8 Feb., 1908.] Improvement in Irrigation Practice. 119 



IMPROVEMENT IX IRRICIATIOX PRACTICE. 



Lucerne Hay Competition. 



Elwood Mead, Chairman, State Rivers and Water Supply Commission. 



The State Rivei's and Water Supply Commission, witli the concurrence 

 of the jVIinister of Water Supply, has adopted a plan for co-operating 

 with the irrigators of the Rodney and Kerang Districts in improving 

 irrigation practice in the growing of lucerne for hay. This has been under- 

 taken because of a belief that the value of farm lands in these districts 

 and the profits of irrigation will be greatly increased if,- to the area of 

 lucerne now grown for pasture, there is added a large additional area on 

 which lucerne is grown for hay. 



Among the reasons for this belief are the following : — Lucerne hav 

 is a superior winter food for dairy cattle and for growing animals of all 

 kinds; it has few equals in the feeding of sheep and lambs; it will enrich 

 the soil, and, grown in rotation with other crops, will increase the yield 

 of all. The importance of the live stock industry and the extensive areas 

 of grazing land in this State make lucerne an exceptionally valuable 

 crop as a protection against loss in dry seasons. It can be stacked cheaply, 

 and in this condition will keep without serious injury, in the dry climate 

 of Victoria, for several years. It is believed that the area on which 

 lucerne hay is grown will be rapidly extended if the yield per cutting caii 

 be increased and if the harvesting machinery and methods now employed 

 in other lucerne growing countries are introduced here. It is the Com- 

 mission's desire to aid in bringing about both these results. The cause for 

 the small yield is not at present understood. It is certainly not due to 

 climate, which is most favorable to the growth of this crop'; nor does it 

 seem to be due to lack of fertility in the soil, because of the large yields 

 of wheat and flourishing growth of orchards, while chemical analyses 

 show that there are large areas which contain all the elements for vigorous 

 plant growth. The most probable explanation is that the restricted growth 

 of lucerne is due to the compact texture of the soil and its tendencv to 

 form a hard crust when irrigated. 



The great benefit which would come to agriculture in the State from 

 being able to grow at a profit a reserve food supply for dry years makes it 

 worth while for the State to take part in ascertaining how this may be 

 done. Subsoiling, underdrainage, manuring and more careful preparation 

 of the soil for irrigation and more skilful and sparing application of water 

 are all worth trial. 



The value of the demonstration and experimental work proposed to be 

 carried on by the Commission, and at the Wyuna Irrigation Farm, will 

 depend upon the active interest and co-operation of the irrigators in the 

 State. Furthermore, the chances of success will be much greater if the 

 farmers will undertake to solve this problem themselves. Their practical 

 knowledge of the soil and climate and their experience in irrigating and 

 cultivating crops cannot fail to be of great value in working out methods 

 to produce a more vigorous growth. 



As_ an encouragement to such efforts and to bring the work of the 

 Commission and fanners into closer relations the Commission has decided 

 to offer a series of prizes to the farmers producing the largest yield of 



