648 Joannil of Agriculture, Victoria. [15 Nov.,, 1919. 



period has exceeded 5 tons per acre. At Werribee, we have demon- 

 strated conclusively that irrigated lucerne requires to be liberally top- 

 dressed, and renovated with culture every year in order to maintain it 

 in full yield. It is difficult to secure more than Sh tons of hay from the 

 unmanured areas at Werribee, whilst the addition of 2 cwt. of super- 

 phos])hate every year, combined with judicious winter renovation, has 

 raised the average yield to 5 tons per acre. 



Our investigations show that a 6-ton crop of lucerne requires as 

 much phosphates as six 15-bushel wheat crops. No farmer attempts to 

 raise wheat without phosphates, and vfor a heavy feeder like lucerne, 

 liberal dressings of phosphate, combined with renovation, each winter 

 are necessary to maintain heavy yields. 



In new districts, such as South Gippsland, inoculation has been 

 shown to be necessary. Lucerne grown in these parts, e.g., Toora, 

 Foster, &c., but unthriftily. When inoculated soil from Bacchus Marsh 

 or Werribee is added, the plants thrive amazingly. This suggests that 

 the bacteria responsible for nitrogen fixation in lucerne may be absent 

 from some districts of the State in which the plant has not hitherto 

 been cultivated. 



Minor Crops. 



Besides the development of our staples, wheat, dairying, and live 

 stock, attention needs to be given to what might be termed minor crops. 

 There are four worthy of special attention — flax, sugar beet, tobacco, 

 potatoes. 



Flax. — Victoria has been interested in the flax industry for many 

 years. Prior to the war, the industry was confined to the growth of a 

 few hundred acres in the Drouin district. During the war, the produc- 

 tion of flax became of great importance to the Imperial Government 

 for the manufacture of aeroplane cloth. 



Prior to the war, 80 per cent, of the world's flax fibre was produced 

 in Russia. Owing to the scarcity of fibre, and the destruction of the flax 

 industry in Belgium and Russia, fibre became very scarce in Britain, 

 and flax culture became profitable to farmers. The British Government 

 has purchased the whole of the 1918 and 1919 Australian crop of flax 

 fibre at £170 per ton. 



There is no doubt that the price of linen goods will remain at a high 

 level for many years, because the flax industry of Europe has become 

 absolutely disorganized. There is a fine opportunity to establish this 

 industry on a firm basis in Victoria. The value of linseed and flax 

 products imported into Australia last year amounted to £1,890,000, and 

 rhere is no doubt that the whole of the raw material could be grown in 

 Victoria. 



Flax can be growm almost to perfection in Drouin, Moe, Koo-wee-rup, 

 and Bunyip Swamps, the Traralgon Flats, Sale, Portarlington. The 

 crop requires the same treatment as oaten hay, and the Government 

 has guaranteed the farmers £6 per ton for green flax for the 1919 crop. 



The Commonwealth Flax Committee has asked the Government to 

 guarantee £5 per ton for the next three years, and if the Government 

 accepts the recommendation, it will enable a new agricultural industry 

 to be established in the Commonwealth. Besides the fibre, flax is grown 

 for seed pur{X)ses. In the wheat-belt of Argentina, India, Canada, and 

 United States of America, there are millions of acres of land devoted to 



