74° Journal of Agriculture. Vicforia. [lo Dec, 191 2. 



expectations, but owing to the dry, hot summer the others were not 

 so good. The onion crop was very satisfactory. Parsnips 

 did not germinate as well as was expected, and were conse- 

 quently short; but carrots did very well, and there is still a supply 

 in hand. There was a successful crop of early cabbages, but those 

 planted later were adversely affected by the very dry summer. Early 

 peas yielded well, but late ones — like all late crops last season — were 

 very light. Pumpkins, turks' caps, and marrows yielded fairly, and 

 proved a good stand-by during the winter. There was not a very 

 great demand for tomato plants. Fortunately, there were not many 

 grown last season ; and the balance, after sale of young plants, was 

 planted out ; the yield from these was good and prices were profitable. 



Details of the yields of fruit and vegetables, together with prices 

 obtained, will be found in the Manager's report. In addition to the 

 sales of produce from the garden, a very large quantity is consumed 

 on the Colony. "When the value of this is taken into consideration, 

 it will be found that the orchard and garden have proved profitable. 



Finally, the year on the whole has been very satisfactory. The 

 area under fruit and vegetables is, approximately, 20 acres, the return 

 from which, including sales and the value of produce used on the 

 place, being estimated at £570. 



The fruit trees, pears particularly, are looking exceedingly well, 

 and show promise of a heavy crop during the coming season. 



FODDER CROPS FOR NORTHERN AREAS UNDER 

 IRRIGATION ON SMALL HOLDINGS. 



By Temple A. J. Smith, Chief Field Officer. 



There are various crops which can be grown in succession under 

 irrigation which will not only supply constant green fodder for dairy 

 cows or sheep, but will also prove a useful rotation so far as preserving 

 the fertility of the soil is concerned, provided a system of manuring is 

 adopted suited to the land, and such a system can be followed with 

 slight expenditure. It is proposed to outline a rotation for the above 

 purpose covering the whole of the year, giving the reasons from a 

 restorative point of view as concerns the soil, and fodder values in 

 relation to the crops produced. Cultivation must also be thorough in 

 order to achieve the highest possible measure of success. Starting in 

 the early autumn the land should be well fallowed to a depth of at 

 least 6 inches unless the surface soil is shallower, under which circum- 

 stances the ploughing should not be so deep as to turn up the colder sub- 

 soil. The land should be worked down with cultivators or harrows 

 after each day's ploughing, as it will be found that this practice con- 

 serves moisture better than where the ploughing is allowed to dry out, 

 and a better tilth is obtained. 



