A Revieir of the Ymr's Work. 209- 



Tlie experiments conducted by tlie Chemical brancli and by private 

 individuals liave proved that St. John's Wort may bo checked from 

 spreading in the alarming- way in which it has done during the past 

 few years. Now that a remedy has been found tenders will be called 

 for its destruction on experimental areas of considerable extent before 

 the work of eradication is commenced on a large scale. There is, 

 however, no longer any excuse for private owners allowing small 

 patches to remain on their holdings and thus form other centres of 

 infection to the surrounding country. 



The Viticultural Industry. 



The Viticultural Inspector, Mr. Adcock, presents an exhaustive and 

 interesting report on the work done in this branch. The fact that 

 phylloxera has appeared in the vineyard at the Rutherglen Viticultural 

 Station is a serious loss and practically renders this station useless for 

 the supply of resistant stock to any part of the State, except those 

 already affected with phylloxera. I anticipated this disaster last year 

 and had new nurseries estnblished in clean districts, namely, at 

 Leongatha and Longei-enong, with cuttings brought from Rutherglen 

 before phylloxera was known to exist there. There is little doubt but 

 these nurseries are clean. I will have them tested, however, by planting 

 European vines in the immediate proximity of the nursery so that if 

 phylloxera is there it will be soon discovered. When these nurseries 

 have been proved to be absolutely safe we will then be able to begin 

 the reconstruction of vineyards in clean areas. At present viti- 

 culturists in clean areas will not take the cuttings from Rutherglen, 

 although the experts of the department declaf-e there is no risk after 

 fumigation, but considering the easy way in wliich phylloxera can be 

 carried, I am not surprised at their caution. 



Agricultural Classes- 



The short courses of instruction to farmers and farmers' sons 

 conducted at three centres last winter for a period of two weeks at 

 each were a conspicuous success. An average of 40 students was in 

 attendance at each centre. These results encourao-ed me to ag-ain 

 open classes for one month at six centres this winter where an average 

 attendance of 40 students was gaaranteed. A full report of the work 

 of these classes will appear in the Journal on a future date. 



All officers lecturing at these classes took special trouble to prepare 

 material for lectures and to aid in every way the success of the new 

 departure. The greatest burden of the work has fallen upon the 

 officers of the Chemical branch, and I am especially pleased with the 

 way these young officers acquitted themselves. i)r. Howell is to be 

 congratulated on the manner in which he has trained his staff. . 



The Journal of Agriculture- 

 After seven monthly issues of the Journal of Agriculture, the pub- 

 lication was suppressed for five months as a measure of retrenchment. 



