234 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 April, 1916. 



The plots were inspected on the 18th January, 1916, the result of 

 the treatment being satisfactory. All the plots treated with lime and 

 manures showed a good growth of grasses, excepting No. 4, which, con- 

 trary to instructions, was first sown with the mixture of grasses as 

 desired, when, as no germination took place, it was treated with lime 

 10 cwt. per acre. No better success followed the liming, and Mr. 

 McDonald then applied superphosphates 150 lbs. per acre, the seed then 

 germinating and growing well, though somewhat patchy. 



The best plots were Mos. 1, 2, and 7. Plots 1 and 7 had been well 

 tramped by the teams during cultivation, which had evidently improved 

 the land by consolidating it. 



Noticeable features of the experiment were that, on the lime and 

 superphosphate treated plots, the rje-grass had made the best growth; 

 while the plots treated with lime, basic slag, and potash had the greatest 

 amount of clover growing. 



The Eye-grass and Cocksfoot had grown to a height of 12 inches and 

 15 inches; and the Yorkshire Fog, which had com© naturally from a 

 neighbouring plot, had also made good growth. The Lucerne was dis- 

 appointing, being i>ractically a failure; and the Clovers were, on the 

 whole, poor. 



Low-lying patches were poor, and deeper drainage will be necessary 

 in the future for the best results. Heavier liming would also be advan- 

 tageous, and annual dressings for some years of superphosphate, basic 

 slag, and potash would considerably improve the land for grazing and 

 cropping. 



Mr. McDonald estimates the cost of drainage, clearing, and preparing 

 the land at £8 per acre. This is apparently high, and, as the future 

 development of the plain land depends largely on the cost of drainage, 

 clearing, &c., no effort should be spared to reduce expenditure in this 

 direction. 



Efficient drainage is the first consideration, and this should be not 

 less than 3 feet deep, at distances best suited to thoroughly rid the land 

 of surplus water. Wide, open drains would probably be best, as they 

 would not be so liable to fall in, and so avoid the necessity for constantly 

 cleaning out. They are also safer for stock, which are often lost through 

 being unable to get out of narrow drains. 



Thorough drainage would probably kill much of the ti-tree and 

 undergrowth, and all the surviving green growth could be cut and 

 burned within a couple of years. 



One advantage in the plain country, as compared with other somewhat 

 similar land in other parts of the State, lies in the fact that the peaty 

 portions do not burn deeply, generally to a depth of 6 to 10 inches only, 

 immediately beneath which is a useful claybottom. The timber roots 

 soon rot out, and are then easily grubbed and put together for burning. 

 Were the process of draining and clearing spread over a period of about 

 four years, the cost of bringing this land into use should not exceed 

 £5 per acre, which ought to be a good commercial proposition, as the 

 land would probably be worth considerably more than that sum. Pos- 

 sibly, a small syndicate of people interested in reclamation work of this 

 description, with sufficient capital to purchase machinery — such as traction 

 engines, heavy disc ploughs, &c. — might reduce the cost of development 

 still further. The land will continue to improve for many years, and 

 in time should produce good fodder and root crops. 



