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THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



All who contemplate the production of chaff for the Sydney market 

 should make it their business to ascertain exactly what are the require- 

 ments of buyers and to act accordingly. It is quite true that many do 

 this, and that in certain districts, particularly in the Riverina, the produc- 

 tion of high-class hay and chaff is well understood and practised, but there 

 are other districts where little care is bestowed on this product, and it is 

 regarded only as a convenient method of getting something for that which 

 is worth very little. When it is stated, however, that the proper prepara- 

 tion of chaff may increase its value in the market by almost as much as 

 i'Us. per ton — more than sufficient to pay the cost of cutting — it will be seen 

 that the requirements of the market have an important relation to profits, 

 and are therefore worth catering for. 



The preference of Sydney for green chaff is due to the inclination of dry 

 chaff to cause constipation and to necessitate the supply of some other 

 green feed as a laxative. The city carter therefore prefers to purchase a 

 green chaff which will save him the expense of another class of feed, and. 

 producers will find it quite worth while to study this feature of the busi- 

 ness. 



Suitable Varieties. 



Chaff-production is rather different to other classes of rural enterprise,, 

 for chaff is not always the result of a crop grown intentionally for the pur- 

 pose. For convenience, producers may be divided into two classes: (1) 

 Those who grow for chaff, and (2) those who grow for grain, but 

 who, owing to frosting, dry weather or other causes, have to cut the crop 

 for hay and subsequently convert it into chaff. 



Crop of Firbank Wheat at Ganmain Yield 3 tons 2 owt. of Hay per acre. 



The man who is intentionally growing for hay should select varieties- 

 which yield straw and flag of good colour and body. Varieties that pro- 

 duce light coloured hay, or that are inclined to be " flaggy," should be 

 avoided, and it is just as well to respect the prejudices against certain 

 varieties (such as Federation), even if they be a trifle unreasonable. 

 Varieties that have a brown head do not make the most attractive chaff,, 

 for the brown husk shows up and buyers do not like it. 



