fiSG Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Oct. 2, 1920. 



No crop was sown at Nyngan farm in the 1910 season, but a commenco- 

 ment was made in 1911, altiiough not under very favourable conditions, as 

 fallowing could not be done to any great extent, owing to delay in the 

 operations of clearing the land. 



From that time on, however, fallowing always preceded the wheat crops, 

 and the system known as the throe-years' rotation system was carried out as 

 far as practicable. This rotation comprised wheat, fodder crops, and bare 

 fallow in consecutive years. 



To give an idea of the results obtained at Nyngan for the years 1911 to 

 1918 inclusive, a ploc in the ploughing experiment may be taken as an 

 example, as it compares more closely with the system advocated at the outset 

 than do plots in other experiments, where standard varieties, seeding, and 

 tillage methods were not always adopted. From this plot, too, the yields 

 given are actual, the produce being weighed when tit to stack. For the 

 period quoted, eight crops were sown ; five of these were harvested for hay, 

 one was harvested for grain, and the two remaining crops were fed olF with 

 sheep, having failed to make sullicient growth to admit of profitable harvest- 

 ing with the binder. Howtner, they made some growth, and their value as 

 grazing crops was considerable, and it is estimated that — together with the 

 expense of harvesting saved — they added to the crop that was harvested for 

 grain (which yielded 8| bushels per acre) a value at least equal to one 

 average crop for the period. 



The actual yields were : — 



Year. 



1911 Hay ... 

 191-2 „. ... 

 1913 „ ... 

 1914 



Average yield per acre, 1 ton 5 cwt. 2 qrs. 



The plot chosen to r(>present the system advocated, the yields of which are 

 given above, was always ploughed with a mouldboard plough G inches deep, 

 and received the necessary cultivation to keep it free from weeds and to 

 conserve moisture. Seed was planted at the rate of 27 lb. per acre, a variety 

 of wheat which had proved its suitability to the district being used (with an 

 application of 30 lb. vui)er})hospliate per acre) but one which in none of the 

 years gave the highest yield for the experiment of which it formed a part. 



The average yield .shown cannot be considered as other than satisfactory, 

 as a return of over 1^ tons of hay per acre per year would show a profit over 

 and above the cost of production. Of course the heavy crops, the results 

 mainly of so^asons of bounteous rainfall, affect the average appreciably, but it 

 must be remembered that there are good seasons in the west as well as 

 droughts, and (hwing such good soa.sons the growth of all vegetation is 

 wonderful. Jf this is availed of, reserves of fodiler can be storeil to assist in 

 tiding over lean years ; but to be in a position to benefit by years of plenty 

 one must take a risk and plant in all years, for the man who can forecast 

 what anyone season is going to bring forth has, unfortunately, yet to be born. 



