374 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [11 June, 1917. 



Such p&riods are very short for the majority of dairymen, who allow 

 the bull to waste himself by running with the cows. They value him as 

 a great worker, instead of the producing ability of his offspring. Auction 

 sales are usually not the best place to secure a dairy bull ; there gather 

 some of the greatest collections of useless, injured, and mongx-el animals 

 it is possible to imagine^ where their value is based en the number of 

 calves they can sir© in a season, and sold to the accompaniment of the 

 common expression — splendid calf-getter. 



BERSEEM OR EGYPTIAN CLOVER. 



Bi/ B. T. McEenzie, DaJnj Supervisor. 



A fodder which is coining into great favour with northern irrigation 

 farmers as a winter feed for stock is bereeem or Egyptian clover. 



Although not very widely known here, it has been grown with 

 highly satisfactory results in some of the other States, particularly 

 South Australia. According to Professor A. J. Perkins, of the South 

 Australian Department of Agriculture, who introduced it to this 

 country, berseem is extensively grown in Egypt for six months of the 

 year. 



Mr. F. O. Ellis, of the Nanneeila Settlement, had a very fine plot. 

 Although somewhat late in sowing it, Mr. Ellis speaks very highly of 

 berseem as a feed for milk cows and has been growing it for some years. 



As it is a winter grower, producing an abundance of succulent fodder 

 at a time of the year when lucerne is not very productive, its value 

 is obvious. 



The following table shows the chief component parts of berseem as 

 well as those of other green fodders used for winter feed : — 



Berseem is low in fibre and carbohydrates, has a high water content 

 and, like all fodders with a high percentage of water, stimulates the 

 flow of milk. If fed in conjunction with lucerne hay or oaten chaff, it 

 should furnish a good ration. The best time to sow is in February or 

 early in March at the rate of about 20 lbs. to the acre. The ground 

 should be well cultivated and a good dressing of farmyard manure is 

 an advantage. If this be not available the use of an artificial fer- 

 tilizer in the shape of superphosphate is advisable. 



In the irrigation areas it is considered necessary to flood the land 

 immediately prior to sowing to insure a regular germination. 



The first cut will be ready seven or eight weeks after sowing, and 

 will yield 6 or 7 tons of green feed to the acre, the subsequent cuts, of 

 course, being lower. 



Berseem should do well in the southern parts of the State, where 

 autumn rains are assured. 



