8 Jan.. 1908.] 



NJiill Farm Competition. 



but as some benefit will be subsequently gained in the shape of feed, 

 no great disadvantage is attached to this matter. The uniform presence 

 of foreign heads, however, is, to mv mind, a more serious affair. I 

 have on many occasions drawn farmers' attention to the advantage of 

 having pure seed. The Nhill district is not singular in this respect, but 

 the drawback is on the increase, and, sooner or later, farmers will be 

 compelled to take steps to remedy it. The hand picking of small lots 

 of grain for seed is a matter worthy of attention, and I am pleased to 

 note that in a number of cases this practice is being followed. Pure 

 seed should always command a slightly higher price for sowing purposes. 

 (e) The best system of fallowing and working falloiv — 75 points. — 

 The preparation of fallow this year has been considerably impeded by 

 unseasonable weather, the effects of which are verv noticeable in some 



USEFUL TYPE OF FARM HORSES. 



paddocks. Spring rains permitted the greater portion of each com- 

 petitor's fallow being worked, but on most farms there are portions still 

 untouched. On the whole the fallow is clean, and will be kept so bv 

 grazing. Mr. Dahlenberg's fallow is particularly good, having been 

 gone over with a "clod crusher," an implement which should gain in 

 favour. 



(/) Tlie best and most profitable classes of live stock — 15 points. — ■ 

 It is in this matter that the success of the large farms is most apparent. 

 All the competitors devote considerable attention to the improvement of 

 their horses and sheep, and in the case of cattle, pigs, and poultry there 

 is also evidence of attention: — 



Horses. — The high standard of the Wimmera farm horses generally 

 is well maintained in the Xhill district. Good class mares on the 

 lighter and perhaps more active side are more common than the heavier 

 type, although it must not be inferred that size or bone is sacrificed 

 by breeders. Messrs. John Duftv and Son, Dahlenberg, Sanders and 



A 2 



