10 Apkil, 19 U».] Wheat Varieit/ and Manurial Trials. 



219 



In view of these results, the tendency of numbers of Wimmera 

 farmers, particularly at Minyip, to increase the quantity of wheat sown 

 up to 75 lbs. per acre is evidently a movement in the right direction. 



The effect of varying times of sowing on the relative yielding capacity 

 of representative early mid-season and late ^\^heats has also been tested. 



Results, 1918. 



The Early Sowing was made 3Ist May, and the Late Sowing, 10th July. 



It was noted when the early varieties were sown in May they lodged, 

 but when sown later in July there was no lodging. 



The early varieties yielded better when sown late, but even then they 

 did not do so well as the mid-season varieties sown at the same time. Of 

 the late varieties, Yandilla King did best when sown about 1st of June, 

 but with Marshall's N^o. 3 the contrary was the case. 



It is probable that had the July sowing been still further delayed the 

 early wheats would have done relatively better than other varieties sown 

 at the same time, and therein lies their special value. When the seeding 

 .season has been protracted, and it is too late to sow the ordinary varieties, 

 early varieties such as King's Early and Bunyip may be sown with much 

 greater prospect of success. 



Variety Tests, Mallee Experimental Plots. 



During the past four years the Department of Agriculture has con- 

 ducted comparative tests with wheat varieties, and also with manures, for 

 wheat at three representative centres in the newer Mallee areas, viz., 

 Ouyen, Cowangie, and Carwarp. 



The results of the manurial tests which have already been published 

 demonstrate that the dressings of superphosphate usually applied to 

 Avheat in these districts, viz., 30 lbs., might profitably be increased. 

 Similarly the tests with wheats show that some varieties are considerably 

 more profitable to grow than others. 



One of the outstanding features of the results this year is the com- 

 paratively high yields obtained from the barleys, which were tested 

 alongside wheat and grown under the same conditions. The performance 

 of these barleys under dry Mallee conditions adequately confirm the con- 

 tention often put forward by the Department as to their drought-resisting 

 qualities. 



