534 



Joiin/al of A^riii(Uitrc. 



[lo Aug., J909. 



Again, at the Fernhank school, where tiie soil of the district is \ery 

 sandv and undeveloped, a plot of paspalum aroused much local interest. 

 This grass proved itself to be particularly suitable for poor sandy soils. 

 having such vigorous growth as to gradually kill the bracken ferns which 

 grew up amongst it. Its success on the school grounds has induced many 

 of the residents to plant portions of their farms with it. 



As the Gippsland district has been suffering from a succession of 

 droughts, it became a matter of intense interest as to which grass would 



POTATOES GROWN AT BENGWORDEN SCHOOL PLOT. 

 Weight of largest, 2 lbs. l(t ozs., the heaviest urown in the district. 



be best able to survive the long summers. At Ensay, however, it was 

 found that a plot of paspalum was luxuria,nt right through the hot season, 

 a .striking circumstance in connexion with it being the fact that it was 

 the only plant in the garden unaffected by tht^ dirnight or locust pest, lioth 

 of which had been particulnrlv severe last summer. 





'S^-'-r^l^Si^!^ 



i«®Kjti':= .-!.^tiiisiaTtt. 



.-—i.t,-t^-rmw^h»^T-\ 



SOMF. OF Till', 



THE SALE SCHOOL PLOl 



Enough has been shown in the foregoing to give an idea of the nature 

 and value of the experimental work done on the ]>lots, and of the possibili- 

 ties of a school subject which is. as yet, in its very infancy. Again, this 

 vast and unknown district presents a rare opportunity for collecting, polish- 

 ing, and advertising its great variety of timbers. Many schools now 



