^^8 Jounal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 April, 1919. 



artichokes are but little affected by frost, they do not stand storing in 

 pits and silos, like beet root and potatoes. 



This plant has of late years grown into favour as a marketable crop. 

 and the demand seems to be increasing. Considering its very easy 

 culture, it is fairly remunerative. 



The following are the peculiar advantages of the Jerusalem arti- 

 choke over other fodder plants capable of being grown in this State: — 

 _ (1) It does not require to be planted every year; (2) it will 

 yield more to the acre than potatoes; (3) it does not require har- 

 vesting; (4) it stands frost well; (5) it increases the yield of dairy 

 cows to an extraordinary degree, and improves the quality of the 

 milk; (6) it is one of the cheapest and healthiest pig foods raised, 

 and is also an excellent food for cattle, sheep, and horses; and, 

 finall.y, (7) it is highly important, because no insect, blight, or rust 

 attacks it. 



NEXT SEASON'S WHEAT CROP. 



Commonwealth Government's Guarantee. 



In announcing that the Commonwealth Grovernment was willing 

 to continue the Wheat Pool and guarantee 4s. 4d. per bushel for the 

 1919-20 harvest, the Acting Prime Minister (Mr. Watt) made the 

 following statement : — 



" Conflicting views have recently been placed before the Govern- 

 ment in regard to the control of the wheat industry. The Federal 

 Farmers' Organization has urged the continuance of the pool under con- 

 ditions practically identical with those already arranged, the only 

 variation of moment recommended being in regard to the constitution 

 of the State Boards and the method of appointment by certain States 

 of representatives upon the Central Board. On the other hand, repre- 

 sentations have been made by traders that the purchase and sale of 

 wheat by merchants and traders should be permitted at the end of the 

 present season. The Government was also asked for a definite declara- 

 tion of policy in resipect to the general resumiption of trade under normal 

 conditions. 



"No other trade presents such difficulties to an early restoration of 

 pre-war conditions as the wheat business. The Government is not 

 anxious to prolong indefinitely its responsibility, either of management 

 or finance of wheat. It wishes to get out of the business as soon as it 

 can do so safely. A general survey, ho^^'ever, shows that this cannot be 

 done until the shipping and marketing positions become clearer. If 

 we allow for loss through wastage, and for inferiority for sales already 

 made to the British Government and other buyers, for antiicipaied 

 further overseas sales and local consumption during the .year, we hav<' 

 an exportable surplus of about 2,500,000 tons of f.a.q. Wheat to dispose 

 of. 



" The Prime Minister has been aurliorized to offer 2,000,000 tons 

 to the British Wheat Commission at 5s. per bushel. To this no definite 

 reply has yet been received, but recent indications do not inspire great 

 hope. An announcement by the British Food Controller mnde it 

 appear as though 500,000 tons of wheat belonging to the Briti-^h Wheat 

 Commission in Australia Avould still be uushipped on 31st August, 1919. 



