640 



Agncultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



[Sep. 2, 1920. 



After-cultivatioix 

 Rain falling shortly after sowing often interferes with germination, and 

 the crop sometimes requires re-sowing. However, this trouble may be averted 

 if a light harrowing can be given soon to break the crust. Under ordinary 

 conditions this operation is carried out a week or so after the plants are 

 through. All early cultivations should be conducted preferably during the 

 afternoon of sunny days. The plants are then least liable to injury : during 

 the cooler hours of the morning they are brittle. Usually three or four 

 cultivatings are given, chiefly after rain an<l when young weed giowth is 

 prevalent, discontinuing when the plants have grown to the stage when 

 damage to the roots is to be feared. 





m 



A hackler driven by an oil engine on tlie farm of Mr. R. Richardson, Mondrock. 



Where the Seed comes from. 

 Before passing to the harvesting operations, a reference to the source of 

 seed supply may not be out of place. The regular grower learns by experience 

 that sowing seed from the "heap," where all classes are congregated, only 

 results in poor yields, poor brush, and ultimately poor cheques. He usually 

 goes through his crop beforehantl, and this he is able to do owing to the 

 fact that the heads are almost mature, and selects and cuts enough heads 

 for next season's requirements. The points looked for are long, fine, straight, 

 round fibre, and plenty of it; seed iieads compaft (to simplify hackling) ; 

 and [seed light-brown and full; heads true to a desired type and free from 

 diseases. The heads are dried, hackled, and the seed put carefully away. 

 To gufird against weevil, a liberal quantity ot iiaplnhaline balls should he 

 added to the bin or tin with the seed. To the casual grower it is not always 

 possible to obtain seed in this way ; therefore, it behoves hiui to obtain his 

 supply only from the most reliable source. 



