Nov. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 805 



Farmers^ Experiment Plots* 



Summer Fodder Experiments, 1919-20. 



Central Coast. 



J. M. PITT, Assistant Inspector of Agriculture. 



Experiments with summer fodder crops were conducted by the Department 

 during the season 1919 in conjunction with the following farmers : — 



J. C. Dufif, Somerset, Mt. George, Manning River. 



A. H. Norris, Mt. George, Manning River. 



R. Richardson, Mondrook, Manning River. 



A. C. McLeod, Mondrook, Manning River. 



V. Murray, " Pigeon Grove," Pampoolah, Manning River. 



J. P. Mooney, Dumaresque Island, Manning River. 



C. J. Ellis, THnonee, Manning River. 



J. Davis, Sherwood, Macleay River. 



R. Lindsay, Belmore River, Macleay River. " 



A. O'Shea, Belmore River, Macleay River. 



J. Smith, " Hazeldeaa," Wauchope, Hastings River. 



O. Collins, East Coniboyne. 



W. H. Dufify, East Com boy ne. 



Alex. Smith and Atkins Bros., Bandon Grove, Dungog, Williams River. 



M. Smith, 'f Bona Vista," Paterson River. 



Excepting those on the Comboyne and at Paterson, the trials were con- 

 ducted on rich alluvial fiats ; the Comboyne trials took place on volcanic 

 soil, and those at Paterson on ordinary hillside soil, both being typical of the 

 surrounding country. 



Sowings. 



Preparatory cultural operations were satisfactory, farmers having ample 

 time to prepare clean seed beds while waiting for the drought to break. 

 Sowings were mostly made with the hand on the smaller plots, and by the 

 maize dropper, fitted with a suitable sorghum or millet plate, on the larger 

 areas. Shallow drills were struck out 3 feet apart, this distance allowing of 

 cultiva,tion for the destruction of young weed growth and the maintaining of 

 a surface mulch. Neither of these objects, however, was attained, owing to 

 continuous rain rendering after-cultivation operations impracticable, and 

 weeds and summer grass grew apace. The extreme moist conditions were 

 also conducive to attacks cf blight in the Sudan plots, this fact being more 

 noticeable during the late summer and autumn months. Where the crop 

 was sown on the highland at Paterson, however, and grazed off, the disease 

 was negligible. 



Mr. Murray's plot at Pampoolah was a failure, the dry conditions under 

 which the seed was sown preventing germination; 5 lb. of Sudan seed and 

 6 lb. of Saccaline were sown per acre. At Tinonee, where 5 lb. Sudan seed 

 was sown per acre, the yield was not weighed, but cows relied on the crop 

 for several weeks. The crops on Mr. O. Collins' plot at East Comboyne 

 were smothered by summer grass. 



