Aprils, 1920.] ' Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 297 



Suggested Subjects for Bureau Meetings. 



It sometimes happens that, owing to some inadvertence, members of 

 branches meet without having any particular subject before them. In such 

 a case, one of the following paragraphs may provoke a useful discussion : — 



- What quantity of seed is sown for wheat, oats and barley in your district ? 



What differeiices do you make in quantity of seed as between one variety and 

 another, and as between early and late soioinqs ? Under your special con- 

 ditions, do you, find it advisable to give a heavy sowing or a light one, 

 remembering, of course, that a heavy sowing in one district is a different 

 matter from a heavy sowing in another district? 



Do you practise sehction of seed m,aize in the field ? Jf so, what characters 

 do yo%i select for, and what advantages have you observed attend the •practice ? 



Have you tried ploughing the orchard immediately after the removal of the 

 fruit? The ground is hard and breaks up lumpy, hut some growers have 

 fountl that it retains the winter rains better a7id that the extra cost for pilough- 

 shares is fxdly covered by the extra moisture conserved. Bo you think this 

 would apply under your conditions ? 



Have you tried fumigating citrus as against spraying for scale insects? If 

 so, which did you jiiid the more effective and the cheaper ? 



Which do you prefer — to run the herd bull ivith the cows or to paddock him 

 separately ? If the bull is run loith the coivs, how dp you regulate the flovj of 

 milk to the season ? It is generally considered that the spread of disease is 

 limited by paddockimi the bull ; have you had any experience that supports 

 that viev; ? 



REPORTS AND NOTICES FROM BRANCHES. 



NOTE. — While gladly publishing in these columns the vieivs of members oj 

 the various Branches of the Agrictdlural Bureau, it is pointed out that 

 the Department does not necessarily endorse the opinions expressed. 



Bimbaya. 



At a meeting held on 23rd February, the subject set down for discussion 

 was " The work of the Bureau and how best to extend its sphere of useful- 

 ness." The subject was keenly discussed, the majority of members taking- 

 part. 



Members were generally agreed that the branch had done much good work 

 and had fully justified its existence. The Lending Library was a splendid 

 thing, and the majority of the members made use of it as a means of 

 extending their knowledge. By bringing road requirements, &c., under the 

 notice of the shire councils much useful work was being done. Besides 

 forwarding weed and insect pests to the Department for identification, the 

 branch attended to the acclimatisation of fish in local streams, and did all in 

 its power otherwise to assist its members. One speaker stated that the 

 knowledge he had gained from the Bureau in connection with the remedies 

 for the cure of scoui"s, «ic., in calves satisfied him as to tlie value of the 

 institution, and every farmer in the district should be an active member. 



It was thought that if the branch could impress upon its members the 

 necessity for regular attendance at meetings, much more good work might 



