Feb. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 147 



water to pass through the ground, instead of over the top of it. Rain water contains 

 air, ammonia, and carbonic acid gas, and the more that passes through the soil the better. 

 Moreover, draining aerates the soil ; when the rain passes through it draws the air after it. 



We now come to the digging or trenching of the ground. If we decide to trench, it 

 should be done to the depth of 1 5 inches or 1 8 inches. Perhaps it would be best if I described 

 the way I trenched a piece of land in Lidcombe. It may seem very laborious, but if the 

 place is your own it is worth it, as the increased fertility is permanent. In the first place, 

 mark out a width of 4 feet across the lowest part of the ground, dig out the top soil, and 

 wheel to the highest part of the plot. Then mark out 2 feet across the subsoil, dig that 

 out to the depth you intend to trench, and wheel this soil also back to the top. If you 

 have not used the scrub for draining, you can now lay some of it at the bottom, turn 

 the other 2 feet of subsoil en the top of it, and sprinide a Uttle fresh .slacked lime 

 on it. Then mark out 2 feet of the next piece of land, dig off the top spit, and put it 

 on top of the subsoil. Continue working th;s way until the whole bed is trenched, and 

 the s )il taken off the bottom is filled in at the top end. 



Should you not wis'i to go to this trouble, however, and still wish to trench, mark ofl 

 2 feet across the bottom of the bed, dig out the top spit and wheel it to the top. Dig 

 up the subsoil, sprinkle a little lime on it, turn the top of the next 2 feet on top of the 

 subsoil, and thus continue through the bed. Having finished the trenching and levelled 

 the land, if you still have the scrub on hand spread it over the land, and put a running 

 fire through it. If the land is on a slope, you are now ready for the plantirg. If it 

 is flat or swampy, it will most likely be sour, and will require liming, after which 

 you will have to wait three weeks before planting anything in it. Be cautious with the 

 lime, if the soil is anyway sandy, because i lb. lime to the square yard is over 1 ton 1 J 

 cwt. to the acre. 



Lower Portland. 



A meeting of tliis branch was held on 1st December, when there was a good 

 attendance, and two new members were elected. An interesting paper on 

 the making of wine was read by ]\Ir. R. M, Smith. 



March. 



A meeting was held on 15th December, when the following papers were 

 read and discussed : — 



" The Starling Pest," by Mr. Hubert Griffith, and '' Notes on the Starling," 

 by Mr. J. Swan, Fruit Inspector. A discussion on " Predominating Timber " 

 also took place. 



As regards the last, a member of the Stratford branch lately opined 

 that the predominant timber in a locality was the most durable. While 

 members disagreed with the theory, it was also stated that in certain localities 

 the predominating timber was the longest lived. As a general rule, however, 

 members held that such was not the case. Instances were quoted in the 

 locality and from most of the Blue Mountains. Stringybark, though not 

 an extremely common tree on the Blue Mountains, was very much used for 

 fencing purposes, and people had posts carted considerable distances in 

 preference to using the predominating local timbers. Further, timber from 

 ridges was more lasting than that obtained from the lower parts, and posts 

 set in low ground lasted longer than those set on ridges on account of the 

 lower lands being moister. Those on hilly, stony ground always rotted 

 at the ground line. 



Milbrulong. 



A meeting was held on 1st December, at which sixteen members were 

 present. 



During the evening a debate took place on the question, " Which Pays 

 Best — Wheat for Hay or for Grain?" Mr. F. W. GoUasch was the leader 

 for grain, and Mr. P. J. Lynch the leader for hay. Mr. H, Chapman acted 



