15 Dec. 1919.] Ouyen Farm Compeiition. 709 



varieties of wheat sown were Federation, Yandilla King, Dart's Im- 

 perial, Warden, and Mae's White. The Mac's White, though tall, Avas 

 not equal to the rest of the crop in yield of grain. 



It has been Mr. Gniel's policy ever since he cleared the block (which 

 was timbered with pine, hopbush, buloke mallee) to concentrate all 

 his efforts on 200 acres of wheat. The aim has been to carry out each 

 operation thoroughly, especially at the most suitable time. The points 

 to which special attention has been directed are the conservation of 

 moisture by working the fallow shallowly as soon as possible after every 

 good fall of rain, and the sowing of the crop the moment the condit ons 

 are favorable, as early as April and not later than the end of May. 



The following are the individual operations involved in raising the 

 crop— there were nine cultural operations in all : — The fallow was 

 thoroughly ploughed in July ; subsequently it was harrowed twice, scari- 

 fied, and harrowed again before harvest. After harvest it received two 

 further harrowings, and was scarified and drilled in April and early 

 May. Sixty pounds of seed was used and 35 lbs. of superphosphate. 



View of Crop on Winning Farm. 



The effect of this policy of concentration as against the spreading 

 of one's efforts over a larger area of stubble land is reflected in the 

 general air of neatness and prosperity about this farm, of which more 

 will be said later. 



The area of wheat cropped by the average competitor was about 

 twice that of Mr. Gniel, i.e., about 400 acres, a considerable proportion 

 of which was sown on stubble land. In two cases the whole of the crop, 

 averaging 560 acres, had been sown on stubble, and was practically a 

 complete failure. On the average, only 40 per cent, of each crop was 

 sown on fallow land. Wherever the stubble crops and fallow crops had 

 been sown alongside one another, there was a marked difference in 

 favour of the fallow. 



Mr. Harmer's crop consisted of 335 acres, 220 acres of which were 

 sown on fallow. The best portion of this consisted of 50 acres of 

 Currawa; other varieties were Yandilla King on stubble, Turvey, and 

 Gluyas; 50 lbs. each of seed and superphosphate were used. 



