6M Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [15 Nov., 1919. 



average of 37,000,000 bushels — an increase of 175 per cent. The aver- 

 age yield per acre during the past decade has exceeded 12 bushels, as 

 compared with 8| bushels during the previous ten years. This increase 

 has been brought about, notwithstanding the fact that during the past 

 ten years nearly 1,000,000 acres of mallee country, with a low rainfall, 

 and giving a low average yield per acre, have been brought under culti- 

 vation. But the average yield per acre could undoubtedly be raised to 

 16 or 18 bushels per acre by the more general adoption of the best 

 methods. 



In the various exhibits in the Grovernment Pavilion we have 

 attempted to define and illustrate these methods. We have attempted 

 to show the methods which the most progressive of our wheat-growers 

 are following. Frequently in the wheat districts you will find a barb 

 wire fence separating the grower of a SO-^bushel crop from the grower of 

 a lO-bushel crop. The difference between the yields of those two farms 

 lies, not in the quality of the soil, but in the quality of the farming. 

 "Wherein lies the difference? 



Years of experience in the wheat belt has shown that the progressive 

 growers adopt as their policy the following: — (1) Thorough working of 

 the soil; (2) liberal manuring; (3) systematic crop rotation and the 

 keeping of sheep on the farm; (4) rational use of seed. 



Thorough working of the soil includes early fallowing and judicious 

 working of the fallows through the summer to conserve the maximum of 

 soil moisture. 



Liberal manuring with soluble phosphates has been proved to be 

 profitable in two ways: — (1) It produces the maximum crop of wheat; 

 (2) it increases the stock-carrying capacity of the land by stimulating 

 the growth of grass that follows the wheat. 



Some form of crop rotation is essential if the wheat crop is to be 

 kept free from fungoid diseases like flag-smut and take-all, and the 

 fertility of the land is to be maintained. Besides, every wheat-grower 

 should keep sheep either for raising fat lambs or for wool, and a rotation 

 is essential for such a case. 



In the Mallee areas wheat, pasture, bare fallow, is recommended ; for 

 the Wimmera wheat, oats, pasture, bare fallow; and for the more 

 favoured districts wheat alternated with forage crops is recommended. 



Rational treatment of the seed involves the choice of varieties suit- 

 able to your district, the grading "of the seed and the use of selection to 

 increase the producing power of the grain. 



Besides these cultural methods the wheat farmer will need to pay 

 more attention in the future to problems of marketing than formerly. 

 It is one thing to produce farm products cheaply and efficiently. It is 

 another thing to market the crops advantageously and expeditiously. 

 The wheat must be got to the seaboard with the maximum of expedition 

 and the minimum of expense, and the wheat should be sold on the 

 markets of the world to the best advantage. 



The farmers of Western Canada have organized a co-operative 

 Grain Association to supervise the operation of elevators, and to sell 

 their products in the markets of Europe. I see no reason why the 

 grain-growers of Victoria cannot organize their forces with a view of 

 disposing of the whole of their staple products on a co-operative basis. 



