68 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Feb., 1919. 



worthy ideals — 'better farming, better business, and, above all, better 

 living. 



The Competition at Minyip, 1918. 



The season this year at Minyip was notable for heavy rains in May 

 and June and for the lack of a good rain in the spring; consequently, 

 though the total rainfall was 2-^ inches above the average (15 inches), 

 it was not nearly as efficient as usual. In the south-western Wimmera 

 twice as much rain fell in October as did at Minyip, which was respon- 

 sible for splendid crops in the former district. 



The Ceops. 



Considering the season, it is remarkable that the competing crops 

 presented such a fine appearance, and it is a tribute to the farming 

 methods of the district that the yields were so good. In the circum- 

 stances, it is not surprising that the crops on summer fallow have 

 turned out best; the extra water so conserved stood to them in time of 

 stress. 



Most of the crops exhibited were somewhat on the thin side, but 

 being well headed may give heavier yields than their appearance indi- 

 cated. The thinness was due to bad germinating weather and to the 

 ravages of flag smut and take all. Flag smut was particularly bad this 

 year, and it is safe to put down the loss as averaging 5 per cent, in the 

 crops exhibited. Inquiry showed that both these diseases were worst on 

 land where care was not taken to grow an occasional crop of oats. 



Federation wheat is grown almost exclusively around Minyip, and 

 it may be said that the type and purity of the whole of the crops leave 

 much to be desired. 



Those who took the precaution to sow at the rate of 65 to 70 lbs. of 

 seed because of the lateness of the sowing season were well repaid. 

 Superphosphate was the standard manure used by all competitors, in 

 dressings ranging from 30 lbs. to 100 lbs., and averaging about 56 lbs. 



The Fallows. 



The summer fallowing of portion of the farm has gained a firm hold 

 of the district. The methods of creating and maintaining this fallow 

 vary. The stubbles are burnt, and the loose friable soil is either 

 disced, scarified, or ploughed, and is generally left till the ordinary 

 ploughing time and then worked as an ordinary fallow, giving what is 

 practically a fifteen months' fallow. The advantages of this practice 

 are that the work is somewhat better distributed, especially if a good 

 ploughing is first given, that weeds are encouraged to germinate, thus 

 clearing the land, and, lastly, that the summer soil cracks, so charac- 

 teristic of the Wimmera, are filled, and a surface mulch created which 

 is invaluable for conserving moisture, as was strikingly illustrated this 

 year. 



A disadvantage of the summer fallow is that if the soil does not 

 break up cloddy there is a tendency for it to blow. 



For winter fallows the practice obtaining in the Wimmera is 

 followed, and as many as seven workings are given. 



