954 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



every conceivable subjectj having the slightest connection with agri- 

 cultural interests, has found its separate study, is an instance of the 

 wide range of inquiry which might be considered to lie within the 

 legitimate province of the agricultural chemist. But such work, it 

 must be remembered, is the work of a highly equipped Federal 

 department of agriculture, in a country, the agricultural and industrial 

 conditions of which are on an immeasurably grander scale than our 

 own. The dietaiy studies, soil surveys, pure food standards, road 

 material inquiries, and all those larger schemes of investigation 

 included in the work of that bureau, may be considered to lie 

 beyond the powers of a State laboratory of agriculture. In each 

 branch of a State department of agriculture, investigational work, to 

 secure support, must of necessity be confined principally to the 

 immediately applicable. That is, there will be little encouragement 

 for investigation promising a remote and not an immediate value. 

 The demand will be principally for facts of an early and local advan- 

 tage. The most important laboratory investigational work of a 

 chemical branch of a State department of agriculture may, therefore, 

 be supposed to include : — 



1. A systematic examination of soils, with the object of fixing 



standards of fertility permitting of advice being given 

 on matters of fertilization and special adaptabilities. 



2. The systematic analysis of all staple crops and agricultural 



products of the country, with the object of determining 

 composition and characteristics, and suggesting lines 

 of improvement. 



3. Investigations contributing to the establishment of new 



industries, or the assistance of those already in exis- 

 tence. 



Investigational Work in the Field. 



The investigational work of the field might, among others less 

 important, embrace the following subjects : — 



1. Fertilization tests. 



2. Experiments having for their object the alteration and im- 



provement of crops, in specific directions, affecting 

 chemical composition. 



3. Experiments to determine the adaptability of soils and 



districts to certain crops ; more especially those, the 

 growth, or preparation of the finished products of 

 which, would involve special chemical investigations 

 and processes. 



4. The study of soils generally in connection with the 



treatment of crops. 



Such a comprehensive scheme of field experiments by the 

 chemistry branch of a department of agriculture might, perhaps, bear 

 the appearance of a partial encroachment on the domain of the 

 botanist ; but the value of nearly all our agricultural crops is so 



