10 Feb., 1916.] Nhill Crop and Fallow Competitions, 1915. 85 



Mr. O. II. Lienert, of Lorquon, is a good second with some fine 

 crops, notably 100 acres of Yandilla King. This crop, though containin 

 a few wild oats and small patches of takeall, was a particularly nice one. 

 exceptionally well headed, and should yield a big result. His crop of 

 Federation, however, was not equal to some others seen. 



Messrs. Voigt and Sallman, of Mt. Elgin, showed a nice crop of 

 Federation, on red ground, clean, and free from disease, with very few 

 foreign heads. This crop should yield well, but was inclined to be thin 

 in patches. 



Mr. H. Scroope, though not securing a prize, showed some fine crops 

 in his 600 acres exhibited, included in which were Federation, Purple 

 Straw, Marshall's No. 3, and Zealand Blue. These crops were not as 

 clean or even as the prize crops, but were nevertheless good. 



Both Marshall's No. 3 and Zealand Blue are rather late varieties, 

 and perhaps better suited to cooler districts; they are both good hay 

 wheats, but would not be suited by dry seasons. 



The task of judging the crops on this occasion was not easy, as, taken 

 all round, there was not a very great difference in yields, as the points 

 awarded indicate. But there was a considerable variation in respect to 

 purity and evenness. 



The crops generally were fairly free from disease, though patches of 

 takeall, slight touches of rust, and a little smut were observable in 

 various instances. Dead heads were not numerous, and wild oats not as 

 plentiful as is generally the case, and n^ost of the crops were clean in the 

 bottom. 



The best crops this year were grown on the black ground, which 

 was evidently suited by the season, and it might be worth the attention 

 of the Society in future 'as to whether a separate prize for crops on red 

 and black ground be offered, as the different classes of soil are liable 

 to place exhibitors in a somewdiat inequitable nosition. 



In summing up the points allotted, attention has been drawn to the 

 fact that those farmers in the habit of using larger applications of 

 manure are getting better crops than their neighbours. 



The habit of harrowing crops after they have grown a few inches 

 does not appear to be as general in this district as in some others. The 

 red ground especially would respond to such treatment, particularly if 

 the surface has set or caked, and the ravages of takeall be checked as a 

 result, in addition to which moisture would be better conserved and the 

 air more freely admitted to the roots of the crops. 



The amount of seed used varied from 30 to 60 lbs. per acre; tli: 

 best results apparently coming from applications of from 50 to 60 lbs. 



The opinions of most of tiie oldest farmers were in favour of shallow 

 sowing, and in this I think they are right, provided the land has been 

 properly cultivated — 2 inches to 2i inches being the maximum depth at 

 which seed should be deposited. The germinating seed likes warmtii. 

 moisture, light, and air for its prompt development. 



The growth of oats in rotation without additional manure is not to 

 be recommended; better filled oats and heivier yields of grain would 

 compensate the grower, and the land be of greater value either for grass 

 or succeeding crops. 



The picklin,g of seed is still done haphazardly iii the majority of 

 cases, and consequent loss takes place, as the strength of the eolution 

 is generally too high, and a certain proportion of the seed germs is 



