370 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Jine, 1919. 



available, and emphasizing the point hitherto insufficiently recognised, 

 but confirmed by his long experience with agricultural manures — 



" That, of the two potash salts fuinished by the Rhine mines, the sulphate 

 alone should be supplied to agriculture, the chloride being reserved for industrial 

 purposes, more especially for the manufacture of potassium nitrate." He admits 

 that "Germany has in the past mainly supplied us with chloride, reserving the 

 sulphate for her own crops." He expresses his conviction tluit " the more 

 general use of potash in the soils of our country is capable of bringing about an 

 enormous increase in the yield of all crops, but on the express condition that it be 

 supplied in the form of sulphate, the one to which all plants accommodate them- 

 selves best; this is particularly so in the case of the vine." 



Professor Degrully points out that neither Alsace nor Stassfurth 

 supply pure potash sulphate — it must be manufactured from kainite or 

 chloride; from the Ir.tter by treatment with sulphuric acid, or by the 

 reaction of sodium sulphate on potash chloride. In conclusion, he 

 points out that the value of potassic manures has often been questioned 

 by practical men — no doubt, in some soils, naturally rich in potash, the 

 addition of this element may not materially affect the yield — but, as he 

 pertinently asks, " May not many failures be due to the injurious action 

 of the chloride?" 



The views quoted above will, no doubt, be read with interest, since 

 many of our vineyards are planted on fairly stiff soils in districts of only 

 moderate rainfall. Where irrigation is possible, conditions are no longer 

 quite the same, but it must be remembered that in several of our northern 

 irrigation areas seepage has occasionally to be reckoned with. To use 

 potash chloride in a soil over rich in salt (sodium chloride), thereby 

 still further increasing the already excessixe chlorine content, is, to say 

 the least, illogical; under such conditions the superiority of the sulphate 

 over the chloride form of potash is likely to make itself strongly felt. 



THE FLAX INDUSTRY. 



At the meeting of the Federal Flax Industry Committee on the 28th 

 April, presided over by the Director of Agriculture (Dr. S. S. Cameron), 

 very encouraging reports were received regarding the acreage to be 

 planted this season. The committee was assured of a sowing of 3,000 

 acres, as against 1,400 acres last year. The districts from which the 

 assurances have been given include Drouin, Warragul, Dalmore, 

 Traralgon, and Sale. Hitherto, Drouin and Warragul have been 

 regarded as the only flax centres. The committee considers that, in 

 view of the fact that the Federal guarantee of £5 a ton for flax has been 

 increased to £6, farmers should readily take up the crop. There is 

 ample time for sowing, and the selected seed may be obtained through 

 the committee at 12s. 6d. a bushel. While the best crops harvested 

 last year were from early sown areas, very satisfactory yields were cut 

 on areas sown in May and June, and some as late as August. 



As a result of representations by the committee, the Federal Govern- 

 ment has agreed to provide £1,000 for experimental work in connexion 

 with the flax industry in all States. The experiments will be in the 

 direction of ascertaining the most suitable seed and localities for the 

 production of both fibre and linseed. The various State Departments 

 of Agriculture are co-operating with the committee. Arrangements are 

 being made with farmers for the setting aside of experimental plots. 



