Report of the Principal of the School of Horticulture. 265 



Lectures and Field Instruction to Rural Producers. 



About 56 Lectures and Field Lessons were given under this 

 heading" during the year. 



The subjects were of necessity limited, since the common wants in 

 all' localities are much the same. The lectures and lessons have, 

 therefore, been on the principles and advantages of deepening, 

 enriching, draining and more systematic cultivation of orchard lands ; 

 and the planning, planting, ]iruning and general management of 

 fi'uitiug trees and plants. 



These lectures and lessons have on all occasions drawn considerable 

 audiences, averaging about 40 or 2,240 for the year. 



Field instruction is unquestionably of most assistance to the adult 

 working student. He can, as a rule, learn only from seeing the work 

 performed. He is more than half sceptical of methods other than his 

 own, but with verbal explanations supported by practical demonstra- 

 tion, he can, if the teaching is sound, learn in spite of himself. 



Special Courses of Lectures in Melbourne 

 and Suburbs. 



During the year three separate courses of ten lectures each, have 

 been given at the Working Men's College, Melbourne ; the subjects 

 comprising those most essential to the choosing, preparation and 

 management of small rural estates. 



Several lectures were also given before various Horticultural 

 Societies, the Australian Natives' Association, and other organised 

 bodies. 



Correspondence. 



The amount of information given to rural producers through this 

 channel is very considerable, since, trom 1,000 to 1,200 letters have 

 been replied to during the past year. The nature of the enquiries 

 renders it necessary to supply an autograph letter in each case. It is 

 unfortunate that the pith of these communications cannot be 

 systematically preserved and given to the public, but it not in- 

 frequently happens that the replies to correspondence are given to the 

 country press, and in this way more than an individual may benefit. 



It may be well to suggest here that nothing but good could result 

 from a concerted plan being adopted whereby all replies by the 

 Department's officers on technical and cultural subjects be marked for 

 transference to the local editor. 



