184 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



3rd of May the average of 22 crops showed a yield of 11-44 tons of 

 roots and a money value of £7 6s. 6d. })er acre. The crop had 

 increased in weight by 2-11 tons but had fallen in the sugar percent- 

 age. The average value of these 22 fields at the first test was 

 £8 8s. lOd. so that the average value of the crop had been reduced by 

 £1 2s. 4d. per acre. Another set of tests were made between the 

 3rd of May and the 7th of June. The average value of the 22 fields 

 in this test was £8 :3s. :3d. and the average yield 12-1(3 tons. The 

 interesting fact conies out that besides showing an increase in weight 

 the sugar percentage had risen so that the crop had nearly come back 

 to its original value. If farmers can be induced to keep the crops in 

 the gTOund, which is doubtful, tests will be made from time to time 

 up to the beginning of spring to determine the increased value, 

 if any, in the crop. Information on this point might have important 

 bearings. Very fine returns were obtained in the Traralgon,- Glen- 

 garry, Cowwarr and Flynn's Creek districts. An average of 13 

 fields from these districts gave a yield of 17-29 tons per acre of a 

 sugar content of 1()-H7 per cent, and a money value of €15 17s. 8d. 



In the Geelong district the returns, owing to unfavorable climatic 

 conditions, were hardly so good as in the Maffra district. There are 

 gentlemen, I believe, present to-day from the Western district and I 

 would* strongly advocate their co-operating with the department in 

 carrying (mt experiments in the growth of this crop. 



Manuring Experiments on Waste Lands. 



Leaving now the soils under cultivation, and the treatment 

 required for the crops they grow, I can introduce to your notice the 

 attemjits that have just been commenced at proving whether the so- 

 called waste lands of the State might not be put to some useful |)nr- 

 pose. 



There are immense areas in Victoria considered of little or no 

 agricultural value, and regarded as waste lauds! There are reasons 

 for believing that such lands by manurmg and, m cases, other treat- 

 ment might be profitably utilized. The Chemical Branch has made a 

 beginning in investigating the possibilities in this direction in two 

 cases. One in the large stretch of sandy country at Dimboola, known 

 as the Little Desert, and the other in what is known as the Heath 

 Country, at Foster. In the latter case the ground has been broken 

 up and roughly drained, ready for sowing in the spring. Scarcity of 

 labor and other reasons prevented the owner having this done last 

 year as intended. In the Little Desert some 40 grasses and 

 fodder plants were tried besides fruit trees. The field officer on 

 inspecting reported that lucerne, Bokhara clover, Johnson grass, 

 Hungarian fodder grass, and prairie grass had made very fair growth. 

 Saltbush, Natal red top grass and New Zealand spinach appeared to 

 have succeeded particularly well, and this after practically eight months' 

 drought. The accompanying photograj)hs will give some indication 

 of this. 



