430 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 July, 1919. 



Verniciflua (Varnish Acacia). — A good shrub, with small, bright, green 



leaves, somewhat sticky. September. 

 Vestita (Hairy Acacia). — A low shrub, with triangular bluish foliage, 



and with fine spikes of ample yellow flowers; one of the finest. 



'September. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN VICTORIA. 



In the editorial columns of the Experiment Station Record, published 

 by the United States Department of Agriculture at Washington, some 

 interesting comments are made on Mr. Eichardson's report on Agricul- 

 tural Education in America. 



The editor says, inter alia: — " Two reports have recently come to 

 hand which are worthy of special mention. One of these is a report by 

 Mr. A. E. V. Eichardson, Agricultural Superintendent in the Victorian 

 Department of Agriculture, and records the results of a personal study 

 of agricultural institutions in this country and Canada on a six-months' 

 mission. It is a highly intelligent and accurate expositoin of the 

 American view of agricultural education and the spirit and motive of 

 agricultural institutions. It is appreciative not only of what has been 

 accomplished, but of what has been passed through in the process of 

 development. 



" Mr. Eichardson writes as one who has seen and understands, and 

 who has weighed the results as now exhibited in full light of their evolu- 

 tion. This gives him advantage in making application to his own coun- 

 try, and adds force and conviction to his recommendations. Incidentally, 

 the comparisons he makes throw an interesting light on conditions at 

 present prevailing in Victoria, which in many respects parallel in oppor- 

 tunity the situation in this comitry before our system for agricultural 

 advancement had been put well under way. 



" Special interest naturally centres in the applications of his studies 

 to Victoria. He explains that one great advantage which has come in 

 America is a strong national sentiment towards agricultural education 

 and agricultural development, which is lacking as yet in his country. 

 He lays very strong emphasis on agricultural education, considered 

 broadly, as an essential basis for development. He says: — 'The only 

 way to secure a genuine and permanent increase in output from the land 

 is to improve the farming methods of the country and apply the teach- 

 ings of science to its agricultural production. In other words, the 

 problem of agricultural development resolves itself ultimately into the 

 problem of agricultural education. That is the clear lesson of experi- 

 ence in all the great agricultural countries of the world.' But he cautions 

 that a long time is required to realize on educational work, especially 

 when the necessary force and the means for training such a force are 

 lacking. 



" There is declared to be no State in the Commonwealth so dependent 

 on the development of intensive agriculture as Victoria; hence it is 

 argued that education in agriculture is of prime importance to it. 

 Unlike the adjoining States, it has no large area of Crown lands to 

 dispose of for the settlers of the future. It is by far the most densely- 

 populated State, and land values are relatively higher than in any other. 



