11 Feb., 1918.] Wheat Experimenfal Flol.^ in the Mallee. 93 



The summarized results of the manurial trials prove that 60 lbs. 

 superphosphate drilled in with the seed gave the most profitable return, 

 showing the net profit over and above the cost of the manure of 9s. 4d. 

 per acre, as against the no-manure plot, and 4s. per acre as against the 

 usual dressing given in the Mallee, viz., 30 lbs. The 90-lb. dressing 

 was not so profitable, and is probably too heavy for Mallee conditions, 

 even in wet years like the last one. 



The average dressing used in the di&trict ranges from 30 to 45 lbs. 

 of superphosphate. Experience of the past season's results, as well as 

 that of previous years, has shown that this amount may be profitably 

 increased up to 60 lbs. per acre. 



The whole of the results are important in that they confirm the fact 

 that the soils of the Mallee respond to fertilizers, and that> certain 

 varieties of wheat are more adaptable than others under conditions 

 obtaining there. 



Experience shows that wherever the introduction of better farming 

 method^' are rendered feasible by the conquering of the Mallee shoots, 

 and overcoming other pioneering difficulties, wheat-growing is a highly 

 remunerative industry. 



In submitting the results of experimental plots at Carwarp, Mr. G. 

 G. Stewart, M.L.A., writes at follows: — 



' ' I notice a deal of criticism in the press as to why the Government 

 experimental farma cannot show a profit, and I have worked out the loss 

 to me occasioned by utilizing 30 acres of my land for experimental work, 

 as compared with 30 acres of the same laud not so devoted. The figures 

 are : — 



Total yield experimental plots (area 30 acres, 



includes spaces between plots) ... ... 380 bushels. 



Total yield 30 acrer., Cui'rawa (field wheat), sown 



side by side with plots ... ... ... 486 ,, 



At 4s. per bushel this works out as under: — 

 380 at 4s., £76. 486 at 4s., £97 4e. 



In addition, two full days longer were taken with the drill and two 

 extra days with the harvester. Allowing £2 per day for this work, it 

 makes a total loss of £29 4s. on the experimental plots compared with 

 the field wheat. This does not allow for the painstaking work of label- 

 ling, weighing, and tabulating the results. 



I feel sure that the adverse criticism of the balance-sheets of the 

 experimental farms conducted by the Victorian Agricultural Department 

 arises from a lack of knowledge of the true character and objects of 

 experimental work. My experience has been that no farmer, 

 however expert, can conduct experiment work and make a 

 profit; the real profit is not shown by the actual results obtained at 

 the experimental farms themaelves, but in the increased productiveness 

 of the farmr, of the State as a whole due to such experimental work, and 

 there is a big field for investigation. I believe there are hundreds of 

 thousands of pounds lost annually to the farmer of this State in the wheat- 

 growing industry alone through sowing wrong varieties of seed, wrong 

 quantities of seed and manure, and sowing at the wrong time. If the 

 average farms in Victoria were farmed with the same skill as the best 

 farms of the State, it would mean an increase of millions of pounds 

 annually to the wealth of the State, without the expenditure of one extra 

 pound of capital or one hour more of labour." 



