THe JOURNAI9 



OF 



Yfie ©eparfment of Mi^rmMre 



LJ8HAU 

 *^' NEW YOl 



VICTORIA. ZtZ 



Vol. X. Part 6. loth June, 1912. 



WHEAT AXD ITS CULTIVATION. 



(^Continued from, page 274.) 



No. 5.— METHODS OF CULTIVATION. 



By A. E. Y. Richardson, M.A., B.Sc. (Agric), Agricultural 

 Superintendent. 



The nature of the Australian climate is such as to render thorough 

 tillage a prime factor in successful wheat cropping. A glance at the rain- 

 fall map of Australia will reveal the fact that the large wheat-growing 

 areas of the Commonwealth are situated in districts with a limited annual 

 precipitation. To make the fullest use of these areas, systems of cultiva- 

 tion must be practised which aim at conserving as much of the scanty rain- 

 fall as possible. 



More, however, is required than this. No system of cultivation can 

 be permanently effective and adequate unless it makes provision for the 

 maintenance of the fertility of the soil. The fact that fallowing is so 

 largely practised in the drier areas is proof that the former aspect is appre- 

 ciated. The fact that there are wheat lands in this young State which 

 practical farmers and the press frequently describe as " worn-out," shows 

 that the latter aspect is frequently ignored. 



No system of cropping can be complete and adequate under our con- 

 ditions, unless it provides both for the conservation of soil moisture and 

 for the conservation of soil fertility. Methods which lead to the conserva- 

 tion of moisture, but not to the conservation of soil fertility, may be 

 temporarily effective and profitable, but ultimately they must be disastrous 

 both to the farmer and to the community. 



Two points, therefore, require consideration in discussing the merits 

 or demerits of any system of cultivation for wheat growing under dry con 

 difions, namely — - 



(i) Conservation of moisture, 

 (2) Conservation of fertility. 

 6(X»4. >r 



