10 April, 1919.] Gorohe Crop and Fallow Competition. 



199 



Reference was made to these practices in a recent report to tlie Nhill 

 Agricultural and Pastoral Society. Melilotus parviflora, the King 

 Island Melilot, was one of the plants referred to. Isolated specimens 

 were noticed in some of the crops on the heavy soils at Goroke, showing 

 that the plant will grow there. 



If it can be grown on the lighter soils, it would furnish a valuable 

 means of increasing their fertility, and, at the same time, provide useful 

 grazing. It is possible that it may pay to sow a few pounds of rye-grass 

 in a similar manner. Particularly is that variety of rye-grass, recently 

 tentatively identified as Lolium subulatum, worth a trial, though it 

 should be closely watched and checked if it spreads. 



Suggestions. 

 x^otwithstanding the desirability of improving the present methods 

 of cultivation, wool growing is likely to remain the main consideration 

 in the lighter soils of the Goroke country — on these soils sheep feed 

 is the ultimate aim of most of the cultivation. It would seem, 

 therefore, that the future advancement of the district is largely 

 bound up in such improvements as can be effected in the present 

 pastures. That being so, in addition to the stimulation of interest in 

 the cultivation of wheat, the Society would be well repaid by directing 

 some of its efforts towards encouraging farmers to test any methods of 

 grass improvement that seem feasible. Some of these methods have 

 already been mentioned. Another is the top-dressing of the natural 

 pasture with superphosphate. The success of this practice has been 

 demonstrated at the Putherglen Experiment Farm, where, under some- 

 what similar conditions, annual dressings of ^ cwt. of superphosphate 

 have been shown to double the carrying capacity of virgin land. 



Results, Crop and Fallow Competitions, 1918. 



I. — Best Fifty Acres of Crop on Heavy Soil. 

 The heavy winter rainfall rendered the whole of the crops very 

 uneven. It was, therefore, diificult to gauge the yields accurately; but 

 as all competitors suffered the same disability in this respect, it is pro- 

 bable that the comparisons made are reasonably fair: — 



