July 2, 1920.] 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



469 



The Mid-season Plots. 



Delay was also incurred in planting these plots, rain falling after the 

 ground had been irrigated ; this carried the sowing date forward to 10th 

 June, which must be classed as late, as it is not usual to plant any later than 

 this. Germination of all varieties in this case, was considerably retarded 

 owing to the ground being much colder, but it was nevertheless fair, as the 

 ground was in fairly good condition. The later growth was slow, but the 

 approach of warmer weather in the spring, together with irrigations on 

 19th August and 23rd Septembei-, forced it a little. The crop genei'ally 

 did not compare at all favourably with the earlier sown plots, only medium 

 yields being obtained. These were as follows : — 



The Late-sown Plots. 



This planting was made on 30th June under unfavourable conditions. It 

 was necessary to irrigate the ground at the same time as for the mid-season 

 sowing, and to keep it cultivated, with the result that it had dried up 

 considerably by the time the sowing was made, leaving an undesirable seed- 

 bed. The ground was exceedingly cold then, and this, with the absence* of 

 the necessary moistu»'e, was the cause of a very poor germination in all 

 varieties, and an extremeU^ weak growth for the first ten weeks. Three 

 irrigations were given this crop, the first on 19th August when the crop 

 was only about 6 inches high, the second on 23rd September, and the third 

 on 29th October, just prior to the flowering stage in the earliest varieties. 

 The two last irrigations accelerated the growth of the crop, finally giving 

 greater yields than were at first expected. After the first irrigation it was 

 found necessary to harrow the crop in the endeavour to break up the hard 

 surface of the ground and so stimulate growth. Although the lack of 

 rain at the right time was largely the cause of the poor yields obtained, 



