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



NHILL FARM COMPETITIONS. 



Judge: F. V\/ . Sallmann, ''Fine View," Kornheini. 



I have much pleasure in forwarding my report and awards in connexion 

 with the Farm Competition carried out under tlie auspices of your society. 

 M'hich deserves great credit for encouraging farmers by giving good prizes 

 .and carrying out all arrangements in a business-like manner. It would be 

 a splendid thing for the farming community if other societies would act 

 similarly. The result would be more and better managed farms in the 

 State. 



As to the system of cultivation and rotation I find that some of the 

 farmers have adopted sowing oats after the stubble is burnt. Where a 

 j^ood crop of wheat has been harvested, there is no doubt that the best 

 fallow is after a crop of oats has been taken off. You will then very 

 seldom find Take-all. My own experience is that the best and most pro- 

 fitable results are obtained by fallowing land from which an oat crop has 

 been taken off — either cut for hay, stripped, or left to feed off. The oats 

 should be drilled in with about 30 lbs. of artificial manure per acre. The 

 fertilizer makes the hay sweet, and the result is that the crop can be cut 

 green. Every acre of wheat stubble should be burnt and then sown with 

 oats which means taking off two crops from the same land in three years. 

 I consider it better than if the land is out of cultivation for even 6 or 7 

 years. Less land is required to make a good living. I am certain this 

 system put up the price of land at least ^3 per acre in my district. 



Nearly all the crops were " wild-oaty " and more or less affected with 

 Take-all, whilst others w^atered out in lowlying patches, due, no doubt, to 

 the exceedingly wet winter. The following are the results of the various 

 competitions : — 



Best Worked and Managed Farm of an Area 640 Acres and Over. 

 In deciding the merits of the respective farms in this competition and 



also that for farms under 640 acres, the following points (maximum 265) 



were taken into consideration : — 



j\. The best system of cropping, 

 including, cultivation, methods, 

 rotation, and manures, 25. 



B. Cleanest and best crops, including 

 oats, 20. 



•C. Fallow in best order, area con- 

 sidered, 20. 



D. Best quality of working horses, 25. 



E. Brood mares, 10. 



F. Sheep, 20. 



C".. Cattle, pigs, and poultry, 5. 

 H. Implements and machinery, 20. 

 I. Boundary fences, gates, sheep- 

 yards, 15. 

 J. Orchard and vegetable garden, 10. 

 K. Water storage, dams, windmills, 45. 

 L. Dwellings and outbuildings, 30. 

 M. Fodder, 20. 

 N. Tree-planting, 5. 

 O. Insurance, 5. 



First. — O. H. Koediger 

 Second. — G. Baton 

 Third.— W. Sanders . . 



191 points. 



189 



185 „ 



Mr. Sanders lost points on reserve fodder but can be complimented on 

 his very clean crop. Mr. Crouch lost points on orchard and garden. 



