334 Agricultural Journal of Victoria.. 



SUMMER FODDERS FOR THE NORTH. 



By H. Pye. 



The year 1902 Avill in this State mark an epoch in regard to the 

 growth of summer fodders. For many years their cultivation has 

 been advocated by those interested in the farming community, and 

 at the Dookie College they have been grown extensively for the last 

 sixteen years. There is no doubt but that when they become better 

 appreciated by farmers, they will never let a season pass by without 

 making provision for them. I feel confident that as soon as this is 

 firmly impressed on the minds of the farmers of the northern 

 areas of the State especially, the value of then' land will be much 

 enhanced, owing to its greater stock-carrying capacity. 



There is one thing certain, and that is, it is not possible to grow 

 summer fodders without thoroughly preparing the land and treating 

 the crop as a really important part of farm economy. It is only a 

 speculation to sow the seed on the stubbles, or on poorly tilled land. 



Summer fodders need all the attention that a first-class cereal 

 crop does, if first-class returns are expected. In the dry districts of 

 the State it cannot be expected that great crops will grow, but I 

 believe it would be rarely that they did not much more than com- 

 pensate for the labour of jmtting them in. In the more favoured 

 parts of the country the tonnage of fodder grown on every well tilled 

 acre would be a marvel to many who do not now grow it, were they 

 to take the matter in hand and carry out the experiment. For sheep, 

 the importance of summer fodders is freely recognised in many 

 countries. For cattle, their use is also well recognised, and for such 

 they are more known in this State. The better carrying capacity of 

 the land for stock, owing to the decimation of our flocks and herds 

 during the years of drought, must be brought more prominently 

 before our eyes, and it will be conceded by practical men who 

 thoroughly understand the use, of summer fodders, that in them we 

 have a splendid opportunity of making up leeway. 



It may be asked, what are summer fodders ? since in the cooler 

 and more moist parts of the State many plants will thrive in summer, 

 the seed of which has been sown in spring, that would be useless in 

 the drier and warmer districts having a scant rainfall. The summer 

 fodders dealt with in this paper will include maize, sorghums and 

 allied plants — millets, legumes of special kinds, and certain other 

 plants that will be named, 1:)ut which are not generally grown. 



Maize. 



A number of varieties of maize were tried last season, and 

 though it cannot be said that any of them were a success when we 

 compare the crops with those grown on rich river flats, or m parts 



