2s8 



Journal of Agriculture , Vicioria. [lo April. 19T. 



Mr. A. E. V. Richardson, Agricultural Superintendent, adds the fol- 

 lowing interesting note to the above : — 



With reference to your article on " Influence of Superphosphates on 

 the Germination of Wheat," there is one point which perhaps may have 

 ■escaped notice, but which I think would ser\e to make the figures you use 

 still more striking. 



If you take the average of the i cwt. A, B and C plots and compare 

 them with the 2 cwt. plots they work out something like this : — ■ 



A. Plots- 



Manure sown with seed 



B. 1" under seed 

 C 3" 



1 cwt. 



135. L 

 136L 

 1431 



The manure placed deep as at C, was an advantage all round, but 

 the advantage was much greater with the larger than with the smaller 

 •dressing of manure. Taking the whole of the plots (15) the best yield 

 was obtained from 2 cwt. super., but in order to give this result, the 

 manure had to be drilled deep. 



The whole of the results indicate that deeper drilling of the manure 

 may enable the farmer to use larger quantities of manure with profit than 

 .has hitherto been possible with the ordinary drill. 



IXSECTIVOROUS BIRDS OF VICTORIA. 



THE WHITE-HEADED STILT. 



{Himantopus leucocefhalus, Gould.) 

 By C. French, Junior, Acting Government Entomologist. 



During the months of October, November and December these beautiful 

 Ibirds which are noted destroyers of noxious insects, also the fre.sh-water 

 snails which are the hosts of the dreaded Liver Fluke, ha\-e been breeding 

 near Laverton, on the Geelong line. This is probably the first authentic 

 record for Victoria. 



The nests, about 10 to 15 feet apart in the middle of a fairly 

 large swamp, placed on clumps of the dwarf Salt-marsh plant 

 Salicorriia, and principally composed of dried Lyngoya destuarii and other 

 aquatic plants, measured approximately 8 inches across, and were 

 built up about 9 inches above the water. Dead twigs of the Salicornia 

 were placed on the tops of the nests, several of which were placed on burnt 

 clumps of the " Awned Sword Sedge" {Gahnia tri-fidd) about 12 inches 

 above the water. The majority of the nests contained 4 eggs (one with 

 ■five was discovered) and most of the eggs were placed with the small 

 ends pointing towards the middle of the nest, though in some iuslances 

 several of the eggs had the small ends pointing outward. 



Unfortunately, before all the eggs were hatched out ihe swamp com- 

 menced to dry up ; the old birds left the locality, and deserted a number 

 ■of eggs and young birds. 



