362 Agricultural Jounial of Victoria. 



larger number engaged in it, nor should it be accepted as sucli by the 

 State. 



The Nature of State Aid- 



The average profits arising from commercial fruit growing are not 

 sufficient to attract and hold the rising generation who are bred 

 amidst the work. The young country-bred are not helping out the 

 ideas and labours of their fathers. It is a fact beyond dispute that in 

 the oldest settled districts no more exact knowledge of fruit culture, 

 and no more enthusiasm for the work exists, than in the most modern 

 communities. To keep the native-born on their own acres should be 

 the chief concern of everyone engaged in the work of legislating and 

 instructing ; and the work carried out by this branch is directed 

 almost entirely to the establishing of a system of production in strict 

 accord with local natural resources and demands. Under existing 

 conditions the State teacher is frequently powerless to give assistance, 

 since industries have been attempted on impossible areas. A general 

 improvement in returns, average quality of fruit, and more security 

 will not be possibk' until special groups are formed to deal in common 

 with a limited number of fruits. This may not appear a seriou& 

 argument till one explains the task of teaching communities of fruit- 

 growers, where every man has a different group of fruits, somewhat 

 different wants and ways, and therefore his own self-imposed 

 difficulties to ventilate. Teaching the adult settler is, at the present 

 time, of necessity, scrappy and inconclusive, owing to every address 

 being — if it is to do any good — the merest bits of information to serve 

 the varied wants of the audience. 



In so far as eight years' constant experience can furnish a safe 

 guide for future work, it is felt that the State Department of 

 Agriculture will perform good and sufficient work in cai'rying out the- 

 following programme : — 



1. The training of orchardists, and instruction of visitors at the 

 School of Horticulture. 



2. By continuing to establish and contol small model orchards in 

 all naturally favourable fruit growing centres. 



3. By supplying a thoroughly competent travelling Instructor fox" 

 the senior classes in State schools. 



4. By utilising a limited number of railway reserves placed at 

 important junctions, and stopping places, and therein planting and 

 caring for such fruit trees and economic plants, as may be distinctly 

 suited to, and valuable to, the district. 



5. By granting to important Rural Societies prizes for the best 

 kept and most profitable orchards, as against prizes for fruit which 

 are of little or no educational value. 



If, in the years to come, persistent effort is made in the foregoing 

 directions, the State will have performed its functions to the full, the 

 naturally incompetent settlers and unprofitable areas will be left 

 to other employment, and the industry generally reserved to those- 

 who are capable of making it distinctly profitable and permanent. 



