34 Journal of Agriculture. [8 Jan., 1907. 



must look to their seed, and sow none but a pure seed. I understand the 

 difficulty there is in securing this, but why should not each man raise it on 

 his own farm ? Most farms have a variety of soils, such as a light sandy 

 and heavy chocolate or clay, and by hand selection of seed, then change 

 of soH, together with thorough cultivation, ,any varietv of grain may_ be 

 improved. I am not advocating this system as a theoretical one, but as one 

 that is practical, and which will, in the near future, become the practice 

 with all up-to-date farmers. Wx. Manning secured his seed from Stanhope, 

 Victoria, where large areas of new country have been recently broken up 

 for cultivation. The apparent yield of this crop is about five bags per 

 acre. 



The third prize was secured by Mr. Goodson, Harston. who exhibited 

 a portion of 160 acres of very heavy crop. The variety was the same as 

 the preceding, and grown on a free loamy chocolate soil. This crop is the 

 third grown on what was previously new land. Last season Mr. Goodson 

 grew four varieties and found this one — Improved Purple Straw — gave the 

 best vield. He saved the seed and re-sowed it, but some of it has become 

 mixed, as I noticed a few heads of Dart's Imperial and several other 

 varieties in the crop. You will notice this crop lost points heavily in clean- 

 ness, as it contained a great deal of foreign matter. Portions of the crop 

 were lodged badlv. but with all these disadvantages I considered it will 

 give the highest yield of anv crop visited by me, but the points lost in the 

 other items pulled it down to third place only. 



Mr. Martin's crop of Steinwedel gained higher points in trueness to 

 type and character; the ears were especially even and typical, with none of 

 the small, weedv heads so often seen in our crops at the present time. Un- 

 fortunately, take-all, white heads,, and rubbish debarred this crop from being 

 placed. 



Mr. Crawford showed a paddock containing :i^2 acres of Red Purple 

 Straw on unfa 1 lowed land and unmanured. The points for the crop run 

 out very consistently, and I have no doubt, had it received about 30 or 

 40 lbs. superphosphate, it would have been placed. 



In every case the seed wheat was pickled for smut and bunt, \ lb. of 

 bluestone per bag being used ; some adopt the dipping method, others 

 sprinkling and turning over on a floor. 



None of the crops were eaten off this season. I am of the opinion that 

 feeding-off has a very beneficial effect on wheat crops at all times, and it 

 is a pitv we have not any data extending over a period of years showing the 

 effects of eating down in the winter. There is a considerable undergrowth 

 ir all the crops, principally clover of two varieties — woollv clover (Tri folium 

 iomentosuni) and native clover {Trifolium glomcratuyn) — and it is surprising 

 to see how rapidly these plants have spread over the Goulburn Valley 

 during recent years. Both provide excellent feed during winter and 

 snring, but dry up early in the summer, leaving the ground bare. Horses 

 and sheep lick up the seeds and pods from the ground, but cattle do not 

 adapt themselves to this mode of feeding so easily, and, consequently, 

 these clovers are looked upon with a certain amount of disfavour by dairy 

 farmers. These small clovers have a very beneficial effect on the soil on 

 account of their power of absorbing nitrogen from the air and con^'erting 

 it into compounds that supply nitrogenous food to the plant. 



I have to thank the President (Air. Lockwood), Secretary (Mr. Clarke), 

 and members of the committee for their kindness and assistance in getting 

 around the district to the various farms. Mr. Clarke carried out all 

 matters of detail expeditiously, and no time was lost in getting to work. 



