4E0. L. SUTTON, 

 Wheat Experimentalist. 



During the present month is the most seasonable period of the year to plant 

 the fodder and renovating crops — rape, tares, and peas. The bountiful rains 

 which fell early in February have made the planting of these crops quite 

 possible, even in our drier districts, and on land previously unfallowed. With 

 the object of obtaining increased returns from future wheat crops, it is to be 

 hoped that this welcome and opportune fall will result in a larger area than 

 usual being planted. 



Because of the bounty offered by the Federal Government, to encourage 

 the growth of linseed (grain) and flax (iibre), wheat-growers in suitable 

 districts are probably considering the advisability of planting some of their 

 land with this crop. Flax or linseed is a possible profitable rotation crop in 

 many of our wheat districts. If, as stated in the daily Press, there is now a 

 market for unretted flax straw, the possibilities with this crop are largely 

 increased, and farmers ought to determine its suitability for their conditions 

 by growing a small area. It can be planted and cultivated with the usual 

 machinery found on a wheat farm, and the resulting crop, if necessary, can lie 

 .stripped without much difficulty and without much loss of grain, though the 

 usual plan is to harvest it with the reaper and binder, and thresh it with a 

 special flax thresher. Early sowing, about April, of 30 to 40 lb. of seed per 

 acre is likely to give best results. 



Growers who intend to give this crop a trial are advised to treat the seed 

 before sowing with a solution of formalin, 1 lb. to 45 gallons of water, in 

 order to prevent the introduction of a destructive fungus disease known as 

 *' flax wilt," which attacks the plants in all stages of growth, and causes them 

 to wilt and die off. This disease of the flax plant is generally introduced on 

 to the farm by sowing infected seed. Seeing that flax is a new crop on most 

 farms, the disease is not likely to be present on them ; it therefore is advisable 

 to take special precautions to prevent its inti'oduction. Prof. Bolley found 

 that this disease was the cause of " flax sick " soils. 



Applications will now be received from farmers wishing to try new varieties 

 of wheats, and to compare them with those they have hitherto found most 

 profitable. Sufficient seed to plant up to half an acre of each of four 

 varieties will be supplied to approved applicants who are willing to conduct 

 the trial in accordance with the plan supplied by the Department, and who 

 undertake to furnish the results of the trial on its completion. The varieties 

 in the experiment are to be planted with the same machinery and in the 

 same way that the main crops of the farm are planted, for the object of 



