WHEAT ( I 111 RE. 26 I 



Again, a variety will differ with the season. The Federation harvested 

 in 1921 before the rain, for instance, was appreciably heavier and more 

 "shotty" than the same varietj harvested! after the rain, and the drill 

 should next season have been set according to the -ample 



The fanner will lind it advisable in starting to sow, to weigh the seed used 

 ver .1 known distance, and then it is possible to calculate almost exactly 

 what will be required to sow the paddock, and to set the drill accordingly. 



Cleaning out the Drill. 



The cleaning out of the wheat-cups in the drill is another operation that 

 frequently exercises the farmer. If he rightly wishes to keep his paddocks 

 absolutely clean by avoiding the mixing of varieties, he is reduced to the 

 alternatives of running out the seed that remains in the drill on to the 

 headlands, or of jacking the drill up by setting a log, end on, under the 

 axle and standing the horses " up. ; ' But the former is obviously not a good 

 method, and the latter is most unsatisfactory in the extreme probability 

 that the axle will be bent. 



If the drill be examined, an opening will be found in the iron plates at the 

 ends of the seed-box, and working just inside the hole is the end <>f the 

 square iron bar that agitates the feeders in the cups. A key is supplied with 

 most makes of drills to fit through the hole in the plate on to the square end 

 of that iron bar. A few turns of the key will soon empty the cups of any 

 wheat they may contain, and the mixing of varieties is avoided withoul 

 waste, and with a minimum of trouble. 



Quantity of Seed to sow per acre. 



The quantity of seed to be sown per acre depends largely upon the variety 

 that is sown, and also upon the time when it is sown. A safe, rule to follow 

 is that good stooling varieties, such as Marshall's No. 3 and Yandilla Kins'. 

 should be sown at a lesser rate per acre than such a comparatively poor stool- 

 ing variety as Firbank. If the wheat is sown early, a smaller quantity can 

 be used than if the seed is sown later on in the season. 



Again, the rainfall in the district largely influences the quantity of seed 

 that should be sown per acre. For instance, in a district where the rainfall, is 

 say, 22 inches, a larger amount of seed can be sown per acre than in a 

 district where the rainfall is only from 17 to 18 inches per annum. 



The size of the seed and the fertility and condition of the soil are other 

 factors that have to be taken into account. A small seed will require a 

 slightly lighter seeding, and the same will apply in the ease of a fertile or 

 well conditioned soil. 



As a general practice in the true wheat belt, the quantity of seed for early 

 sowings should average 4" to 45 lb.; for mid-season sowings 45 or 50 11).; and 

 for late sowings 55 to 60 lb., the largest figure being- chiefly for hay crops 

 that are being sown quite late. In the tableland district- sowings should on 

 the whole be heavier, and on the Black Soil and Western Plains they should 

 be lighter. 



Depth of Sowing. 



The depth at which wheat should be sown is often a subject of discussion 

 among farmers, there being those who advocate a comparatively shallow 

 sowing and others that favour a deep one. In general, nothing is gained 

 by sowing too deeply. The contention of many farmers that deep sowing 



