56 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[ii Jan., 1909. 



Steam traction ploughing is per- 

 liaps more largely developed in this 

 district than in any other part of 

 Victoria. One great advantage is 

 that it sets free the farm horses 

 for other work, and the accom- 

 I)a:nying illustration shows the 

 engine j)ulling two five-furrowed 

 disc ploughs following close on the 

 reaper and binder. Ten acres are 

 ploughed a day, while harvesting 

 operations and turning in the 

 stubble ready for next season's 

 crop are going on at the same time. 

 It will be remembered that this 

 plan of turning in the stubble 

 without a moment's delay after the 

 crop is cut is one of the essential 

 features of dry farming methods 

 in America. While the crop is 

 .standing the surface of the ground 

 is to a very large extent sheltered 

 from the dry influences of the sun 

 and wind. A certain amount of 

 moi.sture is always held amongst 

 the roots of the growing crop. By 

 turning over the stubble at once all 

 the aivailable moisture is conserved, 

 and the land is placed in the best 

 possible condition for receiving 

 and absorbing any stray thunder- 

 storm that mav happen during the 

 summer months. The stubble and 

 residue of the crop begin to rot at 

 once, so that plant food for the 

 next season's crop is being pre- 

 pared all through the hot weather, 

 ajid finally the land is in a condi- 

 tion to allow of its being seeded 

 earlv in the autumn. Every con- 

 dition favorable for next season's 

 success is thus assured. The only 

 disadvantage is the fact that the 

 grazing of the stubble after harvest 

 is lost. The value of this grazing 

 is much less now when the binder 

 is in almost universal use than it 

 was a few years ago, and it can- 

 not' be considered in any wav 

 equivalent to the advantage de- 

 rived by ploughing the paddock at 

 once. 



