I would like first to give a brief outline of my farming operations. The area of my farm is 703 acres of slightly undulating clay downs situated at Hilton, 5 miles west of Geraldine. There is about 6in. of soil over a fairly stiff subsoil of clay and ironstone and the soil is deficient in both lime and phosphates. This country reverts quickly to browntop and sweet vernal when it is not farmed to capacity. The rainfall averages 30 to 35ins per annum. The ploughable area of the farm is 650 acres, and like a good deal of similar country it has grown too much crop in the past.
