12 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : 



Fungi. 



Scientific Name. Common Name. 



Armillaria mellea . . Root rot. 



Ergot. 

 Mildew and blight of leaves, twigs, and fruit. 



J- Stinking smut or ball smut of wheat. 



Smuts. 

 Potato scab. 



Claviceps purpura 

 Peronosporea 

 Telletia levis 

 Telletia tritici 

 Ustilagineae 



The inspection of shops, markets, barrows, &c, under the provisions 

 of the Vegetation Diseases Act, No. 1773, is still being vigorously 

 carried forward, and its effect is to be seen in the improved quality of 

 the fruit now being sold. 



Many complaints have been received, from time to time, respecting 

 the manner in which some salesmen defraud buyers by " topping up " 

 their fruit. Seeds are also often mixed with inferior and cheaper 

 varieties, or otherwise adulterated. The Hon. the Minister has been 

 asked to take action to put a stop to these fraudulent practices. A short 

 time ago he requested me to furnish him with drafts of Bills to deal 

 with these matters. This has been done, and the new measures will 

 shortly be placed before Parliament. 



It was thought for some time that the Queensland banana industry 

 was in danger of becoming extinct. The decline originated with the 

 destruction of a large number of plantations by floods. Shortly after 

 this occurred, the new Victorian Regulations were issued, and drastic 

 treatment was meted out to all fruit showing evidence of Fruit Fly. 

 The growers of bananas took alarm at the severity of these Regulations, 

 and representation was made that a responsible officer of the Depart- 

 ment should be sent to investigate the conditions under which the 

 bananas were grown and shipped in Queensland, and also to allay 

 the fears of growers regarding the supposed stringency of our Regu- 

 lations. Advice was required, as well, regarding the stage of maturity 

 at which bananas should be cut, and also many other matters pertaining 

 to shipment to this State. Under instructions from the Hon. the 

 Minister, I left Melbourne on 6th September, 1909. I visited various 

 plantations, met many growers, addressed numerous meetings, explained 

 the requirements of our Regulations, and generally instructed those 

 interested on all matters relating to the shipment of these fruits. Good 

 results may shortly be expected from this visit. Already a great 

 improvement is manifest in the size and quality of the bananas coming 

 forward, and, as large additional areas are being planted, it is expected 

 that there will also be a considerable increase in the quantities 

 forwarded. 



