372 



JournaJ of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Ji'ne, 1918. 



working can be given to some soils. Conso(iuently, where the ninl(;h 

 was entirely absent, points were heavily deducted; but if the mulch 

 were too fine, and likely to set, or of too recent occurrence, similar loss 

 of points followed. 



I regret that, owing to the absence of several of the competitors at 

 the judging, it was not always possible to obtain exact particulars as 

 to the location of the area exhibited, or of the cultural operations given ; 

 and trust that any inaccuracies in this respect will be condoned. 



The Results. 



Light Class. 



Mr. J. Patching, in this class, heads the list with 150 points. This 

 competitor showed sound judgment in working his land, and in the 

 character of the mulch that had been placed on the surface. The land 

 was ploughed in July and August, 4 inches dee]), with a Kubale stump- 

 jump plough. After the spring rains at the end of October, it was 

 worked with a spring-tooth, and again after rain at the end of February. 

 The roughest section (a low-lying portion) has been disced recently, 

 and plans have been made to plough a drain through the low-lying patch 

 after seeding to carry off excess water. The moisture conserved was 

 not as high as that in the land of Mr. Cameron, where Dortion of the 

 soil is, however, heavier, and therefore capable of retaining more 

 moisture. 



Mr. Burton's falloAv was on new ground, and was stated to have 

 been broken up before the Avinter — in Alay — and then skim-ploughed in 

 October with a Shearer cultivating plough. Mr. Burton's fallow did not 

 show quite so much moisture, and there was a skin on the mulch. 



Mr. Richards ploughed in September; he harrowed twice in October, 

 and spring-toothed in 1^'ebruary. The mulch was deep, but appeared 

 to be rather finer than advisable. 



Mr. J. Cameron showed a very interesting piece of fallow, the rain 

 having interfered with the intended programme of work. The soil was 

 light sandy, but there were patches of heavier clay loam. About half 

 the paddock had been ploughed in August, and the remainder in Sep- 

 tember. Samples taken from adjacent parts disclosed the fact that 



