348 Journal of Agriculture. [10 May, 1910. 



MAIZE AXD LUCERNE IN THE WESTERN DISTRICT, 



A. VC . Fisher, Dairy Supcri'isor. 



In Western Victoria, throughout tlie Casterton district, there are thou- 

 sands of acres of good dairying country that are at present given o\"er to 

 wool-growing and the fattening of stock for market. The high quality 

 of this land may be gauged from the fact that fat stock from estates such 

 as Muntham, ^Merino Downs, Hent\ , Tahara, Cammais, Dunrobin, and 

 many others frequently bring top prices in our leading markets. Land 

 that will grow good beef and mutton will usualh pro-ve to be equalK 

 adapted for dairying; and this country nnlx awaits subdivision and closer 

 settlement to become prominent in the production of dairv produce. 



There has not in the past been much attention devoted to dairying, but 

 the worry and losses sustained of late years with sheep through the worm 

 trouble among the lambs, as against the large profits that are to be derived 

 frcm dairying, will probablv result in more attention being given to this, 

 latter line of business shortlv. 



At Sandford, in this district. Mr. Jackson has an estate of some 4,60a 

 acres, which in regard to- fertilitv is fairU t\pical of the surrounding 

 estates. The greater portion of the estate is given over tO' sheep, but a 

 number of fat cattle are turned off yearlv also. The countrv is rathei' 

 hilly and has some steep bluffs rising from the Wannon and Glenelg: 

 Rivers which form the boundary of the })ropert\ on the northern and westenn 

 sides. The soil is of a good depth, principal!) grey and black in colour, 

 while some of the bluffs have a proportion of limestone showing through 

 them. This estate was formerly owned h\ the late Mr. John Hentv, 011,- 

 of the pioneers of Western Victoria, and is now managed bv Mr. J. ]!. 

 Jack.son, the son of the present owner. Prom the accompanying photo- 

 graphs it will be seen that two of the jirincipal dairv fodder croi)s can bt- 

 successfully cultivated in the district. 



The ground where the maize crop was sown is a grey loam with a fair 

 amount of sand, extending to a depth of 2 to 3 feet overKing a light 

 yellow clay. It has for years been dev(jted to mangohj crops, but has 

 lately become so over- run with hog weed, that last year Mr. Jackson 

 decided to give it an extra working tO' tr\ and eradicate this pest. The 

 soil was ploughed 8 to 9 inches deep in April and harrowed down; 

 ploughed again 4 inches deep in August; and again towards the end of 

 October, when maize was ploughed in 4 inches deep and 3 feet between 

 the rows, at the rate of \ bushel to the acre. During the growth of the 

 crop the land was scarified three times, keeping the ground loose on the 

 surface between the rows and killing the weeds. Two varieties (Hickor\ 

 King and Somerton White) made splendid growth and cobbed well, there 

 being little difference iietween them; individual stalks measured up^ to 



