11 Nov., 1918.] Farmers' Field Bay at Werrihee. 647 



liament, as well as my own, when I say that what we want more 

 than anything else is that we should have a re-adjustment of our expen« 

 diture. What we have looked upon to-day, which is a direct charge 

 upon the State, means an actual loss of only £1,700. What we want 

 to recognise is this — that there should be a re-adjustment of our in- 

 terests and the relative importance of Departments, and I venture to 

 say that, if this were done, we should not have a niggardly or a grudg- 

 ing attitude towards agricultui'e, and, instead of spending a paltry 

 £40,000 a year, we might be spending ten times that amount with 

 advantage. I am a member of the Agricultural Council, and w© acknow- 

 ledge our indebtedness to Mr. Richardson for the information he 

 has given us, and the fresh outlook he has put before us as a result of 

 his recent visit to America. I should like to see all the farmers of 

 the State come here and see for themselves the result of the many e^iperi- 

 ments that are being carried on in their interests." 



The following extract is taken from a report on Farmers' Experi- 

 ment Plots, published in the Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales 

 for October, 1918 :— 



Trials with Oats. 



Algerian is widely known as one of the best all-round varieties. 

 Complaints have been made against this variety in the far Western 

 areas that, where it has been hurried to maturity by hot weather, it 

 develops a bitterness and becomes unpalatable to stock. This same 

 feature is noticeable in Tartarian oats, and in such cases an early oat 

 such as Sunrise should be grown. Where grown, Algerian produced 

 the highest yields of grain, but this was probably due to the late season 

 experienced. Sunrise exceeded Algerian in hay yield. 



Guyra, an Algerian- White Ligowo crossbred, is a most promising 

 variety. It seeds well, producing a nice plump grain that may prove 

 suitable to the oatmeal manufacturers, who at present import the 

 plumper Victoria-grown oat, usually Algerian. Guyra has not the 

 length of straw of Algerian, but makes good hay. 



Lachlan, another Algerian-White Ligowo cross, is intermediate in 

 length of straw between Guyra and Algei'ian. Is earlier than Guyra. 

 The same notes as for Guyra apply to this variety, apart from the dif- 

 ferences mentioned. 



Sunrise. — A selection from Algerian ; is the earliest oat we have. At 

 Nymagee it shed its grain very freely when ripening. Before harvesting 

 a rainstorm occurred, and the ground was almost covered with the grain 

 which had been shed. This feature was not pronounced when grown 

 elsewhere. It is a good hay oat with white seed, and is assured of a 

 good future. 



Bronui Calcutta is too weak in the straw to receive much considera- 

 tion from the farming community. At Orange it lodged extensively, 

 being the only variety to lodge. 



Potato oat produces plump white grain, but owing to its readiness 

 to take flying smut is not so well liked as Algerian. 



