10 Feb., 1916.] 



Wyuna State Farm. 



103 



features observed was a system of trap nests, installed for the purpose 

 of detecting the best layers in a pen, and to demonstrate the different 

 cycles in egg-laying peculiar to particular hens. Poor layers are dis- 

 covered and cast out, and tliis method corresponded to a system of 

 herd testing employed in a dairy herd. Some pens of fine pedigreed 

 birdsi were on view, including many from this season's hatcla. The 

 gathering had an opportunity of comparing the pen system with the 

 flock system. This latter system is coming into vogue. The many 

 devices used in feeding, watering, &c., showed how a large flock may 

 be managed with an economy of labour. Mr. Rugg stated that in his 

 opinion a settler could, with the flock system, look after 500 birds, and 

 do his ordinary work of dairying besides, and if he confined himself to 

 poultry farming he could handle 2,000 birds a year. The incubator 

 room and brooder house were examined, and proved of considerable in- 

 terest. 



Leaving the poultry yards, the visitors were shown small areas of 

 lucerne and artificial pastures, which had been sown for green feed. 



Breeding Pens, Wyuna State Farm. 



An enclosure of movable hurdles enables Mr. Rugg to hut a flock of 

 young chickens on different parts of the areas. 



The next feature of interest was the pasture top-dressing experiment. 

 This series consisted of four ^^-acre plots which had been treated with 

 super, alone, with super, and lime, and with basic slag, while one plot 

 was left untreated as a check plot. Although the land had been given 

 no special treatment besides the top-dressing, the response to the 

 fertilizer was most apparent, and the remarkable feature was the dif- 

 ferent character of the pasture on the four plots. Tlie two plots which 

 have been treated witli lime and basic slag resjiectively showed a dense 

 growth of trefoil and clover. It was stated that when stock were 

 allowed to graze on the area they showed a ]>referencc for tlie pasture 

 on the treated ]}lots. The improvement effected caused great comment. 



The manuarial tests on wheat were of interest. There seemed to 

 be an increased growth corresponding to the amount of super. a]iplied, 

 but the efTiciency of basic slag and bonodust as ]>hospliatic manures was 



