240 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



varieties of resistant stocks and direct producers. These have only 

 just been received, and have been planted at Leongatha where they so 

 far promise well. 



Since last planting- season, visits have been paid to practically all 

 those growers who had received American vines from the Department, 

 and a special and voluminous report submitted on the state of these 

 vines in each case, their adaptability to the soils in the different 

 localities, and, where grafted, their affinities. A brief descriptive 

 report of the American and Franco- American varieties grown in this 

 State was also written for circulation among growers who apply to 

 the Department for this information. 



Dui'ing the year many hundreds of official visits have been paid to 

 vignerons and others throughout the State. Without a single 

 exception, officers of this branch have had most cordial receptions, 

 and the eagerness to receive information renders the duty of imparting 

 it a very pleasurable one. 



Vineyards are as a rule well kept. In addition to the ordinary 

 operations, cincturing, to promote the setting and development of the 

 fruit, has again been practised in the few districts where Zante 

 currants are grown. Cincturing increases the returns considerably, 

 but care should be taken not to make the cincture too wide. 



Grafting the resistant stocks has been attempted by several 

 growers in the Goulburn Valley, among the most successful being 

 Messrs. C. Lenne, Prossor, Burney and Gugger. 



The Wineries at Stawell and Yarrawonga were also officially 

 visited during the year, and special reports furnished thereon as 

 instructed. 



A considerable amount of time has been taken up with the lectures 

 for the Agricultural Classes. The subjects undertaken by this branch 

 are Viticulture and Agricultural Botany. In the latter subject 

 especially, considerable interest was stimulated, the lectures so far 

 having proved conclusively that facts of this science, suitable for 

 agriculturists, may be taught without undue use of abstruse techni- 

 calities, and without impairing the instruction or reducing the interest 

 this fascinating subject should invariably arouse. 



A short course of lectures on " Nature Study " was also given by 

 request of the Education Department, at the University, to the 

 Summer School of Teachers. 



Parasites and Diseases. 



The phylloxera is of course a permanent settler in this State, and 

 is by far our most serious pest. So far as is known, it has not 

 invaded any other parishes since the issue of last annual report. In 

 the infected districts it is spreading, and the destruction of 

 phylloxerated vines has been accelerated by the drought. 



