!40 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[8 April, 1907. 



of a set of unalterable natural laws will do more to elevate Australian 

 farm practice than by any other means. The healthv rivalry between 

 school boys will probably lead in after life to the desire to be known as the 

 most successful farmer of the district, truly a position that might be 

 coveted by all. 



It is to be hoped that the worthv example set by the Colac Progress 

 Association will be emulated bv rural bodies throughout the State. 



REPORT ON THE HARVEST RETURNS OF SPECIAL WHEAT 

 AND OAT EXPERIMENTS-SEASON 1906-07. 



F . E. Lee. Agricultural Superintendent. 



The establishment of experimental fields to test the benefits of artificial 

 manures, both singlv and in combination, formed part of the scheme of 

 work carried out bv the Field Branch during 1906. In the cases under 

 review, artificial manures had previously been used, but their use left some- 

 thing more to be desired, and it was with the object of investigating what 

 was lacking that these fields were laid down. The following are the 

 results : — 



Waubra. — Mr. J. Smith, of Waubra, furnished 5 acres of land, the 

 •wheat sown being College Purple Straw. 



It will be remarked that in plots i, 2, and 3 the increased yield is pro- 

 gressive with the heavier dressings. The addition of 28 lbs. of sulphate 

 of ammonia in plot 5. and of double that amount in plot 6 have done prac- 

 ticallv nothing to increase the yields produced by the superphosphate alone. 

 It is, however, in plot 7, where the same manures as on plot 5 have been 

 used with the addition of 28 lbs. of potash chloride, that we find a marked 

 increase from 23.8 bushels to 28.6 bushels. This increase of 4.8 bushels 

 can only be a.scribed to the potash. At first sight it might appear curious 

 that such a small dressing of potash could produce such a large increase 

 in vield, but if reasons are sought for, it would probably be found that the 

 inclusion of the three main elements of plant food (nitrogen, phosphoric 

 acid, and potash) resulted in a more harmonious working, and each element 



