776 



Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



The returns in the two cases were as follows 



Mr. McPherson 

 Mr. Mortimer 



Unmanured Plot 



not Subsoiled. 



Bushels. 



12-20 

 25-00 



Unmanured Plot 

 Subsoiled 

 Bushels 



16-00 

 26-55 



Manured Plot 



not Subsoiled. 



Bushels. 



20-10 



29-80 



Manured Plot 



Subsoiled. 



Bushels. 



23-75 

 30^25 



The photograph illustrating the growth of the crop on a number 

 of the plots, taken from sheaves sent to the laboratory by Mr. 

 McPherson, indicate better than figures the differences obtaining. 

 Mr. McPherson wrote in reference to the matter, "Plots 19 and 20, 

 deep stirring, are a good deal ahead of the others. The difference is 

 remarkable." 



The Influence op the Season on the Year's Returns. 



The results from the three fields which have just been discussed 

 are of interest as being the first obtained in the North with the use of 

 manures, during a year of heavy rainfall. The preceding years in 

 which manure experiments had been conducted were characterised 

 by long dry periods at critical stages in the life of the crop, and by a 

 low total rainfall for the growing period. The copious and beauti- 

 fully distributed rainfall of last season gave the first opportunity of 

 proving the maximum crops obtainable from the use of fertilizers 

 with a sufficiency of moisture at all stages of growth. A comparison 

 of the returns of last year with those of the two preceding, on the 

 farm of Mr. McPherson, will indicate the effect of rainfall on the 

 yields obtainable. The returns in Plot 6 may be selected for 

 comparison : — 



1901 



Yield of Wheat in Bushels 



7-75 



1902 



1903 



1-50 



27-75 



The rainfall for the three years on this farm was as follows : — 



The heavy yields obtained last year from Mr. McPherson's are by 

 no means exceptional, for the returns from the same jDlots of both 

 Messrs. Mortimer and Cronk are correspondingly heavy. 



1903. 

 Mr. Mortimer . . . . . . 25-30 bushels. 



Mr Cronk .. .. .. 30-15 bushels. 



A frequent recurrence of the extremely favourable conditions of 

 last season cannot be expected, but the returns under such conditions 



