80 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Feb., 1916. 



were cut in them of these dimensions. This practice might be extended 

 with advantage and profit. The cost of conserving hay of this descrip- 

 tion amounts to about 10s. or 12s. per ton, consisting of cutting, cart- 

 ing, and stacking; as a reserve supply for bad seasons its value would 

 be ten times that amount, while under normal conditions it would 

 largely increase the stock-carrying capacity of the farm. 



Left to ripen and shed their seed in seasons like the one being ex- 

 perienced, they are a menace to safety in case of fire, and the cause of 

 many dirty crops. 



Water Supply. 



The drought just past has had its good effects as well as bad, as one 

 of Nhill'si most progressive farmers (Mr. E. J. Hoffman) remarked. It 

 had forced him to put down a bore for water, a thing he should have 

 done long before. The water so obtained is of excellent quality for 

 stock and domestic purposes, and where used for irrigation has proved 

 beneficial. Further, there appears to be an inexhaustible supply. The 

 value of this sub-artesian water to the Nhill district can scarcely be 

 over estimated; it not only means safety in times of drought in regard 

 to water for stock, but should be largely instrumental in providing green 

 succulent feed at all times. The rich black country, of which there is a 

 large area, is in most cases admirably suited to the growth of lucerne 

 and other fodder crops. Small plots of this king of fodders were seen 

 on some farms, and there appears no reason why areas of 10, 20, an 

 100 acres of lucerne should not be grown under irrigation supplied by 

 bores in the future, rendering the owners of such areas independent of 

 the seasons, and assuring a competence on smaller holdings, in addition 

 to which would accrue the enhanced value of the land. 



With the warm climate, the rich black soil, and a sufficient supply 

 of water, lucerne should thrive as well, or better, than in any other 

 portion of the State. It was noticed on some farms where bores had 

 been put down that the distributing tanks into which the water was 

 pumped were placed on low stagings, often only a few feet from the 

 ground. This is a mistake, as for practically the same cost the staging 

 could be made 12 feet or more, the resulting pressure being of consid>?r- 

 able value in the saving of time when the water is used for garden pur- 

 poses, the hosing of horses, bu,ggy> &c., and particularly in case of fire. 



Losses Due to Drought. 



Inquiries were made on each farm visited as to the losses sustained 

 during the past exceptionally bad drought, and it is extremely satisfac- 

 tory to be able to say that less stock was lost as the cause of the drought 

 than was probably the case in any other of the northern areas of the 

 State. In no case was a serious loss quoted, and though some hay was 

 imported by individual farmers, others sold large quantities at high 

 prices. Horses are plentiful, and no difficulty is expected in connexion 

 with harvesting operations. When the comparative immunity from loss 

 in this district is compared with that of other supposedly more favoured 

 places, a field of speculat'on is opened as to which is really the safest 

 part of the State in which to invest capital. 



On Mr. John Dart's farm a field of grass, known locally as rye-gra5s 

 was seen of exceptionally strong growth, which was highly spoken of as 



