THe JOURNAL 



OF 



Yfte department of Mgriculture 



LIBR. 



OP NEW ^ 



BOTAN 

 VICTORIA. GARD 



Vol. X. Papt 5. loth May, 1912. 



WHEAT AND ITS CULTIVATIOX. 



{C ontinued from page 208.) 

 No. 4.— SEEDING OPERATIONS. 



By A. E. T. Ricliardson, MA.. B.Sc. {Agric), Agricultural 

 Superintendent. 



No activities in the farm calendar arou.se sucli .speculation and anxiety 

 to the Australian wheat-grower as those pertaining to seeding operations. 

 The nature and peculiarities of the Au.stralian climate are such as to 

 render a clo.se studv of the factors underlying successful seeding quite 

 imperative. In some of the more favoured countries of Europe the dis- 

 tribution of the rainfall is so even throughout the year that the wheat- 

 grower may sow his wheat at leisure in autumn ; or, if weather conditions 

 be unfavorable for autumn seeding, he may defer operations until the 

 advent of spring, and still secure a heavy crop. 



The uncertainty of the spring and early summer rainfall and the long 

 hot and relativelv dry summers characteristic of the bulk of the wheat- 

 growing areas of Australia, preclude such spring sowing from being a 

 success in these districts. Autumn sowing, or early winter sowing, must 

 therefore he regarded as essential to success over the greater portion of 

 the State. 



Wheat- growers in the drier districts have learned, from long experi- 

 ence, that in the great majority of sea.sons the ultimate success of the crop 

 depends very largely on getting the seed sown on soil in good physical 

 csl condition at the right finic- within what may be called the normal seeding 

 ^ period, which, under the most favorable conditions extends over some six 

 '-^ to eight weeks. When, however, heavy showers fall intermittently during 

 O^ this period the seeding is considerably delayed, and much of the crop must 

 ' — r be sown too late to secure optimum results. Where large areas are to be 

 -^ sown, and difficulties arise either from a dearth of labour or teams, the 

 :3 sowing season must he prolonged beyond the period necessary to insure 

 ~> the best results. 



4878. K 



