36 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo Jan., 191 i. 



RAINBOW FARM COMPETITIONS. 



/. M . B. Connor, Agricultural Superintendent. 



The judging for the Rainbuw Farm Competitions to<jk place on the 

 2nd, 3rd and 4tii November. 



The number of entries received for each of the competitions speaks 

 well for the intelligence of the farmers of the district ; and I hope that 

 the spirit of friendly rivalry engendered will be maintained during the 

 coming year. There is no doubt that the Farm Competitions held in the 

 various agricultural centres thioughout the State are the means of fjringing 

 about improved methods of cultivation and greater success in modern 

 farming generally. 



Bes,t Worked and Managed Farm, 640 acres or over. 



Section. 



A. — -Croppiug operations, including cultivation 

 methods, rotation of crop?. ti<-. . . 



B. — -Manuring, also care of stable m mure 



C. — Best and cleanest crop, including oat> 



D.— Live stock— Horses (15), Sheep (12). Cattle (5), 

 Pigs and Poultry (8) 



E. — -Best system of fallowing and working fallow ; 

 area to be considered 



F. — Implements and machinery 



6. — Subdivisional fencing, gates and sheep-yards . . 



H. — Kitchen garden and orchard 



I. — Water supply 



J. — Farm building'? 



K. — Fodder reserves . . 



L.— Shelter belts 



M. — Farmjbook-keeping 



Totals 



14 



7 



6 



4 



16 



16 



10 



8 



8 



153 



The following remarks dealing with the various sections will indicate 

 to the competitors wherein they gained or lost points. 



A. — The management shown in the working of the farms inspected is 

 much the same in each case. I am of opinion that much better results 

 would be obtained if the land were throwai out of cultivation for a longer 

 period than is practised by most of the competitors. 



B. — Superphosphate was used in the majority of instances in amounts 

 from 45 to 60 lbs. per acre, so that the points in this section are very 

 similar, but the proper use of the large quantities of stable manure is 

 sadly neglected. At most of the farms I was told that it was left Iving 

 about until carted on the fallow land. -In two ca.ses, Messrs. Cust and 

 Heinrich's. it was put to better account by l>eing carted on the bare or 

 wind-sweyn patches and ploughed in ; this is certainly a move in the 

 right directic>n. The practice of properly pitting the manure and drain- 

 ing the liquid portion into the pit, only requires to be tried once — the 

 results will be convincing. 



C. — The crops on the whole were uniformly good as regards growth 

 and likely yield. The presence of wild oats,' thistles, the small white 



