June 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 463 



though having a large household, was among the smallest consumers of 

 bread in his round. The reason was that the person in question grew 

 unlimited supplies of vegetables. 



The secretary urged that every farmer should grow vegetables. The 

 Australian generally should be more self-supporting. 



Tallong. 



A fruit-packing demonstration was given by Mr. W. le Gay Brereton, 

 Assistant Fruit Expert, under the auspices of this branch on 11th Mai'ch, 

 and was much appreciated. 



The district was very successful with its apple display at the Sydney Royal 

 Show, taking about forty individual prizes, and also second prize for the 

 district. 



Ttie usual monthly meeting was held on 1st May, when several orchard 

 matters came up for discussion. A complaint was voiced that the Railway 

 Commissioners were making an excessive charge on empty return cases. 



Thyra-Bunaloo. 



General business was transacted at the monthly meeting on 17th April, 

 and arrangements were made for the business for subsequent meetings. 



Tingha. 



On 29th January Mr. W. W. Froggatt, Government Entomologist, 

 delivered a lecture under the auspices of this branch on economic entomology. 

 The advances made by this science in recent years, and the ways in which it 

 is of use to farmers were pointed out, and n)any it) sects that had become of 

 economic importance were specially referred to and described. 



On llih February Mr. R. W. McDiarmid, Inspector of Agriculture in the 

 north-west, gave a lecture on the growing of winter feed for stock. The 

 requirements of animals and the ways in which various classes of plants met 

 them were carefully described, and the recommendations of each discussed. 



Mr. Cook, of the staff at Glen Innes Experiment Farm, on 6th February 

 conducted a demonstration of summer thinning, which was much appreciated. 



Making use of a large number of trees, Mr. Cook was able to give much 

 useful information, and the vote of thanks that was moved by Mr. SuUings 

 at the close was warmly approved. 



Mr. E. A. Parsons delivered an address on the growing of broom millet 

 before members of the branch during April. 



Mr. Parsons advocated deep ploughing early, sowing in October at 6 lb. per acre, in 

 drills 2 feet fi inches apart, 3 inches deep and seeds about 8 inches apart in the drill. 

 This gave a fairly thick seeding, but when the weak plants were thinned out the stand* 

 should be satisfactory. Inter-cultivation to keep down weeds and prevent loss of 

 moisture was recommended. About the first week in January the plants would be ready 

 to have their heads bent over. If done too soon there was a big probability of the stem 

 snapping, while if left too late the weight of grain would bend over and spoil the 

 sample. He had found that the best guide was the bloom on the heads, and he always 

 bent about half way between the first and second joints from the top. He recommended 

 the selection in the paddock of the best heads for seed purposes. 



At the monthly meeting, held on 1st May, a discussion took place on 

 manures, and the following queries were raised : — 



1. What are the relative merits of nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia as a 



top-dressing for such crops as cabbage, cauliflower, &c. ? 



2. Is muriate of potash at any time injurious? If so, when ? 



3. Is the too free use of wood ashes liable to render a potato crop scabby ? What 



quantity is advisable, and how should it be applied ? 



D 



