808 AgricAiltural Journal of Victoria. 



During the year just closed no money was required to be provided 

 on tlie Supplementary Estimates, and there is a substantial sum to 

 credit in the bank. The same amount of relief has been given, that 

 is, all destitute men who have made application at the town office 

 have been sent to the Colony. 



It is only natural that men will not go to the Colony unless they 

 are almost starving, as they are at first paid only Is. 6d. per week with 

 board and lodging, and seldom get more than 2s. 6d. Consequently 

 they do not go there unless compelled by circumstances, and as soon 

 as possible obtain work outside. 



I consider this an excellent institution for the unfortunate, and as 

 good for the State as for the individual. 



I have caused private and independent inquiries to be made on 

 the Colony, and find that men often arrive there without having had 

 food for 24, and in some cases 48 hours, and they are in such a weak 

 condition that they require one or two days to recover. 



Although the farm is not under the direct administration of the 

 Department of Agriculture, yet the Department is so much in touch 

 with it that it will be possible to carry out experimental work 

 which will be beneficial to Gippsland, while some of the experiments 

 will be useful to the whole of the State. 



There is a dairy of 50 selected cows which have been culled from 

 the original herd. Experiments in feeding, housing, and rugging 

 are being conducted ; and the best crosses for dairying purposes will, 

 I hope, be definitely established by exact experiment. The first cross 

 between the shorthorn and pure bred Jerseys, Ayrshires, and 

 Holsteins will be fed and milked under the same conditions, and 

 the relative values of the different crosses for dairy purposes will be 

 determined by keeping a record of their milk, besides tests being 

 frequently made of their butter yield. 



The best breeds of fowls for export and laying purposes are being- 

 procured, the eggs of which will be sold at a' moderate price to 

 farmers desirous of improving their stock of poultry. 



Numerous grasses have been sown, and I hope to conduct the 

 establishment as an experimental farm at very little cost to the 

 State. 



The "Journal of Agriculture." 



The Journal of Agriculture of Victoria has had a chequered career. 

 It was first published in January, 1902, and appeared monthly until 

 September, 1902, when, owing to drastic retrenchment, its publication 

 was stopped for seven months, apjDearing again in May, 1903. It 

 was then decided, in the interests of economy, that it should only be 

 published every two months, and that a charge of 2s. 6d. be made for 

 the six issues in each year. The farming community have only 

 responded moderately, the subscriptions not being so numerous as 

 they might be. The Journal, however, is a necessary adjunct to the 

 Department, as it contains a record of the work of the various officers,. 



