20 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : 



Up to (late, 3,800 places have been visited hy the inspec- 

 tors, who have given the necessary instrnctions. In 

 addition, a number of these have been revisited, to see if 

 their instructions have been carried out. In four cases it 

 has been found necessary to institute proceedings against 

 occupiers for non-compliance with regulations, in each of 

 which cases the prosecution was successful. Further, 

 some orcliardists at first showed an unwillingness to 

 comply witli instructions ; but, after serving them with 

 notices to clean, satisfactory results were obtained. 



Nurseries. 



The system inaugurated of inspecting nurseries, and of 

 issuing certificates to clean, has been found to work well ; 

 47 nurseries have been examined and granted " clean 

 certificates," which hold good for six months. The other 

 colonies accept our certificates of cleanliness accom- 

 panying trees sent. This not only facilitates the work 

 of the inspectors, but the improved condition of our 

 nurseries is noticeable in a marked degree. The number 

 of certificates issued by the Government Entomologist 

 on nursery stock exported from the colony is 1,600, being 

 an average of about 1,000 per annum. There are also 

 a number of nurseries that only grow cut flowers for 

 market, and, although they are generally clean, it has not 

 been found necessary to issue them " clean certificates." 



Abandoned Orchards. 



Some three years since, at the suggestion of the 

 Government Entomologist, an estimate was made of the 

 number of acres of abandoned orchards within a 10-mile 

 radius of Melbourne, and it was found that there were 

 something like 700 acres, at a low estimate. These 

 orchards consist of land on the outskirts of the suburbs, 

 purchased by land syndicates in the boom time, with the 

 object of their being cut up into building allotments for 

 sale. These are now being dealt with. Great diflSculty 



