2iS(^ Joiinicl of Agricnliiirc. [to ^Iav, 1909- 



Jjird's Foot Trefoil [Lotus corniculatus L.); (6) Kidncv Vetch [AnthylUs vulncrar a 

 L.); (7) Sainfoin [Onobrychis sativa L.). 



Wattle Cultivation. — H.H.W. inquires as to best variety of wattle for 

 production of bark. The land is in the Lillinnir district, and is poor white sand 

 growing honeysuckle, heath, oak bush, &c. ; mallee flats alternately between stringy 

 bark ridges. Rainfall is about ig inches per annum. 



Ansioer.—'Y\i& tan wattles usually grown in Victoria for the production . of 

 bark are the black feather leaf species [Acacia decurrcns) and the broad leaf golden 

 wattle [A. fycnantha). It is not likely that either variety will produce a strong 

 tan-yielding bark in the district described, although A. fycnantha will grow fairlv 

 well there. It has been tried in the Ninety Mile Desert of South Australia under 

 varying conditions, and there, it is said, has produced weak bark. Strong loamy, 

 sandy, granitic, or ironstone soils suit wattles best, but they also require shelter 

 and moisture. The seed, after being steeped for about 24 hours in water heated 

 nearly to boiling point (to soften the outer shell), may be sown after ploughing and 

 harrowing, or it may be lightly covered with a rake on burnt areas, or hoed or 

 dibbleil in. A bulletin on this subject will be published shortly by the Forests- 

 Dejiartment. 



Plants for Identification. — Specimens of fdants for identification have- 

 been forwarded by various correspondents. 

 Answer. — 



1. (R.McM). — MelUotus farviflora^ Desf., Small Flowered Melilot or King 

 Island Melilot, and is the plant known as Hexham Scent in the Darling Downs. 

 It is an introduced plant now naturalized in this State. An annual or occasional!}' 

 a biennial. On good pastures it is a weed if present in excess, since its aromatic 

 principle then affects the health, meat, and milk of stock eating it. A small 

 quantity adds to the fragrance of hay and also its palatability, and is useful in 

 mixed fodder. The chief, and, in fact, the only practical use of the plant is to 

 grow on poor sandy or newly reclaimed dry soils where good pasture j)lants will 

 not grow, and where cultivation and manuring are out of the question. The plant 

 is an energetic nitrogen fixing one, and will grow on poor soils, which it srteadilv 

 enriches with humus and ultimately renders them fit for better plants. 



2. (R.McM.). — Plagianthiis sficatus, Benth., Spike-flowered Plagianthus, a 

 native member of the Malvacea, useless for fodder but apparently not poisonous 

 or actively injurious. A New Zealand species yields a kind of cotton. P. s-picatiis 

 is very plentiful in Victoria. It takes up the place of useful vegetation and its 

 spread should be checked. 



3. (H.S.U.). — Polygonum aviculare, L., Knot-weed or Hog-weed, a small 

 wiry annual prostrate on open ground, erect when between other vegetation. Its 

 triangular seeds are a common impurity among agricultural seed, and the plant 

 was originally introduced to the State in that way. It is spread over nearly the 

 whole world. The seeds last for some time in the soil, hence it can onlv be 

 kept down by continually working the soil, or suppressed by other vegetation. In 

 this respect the addition of lime to the soil (5 to 2 tons per acre) is usually of 

 great value. The plant has a slight value during part of the year as fodder for 

 stock, but on all cultivated land is a great nuisance, though hardlv a dangerous 

 pest. The plant was formerly used for healing wounds and ulcers, and has been 

 used in Algeria for malaria. Tt is not in any modern Pharmacopoeia and has no 

 recognised medicinal value at the present trne. 



Crushed versus Whole Grain fok I'lcs. — A.C. in(|uires whether crushed 

 grain is preferable to whole grain for feeding jiigs. 



Answer. — Crushed wheat or barley soaked is rccomninidcd ; if not cnisheil, 

 boil well. Cook all milk. The following is the most profit. iblc food for |)ig~^ 

 and the best pork producer, viz. : — i gal. skimmed milk; 3 lbs. potatoes; and 4 lbs. 

 crushed barley per pig per day. On this food, pigs from 80 to 120 lbs. weight 

 will put on 15 lbs. of pork per week, which at 4d. per lb. is 5s. per pig per week. 

 The following are the values of the different feeds : — 



Crushed barley (4 lbs.), milk (i gal.), .ind jxitatoes (3 lbs.) ... 1,000 

 liarley meal (8 lbs.) and milk (i gal.) ... ... ... Q03 



Maize meal (12 lbs.) and milk (i gal.) ... ... ... 877 



Maize meal (6 lbs.) and l)c;in meal (6 lbs.) ... ... ... ^cjO 



Barley meal (10 lbs.) ... ... ... ... ... ... 5x9 



Maize meal (8 lbs.) and jica meal (6 lbs.) ... ... ... 480 



Maize meal (14 lbs.) ... ... ... ... ... ... 484 



Barley meal (8 lbs.) and bran (3 lbs.) ... ... ... ... 409 



Maize meal (12 lbs.) and bran (4 lbs.) ... ... .. ... 404 



