rne journal 



OF 



^fte department of Mgricufture 



OP 



VICTORIA 



Vol. XVI. Part 2. 11th February, 1918. 



NHILL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY ANNUAL CROP AND 

 FALLOW COMPETITIONS, 11H7. 



Beport of Mr. H. A. Mullett, B. Ag. Sc. '■ ■. - 



I liave much pleasure in forwarding my report on the Nhill Crop 

 and Fallow Competitions for the year 1917. 



I understand that this is the sixteenth competition that has been 

 held under the auspices of your society, and I take the opportunity 

 of congratulating the society on its singular achievement. To the value 

 of the work, the very high standard of farming so widespread in your 

 district bears eloquent testimony. 



REVIEWING PAST CONDITIONS. 



Early Thought Directed Mainly to Manurial and Cultural 



Problems. 



Being keenly impressed while in your district with the value of these 

 competitions in promoting — 



1. The best farming practices; 



2. A healthy spirit of rivalry among farmerc. ; 



3. A rapid disseminatio'U of the latest information available; 



4. Publicity of special methods of the best farmers. 



I have inquired into their history. From reports kindly placed at 

 my disposal I have been able to peruse the remarks of the variousi judges 

 who have officiated from time tO' time. These reports also contain certain 

 figures, and, taken serially, a striking nicture of advancement unfolds 

 itself. 



Every judge admitted that he had learned something from the best 

 farmers of the district, and details of this knowledge were noted for all 

 to read in his report. In addition, the adjudicators made nuggestions 

 from information gained in other districts, and generally made available 

 details of advanced practices that had been determined by experimental 

 work here or in other parts of the world to be of fundamental importance. 



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