W4 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. i 10 Aug., 1916. 



1,600 lbs., which, at the wholesale price of 2d., would give £13 63. 8d. 

 per acre. 



As might be nnticiputed, Mr. Shan's first experiment has shown that 

 very material improvement in methods of cultivation can be made. 

 The crop in the first place was much too thick, and instead of sowing 

 30 lbs. per acre, 20 lbs. would probably be quite sufficient, and lead to 

 better filled heads. Cutting the crop with a reaper and binder and 

 threshing later is the practice adopted on the rice fields of America, 

 and this would probably be advisable here. 



It is unlikely that the most suitable variety has been found, at the 

 first attempt, to give the best possible results, and further improvement 

 is probable in the direction of the introduction of a rice seed yielding 

 better than that already grown. 



Earlier seeding, say about the middle of October, would give the 

 crop a better opportunity of maturing grain to advantage. 



Mr. Shan is to be congratulated upon the success of his first venture 

 in rice-growing. He has proved that the crop can be grown under local 

 conditions on land that for other purposes is of little value. He is so 

 satisfied with the prospect that he intends sowing 60 acres in the coming 

 season. Other farmers in the district are sowing small areas, and are 

 obtaining the seed from Mr. Shan at Is. per lb. 



The main essentials for success in rice-growing appear to be a soil 

 capable of holding moisture beyond the average. 



Perfect grading at an almost dead level. 



A thorough command of water as required. 



The right kind of machinery for handling the crop. 



The use of specially suited varieties. 



The land should be fallowed in autumn, and a good seed-bed prepared 

 in the spring. 



The soil should never be allowed to dry out after the seed is 

 planted, until harvest time. 



A good system of drainage so that the water can be taken off when 

 required. 



The crop, after harvesting, should be well dried out before threshing, 

 to save cracking the grain. 



Pf 





