258 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



but in the sand a perfectly healthy crop was grown. Though 

 under certain conditions the common blue mould is capable of doing 

 much injury to plants^ yet in this case there is no evidence of any 

 value to associate the sickly condition of the plants with this very 

 common fungus. 



Tobacco Mould. 



This disease is very variable in its occurrence, being lai'gely 

 dependent on climatic conditions for its development and spread. 

 Hence, experiments directed towards its prevention have often to 

 be conducted for several seasons before a satisfactory result is 

 obtained. Thus a number of different methods were tried at the 

 Experimental Tobacco Farm, Edi, dui-ing the years 1899, 1900 and 

 1901, but no definite results were obtained the first two years 

 owing to the absence of the mould. Again no mould appeared in 

 any of the beds during 1902, so that for the last four years only 

 one season was favourable for testing the various remedies. 



The best results were obtained from treatment of the beds, before 

 sowing, with Bordeaux mixture. The formula used was Tl'lO, 

 that is 1 lb. bluestone, 1 lb. lime to lO gallons of water. Double 

 this strength, that is \\b, was also tried, and while it prevented 

 the mould, it interfered seriously with the germination of the seed. 



In addition to this treatment, the conditions under which the 

 plants were grown were varied, in order to see how far the develop- 

 ment of the mould was affected thereby. Plants were grown on 

 burnt and unburnt beds, under cheesecloth and glass, also with 

 the usual grass covering, and in a variety of aspects. The experience 

 of last season was, as far as the growth of the plants was concerned, 

 that beds high uj) in the hills and with a northern aspect gave 

 the best results. 



Ill— Publications. 



Through the medium of the Departmental Journal various 

 subjects of general interest to growers have been treated, and the 

 results of many field experiments recorded. The Fungii.s- jDi.wa.yr.v of 

 Stone-fruit Trees, referred to in the last report, has since; been issued, 

 and from the applications made for it from England, America, the 

 Cape, and even (nrermany and Italy, it seems to have attracted atten- 

 tion far beyond the Commonwealth. 



An account of the \^arious rusts wliich uifect our native and 

 cultivated plants has long heew re(}uired, and so impressed were the 

 members of the various Rust (Conferences with the necessity for 

 having reliable data to go upon in connection with the distribution 

 and nature of the ditt'erent iVustralian rusts that one of the 

 recommendations invariably made was " Investigations to be carried 

 out regarding all plants that are affected by rusts in the different 

 States." This work has been steadily progressing for a number of 

 years, and now arrangements have been made for its publication. 



Since last report the following publications have been issued, and 

 the consecutive numbering is continued. 



