278 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 May, 1919. 



Summing Up. 



It is evident that Lolium auhulatum (Wimmera rye-grass) possesses 

 characteristics sufficiently strongly developed to warrant the fullest 

 investigation. 



According to the information so far secured, the grass — 



(1) will double the carrying-capacity of the present Wimmera 



and Mallee pastures; 



(2) once sown, does not require re-seeding, even though the land 



be broke^i up for cereal crops. An occasional scarifying 

 maintains it at full productivity; 



(3) it can be easily stripped for seed; 



(4) yet retains its seed well attached to the dry straw — hence the 



dry feed is nutritious ; 



(5) it furnishes, if required, self-sown hay of excellent quality, 



equal in quantity to a stubble-sown crop of oats. 



That such a " paragon " among grasses should prove amenable to 

 disci-pline would seem almost too good to be true, especially as it owes its 

 perennial habit to the wild-oat-like persistenc}' with which it grows 

 annually from seed. 



Thus, on the one hand, it may prove a boon to the wheat farmer — 

 but, on the other, it may be found to be one of the worst of pests, hence 

 the need for caution. 



It should be noted that most of- the information, except that of 

 Mr. MoGilp regarding controlability, relates largely to black and other 

 friable soils, and seeing that the suggested treatment is largely based on 

 a species of summer falloAving — a practice which cannot be effectively 

 carried out on stiff clay soils — it is difficult to see how tlie grass can be 

 coped with as easily on this latter class of soil. Again, it is generally a 

 matter of some difficulty, and, indeed, for wheat-growing it is not at all 

 desirable to reduce this soil to a fine tilth, a condition stated to be 

 essential for the killing of the young germinating grass. 



At all events, there is not much doubt that the grass thrives most 

 persistently under certain conditions. Therefore, those wheat-growers 

 who cultivate large areas of clay ground, those who do not work their 

 fallow with judgment, those whose areas are too large to permit of the 

 whole of the cultivation being executed at the proper time, and all those 

 on whose wheat-fields wild oats preponderate, may expect an interference 

 with their present wheat yields should the grass find its way on to their 

 properties. Whether such an inroad will not prove more profitable than 

 present practices it is not proposed to discuss here, because as yet no 

 accurate comparative tests have been made, and until then those 

 farmers who make wheat-growing their main activity, and who fall under 

 the above category, would be well advised to steer clear of the grass — and 

 any other wheat-growers Avho niav test the grass should watch it care- 

 fully. 



Just what are its exact capabilities, and what influence, if any, it 

 may have on the future of fanning on the wheat belt, it is difficult to 

 say. All depends on its controlability. From the purely grazing point 

 of view it would appear to have already demonstrated its high value. 



