lo Dec. 1919.] Ouyen Farm Competition. 717 



dram this area, and especially to tap any road surface available. Atten- 

 tion is necessary from time to time to see that they are not being silted 

 up. 



The drains should pass through a small excavation just before 

 entering the main dam, so that the water will deposit its silt. The 

 evai:)oration is so high that shallow dams are Uiseless. The " spoil " or 

 excavated dirt should be placed completely around the banks to lessen 

 evaporation. The water may be carried into the dam by means of a 

 pipe, or a gap may be left in the bank. 



The total capacity' of the water storage for a Mallee farm should be 

 at least 5,000 cubic yards, though some fai-ms depend solely on one good 

 dam of a couple of thousand yards. It is important to batter the sides 

 carefully, and to provide a chute for the water to enter the dam, so that 

 ero.sion and consequent silting may be prevented. On no account should 

 stock be' permitted access to the dam, as they break down the sides, 

 pollute the water, and, if they swim in it, will carry off considerable 

 quantities on their hides. Sheep are, however, les.s objectionable, and 

 may help in puddling a dam that is not holding well. Dams of less than 

 1,000 yards capacity are practically useless in the Mallee. 



The provision for water made by Mr. Gniel consisted of two dams, 

 one of 2,100 cubic yards, and another of 3,320 cubic yards. The latter 

 dam was a model. Its depth was 12 ft. 6 in. The sides were battered 

 at a two to one slope, the spoil being placed continuously around the 

 top. The cost of construction was £142. 



Particularly interesting was the provision of a concrete chute to 

 take the inflowing water. The chute was made simply by stretching a 

 length of 3-ft. wire netting, suitably dished, down one of the sides, and 

 spreading on it an incli or so of concrete. The surface was then given 

 a cement skin. In all, £2 10s. worth of cement was used. 



The second dam was also well made, and provided with a galvanized 

 iron chute. The water was pumped out into a capacious iron trough. 

 From these dams the drains spread out fan-like over the catchment. 



The following also possessed dams of good type : — 'Messrs. Harmer, 

 Vallance, and Giles. In several cases the storage capacity was much 

 below the standard required, and in some there was little water remain- 

 ing. Mr. Lang has a windmill on his dam, and Mr.. Hunt has installed 

 an engine. 



PLANT AND liYlPLEMENTS. 



The plant and implements were, on the whole, of a high standard. 

 Whatever else he may have lacked, no competitor was seriously short of 

 necessary implements. Some of them, however, were content to accept 

 a high rate of depreciation by leaving such implements as harvesters, 

 drills, binders, Sze., out in the sun. 



Stump-jump cultivating implements are, of course, essential. Both 

 mouldboard and disc ploughs were common. The favorite cultivating 

 implement is the scarifier, usually 11-tine. The disc cultivator is 

 occasionally found necessary on fallows dirty with melons and " rolly- 

 polys." Several of the competitors have found the springtooth culti- 

 vators valuable for working up the fallows in front of the drill. This 

 cultivator does not wallow or drag in loose ground like the scarifier ; 

 but, of course, it is not very effective in killing weeds. Springtooth cul- 

 tivato]',s stand the rough work well, though a few tines are broken on the 



