THG JOURNAI9 



or 



^lie department 0/ Mgricufture 



OF 



VICTORIA. 



Vol. XVII. Part 3. lOth Mareh, 1919. 



NHILL FARM COMPETITIONS, I IMS. 



Report by the Judge, Mr. H. A. Mullett, B. Ag.Sc, 

 Science Field Officer. 



General Impressions. 



After devoting a crowded week to the inspection of nunierous wheat 

 crops and fallows, and after an analysis of the farming methods of the 

 community, one leaves the Nliill district impressed with the skill of 

 t/hose farmers whose yields for the past five years (inchiding one of 

 drought) have averaged between eight and nine bags to the acre. That 

 impression is all the more firmly esta'blished by the inspection of several 

 crops this year that will yield nearer 40 bushels to the acre than the 

 figure already mentioned — and this on a rainfall of 14 inches, i.e., 2 

 iijcbes iTnder the average. 



Inquiry shows that these results cannot be wholly ascribed to any 

 one cause, but rather, .are the cumulatiA^e effect of the faithful carrying 

 out of a number of important details. !N'ot only has careful attention 

 been given to each of the scientific factors that are essential to success, 

 viz., preparation and maintenance of the fallow, .attention to manuring, 

 the use of improved seed-wheat, a systematic rotation of crops, including 

 oats, and also the keeping of sheep, but, in addition, marked energy, 

 determination, and judgment has been displayed in executing each of 

 the farming operations in the right way, at the right time. The 

 successful men are thus those Avho, in addition to being possessed of 

 sound agricultural knowledge, are not content to drift along with cur- 

 rent weather conditions, but have adopted a robust fighting ipolicy of 

 "bending" the seasons to fJieir will. 



2197. 



