10 May, 1919.] 



'■ Wimmera " Rye-Grass. 



275 



lighter soils at Galaquil, where the average rainfall is lower, the figure is 

 set down as 1 sheep to the acre. 



To those who know the Wimmera and the Mallee, these certainly 

 seem " tall " figures, but the appearance of the paddocks and the stock 

 on them certainly seems to justify the statement. 



In this connexion the impressions of Mr. D. A. McRae, of '' Scori- 

 brae," Tourello, near Ballarat, are informative. Mr. McRae stated 

 that last year he spent the months of July and August at Minyip. While 

 there he was " forcibly struck Avith the vigorous growth and density of 

 Messrs. McDougall's pastures, particularly with the splendid condition of 

 their stock — the milking cows Avere ' butcher's fat ' — the two-year-old 

 heifers were in the same condition, and so well grown — equal to three- 

 year-olds in this district." 



The condition of the ewes and lambs was stated to be excellent, the 

 lambs being particularly forward — " Indeed, the lambs at foot of a line 

 of old ewes by Merino rams were, without exception, the fattest lambs 



Row of Stacks of Rye grass Straw obtained at Minyip as a result of cutting and 



threshing the produce of 140 acres of the grass in 1917. 



Yield, 15 bushels to the acre. 



I have ever seen for their age — there was nothing I could see on the 

 natural grass in the neighbourhood like them. This rye-grass I con- 

 sider must possess great fattening qualities, and it is a quick grower." 



The following are concrete instances : — The property of Mr. A. W. 

 Milbourne, of " Ailsa," Warracknabeal, consists of 1,200 acres of red and 

 black soil, and the whole area is covered with rye-grass, which has spread 

 from the original stand sown some 25 years ago. * 



Usually the area absorbed by cultivation, homestead, and timber 

 belts is about 600 acres, leaving 600 acres under grass. For years the 

 subdivision of the cropping has been as follows — wheat, 250 acres; oats, 

 50 acres ; fallow, 250 acres ; though it has now been decided to reduce the 

 area sown to wheat by half. The number of mature sheep carried, Mr. 

 Milbourne states, averages about 1,000, and the ewes among them are 

 " lambed down." Last season 1,000 head of mature sheep, comprising 800 

 ewes and 200 dry sheep, were carried from summer to summer. In addi- 

 tion, the cavos were lambed down, and 400 of the lambs carried forward; 



