Survey of the Work, S)-c., of Victorian Agricultural Department. 803- 



of such an education. No one should he appointed who has not been 

 brought up in the country, and who does not possess a good practical 

 knowledge of stock, as well as a scientific training. 



The health of the stock of Victoria during the last year, except for 

 the unfortunate outbreak of swine fever, has been satisfactory. A 

 few isolated cases of anthrax have occurred, and pleuro has appeared 

 at intervals, but has not been allowed to spread to any extent. As to 

 swine fever, you are pretty well aware of the unfortunate intro- 

 duction of this disease into Victoria for the first time, and the extent 

 to which it spread before the disease was checked by most stringent 

 regulations. We are, iinha])pily, not yet free from it. Within tiie last 

 few months several individuals have suffered very severe losses, and 

 the outbreaks of disease have generally been traced to pigs that have 

 been in contact with diseased pigs before being sold in the open 

 market. I am strongly of opinion that the wisest course would be 

 to close markets for store pigs for several years. This should not be 

 done suddenly, several months notice being given, so that those who 

 require ]ngs to fatten could breed them for themselves or arrange 

 with someone else to do so. 



The closing of the public markets for store jjigs would not inter- 

 fere with private sale and the transport of pigs from one farm to 

 another. So far as fat pigs are concerned there is little danger of 

 spreading disease through their being sold by auction, as fat pigs do 

 not go back to the farms, and if disease appears they can be at once 

 killed without any considerable loss to the owners. Meantime, the 

 best advice I can give is that farmers, who must buy in the open 

 market, should provide quarantine pens at some distance from their 

 piggeries and keep all bought pigs isolated until it is certain there is 

 no disease amongst them. Whether the store markets are closed or 

 not, I am certain that the best and safest policy for everyone requiring 

 pigs for fattening is to breed the young pigs needed on their 

 homesteads. 



Poultry tick is still prevalent in the country bordering on the 

 Murray, and the Department has been endeavouring to eradicate the 

 disease. This appears to be no easy task, as the tick which infests 

 poultry is to be found in farm buildings, on palings, and often on 

 trees. It has been found, however, that the tick does not live upon 

 the fowls during the day time, but comes out from crevices and 

 attacks them at night. To keep poultry clean, tick proof fowl 

 houses should be erected. This would enable fowls to be kept 

 successfully, even although the homestead was infected. A bulletin 

 has been issued by the Department containing several plans of tick 

 proof fowl houses, and if the suggestions offered are adopted by 

 farmers, I have great hopes of yet seeing the poultr}' industry in 

 the Murray districts a flourishing one. 



Viticultural Branch. 



The viticultural industry of Victoria cannot be said to be ex- 

 panding at the present moment. The area of vines under cultivation 



