48 WHEATGROWING IN AUSTRALIA. 



cultural methods. In 1911-12 plots were cultivated in New South 

 Wales in eighty-three districts. In 1911 there were seventy-two 

 farmers' plots in Victoria on which manurial and variety wheat 

 trials were conducted. 



In the latter State, however, a change has been made, and 

 the majority of these plots have been discontinued, and a com- 

 mencement made towards a policy of concentration in experimental 

 investigation. It was decided to establish a Central Research 

 Farm at Werribee, on which the initiative with regard to all experi- 

 mental and research work is undertaken, while other State farms 

 and the Agricultural College will be used as district experiment 

 stations. The work at the Central Research Farm is intended to 

 confer on agriculture the benefits of the most scientific advances 

 by the prosecution of investigations and trials under practical and 

 accurately-recorded conditions concerning problems involved in in- 

 creasing the agricultural output. Attention will be given to im- 

 provement of wheat, soil renovation, fertilising and tillage methods, 

 rotation of crops, &c. The farm is within 18 miles of the capital 

 city, Melbourne, and is easy of access by farmers from all parts 

 of the State, Much of the soil closely resembles in physical cha- 

 racter and chemical analysis that of the principal wheatgrowing 

 districts. At Longerenong Agricultural College and the Rutherglen 

 Viticultural College attention is given to the improvement of wheat 

 by systematic selection, crossbreeding and hybridisation in one case, 

 and the fixation and testing of new crossbred wheats in the other. 



South Australia also has its Government Agricultural College, 

 where extensive wheat experiments are conducted. The college has 

 been of the greatest benefit to the farming community. In that 

 State there are several demonstration and experiment farms estab- 

 lished by the State, including the Parafield Wheat Research Station, 

 170 acres in extent, which is set apart for the raising of high-grade 

 seed wheat for distribution amongst growers, and the raising of 

 new varieties of wheat by crossbreeding and selection. 



In Western Australia several State farms were established for 

 the purpose of demonstrating the possibilities of farming on up-to- 

 date principles in the different districts. Having achieved that 

 object as far as pioneering work is concerned, they are now main- 

 tained as experiment stations for the production of purebred cereals, 

 &c. At Narrogin State Farm students are accepted for instruction 

 in practical agriculture. 



Queensland has its Agricultural College and State Farms. 

 Although the area under wheat has not yet attained large dim en 



