AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL OF VICTORIA. 



SH:F'TJb!:M:BER, 1904. 



A SURVEY OF THE WORK AND PROGRESS OF THE 

 VICTORIAN AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. 



By S. Williamso7i Wallace, Director of Agriculture. 

 Introduction. 



This Annual Report reviewing* the work of the various bi'anches 

 •of the Dei^artmentj with the exception of the inti-oductory portion, is 

 practically the same as the address given by me at the Annual 

 Conference of the Chamber of Agriculture. One of the main features 

 of the year's work, it will be found, is the further development of the 

 educational work established two years ago by myself. Farmers' 

 classes have been a complete success, and if held in sufficient number 

 will soon have a marked effect on agricultural methods in Victoria, 

 Additional lecturers, well qualified to give instruction in wine making, 

 cheese making, and in the poultry industry, have been engaged. 

 This, I trust, will greatly aid these industries in the near future. 



The experimental work of the Department is for the first time 

 placed on a permanent footing. Experiments will be conducted on 

 fields of from five to ten acres, and over a series of years, thus 

 allowing of a much wider range of experimental work than has ever 

 been undertaken in the past. A vast amount of information, which 

 will guide farmers in their agricultm'al operations, will be gained. 



The discovery of the cause of 'Hake-all" and "white-heads" in 

 wheat is a distinct advance in original research. 



Material for the preparation of a soil map of Victoria is being 

 obtained. This map will show what manures are required and what 

 crops will grow successfully wherever experimental plots have been 

 planted by the Department. This work, however, is much retarded 

 for want of men and money. 



The Botanical Branch was transferred from the Chief Secretary's 

 Department at the beginning of last financial year. Mr. Luehmann, 

 Government Botanist, owing to his state of health, has uot been able 

 to give the Department any assistance in initiating new work or 

 assisting further than identifying specimens of plants sent to him 

 from time to time. The National Herbarium, the most valuable in 

 Australia, is also under Mr. Luehmann's care. This Branch should 



