74 



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



For other i>oints we as yet must look to general experience for guid- 

 ance. In the matter of the working of the fallows, the main point to aim 

 at is consen^ation of moisture, and especially on the hlack soils, a consoli- 

 dated seed bed. Moisture can only be retained with an effective mulch, 

 which should be about 2^ inches (U'ep, and not allowed to form a skin 

 after rain. While maintaining tlie mulch, the ground should not be 

 worked to the original depth of the ploughing, or a crumbly, hollow seed 

 bed may result. It should be remembered that a working after rain is 

 worth at least a bushel of wheat; sometimes it may not pay to get that 

 bushel, but generally it will. 



On the question of manuring, very definite evidence has been 

 secured over a period of five years for the black soils of the Wimmera at 

 Longerenong College. There it has been conclusively shown that 



A paddock of rye grass at Minyip. 



1 cwt., and even heavier dressings of superphosphate are the most 

 profitable on the average for all years. After paying for the extra 

 manure out of the increased crop, 1 cwt. of super, returned a profit of 

 3s. 6d. per acre more than did the ^ cwt. This fact has been corro- 

 borated at each of the other State farms. 



The seed at Minyip stands in need of improvement, and it is safe 

 to say that the use of selected, pedigreed seed would, on the average, add 

 to present yields from one to two bags to the acre. At Longerenong 

 the selected Federation has, over a period of five years, beaten the 

 Federation, from which it was derived, by a yearly average of 6 

 bushels per acre. At Minyip groat faith is placed in Federation, but 

 farmers there should not be unmindful of varieties such as Penny, 

 Currawa, and Yandilla King. These have been well tried and will be 

 found suited for early sowing and to rival Federation in yield. 



