566 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Sept., 1919, 



Poultry. 



Another stage has been reached in the erection of the buildings, 

 yards, and plant for the poultry recently transferred from Wyuna 

 Farm, and birds generally are settling down to the altered conditions. 



The brooder sheds, laying sheds, and chicken house are now com- 

 pleted, and three hundred chicks are in the brooders'. Incubation is 

 proceeding, and after the late start, rendered necessary by the transfer, 

 a short hatching season this year will result. 



Five pens of stud leghorns have been mated during the month, and 

 settings from these tet;t'ed birds ar.e now available for settlers. 



One thousand seven hundred and seventy egg& were gathered during 

 the past week from 500 laying hens. 



Portion of Experimental Plots showing efTeot of the third 

 application of | c^jvt. of superphosphate per acre compared 

 with the adjoining unnianured plot. 



Experimental Plots. 



Mr. George S. Gordon reports as follows on the Experimental 

 Plots : — 



Crops 

 Early sown crops are holding their own fairly well, and early (or 

 quick maturing) wheats, S'uch as Gluyas, College Eclipse, and Comeback 

 are already showing the erect habit of growth characteristic of these 

 varieties in their early stages. In the seeding tests, the plants on the 

 late sown plots have had a hard struggle to break through the surface, 

 and the crops are. consequently, very thin and backward. In the 

 manurial field, the farm-yard manure and superpjiosphate-dressed plots 

 are still the best, and the variation in growth between the unmanured 

 and the manured plots is more marked, while the continuously cropped 

 plots are showing a large percentage of wild oats. 



Flax Tests. 



The flax plots were irrigated on 15th August, and are now ooming 

 along nicely. The soil on these plots was worked to a fine tilth before 

 sowing, and on one section the seed-bed was compacted to such an extent 

 that the drill wheels and discs did not sink in so deeply, and, con- 

 sequently, the seed was sown very close to the surface. On this area 



