8 Nov., 1907.] Farm Reports. 673 



FARM REPORTS. 



Quarter ended 30TH September, 1907. 

 "Wjoina Irrigation Farm. 



G. H . Tolley, Manager. 



Rainfall. — Although established as an irrigation farm it is regretted 

 that up to the present water for that purpose has been almost unobtainable. 

 The rainfall for the quarter has been : — July 1.91 inches, August .86, 

 September .39. Whilst the intervals between rains have not been of long 

 duration, the amounts registered have generally been a few points, and 

 invariably each rain has been succeeded by continuous high winds. 



Stock — Horses. — No addition has been made to the number of horses — 

 4 draught and 2 buggy horses. They are in good condition and kept 

 constantly at work. 



Cows. — There are 45 cows, and the average number milked daily is 21. 

 Calves have increased by 4 heifers and 2 bulls. The want of natural 

 pasture has necessitated some feeding with bran and chaff, and on the 

 26th September the milkers were turned into a 30-acre paddock sown with 

 peas and rape, as there was no hope of the crop coming to anything. From 

 all appearances it seems likely that this course must be adopted to utilize 

 as far as possible the remaining 140 acres of crops. 



Pigs. — These are Berkshires and have done very well. There are now 

 3 brood sows, 2 of which are just ready for breeding. Of a litter of 

 8 voung ones 4 sows are being retained for breeding purposes. The 

 pigs sent to the Kyabram sales topped the market at ^3 7s. each. A 

 high-class boar was secured from the Kew Asvlum stud on the 31st 

 July. 



Poultry. — At present there are only a tew fo'wls and ducks, but it is 

 intended to at once develop this industry. 



Crops. — To obviate as much as possible the effects of the season 

 the growing crops have been well rolled and harrowed, but it is now 

 obvious that very little result will accrue; even with heavy rain the 

 sanguine hopes of the early part of the season will not be realized. In 

 every case germination was all that could be desired, and there is very 

 little appearance of disease. Small areas of lucerne have been sown 

 and land worked and graded for planting summer crqps in anticipation 

 of possible irrigation. Of the main area sown to lucerne (48 acres) 40 

 acres were irrigated from 16th to 21st September and have responded 

 well. From the various cover crops sown with the lucerne it is anticipated 

 that a fair amount of ensilage will vet be secured. The lucerne was 

 sown in almost every conceivable way and with varying quantities of seeds 

 and manures and will later on furnish a valuable object lesson. Provided 

 the new channel from the Waranga Basin is shortly completed and irriga- 

 tion made a certainty, a sufficient fodder yield to carry the stock through 

 the summer is anticipated. 



Tree Planting, etc. — About 300 shelter trees have been planted along 

 the various boundary fences, and it is intended as opportunity offers to plant 

 trees in every available spot. To this end trees are now being raised 

 from seed in the farm nursery. The shelter trees and also the orchard 

 trees are being watered by hand from time to time. A large number of 

 rooted vines, shade trees, vegetable plants and herbs have been raised 

 and distributed amongst the settlers. The orchard trees and trellised 

 vines have made a good start. In the garden a constant succession of 



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