CEREALS 29 



encouraging improved methods of cultivation, than a 

 comparison of the average bushel yields of the experiment 

 plots devoted to wheat with those of farmers working 

 their land under ordinary conditions. 



The following table shows the average annual yield 

 per acre for the State (New South Wales) for the past 

 five years, together with the yields obtained from the 

 Farmers' Experiment Plots. 



AVERAGE YIELD PER ACRE IN BUSHELS 



1909-10 1910-11 1911-12 1912-13 1913-14 



New South Wales ... ... 14-3 13-1 10-5 14-6 12-0 



Farmers' Experiment Plots ... 24*0 1875 20*25 2 4' 2I ' 



It is to be noted that the usual size of these plots is 

 10 acres, only a few being below this area and others 

 running up to 25 acres, and that the increased yields are 

 due to improved farming, such as selection of suitable 

 seed, proper manuring, and particularly fallowing with 

 subsequent cultivation to conserve moisture. 



The Agricultural Bureau system which has been intro- 

 duced recently, and which originated in South Australia 

 (see p. 37) must also be mentioned as one of the means by 

 which the farmer is encouraged by the Department to im- 

 prove his working conditions, and one which assists inci- 

 dentally in wheat improvement. Some of these Bureaus 

 have instituted what are known as " Seed- wheat growing 

 competitions," which also originated in South Australia. 

 These competitions extend over a number of years, the 

 seed used each year being hand selected from the plot of 

 the preceding year. The area is five acres; the ground 

 must be clean or after long fallow, the seed graded and 

 of a variety selected by the Department. The standing 

 crop is cleaned as far as possible by hand-picking of wild 

 oats, strange heads, etc. The award is made according 

 to a scale of marks given for yield, purity of type, freedom 

 from disease, bushel-weight, and general appearance. 

 This scheme offers a strong incentive to the farmer to 

 improve the quality of his seed wheat, and helps him to 

 do so by systematic methods. 



The selection of seed to raise " stud plots " for the 

 coming season by individual farmers, as distinguished 



