708 



Journal of Agriculture. Victoria. [15 Dpx'., 1919. 



Messrs. Hunt and Giles, who also had well-developed farms, and 

 kept sheep, lost marks heavily in the cropping department. Mr. Giles 

 had the he^t sheep, and Mr. Hunt the best lambs. 



Mr. Barratt's fencing was the most substantial. His method of sub- 

 division was good, but he had few farm buildings, and, together with 

 Messrs. Lang and Hunt, had very small reserves of hay. 



Details of the marks allotted are attached and discussed under their 

 appropriate headings. 



Details op Results. 



CROPS AND FALLOWS. 

 Crops. 



The season, unfortunately, proved exceedingly dry. The total rain- 

 fall registered at Ouyen up till the end of October was only 7.36 inches, 

 and of this a considerable portion fell in February, outside the growing 

 period of the crops. 



Everywhere the stubble-sown crops were this year almost a com- 

 plete failure; on the other hand, those on fallow — especially on well- 

 worked fallow — were standing the dry weather much better. The 

 outstanding feature of the competition was the splendid 200 acres of 

 wheat exhibited by Mr. R. C. F. Gniel, at "Walpeup. It is quite pro- 

 bable that this district received slightly more rain than fell at Ouyen. 

 but this crop so far outdistanced those of the other competitors and 

 neighbours that there is no doubt that it was the direct result of the 

 thorough methods adopted by Mr. Gniel. 



The crop was about 2 ft. 6 in. high, very level, and clean under- 

 foot, and comparatively free from disease and foreign heads. It was 

 estimated to average at least six bags of wheat to the acre. Forty 

 acres of oats on stubble alongside were a company tive failure. The 



