882 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



the trees and to those receiving' instruction. Whilst everything has 

 been done conceivable with the best interests of the trees and the 

 imparting of safe object lessons, there has been no lavish or excep- 

 tional expenditure in any direction. Ploughing and cultivating have 

 been carried out to keep the soil sweet, clean and acceptable to the 

 trees at all seasons. The occasional collecting of surplus soil from 

 headlands and placing at the disposal of the trees, has cost but the 

 merest trifle, whilst adding inaterially to the length of life and 

 general value of the orchard. 



The partial failure of the Horsham block of trees, due to the 

 failure of the Wartook water supply (this block being laid out to 

 grow trees under regular irrigation) has now been corrected ; and 

 some remarkable samples of trees are to be seen, where the land has 

 been deeply channelled, and the trees planted at much higher levels 

 than is customary in the irrigated orchards of Victoria. 



At seasonable intervals lectures and practical lessons have been 

 given in the locality of each demonstration orchard. The average 

 attendance has been good, and the standing results of our labours 

 leave no doubt as to the value of the lessons which will be learned. 



Although the main object of these demonstration orchards is to 

 show how land should be laid out, drained, manured, surface-formed, 

 and trees planted and pruned till they come to bearing size, it is at 

 the same time possible to deal with the general principles and practice 

 of fruit growing. Hence a great deal has been done in adjacent 

 orchards where trees and soil have been defective, and advice 

 needed. 



Finally, these orchards will prove a success because the actual 

 work has been done by State servants. So strong is the belief that 

 all State teachers are mere theorists, that no one of them can help 

 the man on the land till he can give proof of his ability to prune and 

 plough with his own hands. 



Field Lectures and Pkactical Lessons. 



During the year upwards of 50 lectures and field lessons have 

 been given to rural producers. The subjects chosen were in all cases 

 in accord with local requirements. After several years of per- 

 sistent work in the chief fruitgrowing centres there are signs of 

 radical changes in the way of managing soil and trees. It is no use 

 hiding the fact that a great many engaged in fruitgrowing have not 

 sufficient instinctive capacity to enable them to get inside a tree, or 

 underground, and discern the subtle processes which act for and 

 against the growth of plants. For these we can do little, at best 

 but patient and earnest imitators, they fail whenever they are left to 

 themselves for more than a brief season. But a sufficient number of 

 clear-headed and industrious orchardists are now at work to secure a 

 more exact system of production. Working methods, standards of 

 quality, and mai'ketiug, have yet to be arranged for each locality and 

 class of production, and it is to these that our teaching has been 

 directed. 



