8 April. 1907] Tlirec Years' Progress in Agriculture. 197 



lent. Out of 38 varieties, tliere are no less than 14 showing superior 

 yields to the seed provided by the farmer himself and sown on the plots, 

 and no less than 16 varieties show higher maximum vields than the farmers' 

 wheat. 



The above varieties are the ones which gave the maximum yields in 

 the first season also, which may be taken as evidence of their suitabilitv. 



In the coming season, the effects of the improved methods of cultivation 

 will be demonstrated, and it is. moreover, intended to put the " Soil 

 Packer '"" recently imported from America into operation. 



Improvement of Pastures. 



A new line of inquiry, attempted for the first time in 1905, was the 

 treatment of grazing land with artificial manures. Over 400 acres of 

 medium to poor land, in areas of 5 acres each, have been treated through- 

 out the Gippsland, Southern. Western, Central, and North-Eastern Dis- 

 tricts, with a view of improving the stock-carrying capacitv. Replies from 

 experimenters to hand indicate that in the majority of cases the\' are well 

 satisfied with the results of the trial, which has in no way interfered with 

 the land, the manures having been merely harrowed in without disturbing 

 the grass sod. It is expected that two or more vears must elapse before 

 the merits of this treatment can be decided, because as soon as the growth 

 of the grass is stimulated the stock graze it down quicklv. The manures 

 showing the most fa\orable results so' far are — superphosphate and bone- 

 dust. 



Fodder Fields. 



The necessities of the dairvman and mixed farmer have not been lost 

 sight of. and trials of fodder plants, grasses, legumes, and flax and onions 

 are included in the 5 -acre forage fields distributed throughout Southern 

 Districts. The 5-acre fields are worked as miniature farms, and the opera- 

 tions of rotation, soiling, and grazing are carried out from vear to year. In 

 their own localities they ser\e a most useful purpose for trials with im- 

 plements, nianures, seeds, &c. , and have excited considerable interest 

 among the neighbouring farmers. 



Potatoes. 

 Within the last two years especial attention has been given to the 

 potato industrv, and experimental plots of an acre each are situated in all 

 the leading potato-producing centres. Some 30 imported varieties have 

 been grown, some of which have given heavy vields. The distribution of 

 seed from the best varieties is carried out every year, and, in time, the 

 potato-grower will be furnished with some varieties of a more constant, 

 pro'lific, and reliable type than some he is now growing. A special officer 

 was appointed to superintend this work, and it is believed that the instruc- 

 tion which has been given in culti\ation methods, and especially in regard 

 tc the steps that each grower must himself take in order to prevent the de- 

 terioration of the seed, will do much to maintain the industry in a flourish- 

 ing condition in Victoria. Owing to the appearance of the potato blight 

 in Xew Zealand, importations from that countrx have been prf>hibite(l. 



Artificial Manures Act 1905. 



In 1904 and 1905 imp.ortant amendments were made in the Artificial 

 Manures Act of 1897, aimed at securing the j^rotection of the farmer by the 

 prosecution of vendors on detection of fraud. Another method was adopted 



