10 Feb., 1919.] Minyip Crop and Fallow Competition. 75 



The rotation system followed at Minyip leaves much to be desired. 

 There is a tendency to take oflF crop after crop of wheat without an in- 

 tervening oat crop. The result is inevitably depressed wheat yields, 

 and a high percentage of take-all and flag smut; and in this connexion 

 it was noticeable that those farmers who were growing the greatest pro- 

 portion of oats were able to maintain the greatest number of sheep. 

 Some farms were carrying only half a sheep to the acre on the grass 

 part of the farm, while others are able to cany up to 1\ sheep to the 

 acre. 



The use of sheep on the wheat farm is fundamental to profit-making; 

 the sheep side of the business is equally important with the wheat, yet 

 there were those in the district who rented their grazing to others. 

 Seeing that about one-third of most of the Minyip farms at any one 

 time is clothed with a light chance crop of natural grass, and on the 

 average will not support two sheep to 3 acres unless it happens to be 

 dirty with wild oats, it is evident that, could a suitable plant for sowing 

 with the cereal crop before the paddock is " turned out " be discovered, 

 it would prove the means of considerably enhancing sheep returns. 

 That is to say, we need a good temporary pasture. 



A number of the farmers at Mbill have had satisfactory results by 

 sowing ^ lb. of the King Island Mellilot with the preceding cereal crop. 

 One advantage of this plant is that there is no trouble in eradicating 

 it when the paddock is again broken up. 



Further, in view of the fact that a special variety of rye grass, which 

 Professor Ewart has tentatively pronounced to be loUum subulatum — 

 a native of Southern Europe, not previously recorded for Victoria, has 

 been acclimatized in the Minyip district, and is doing remarkably well 

 there, it is possible that this grass, either with Mellilotis or subterranean 

 clover (half a pound to the acre of the latter), is what is actually required. 

 It is true that the rye grass renders ploughing somewhat more difficult, 

 and that there is a tendency for it to overrun the succeeding wheat crop, 

 but possibly it can be so managed as to avoid these faults. The main 

 desideratum, however, is autumn feed, and here the practice of running 

 the drill over the stubbles and seeding 20-30 lbs. of Algerian oats without 

 manure or other preparation, or some modification of that practice, may 

 be useful if tried. 



And lastly, it must not be forgotten that the results in farming 

 depend largely on the judgment displayed in doing each operation at the 

 right time, and that the profit is largely detennined by the efficiency with 

 which the available labour is used. 



Feed the horses well; prevent sore shoulders by attention to collars; 

 avoid too great an overlap of cultivating implements, and unnecessary 

 stops and turns. Use large implements; make up teams well and 

 eliminate slow movers. Overhaul implements in winter. Keep a 

 reasonable stock of duplicates. All these and a thousand and one other 

 things need to be looked to, but they reduce costs. 



In conclusion, I would like to wish the society every success in its 

 undertaking, and to thank the competitors for their hosi3itality and 

 unfailing courtesy in answering questions, the president, Mr. Smith, 

 Mr. Johnson, and the secretary, Mr. Heckle, for their able assistance, 

 and the owners of motor cars whose kindness materially contributed to 

 the efficiency and comfort of the judging. 



