10 Jan., 1917.] Wheat Experiments. 



other cereals tould hardly be excelled, and was eloquent testimony of the 

 thorouglmess displayed in the preparation and treatment of the soil. 

 Tile maiiurial tests were the first to be inspected. Here fifteen different 

 combinations of manures were being tested side by side. All the plots 

 had made phenomenal growth. Mr. Richardson explained that the re- 

 sults of the last four years' tests had shown that the most profitable of 

 all the manures that had been applied was superphosphate applied at the 

 rate of 1 cwt. j>er acre. This was true both of wheat and dry seasons. 

 The average amount used Tn the district when these experiments started 

 four years ago was 56 to 60 lbs. He was pleased to see that last year 

 and this year a number of the farmei-g in the district had been increasing 

 the allowance of super, to the wheat crop. The amount of manure used 

 in the Horsham district was steadily increasing, and the results of the 

 Longerenong exjjerimental plots showed that the application of larger 

 dressings had given substantial and profitable increases over the lighter 

 applications. One cwt. of super, had Ijeen used over the whole crop at 

 Longerenong for the first time this year, and the college crops never 

 looked better than they did this season. If the results of the work at 

 Longerenong had only led farmers in the district to apply heavier dress- 

 ings, the cost and labour involved in keeping up the plots would be more 

 than justified. Bonedust and basic slag had not hitherto been found 

 profitable at Longerenong. The plot dressed with farmyard manure 

 looked remarkably healthy, so also did the plot dressed with nitrate of 

 soda and superphosphate. 



From the c mments made by the farmers it is evident that the results 

 of this year's experiment will be keenly watched, as some high yields are 

 anticipated. Some of those present considered that the plot dressed 

 with 2 cwt. of super, would give the highest yield, others favoured the 

 plot treated with super. 1 cwt. and nitrate of soda. Others, again, con- 

 sidered the farmyard manure would do best. 



Mr. Richardson took the opportunity to explain that the differences 

 of opinion among the farmers as to the probable yields of the fifteen 

 manurial plots only showed how necessary it was to conduct the tests. 

 V eiy few men could tell by inspection the difference between, say, a 

 12-bag and a 13-bag crop. The harvester, however, was an unen-ing 

 judge, and would give to a lb. tlie difference in the yields. Unless a man 

 could plainly observe the differences in yield between two crops he was 

 apt to conclude that there was no difference at all. The visitors then 

 passsd on to the stud cereal section. Here were to be seen wheats, oats, 

 barleys, and peas from all parts of the world, all sown neatly in rows, 

 and labelled. Here were to be seen the short, stiff strawed Indian varie- 

 ties, one of which was the grandfather of Farrer's famous Federation 

 wheat. Here also were gathered the Fife wheats of Canada, the Durums 

 from America, fc^earded types from the Argentine, and spreading types 

 from the Steppea of Russia, together with a complete collection of Aus- 

 tralian wheats. To the layman the endless varieties seemed bewildering. 

 Mr. Richardson, explained that the Department of Agriculture had 

 secured the world for new types of wheat, and had hoped that 

 among the many varieties forwarded by the Agricultural Departments of 

 otlier countries some would prove suitable for local requirements. It 

 seemed, however' that some of thesiv wheats possessed individually some 

 remarkable qualities, e.//., rust resistance, stooling capacity, drought re- 

 sistance, and milling qualities, but they did not adapt themselves to local 



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