822 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



Soils. 



The bulk of soils received at the laboratory were those taken by 

 officers from the unmanured plots of the manure test fields. The 

 object of the analysis of such samples is the co-ordination of field 

 results with those of laboratory investigations. It is thought that 

 such a system mighty after a few years of such work, offer data, which 

 will allow of the expression of more definite opinions on the manurial 

 requirements of soils sent in indiscriminately. The falling off in 

 samples sent in by farmers is accepted as a satisfactory indication of 

 the effect produced by the numerous field tests. It is a rarity now to 

 receive a sample from the Northern areas, where field experiments 

 have demonstrated, so conclusively, the almost universal deficiency of 

 phosphoric acid as the only question requiring immediate considera- 

 tion. The more recent experiments on the soils south of the Dividing 

 Eange will help materially, to reduce the number of samples sent in, in 

 the future, from that portion of the State, and leave time for more 

 attention being given to the examination of samples from experimental 

 areas. 



Watebs. 



The greater number of water samples were from the Water Supply 

 Department, partly for sanitary analysis, and partly for the determina- 

 tion of the effects of dredging operations on the pollution of various 

 supplies. The bulk of the remaining samples was received through 

 the Dairy Branch, and were sent in to secure opinions on the suit- 

 ability for butter washing purposes. Although the samples from the 

 Water Supply Department considerably exceeded in number those 

 received during the preceding year, the advisability of a considerable 

 extension of this class of work, in the direction of a more regular 

 periodic examination of all supplies, has not been lost sight of. If 

 provision were made for a more systematic examination of supplies 

 throughout the year, and were continued for a number of years, a 

 mass of valuable data would result, of great assistance in the inter- 

 pretation of results. The tendency eveiywhere is to attach too great 

 a value to the isolated analysis, and too small an importance to the 

 long continued and regularly conducted examinations. The neces- 

 sity for providing for an expansion of work on the part of the chemist, 

 in this department also, should be recognised. An energetic irriga- 

 tion policy in the Northern districts opens up the possible presenta- 

 tion of numerous problems for the chemist's attention. The high 

 saline content of most of the Mallee soils especially, suggests the 

 desirability of a chemical survey of the sub-soils included within the 

 area. By injudicious systems of water application, disastrous results 

 may follow, as evident in the earlier experience of Mildura. It is not 

 possible, in the space at my disposal, to give the results of the year's 

 analysis of country domestic water supplies. As, however, informa- 

 tion on the condition of the butter factory supplies will probably have 

 some interest for producers, the results of a few investigations in this 

 direction are repeated. The list contains samples on which a com- 

 plete sanitary analysis was conducted. In the remaining cases either 

 a partial or complete mineral analysis only was required. 



