zo June, 1909.] Harvesting Lucctne j or Seed and Hay. 345 



In feeding lucerne a cliea]) and <'on\enient silo becomes an important 

 factor. Illustration Xo. 11 shows one that meets both conditions. It is 

 a trench 70 ft. long, i8 ft. wide and 8 ft. deep with sides of plank 

 extending 7 ft. above ground and w itli an iron roof. This gives a silo of 

 500 cubic yards capacity. In filling, the teams drive through over the 

 silage, and by using tip drays or sling ropjes to dump waggons, it can be 

 filled at very small cost. Where dairy herds are fed, the practice is to 

 -cut each day the quantity required until it has reached the proper period 

 of growth, when the remainder of the crop is cut for silage. 



This article is onlv intended to deal with the harvesting of lucerne 

 seed and lucerne ha\ ; therefore no attempt has been made to describe 

 methods of planting, cultivation or watering. 



Lucerne Hay Competition. 



The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission has, with the con- 

 •currence of the Honorable the Minister of Water Supply, decided to offer 

 a series of prizes, as set out hereunder, to the farmers producing the 

 largest yield of lucerne hav from five acres of land in — 



(i) Rodne\ Irrigation District — One prize, value ^10 ; 



(2) Cohuna and Koondrook Irrigation District — One prize, value 



(3) Swan Hill and Xyah Irrigation District — One prize, value ^10; 



(4) Remainder of the State — One prize, value ;^io. 



The conditions will be as follow : — 



1. There must be not less than five contestants for each prize. 



2. Those wishing to take part in this competition must notify the 

 ■ Secretary of the State Rivers and Water vSupply Commission on or before 



ist July, 1909. 



3. The competition in 1909 will be restricted to land seeded after ist 

 March, 1909. Its location must be definitely stated in the notice of 

 competition. 



4. The award will be made on or about i.st Mav, 1910, and will be 

 based on — 



(a) The total weight of hav cut and stacked between the time of 

 planting in 1909 and ist May, 1910. This to be deter- 

 mined by weight or measurement, as the Committee on 

 Awards may decide. 



{b) Where two competitors tie for a prize .so far as weight of hay 

 obtained is concerned, the one using the least water shall 

 have preference. 



{e) The hay when cut must be stacked by itself near or on the plot 

 where grown. 



5. No condition will be imposed as to the method of seeding, water- 

 ing, tillage, or cutting. Each competitor will be left to use his know- 



Tedge and experience to the best advantage. 



6. The prize in each case ■will be a silver cup or a cheque for ^10. 



7. The Committee on Awards will be — 



The Minister of Water Supply. 



The Director of Agriculture. 



The Chairman of the State Rivers and Water Supplv Commission. 



And two others to l)e announced later. 



