498 



journal of Agriculture. 



[lo Aug., 1908. 



for general cultivation. As the draining work proceeded, a strong growth of 

 strawberry clover made its appearance; and now, when protected from stock, 

 bids fair to smother the rough grass that was the principal growth on this 

 land previously. When this drained ground is broken up, rye grass and 

 other common forage grasses make their appearance. 



The growth made by the clover after draining encouraged the sowing 

 of a trial crop of maize. In the paddock chosen, near the river bank, 

 where the land is slightly higher, was a 20-acre strip of lignum — a dense 

 wiry bush, growing up to 10 feet high, and with about the same spread, 

 and close to the ground. This scrub forms a perfect harbor for rabbits 

 at all times; for, as they scramble to the higher parts of it as the water 

 rises, only a very high flood can destroy them. The clearing of this 

 lignum belt was effected by first breaking down the bushes with a "Mallee- 

 roller" made from a large iron boiler hauled by eight span of bullocks ; 

 ;ind then grubbing out the roots. By this method the land was made 

 ready for the plough at a cost of something less than jT^i per acre, most 

 of which was spent on feeding the bullocks, there being literally no grass 

 to support them. This and 60 acres adjoining were broken up in October 





STEAM PLOUGHING. 



and November last by traction engine with two five-furrow disc ploughs, 

 which had to be weighted with about a ton of wire to get them down to 

 the work. In one of the accompanying illustrations the engine is shown 

 at work. It was then disc-harrowed, harrowed, rolled, and harrowed 

 again, and left till after the rain in December. It was then further 

 worked; and in January was sown with maize in drills 21 and 28 inches 

 apart, using \\ bushels of seed per acre, and no manure. About a 

 quarter of this was sown with Ninety Day maize in the expectation of 

 getting a quicker growth ; but the White Horse Tooth maize on the rest of 

 the paddock grew as quickly, and made better stalk. When the crop 

 showed through the ground the cultivators were put on, and a second 

 working was given about two weeks later ; but the rows were too close to 

 allow of further v/orking. About four weeks after the second working 

 the crop was about 18 inches high and looking verv v/ilted, and the ground 

 was then flooded with water from the river, and a second flooding was 

 given about four weeks later. The growth resulted in a crop varying from 

 3 feet to 7 feet high, with a probable average of about i,% feet, and an 



