8 May. 1908.] barm Reports. 309 



this district. P)V exercising a little care no trouble whatever has been ex- 

 perienced in this respect on the College farm. Doubtless the dry season 

 favored the development of the poisonous properties, and where los.ses were 

 reported the soryhum had been either grazed or fed too voung or too 

 green. 



Last year, as soon as the hay crops (oats and wheat) were taken off the 

 land, the .stock were turned in on the stubble, and then as soon as possible 

 Ihe land was broken up. The result has been that it got the full benefit 

 of any showers that fell, and subsequent cultivation was an eas\- matter. 

 Ploughing has not been interrupted, while many farmers are still waiting 

 for rains to enable them to commence. 



Fallowing — so important in any system of farming — receives due atten- 

 tion, both bare and rape fallows being adopted in different fields. Twentv- 

 six acres of new land ha\e already been broken up this vear, and it is pro- 

 posed to put down under pastures, such land as has alreadv been crop]>ed 

 several seasons and needs a change and re.st. Early sowing seems essential 

 to success in this district, and already the followdng areas are sown : — Oats 

 25 acres, rye and barley 15 acres, and lucerne 6 acres. In connection with 

 the Departmental scheme for imj)roving the Victorian wheat yields, test plots 

 of .stud wheats are being sown. .Subsequent! \ the selection of the most 

 desirable strains will be carefullv carried out. 



The stock are holding their own fairly well. The voung cattle were 

 sent to Wahgunyah, where there was a little feed adjoining the nurserv. 

 Their temporary removal was a great relief to the sparse pastures on the 

 College farm. Fifteen head are still at the Government farm at Whit- 

 field. 



Boys and General. 



'['he ixiys are dning fairly well, and pick up the various operat'ons 

 readily. For some time past this .season, as in previous vears under the 

 present management. Mr. Wilkin.son has taken the new bovs a few at a 

 time, and given them individual and practical in.struction in grafting. The 

 " old boys " are given frequent practice under the same efficient supervision, 

 to " keep their hands in." Several lads are already expert with the knife, 

 and there is a healtliv rivalrv among.st them regarding the best made grafts, 

 and the expedition with which these can be turned out. In slack times or 

 on wet days this practice is undertaken with beneficial results, for b\- the 

 time the grafting season arrives, the lads are ready for the work. 



The general health has been on the whole satisfactory. There has been 

 luit littlfc sickness. One bov had to attend the depot hospital to unrlergo 

 an operat'on for the removal of a rather large post-nasal growth. He is 

 now, however, convalescent and back at College. 



A number of visits as usual have been paid to both establishments by 

 persons interested in the working of this institution. Visitors are gladly 

 welcomed on week da}s at all reasonable hours. Just before the end of 

 ihe quarter the Hon. A. O. Sachse, jNI.L.C. (^Minister of Public Instruc- 

 tion), Mr. Bow.ser, ]\I.L.A., and Mr. F. Tate, M.A., (Director of Educa- 

 tion), accompanied by a large party, paid a visit to the College. The Hon. 

 the Mini.ster expressed his gratification at the work being done here in con- 

 nection with the training of the l)Ovs. 



Lectures, manv of which are illustrated I">v either the optical lantern or 

 the microscope, were as usual regularlv given bv the Principal. For the 

 quarter under review short courses on Cereals and Economic Botanv (Origin 

 of our food plants), were commenced, and the life histories and methods 



