48 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Jan., 1919. 



the dry season, the whole of the barley variety plots promised to yield 

 over 50 bushels. The advantages of barley were: — 



(1) It made excellent winter grazing for all kinds of stock. A 

 barley paddock had been heavily grazed this winter with sheep and 

 cattle, and promised to yield over 40 bushels of grain. 



(2) It gave heavy yields of silage. Again the two silos had been 

 filled from a paddock of barley, which yielded at the rate of 10 tons 

 per acre. 



(3) The grain made excellent food for stock, especially for pigs. 



(4) It usually gave 50 to 100 per cent, heavier yield than wheat. 

 Besides this, barley was an early ripener, and in dry seasons it had 



proved more drought-resistant than either wheat or oats. 



Mr. Richardson then gave a most interesting demonstration of the 

 manner in which new barley varieties were produced, and showed how 

 the different types obtained by cross-breeding inherited the parental 

 characters in strict accordance with Mendel's law. A number of new 

 types growing in the field was then inspected. Finally, he said, a num- 

 ber of new crossbred varieties of wheat were being tested in competition 

 with older varieties, and the tests had shown the . superiority of certain 

 of the new crosses. These crosses Avere being further tested, and if the 

 trials proved as satisfactory as those already conducted a number of 

 improved new varieties would soon figure on the market. 



The farmers then inspected the stud cereal, crossbred, and forage 

 trials, the new crossbred wheats, the fertilizer, variety,. rate of sowing, 

 and time of sowing trials, and finally the permanent rotation tests. 

 It was evident that the greatest interest was aroused by the demon- 

 strations, for at every point Mr. Richardson was besieged with questions 

 relating to every phase of cultivation. 



The Social Side. 



At the conclusion of the demonstration and lecture the visitors were 

 entertained at afternoon tea by the Principal and Staff in the huge 

 dining hall of the college. Mr. P. Learmonth, the President of the 

 Horsham Agricultural Society, occupied the chair. 



At the call of the chairman, who said that this was the first public 

 gathering held in the college building since the cessation of hostilities, 

 the National Anthem was sung. 



Cr. A. E. Dahlenburg, who represented the "Wimmera Shire Council, 

 moved a cordial vote of thanks to Mr. Richardson, who, all present 

 would agree, had given a lecture notable for its value and lucidity. 

 Those who had attended these gatherings year after year must admit 

 that the college was one of the best public institutions in Victoria. 

 (Hear, hear.) The experiments conducted at the college had been of 

 very great value to the farmers. The college might not pay for itself. 

 That, however, was not a test of its value or efficiency. Twenty years 

 ago the Wimmera farmer was satisfied if he obtained a return of 

 10 bushels to the acre; to-day he was not satisfied unless he got ten 

 bags. (Applause.) In this connexion the work done at the college 

 had been of very great value. Mr. Dreverman had a splendid staff, 

 and great praise was due in particular to Mr. Tulloh, the wheat expert. 

 (Hear, hear.) Mr. Richardson had recently visited America, and 

 returned with a vast amount of valuable and interesting information. 



