20 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Jan., 1916. 



inspection tlirougli the various wheat fields. The work undertaken at 

 Rutherglen comprised ten distinct sections. Apart from the bulk wheat 

 plots which were sown to provide seed wheat true to name for distri- 

 bution among farmers, there were a series of plots dealing with such 

 practical problems as (1) the top-dressing of pastures; (2) the impi-ove- 

 ment of cereals; (3) permanent rotation plots; (4) permanent fertilizer 

 trials; (5) cultural and tillage trials; (6) variety wheat, oat, and barley 

 trials; (7) feeding off tests; (8) green manure tests; (9) soil moisture 

 and soil nutrition tests. The outstanding features that would probably 

 appeal forcibly to every one who inspected the crops may be stated as 

 f olloAvs : — 



1. The remarkable improvement effected in the stock-carrying capa- 

 city of poor North-Eastern land by continuous treatment with super- 

 phosphate and small dressings of lime. The results are so apparent to 

 the eye that they could not fail to convince every practical farmer 

 present. 



2. The superiority in appearance and in probable net returns of 

 wheat grown in rotation with forage crops fed down by sheep to every 

 other form of crop rotation. 



Visitors inspecting Pasture Top Dressings, Rutherglen State Farm, 

 November, 1915. 



3. The value of lime as a soil ameliorator, both on crops and on grass 

 in normal or wet seasons in typical North-Eastern country. 



4. The value of heavy dressings of phosphates for profitable wheat- 

 growing. 



5. The success of all early-sown crops. 



6. The superiority of mid-season and late-maturing varieties, such as 

 Penny, Yandilla King, &c., in seasons such as those we have just passed 

 through. 



The Inspection. 



By this time there were about 500 present, who accepted Mr. 

 Richardson's invitation to inspect the plots. The procession through 

 the fields was a long one, and 135 vehicles, including motors, drags, cabs. 



