126 Journal of Agnculture. [8 Feb., 1908. 



continue to avail themselves of tlie use of the farm tools and implements, 

 and assistance has been rendered them in laving out irrigating ditches and 

 determining the levels of the land. Grading implements have been ex- 

 hibited at various shows and in some cases demonstrations given. 



On the 17th October a lecture on " Poultry Raising " was delivered 

 by Mr. H. V. Hawkins. 



Soil samples have been gathered and sent to the laboratory for analysis 

 and moisture results. 



Mount Xavier Experimental Farm. 



A. Kenny, Manager. 



Crops. — Hay. — The hay crop (18 acres) — part Algerian and part 

 Tartarian — has been cut, the Algerian being stacked and the Tartarian is 

 still in stook. It was predicted by the general .public that no crop would 

 be cut in consequence of the very late sowing, and the very poor quality 

 of the soil. The season was also most unfavorable, September and October 

 being very dry went very much against the crop. The November rains 

 helped considerably, and the result will be about i ton of excellent hay 

 to the acre. 



Peas. — The pea crop (about 9 acres) was sown the first week in Sep- 

 tember — late for this district. Six acres were ploughed in and potatoes 

 planted whilst the other 3 acres are being threshed for seed for next year. 

 The heavy rain came on just as they were ready for pulling, and a great 

 number were lost through shelling. The ground will be ploughed imme- 

 diately, and sown with a mixture of barley and xye ; with the self-sown 

 peas this will make excellent green fodder. 



Mangolds. — The first week in October 2 acres of mangolds (Long Red 

 and Mammoth Globe) were sown. The land was well prepared, being well 

 ploughed, harrowed and rolled, and formed an excellent seed-bed. The 

 plants appeared in due course, but after a couple of dry, hot windy days 

 they were scorched off. Maize was sown instead. 



Potatoes. — About 6 acres of Snow-flake potatoes are planted. They 

 are looking well, the stalks being strong and healthy where the original 

 soil had not been disturbed by the miners; whilst the other parts (clay 

 and sludge patches) are weakly, but will come on if we get good February 

 rains. From appearances a very fair average crop will be obtained. 



Maize. — The maize crop (alwut 12 acres) is looking exceedingly well, 

 especially in those parts where patches of the original soil had not been 

 disturbed by the miners. Other parts, where gravel, tailings, and slum 

 have been mixed up, are not doing so well. About if cwt. of superphos- 

 phate and nitrate of soda per acre have been put in with the maize. The 

 crops generally on this very poor land have surprised the visiting public, 

 and have been watched in Ballarat with keen interest. The critics were 

 entirely out in their opinion, which was generally that " no crops would 

 be harvested this j-ear." The result has been very satisfactory considering 

 the late start that was made with the hav crop and peas and the 

 very dry spring — there was scarcelv any rain during September and 

 October. 



The principal work at present is cultivating and hoeing between the rows 

 of maize and potatoes. The scarifier and hoe are kept constantly going, 

 and the land kept open and friable on top. The recent rains have been 

 of great benefit to the maize and potatoes. 



