376 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. 1 10 June, 1919. 



RUTIIERGLEN STATE FARM. 



The State Farm at Rutherglen consists of 1,100 acres, of which 

 100 acres are laid out in experimental pots. The average rainfall 

 for the district is 21 inches. 



The farm manager, Mr. P. P. O'Keefe, in his report for May, states 

 that though the simimer and autumn months have been exceedingly dry 

 at Rutherg.en, the weather during the month has been especially 

 favorable for grass and for early-sown crops. Two inches of rain have 

 been recorded, and seeding is proceeding smoothly. 



Up to the present 460 acres have been sown, and the crop is all 

 above ground. The 190 acres sown tO' oats is particularly forward, and 

 is carrying three sheep to the acre. These early-sown crops are regarded 

 by the farm manager as a boon, as on them the ewes can be carried 

 right through the lambing season until the spring-sown crops of rape 

 and millet are fit to feed off. 



In addition to the oats, 250 acres of wheat and t20 acres of barley 

 have been sown. A further 40 acres is now being sown to barley, while 

 20 acres is being prepared for peas. Included in the wheat are the fol- 

 lowing areas of seed wheat : — 



Acres. 

 Federation ... ... ... ... ... 110 



Yandilla King ... ... ... ... ... 20 



Currawa ... ... ... ... ... 20 



• GallipoU ... ... ... ' ... ... 10 



Gluyas ... , ... ... ... ... 10 



Major ... ... ... ... ... 8 



Warden ... ... ... ... ... 22 



Penny ... ... ... ... ... 20 



Marshall's No. S ... ... ... ... 14 



King's Early ... ... ... ... ... 10 



College King ... ... ... ... ... 10 



In pursuance of the policy of carrying the maximum head of stock, 

 a paddock of 90 acres will be fallowed up and sown to millet in the 

 spring. It is also intended to plough up and sow 100 acres to rape, 

 which should furnish useful grazing for sheep during the summer. 



It is noticed at Rutherglen that the spring-^own rape is much more 

 successful than that sown in the autumn; indeed, very little success 

 has been achieved with the latter. 



The dairy herd is at present grazing oat crops, but milk yields are 

 now falling off. The young cattle are doing well, the grass being supple- 

 mented by green oat crops and ensiage. 



The crossbred flock of SOO ewes, which were joined with two-tooth 

 Border Leicester, are expected to lamb towards the end of June. As 

 the ewes are of a good, rocmy type, and are doing well on the oat crops, 

 it is expected that the progeny wiU be good quality lambs. The 170 

 weaners, which were carried forward on forage crops, planted in the 

 spring, have proved good property, and will be disposed of after being 

 topped up on oat crops. 



There are 53 pigh on hand. Wheat screenings from the grader forms 

 the bulk of their feed at present. Two acres of Algerian oats have 

 been sown for their use, and 3 acres, each of peas and barley, wi 1 be 

 sown for forage to supplement the hand feeding. A trial plot of arti- 

 chokes, as forage for pigs, will be planted in the spring. 



Additions to the present sties are contemplated, so that feeding tests 

 with pigs can be carried out. 



