24- journal of Agriculture. [8 April, 1907. 



everv instance of he,>a"> y manuring on this field, that the growth of straw 

 was stimulated evidei-.tiv to the detriment nf the grain. Confirmation of 

 this is shown in the diminishing returns of plots 5, 6, and 7. The action 

 of the Thomas phosphate has been disappointing, and little better than the 

 unmanured section. The low retuDi of the unmanured plot 4 was to be 

 expected, but, at the same time, it is illustrative of what can be done by 

 the aid of artificial manures. There is evidently a danger, when a crop is 

 grown on this soil for grain, that over-liberal manuring may stimulate more 

 straw than may be desirable, but if the crop is grown for hay. then the 

 more liberal dressings might be given with advantage. 



Oilier Fields. — Experimental areas of 5 acres were also established on 

 the farms of Messrs. J. Down (Longwood) and J. English (Traralgon), 

 both of which were failures, the former owing to an abnormally wet season, 

 and the latter owing to the owner selling the property, and the buyer not 

 being wuUing to continue the experiment, which was grazed off bv stock. 



Oat fields were also established on the properties of Messrs. W. Nickells 

 (Drouin) and E. O. Francis (Stratford), the harvest returns of which are 

 too poor to be of anv value. Complete explanation of the causes of 

 failure is furnished in each case. 



An experiment of top dressing a crop at Stratford, planted two months 

 pre\'iouslv. gave conflicting returns., which, in mv opinion,, are due to 

 errors in weighing, which was carried out bv the farmer himself. 



Summary. — The above experiments ma\ , on the whole, be said to have 

 been successful, and will prove educative to the neighbouring land-owners 

 in each localitv. Indifferent preparation of the land is the principal 

 cause of low vields, but in some cases, notably at Longwood, Drouin, and 

 Traralgon, imperfect drainage would alwavs militate against success. 



"STAGGERS" OR "FORAGE POISONING" IN HORSES, 



5". >S. Cameron, M .R.C .V .S., Chief V eterinarv Officer. 



The somewhat extensive fatalities which occurred amongst horses at 

 Carapooee, near St. Arnaud, during the -early part of January, have served 

 to draw public attention once more to the occurrence, at periodic intervals, 

 of outbreaks of equine disease which a perverse public is pleased to 

 designate as "obscure" or "strange." Nearly three vears ago I col- 

 lected and published information in regard to these periodic outbreaks 

 which should have established, once and for all, that in them we had to 

 deal with a disease well and definitely known, so far as diagnosis is con- 

 cerned, both in Europe and America, but which had either onlv mani- 

 fested itself at infrequent intervals in Australia, or had been Avrongly 

 diagnosed. 



Since that time, characteristic outbreaks have occurred at Yarrawonga, 

 Charlton, Minyip, Rochester, and other places, which have (or should 

 have) been definitelv diagnosed as Forage Poisoning or Staggers. Still, 

 when in tlie St. Arnaud outbreak the syrhptoms. historv, progress and 

 surrounding conditions were such as are invariably associated with forage 

 poisoning, the obvious diagnosis was publicly questioned, until the falsitv 

 of various theories concerning "salt poi.soning." " cvanide iX)isoning."' 

 " silage poisoning," and the like was tardilv realized. 



