10 Makiii, 1!»1!».J X/iill Fartn Coinpclifioiis. loo 



All instance of a 640-a<'re farm, where the maxiiiium of working is 

 ^iven, is that of Mr. Collins, at Woorak. At this farm it was found 

 possible with a one-man plant, to give 90 acres of summer fallow ten 

 necessary workings, and 116 acres of winter fallow received six opera- 

 tions up to seed time. In addifirm. 50 acrc'^ of oats wore sown, and the 

 usual farm routine maintained. 



The Fse of Pedigkee Seed Wiie.vt a>d Ixcreaseo Qiaxtities ok 



Maxure. 

 The use of selected seed from the Seed Stations is becoming general 

 throughout the district, but there are still many who do not take the 

 trouble to secure the enhanced returns that it has been demonstrated this 

 .seed produces. The average quantity of manure applied is in the vicinity 

 of 56 lbs., thougli a gradual increase is noticeable as a result of the 

 tests at Longerenong and Warracknabeal. At both these centres it has 

 been demonstrated that the ap])lication of 1 cwt. of superphospliate has 

 given an increased return of 3s. 6d. per acre over and above the cost 

 of the manure as compared witli a half cwt. Tbis figure is the average 

 of five years' results, including a drought year. 



Diversified AcjRicrLTURE. 

 There are those Avho have realized that wheat and sheep are not 

 the only activities that pay for skilled and systematic attention. Some 

 have found that there are payable crops besides wheat and oats, and 

 some know that there are temporary pastures that will support more 

 sheep to the acre than natural grass and wild oats. Again, stock other 

 than sheep, receiving but a minimum of attention, but handled in the 

 right way, have yielded good financial returns. 



It is by the partial utilization of existing plant and labour along one 

 or other of these lines, together with the consequential adjustment of 

 existing activities (and extensive changes are not advocated),- that the 

 biggest net profits per acre are being realized in the Wimmera to-day. 



In a general way, in spite of the fact of the relatively favorable 

 ))rice of sheep ])roducts as compared to wheat, it is not a case of " wheat 

 versus sheep," but rather the efficient production of more wheat and 

 more oats and more sheep, and of any other crops or stock that m^y 

 suit the special cases. Barley is a crop with which a few are achieving 

 success. Linseed is one that could be tried in the future. Handsome 

 returns are being secured by a few by careful management of pigs or 

 poultry. Of course, a fundamental requisite of any of these activities is 

 that they shall be capable of being Avorked with a minimum of labour. 



Some of the foregoing contentions are well supported by systematic 

 information that has been secured from a number of farmers of 

 the district as to their average gross returns from each department 

 of the farm for the ipast five years. The figures are most instructive, 

 and show that the gross returns over the whole farm range from £1 

 per acre to over £2. per acre. Of course, the larger the farm the smaller 

 the gross returns per acre; but the greatest differences between indivi- 

 dual cases are to be found in the returns from the various departments 



