Report of the Fiticidtural Inspector. 877 



nelliiig and cultivatiou have already beeu done, and the planting is 

 to be undertaken immediately. 



During the year the area under American vines at Longerenong 

 has been increased to five acres. These vines are to be trellised for 

 the growth of cuttings. 



At Leongatha the collection of stocks imported from California 

 has done well. These varieties will be multi^jlied as rapidly as 

 possible, and sent out when a stock is obtained. 



Impoktation of Desirable Varieties. 



Early in the year an order was placed in France for cuttings of 

 approved and more productive varieties of wine grapes. These were 

 selected on the recommendation of Mr. M. d'A. Burney, formerly of 

 Chateau Tahbilk Vineyard, but now Government CEnologist. It is 

 confidently expected that when these varieties have been propagated 

 and extensively planted they will leave their impress on Victorian 

 viticulture by improving both quality and quantity. 



Inspection of Vineyards. 



Owing to the reduction of our staff of inspectors we have no 

 systematic inspection of vineyurds at present as formerly, conse- 

 quently we have no reliable records of the extension of phylloxera or 

 the presence of other diseases, since our staff was disbanded owing to 

 retrenchment. I have personally visited a large number of vineyards 

 in various districts. 



Correspondence and Eepoets. 



The correspondence during the year has been heavy, and in 

 addition the following special reports have been published : — 



Experimental Station work ; Descriptions of American Vines 

 received from California ; Valuation of Viticultural Station, Ruther- 

 glen ; Educational value of Experimental Viticultural work ; Adapta- 

 bility of parts of Stawell district to Viticulture ; Breach of Viticul- 

 tural Regulations ; Importation of Choice Productive Varieties of 

 Wine-grapes ; Technical Agricultural Education in South Australia ; 

 Viticulture in South Australia; The Lysol Treatment of Phylloxera; 

 Reports on Botany Examinations, &c., &c. 



Papers have also been furnished to the Victorian Year Booh and 



the tTournal of Agriculture. 



Fungus Diseases. 



With a return to seasons of more generous rainfall these appear 

 to be somewhat on the increase. Those vignerons who carried out 

 the suggestion in my last report, viz., to swab or spray the vine 

 during the dormant season with some fungicide, have found the 

 benefit of such treatment in their immunity from such diseases. 



Inter-State Visit. 



During vintage a visit was paid to some of tho leading South 

 Australian vineyards and cellars. The opportunity was also taken to 



