618 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [15 Oct., 1919. 



No other cultural operation is necessary except perhaps a very light 

 poppy barrow or brush following the drill. 



It has been found sound practice here to divide the manure and the 

 seed mixture per acre evenly, and practise cross drilling so as to insure even 

 distribution, and lessen the consequences of possible errors of judgment by 

 the operator, that is to say, 6 lbs. of seed and also half the quantity of " super." 

 are sown each way at right angles to each other. It is always advisable ti> 

 trust the natural rainfall to germinate lucerne on these irrigated areas, and 

 not practice irrigation prior to seeding, thus avoiding possible complications 

 which may arise and necessitate laborious cultivation before the most efficient 

 tilth can be secured. 



After the young plants are from 2 to 3 inches above ground the first 

 irrigation should be applied again, so as to insure quick stooling of the plant 

 when the ground is apparently firm, and the young lilcerne high enough to 

 cut with the mower. The first cut is usually left on the ground, as in nearh' 

 all cases it is not heavy enough to gather as hay ; however, the second growth, 

 should produce from 10 to 15 cwt. of good, clean hay to the acre. 





General view of paddock devoted to tractor trials. 



Tractor Demonstrations. 



On the 18th and 19th September, tractor demonstrations were carried" 

 out on a paddock of the Farm, near the Melbourne-Geelong Railway Line, 

 under the auspices of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria. 



Special trains were run from the city each day of the trials, sto])ping at 

 the tractor field, and, although the weather was very hot and windy for visitors, 

 a large number of representative farmers were present, and the performances 

 of tractors and horse-drawn implements was followed with great interest. 

 The Trial Tractor Committee decided this year that the display would take 

 the form of a demonstration only, and, therefore, the comparisons drawn 

 were not officially recorded, but were left to the judgment of the visitors 

 themselves. The following tractors and implements were entered for demon- 

 stration purposes only. 



Sunslmie S.F. No. 1 Tractor, H. V. McKay, maker. Drawing four-furrow 

 Sunshine disc plough. 



