Jan. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



Farmers^ Experiment Plots^ 



Winter Gheen Fodder Experiments, 1919. 



Central Coastal District. 



J. M. PITT, Assistant Inspector of Agriculture. 



Winter trials were conducted during the season by the Department of 

 Agriculture in co-operation with the undermentioned farmers : — 



J. G. Ward, Sherwood, Macleay River. 



Felix Kemp, West Kempsey, Macleay River. 



Robert Lindsay, Belmore River, Macleay River. 



A. J. O'Shea, Belmore River, Macleay River. 



R. Richardson, Mondrook, Manning River. 



W. Richardson, Dumaresque Island, Manning River. 



J. C. Duff, Mount George, Manning River. 



O. Collins, Comboyne. 



Alex. Smith and Atkins Bros., Bandon Grove, Dungog. 



M. Smith, Paterson, Paterson River. 



Considering the exti-eme weather conditions prevailing — a deluge of rain 

 in the autumn (shortly after the sowing in the majority of (tases) followed 

 by an extremely cold and dry winter and spring — the results, with one or 

 two exceptions, were satisfactory. It is gratifying to report that, besides an 

 increase in the number of experimenters, the results are gradually being 

 availed of by other farmers in each district, although hardly to the extent 

 looked for, considering the importance of the project. 



Under coastal conditions pastures are usually the basis of the food supply, 

 and they depend entirely upon the rainfall. With the continued run of dry 

 seasons, however — and the winters and springs are invariably so — it is 

 obvious that the milk yield and the condition of the cattle must both be low, 

 since the pasture growth is at a standstill. Especially is this the case with 

 the dairy farmer who depends solely upon grazing ; with the farmer who 

 supplements his pastures by the growing of fodder crops the position is 

 different. By adopting sound cultural methods, ploughing the land during the 

 summer so that the autumn rains can penetrate, and then using the disc 

 (harrow or cultivator) to conserve it, he practically assures yields of fodder on a 

 rainfall that would be almost useless as far as pastures are concerned. Many 

 instances of successfully combating the effects of drought have been demon- 

 strated by this method during the season. One instance — that at Sherwood 

 — deserves special mention. Here, by adopting the method referred to, the 

 autumn rains were held, and yields of 8 to 1 o tons were obtained. In the 

 five months following, 253 points fell ; but with the exception of one fall in 

 October, after most of the crops were harvested, the other falls were of no 

 value. Were farmers to adopt farming methods on the lines suggested, instead 

 of trusting to luck, there would probably be fewer apjieals for assistance. 



