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Mallee - Part 2
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Image 148
Mallee - Part 2
Image 148
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ing. On many farms they are burnt as they are gathered off the land. I prefer stacking within at least eight miles of a railway station. I estimate that it will cost over 15s. per acre in five years to clear the land. A good scrub burn and two or three stubble burns will kill nearly all the stumps. Cultivation Methods.— the method of cultivation adopted after the land is cleared varies considerably. In good seasons returns up to 14 bushels per acre of wheat have been obtained after a scrub fire by simply drilling in the seed and super without any cultivation of the soil; but if the season happens to be one in which the rainfall is below normal, then the returns are usually poor. For a first crop, my own method has been to cultivate the stiffer soil with a stump jump tine cultivator, and then drill in the seed and super, The white sandy rises were usually drilled without cultivation. For the second crop, the heavier land was trimmed with a share plough, or if it so happened that the stubble could not be burnt off clean, a disc cultivator or plough was used. The light rises were usually cultivated by a disc hammer before being drilled. I think it pays to cultivate the land thoroughly, but not deeply. Quantity of seed used : About one bushel of clean seed is required per acre, though good returns have been obtained from 45lbs. of seed per acre. Quantity of super used : Varies from 40 to 80 lbs. per acre. 56 to 60 lbs. makes a serviceable dressing for the first two or three crops. Average rainfall : 16 inches, but good returns have been secured from 12 in. when the falls came at the right time of the year. Average wheat returns : Average for nine years on my farm has been 10 bushels 50lbs. per acre. This is considerably above the average for the hundred of Parilla, but will represent the average of the farms of like quality land that have been properly tilled. Varieties of wheat : There are many varieties of wheat that do well in mallee land. It is usual to sow an equal area of late and early varieties. The later sorts should be sown first. For late varieties I prefer Marshall's No. 3, Yandilla King, Belgian Wonder, Budd's Early, and Federation, and for early sorts, Gluyas, Red Russian, Carmichael's Eclipse, King's Early, and Viking. Water Supply : The Pinnaroo District is highly favoured in regard to a supply of water. An abundant supply can be obtained anywhere 240 feet below the level of the flats. This artesian supply is usually tapped by a 4in. or 5in. bore, and the water is generally raised by a windmill. When a storage of about 4,000 gallons is provided, this provision is usually found to be ample for watering the stock, and irrigating a small vegetable and flower garden. Chief difficulties : Difficulties of mallee farmers in early stages are chiefly due to unsuitable weather for burning the scrub. For instance, very little scrub has been burnt this year owing to the moist cold weather that prevailed during the summer. A good scrub burn sweetens the land and is a great factor in the production of a good payable crop. A poor burn means that a large amount of manual labour has to be spent to get the land ready for tilling. Then again, summer rain often spoils the stubble burn. A poor stubble burn means a lot of shoot cutting. In good seasons after the first two or three crops the prevalence of the wheat disease known as "Takeall" is the great drawback. This affects all loamy soils, and in some cases the heavier soils also suffer. As a general rule it spreads from the lighter to the heavier soil. This disease seems to prevail most in wet seasons. It did not appear in 1914, the year of the drought, but in the following year it was very much in evidence. As a preventive the second crop of wheat should be followed by a crop of oats. On very light soils oats should be sown for a second crop. My practice now is to sow oats on all the light loamy soils and wheat on the stiffer land. The disease being a vast fungus, does not spread as readily in the stiffer soils. When stubble land is tilled for a crop it is sown with oats. By this system, a good supply of fodder can be stored up for a time of drought. By hand feeding in the autumn, more stock can be kept on the farm and the land is thereby made more fertile. Conclusion : In conclusion, to settle mallee country successfully, the land must be sold at a low figure, and long liberal terms given for payment. The South Australian laws for disposing of mallee land are now fairly liberal. In the early stages of settlement, all speculation in the land should be discouraged. If the land is of fair average quality the holdings should not contain more than 1,000 acres. Some farmers in this district hold too much land. The uncleared portions not only are non-productive, but are a harbour for rabbits, foxes, and dingoes, and consequently become a menace to the industrious neighbour, who is making the whole of his block a means of production, and a source of profit to the State. The settlers should be encouraged to aim at working into mixed farming after the land has been settled for four years, and the State should assist the farmers to overcome the initial expense of fencing with that end in view. My wheat averages have been as follows :— 1908 - 9 .. .. .. 13 bushels 1909 -10 .. .. .. 12 bushels 1910 -11 .. .. .. 13 bushels 1911 -12 .. .. .. 6 bushels 1912 -13 .. .. .. 12 bushels 1913 -14 .. .. .. 9 bushels 1914 -15 .. .. .. ½ bushels 1915 -16 .. .. .. 11 ,, 1916 -17 .. .. .. 21 ,, N.B.—The 1911-12 crop was affected by frost, and the loss estimated at three bushels per acre. The 1913-14 crop was damaged by storms to the extent of three bushels per acre. 1914-15 was the drought year. The 1915-16 crop was affected by "Takeall" to the extent of about three bushels per acre. In 1916 wheat was confined to the heavier land mostly, which was fallow, and the lighter soils sown with oats. The yield of oats was about 22cwt. per acre of hay, and the portions reaped returned about 10 bushels per acre. J. T. WHYTE, farmer, Boothby. Method of clearing : The first step is to roll down the scrub. In this district I think I can say we are ahead of any other that I know of. Instead of a roller we use a log up to 30 feet long, or two logs, one raised above the other, and with a team of bullocks each end can do up to 30 acres per day, and pull down scrub that is much too heavy for a roller. With my own teams one time I did 300 acres in 10 days, and others have done more than that. I could furnish particulars of the log. Cultivation methods : Much depends on the burning. If you get a good even burn, the crops will be even for several years, but if a bad burn, or burnt in patches, your crop will be patchy. Of course the burn depends on the scrub. We find it easier to deal with solid scrub than patchy or broken scrub. After a good burn, we find it better to use a cultivator or scarifier in preference to a plough, as a plough turns up sour ground, and turns the good ashes down too far, while the cultivator mixes it. Chief difficulties : One of the greatest troubles are the shoots, and while there are many arguments as to the time of year to cut them, I have never found any difference. In fact, there is not much option; you have to cut them soon after you get the crop in before the wheat gets too high. If cut before seeding, they have to be raked and burned, and a scrub "cockie" never seems to have time for that. The best thing of all is fire, and where the stubble is not thick enough to burn, the next thing is the fire rake, which should be used whenever possible. If oats are grown and sown thick, it nearly always ensures a good burn, but then again, the average 'cockie' cannot afford to grow oats, as there is not much money in them. F. NORTON, farmer, of Geranium. Location of holding : Hundred of Price, Geranium, Pinnaroo Line. Original cost of land : 3s. 6d. to 5s. per acre. Character of land : Land is varied in character, comprising white sand loam and yellow and red sand loam, with fair patches of black Biscay flats. The majority of it has a good clay subsoil. Area held : 2,600 acres. Present value : My farm is worth about 30s. to £4 per acre at present for land and improvements. Farms vary in value according to distance from rail. Method of clearing : The usual means adopted is to
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