666 Journal of AgriciiUvre, Victoria. [10 Nov.. 1917. 



FARMERS' FIELD DAY AT WERRIBEE. 



Despite unsettled weather conditions, and the counter attraction of 

 the Melbourne iShow, the special train that left Melbourne for the 

 Central Keseareh Farm, Wcrrihee, on 2Sth September, was packed with 

 farmers and others interested in the experimental work carried on there. 



Though this annual visit of inspection was a complete success at its 

 inception in 1913, each year has witnessed a constantly increasing 

 number of visitors making the pilgrimage to Werribee on the Field Day. 



Among those present were His Exeellency the Governor (,Sir Arthur 

 Stanley), the Minister for Agriculture (Hon. F. Hagelthoru, M.L.C.), 

 the Minister for Lands (Hon. W. Hutchinson, M.L.A.), many repre- 

 sentatives of the Federal and State I'arliaments, and upwards of 500 

 visitors. 



The purpose of the visit is to bring farmers into closer touch with 

 the Research Farm, where much of the experimental work undertaken 

 by the Department is being conducted, and to give them an opportunity 

 of gaining first hand information of the latest results. Of course, it 

 is recognised that a mere visit of half a day is all too short to make 

 much more than a cursory examination, but a guide book is published 

 giving a complete account of the work undertaken, and the trend of the 

 results, so that the visitor is able to digest at his leisure the informa- 

 tion obtained at the farm. 



Arriving at Werribee, the visitors were met with numerous con- 

 veyances, many of which were kindly provided by local farmers. A 

 ■short drive brought the farm into view, and its appearance, despite the 

 previous dry conditions experienced, was excellent. The farm gates are 

 about a mile from the station. Here the crowd soon assumed consider- 

 able proportions. The visitors were welcomed at the main entrance by 

 the Minister for Agriculture (Hon: F. W. Hagelthoru, M.L.C.) and the 

 Director of Agriculture (Dr. S. S. Cameron). Dr. Cameron briefly out- 

 lined the objects of the farm, and indicated the character of the work 

 in progress. 



Headed by Mr. Richardson, the Agricultural Superintendent, the 

 crowd moved off to that portion of the farm devoted to the testing of 

 various types of rotation farming. The neat and orderly arrangement 

 of the plots, and their workmanlike appearance, was very striking, and 

 the visitors listened with attention to a discussion of the results that 

 have been obtained. Particularly interesting was a comparison aiforded 

 by the difference between the growth of the crop on the oaten hay 

 continuously plot and that on the oaten hay after bare fallow plot. 

 The growth in the latter case was more than double that on the former. 

 The relative merits and returns obtained by a number of other systems 

 of rotation were discussed, and numerous pertinent questions answered. 



The irrigation field was next visited, and the mode of watering was 

 demonstrated. Discussion of many practical problems followed. On 

 the farm there are some 260 acres under irrigation, including 160 under 

 lucerne, so that many of the visitors who were specially interested in 

 this phase of agriculture found plenty to occupy their attention. This 

 area comprises both a bulk area and experimental j)lots; but it was 

 this latter portion, which includes tests with various manures, variety 

 trials, and rates of seeding tests, that especially interested many ; judg- 

 ing by the remarks, the manuring of lucerne was apparently a new 



