15 Oct., 1919.] Farmers' Field Day at Werrihee. 



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After the visitors had viewed the Red Poll herd, which was grazing in 

 one of the lucerne fields, they were piloted over the experimental plots by 

 Mr. Richardson. The objects of the field experiments include the determi- 

 nation of the most suitable type of crop rotation for districts with a light 

 rainfall, the types and quantities of fertilizers necessary to give the maximum 

 net profit per acre and the cultural practices most suitable for the profitable 

 growth of cereal crops. Ex])eriments are being conducted to determine the 

 quantities of water required for various irrigated crops, and continuous efforts 

 are being directed to the improvement of cereal crops by selection and 

 hybridization. Upwards of 1,000 new crossbred cereals, in stages of 

 development from the first to the sixth generation, are undergoing trial. 

 The latter crossbred s are being grown in rows alongside standard wheats 

 like Federation and Yandilla King, and if the comparison be favourable 

 the new wheats will ])e ti'ied on a large scale alongside the best local varieties. 



Border Leicester Sheep, Werrilbee Research Farm. 



The irrigated lucerne fields were of great interest to everyone, particularly 

 the farmers from the Mallee and the North-East. In the course of a brief 

 lecture Mr. Richardson said' that though as much as 6i tons per acre had been 

 cut in favourable seasons, it was not known whether this was the best yield 

 that could be looked for, as no exact experiments have been conducted to 

 show the most favourable quantity of water for lucerne yields, the influence 

 of varying quantities of water, nor the best method of applying irrigation. 

 A new field of 10 acres has been set apart for the investigation of these and 

 similar problems, and special water-measuring devices are being installed 

 to accurately measure the quantities of water applied to each plot. A visit 

 was made to one of the lucerne paddocks which was undergoing watering, 

 and later a 50-acre paddock was seen where renovation work was in progress. 

 Surprise was expressed that the cross-cultivation to which the field was being 

 subjected would not permanently damage the stand, but the healthy growth 



