Aug. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 541 



considerable drying-out took place on the day of planting owing to high 

 westerly winds. Seed used mostly inferior, especially that of Manhattan, 

 Vermont, Sussex, and Early Rose ; covered with cultivator, run twice up 

 the centres, and harrowed. Up-to-date germinated well, others patchy ; 

 harrowed, cultivated twice, and hilled. The only rain of use fell in October. 

 Ladybirds were prevalent in November. 



3ft. George. — Soil, rather stiff rich loam ; previously cropped with lucerne 

 in 1916, maize in 1917-18, and maize in 1918-19. Ploughed after removal 

 of the crop in June. Harrowed twice and rolled. Ploughed and harrowed 

 previous to sowing. Land in excellent moist condition for planting on 20th 

 August. Sets covered with cultivator twice up centre of drills, then 

 harrowed. Vermont seed not good ; germination throughout good. Heavy 

 frosts hit some early foliage, but without serious damage. Frosts occun^ed 

 on 3rd, 9th, 11th, 14th, 16th (heavy), 17th (heavy) and 18th September, and 

 on 23rd October (light). Harrowed twice; cultivated twice and hilled; no 

 lack of moisture throughout growth. Extraordinary top growth. Up-to-date 

 vines became a tangled mass. 



Bandon Grove. — Soil, rich loamy; previous crop, maize in 1918, followed 

 by barley; ploughed early in July and harrowed; ploughed again in August, 

 harrowed and rolled. Crop ploughed in, 3rd September, in moist, clean seed- 

 bed ; germination good ; harrowed, cultivated twice, and hilled ; excellent 

 growth throughout. 



Paterson, — Soil, stiff clayey loam; previous crop, maize in 1918 and 

 haricot beans. Land ploughed in May and again in September ; harrowed 

 and cultivated, and rolled. Sets ploughed in in rather moist soil on 16th 

 September ; left for a while before harrowing ; soil rather lumpy. Heavy- 

 rain shortly after broke down the clods and nicely covered the sets. 

 Germination good, excepting Vermont and Sussex ; harrowed and cultivated 

 twice ; hilled. Falls of rain at intervals helped to turn out very good 

 yields. 



Comboyne. — Soil, deep rich-red volcanic ; previous crop, maize. Cultural 

 methods very rough; stalks and rubbish ploughed in in July; rolled; 

 plouohed again in August, harrowed, and rolled. Seedbed moist, but 

 dirty ; sets ploughed in, 23rd September. Germination good ; crop 

 harrowed and cultivated, and hilled. Crop became rather dirty owing to 

 heavy rain forcing summer grass and weeds into growth. 



Miller's Forest. — Soil, stiff clayey loam ; previously cropped with lucerne 

 in 1917; broom millet in 1918-19; land ploughed in May, harrowed and 

 rolled ; ploughed again previous to sowing, harrowed and rolled. Sets 

 planted on 17th September; covered with cultivator, and then harrowed; 

 germination good ; crop harrowed and cultivated twice, and hilled. Although 

 promising well at the outset, a dry spell in November reduced yields. The 

 Hunter is. renowned for its dry periods in the spring, especially in November, 

 and sowing early (even late in July) should be encouraged to avoid these 

 dry periods as much as possible. 



