A Review of the Year's Work. 203 



The department is still without experimental farms, or the money 

 to establish them. On these farms experiments of a more complex 

 nature than those above-mentioned, such as experiments lasting over 

 a series of years, should be conducted. For example, the department 

 should be able to state which are suitable rotations of crops, not from 

 known practices in other countries but from a knowledge of facts 

 gained by experiment in this State. The effects of manures on the 

 crops of the following season are known very little of in Victoria, 

 and are little calculated upon when farmers are considering whether 

 they will manure or not. These effects should be ascertained on 

 experimental farms, and I am of opinion they will be found to be 

 verj' considerable in the moister areas, where larger quantities of 

 manure are required than in the drier areas. Phosphatic manures are 

 principally used, and these do not leach out of the soil in the same 

 way that nitrogenous manures do. If nitrogen had been the principal 

 ingredient required, then the knowledge of after results would have 

 been of less importance. 



The analytical work of this branch is steadily increasing, and 

 must increase with the extended use of fertilisers. A systematic 

 analysis of soils on land on which crop experiments have been con- 

 ducted was undertaken last year by the Chemist for Agriculture, who 

 after a number of years of experiment, accompanied by analysis, will 

 be in possession of accurate facts which will enable him to state more 

 correctly how soils ought to be manured in the various districts where 

 climatic conditions are similar. To obtain this necessary and useful 

 information involves a great amount of work — consequently expense 

 — but, when obtained, will be of the greatest benefit to farmers who 

 pay for the analysis of their soils. 



Amendments to the present Manure Bill, which is practically in- 

 oj)erative, will place more power in the hands of the department, 

 which would be used for the purpose of protecting farmers against 

 unscrupulous manure dealers. The amended bill is supported by the 

 best firms in the trade, who will welcome any measure which would 

 facilitate the detection of fraud. 



The field, analytical, educational, and clerical work of the branch 

 have been ably conducted by Dr. Howell and the staff of officers 

 under his control. 



Vegetable Pathology. 



The work of the Vegetable Pathologist in this State is of great 

 importance to producers, as many fungus diseases have got a very 

 firm hold on the crops and fruit of Victoria. 



Mr. McAlpine is steadily endeavouring by experiment to find 

 remedies, and his efforts have been specially directed to those which 

 cause the greatest loss to growers. The way in which he has demon- 

 strated that the black spot of the apple can be almost entirely pre- 

 vented by spraying is of the utmost iujportance to orchardists, in 



