lo April, 1911] 



Tlte Mallee 



:47 



-of the year, unless provision is made for a burn during the day-time 

 when a fire break (not less than i chain wide) has been cleared around 

 the piece of land to be burned off so as to prevent the fire spreading. 

 The usual practice adopted after the first burn is the cutting off of an,y 

 projecting stumps that have escaped the fire and that are likely to inter- 

 fere with the use of the drill or stump-jump plough. 



Cultivation Methods. 

 After this is satisfactorily performed and sufficient rain ha.s fallen, 

 seed wheat, properly graded and pickled, should be sow-n broadcast at 

 the rate of 50 lbs. per acre, and manured at the rate of 40 lbs. of 

 superphosphate per acre. On the lighter soil of the Mallee, and where 

 there has been a successful burn on the richer areas, there is no necessity 

 for that quantity of manure to be used. With the ashes and too much 

 manure there is a tendency of unduly forcing the growth in the early 

 stages ; the crop becomes too rank and flaggy to allow of good yields 

 •of "Tain. One advanta2;e of sowin": heavilv the first .season is to insure 



'■ BONANZA " oats, MR. LA\ERV S FARM, WATCllEM. 



a g«xJ growth of stubble which will assist in the successful burningoff 

 • of the stumps. 'J'he one-way di.sc cultivator or the skim plough gives 

 better results on the heavier soils than the system adopted of merely 

 di.scing in the seed. The di.sc harrow is apt to ridge the ground too 

 much and does not give satisfactory results. 



The .second year's operations consist of cutting the young growth of 

 suckers ; this cost; from 3d. to 6<1. per acre, according to the amount 

 of new growth. While the crop is growing, further areas may be rolled. 

 Alxjut the months ot July and August any new shoots showing through 

 the crop should W cut with ihr two-edge«i slasher. This can be done 

 by contract at alxuit the same price as the cutting of the new growth 

 after the first crop is taken oil. Tt is advisable, and also i^rofitable. to 

 keep these shoots down l>v rutting, before harvesting the crop, for the 

 reason that at harvest time tiie green leaves are often bagged with the 

 wheat when stripped, causing it to heat and often tainting the wheat to 



