796 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



deal with the introduction of seeds of varieties of crops already grown' 

 and of crops which might possibly be introduced. The purity of 

 seeds sold on the market should be under its care, whilst experiments 

 for the extermination of noxious weeds should be conducted by it. 

 The re-organization of this Branch is necessary before any woi'k of 

 real value can be accomplished. 



Mr. Crooke, of the Forestry Branchy has supervised the production 

 of a handsome timber trophy for exhibition purposes. This trophy 

 shows to advantage many varieties of Victorian timber, and it is to 

 be hoped that when the public see how many beautiful native woods 

 can be used in cabinet making the tide of fashion will turn to home 

 grown products rather than to those imported. 



I have recommended that an experimental irrigation farm should 

 be established so that farmers may learn the most successful method 

 of applying water to the land ; that a premium should be paid for 

 stallions with the object of improving the breed of army horses ; that 

 shed accommodation be provided for the inspection of fruit for export, 

 instead of carrying it out on the pier — exposed to the sun, wind, and 

 rain — as at present ; that steaming depots be established for the 

 proper cleansing of second-hand fruit cases, thus checking the spread 

 of codlin moth ; and that the Chemical Branch be provided with an 

 up-to-date laboratory. 



I trust that these recommendations will receive sanction during' 

 the year, as they are all urgently wanted. 



Chemical Branch. 



So far as experimental work is concerned the Chemical Branch is 

 the most important of all the branches of the Department. It has 

 had the advantage of being under the direction of two most capable 

 officers, first, Mr. Pearson and latterly Dr. Howell. Although the 

 work of this Branch has been, and will be, of so much impoi'tance ta 

 the agricultural community, these advantages have never yet been 

 properly realised, nor the support and encouragement which it 

 deserves given to the work. 



Mr. Pearson had to fight his way inch by inch, always hindered 

 by lack of men and money ; and since I joined the Department I have 

 made many efforts, some of them successful, to put this Branch on a 

 proper footing. 1 found that many of the staff were underpaid, and 

 the result was that when young men had spent two or three years in 

 the laboratory they sought appointments elsewhere instead of looking 

 to the Department for their future promotion. Thus the training of 

 others had to be again begun and work consequently retarded. I 

 found an officer, whose duty it was to examine microscopically all the 

 water supplies of Victoria and determine whether they were fit for 

 human consumption, receiving a salary of £75 a year, although he 

 was married and had two children. Another, who had done excellent 

 work for four years and was a competent analyst, received the same 

 salary. These are only examples. Practically two-thirds of the- 



