(>2!2 ■/ourtial of AgricnUure. Mctoria. | 15 Oct., 1919. 



now in prooji'ess. The crops on the three com]>anion ])lnts of rape, harlov 

 and oats in the '• ))k)U<ihed-in " section have been tunnMl iiiidci-. 



Lucerne Experiments. 

 A field of ten acres has been set aside as a j)erinanent irrigation field. 

 This was prepared by ph)ughing, subsoiling, cultivation and grading, and 

 during September was sown with lucerne in experimental ])lots, comprising 

 new sets of variety, fertilizer and topdressing tests, as well as others. t« 

 deterniine'l — 



1. The influence of varying applications of water on lucerne yields. 



2. The influence of fertijizers on water requirements of lucertie. 



3. The best time to cut lucerne. 



4. The best method of renovating lucerne. 



5. The factors relating to production of lucerne seed. 



KoYAL Agricultural Show Exhibit. - 



For the first time since the Farm was established, an exhilnt was sent 



to the Departmental pavilion at the recent Royal Agricultural Show. It 



was designed to illustrate, as far as possible in a graphical manner, a few of 



the results from the experimental yields and was in three sections, as follows : — 



1 . Lucerne, showing — 



(«) Moisture requirements. 



(h) Results from topdressing tests for four years. 



(c) Phosphate requirements. 



(d) Food value of leaves and stems. 

 {e) Root development. 



(f) One year's growth of lucerne cro]). 



2. Hay Rotations, showing — ■ 



{a) Growth of crop for past four years under four rotation systems. 

 {h) Samples from green qxo\) now growing same plots. 



3. Plant Breeding, showing — 



[a] Advantages of hybridization and selection. 



(h) Enlarged models of wheat, rye, and oat flowers. 



(c) Increased jdelds from the new crossbred wheats "" (Jallipoli "" and 



" Graham." 

 {d) Improved tyj^es of flax for fibre and seed, 

 (c) Grossbred barleys, showing an exam])le of Mendclisiu. 



FARMERS' FIELD DAY AT WERRIBEE. 



The annual farmers' field day at the Werribee Research Farm was held 

 on the 26th September, when about four hundred farmers accepted the 

 invitation to visit the Farm. The visitors were met at the Fai'm gate by the 

 Minister of Agriculture (Hon. D. S. Oman, M.L.A.), and welcomed on behalf 

 of the Government. Mr. Richardson (Agricultural Superintendent), in 

 welcoming the guests in the name of the Department of Agriculture, said 

 that though the Farm had been established wholly for purposes of investiga- 

 tion and research, yet after last year's working expenses, interest on capital, 

 and depreciation charges had been met an amount of over £90 was paid to 

 the Consolidated Revenue. This result, Mr. Richardson said, was in a very 

 large measure due to the excellejit management of Mr. Wilson, the Farm 

 Manager. 



