442 Journal of Agriculture. [8 July, 1907. 



PnosPHATic Fertilizers. 



It was determined at this College that the phosphatic fertilizers were 

 the most essential for the soils of this district, and the results obtained 

 li\ Mr. A. N. Pearson and Dr. Howell, Agricultural Chemists, over a 

 wide area of Victoria conclusively bore out this experience, and since 

 that time the yielding powers of the northern soils have been considerably 

 enhanced by the general use of this fertilizer in conjunction with bare 

 fallows, especially in the driest parts, and with rape and such fodders in 

 conjunction with sheep in the more favoured parts. The experiments car- 

 ried out fourteen years ago illustrated the effect of phosphatic fertilizers in 

 inducing early ripening, which was more marked when experimenting with 

 Ijarley than Avith either w^heat or oats. 



The following are some rotations that fit most northern: conditions 

 where sheep are kept to feed down the rape : — Wheat, grass. 

 fallow with or without rape ; wheat, oats, grass, fallow with 

 or without rape; or wheat, rape on stubbles, oats or barley, fallow. 

 Under some conditions peas may enter into the rotation, and in course 

 of time a higher system of management will be general. Where permanent 

 pastures are desired top-dressing with fertilizers should be carried out. 



The Preparation and Crossing of Varieties of Wheat. 



The operation of crossing one wheat with another is a very simple one. 

 The chief difficulties are: — fixing the type, and determining whether the 

 variety has all the qualities that a good wheat should possess. The time 

 for performing the operation is determined by watching the mother plant, 

 and as soon as the stamens are showing in one or two plants, or the w-heat 

 is flowering, the time for work is at hand, for wheat is a self-fertilizing 

 plant hence one variety may be grown next to another without crossing, 

 llie ear whose florets are intended to be fertilized is taken in hand before 

 the anthers have burst, and just as they have the appearance of approach- 

 ing maturitv, which is known by the deeper yellow colour. Previous to this 

 they are of a light yellow and brittle, but when ripe the least squeeze 

 and the anthers burst, and spread the pollen over the feathery stigma, 

 which of course would spoil the floret for crossing purposes, and a new 

 one must then be selected. By means of a fine pair of pliers or forceps, 

 the three stamens, with the anthers intact, are taken out, sometimes in the 

 one operation. The test pliers for the purpose are those that open when 

 pressed, and shut immediately the pressure is off^. 



The accessories useful in carrying out the work are a seat that can 

 easily be arranged near the plants, a stand to hold the note book, and few 

 articles such as cotton wool, gauze, paraffin paper, soft thread and scissors. 

 Every care should be taken to keep the point of the forceps free from the 

 wrong pollen grains, hence the point should be well wiped with a piece of 

 soft cloth or it should be clipped in benzine or spirits of wine kept in a 

 small bottle. The seat and stand may be simply small flat pieces of 

 wood sufficientlv strong fastened in the centre to a sound stick about 2 feet 

 6 inches long and pointed at the other end in order to drive it into the soil 

 T use two old wickets that are iron shod ; on these are fixed the flattened 

 parts, about 6 inches by 8 inches, to act in the one case as a seat, and in 

 the other as a table for the above; articles. To one end of a piece of cord 

 or tape the forceps are tied, the other end is fixed by a loop to a button 

 or tied through a button hole to the vest, so that en releasing the forceps 

 they are easily picked up again. 



