752 



Journal of Agricvltii re. Victoria. |15 Dec, 191ft'. 



The farjutTs th(?n visited the tliix ]ilots. variety and rate of sowing 

 tfests, barley plots, forage plots, and graded seed tests. The flax 

 plots were of especial interest. Mr. Richardson stated tliat over 

 £1,500,000 worth of flax products were imported annually into 

 Australia. Practically the whole of the flax could bo gi'own in Victoria. 

 The fibre flax was especialh' .suited to the cool districts of Gippsland, 

 but the seed types could, no doubt, be grown successfully in the more 

 favoured districts. The variety flax plots showed great differences. 

 One variety, a fibre selection from Werribee, was 3 ft. 6 in. high, whilst 

 seed from the Drouin district averaged about 2 feet high, and commerciai 

 linseed was less than 1 foot high. Mr. Richard>:on explained that flax 

 could be grown and harvested jn the same way as wheat. 



The following return regarding the manurial tests at the college 

 over a period of six years is of interest : — - 



No manure per acre 

 Basic slag, 1 cwt. per acre 

 Super., h cwt. ])er acre . . 

 Super., J cwt. per acre . . 

 Basic slag, ^ cwt. ])er acre 

 Super., 1 cwt. per acre . . 

 Super., 2 cwt. per acre . . 

 Super., 1 cwt. per acre . . 

 Lime, 5 cwt. per acre 

 Super., 1 cwt. per acre . . 

 Nitrate of soda, 4(1 lbs. per acre 



Yield 

 per acre. 

 Bushels. 



26-0 

 28-3 

 31-4 



31-2 



32-5 

 34-9 



31-8 

 32-3 



Iiicreasp 

 over no 

 manure. 

 Bushels. 



2-3 



5-4 



6-5 



8-9 



6-3 



Soci.\L FlXCTIOX. 



At the conclusion of the demonstration, the visitors were the guest.s 

 of the Principal and Miss Drevermann, and the staff, at afternoon tea. 

 Mr. P. Learmonth, the president of the Horsham Agricultural Society. 

 occupied the chair. 



The Chairman said that the annual field day at the College had 

 always been held under the auspices of the Ilorsliam Agricultural Society. 

 He felt that it was an honour to preside over such a gathering. One of 

 the chief functions of the day was the unveiling of the honour roll of 

 ex-students who had sen'ed in the war. The ceremony would be per- 

 formed by Mr. Gr. A. Sinclair, to whom, and the other members of the 

 Council of Agricultural Education present, he extended a warm welcome. 



At the conclusion of the ceremony, Mr. J. McRae said that it afforded 

 him very great pleasure to propose a vote of thanks to Mr. Richardson 

 for his address to the farmers, in which he had interestingly explaine(^ 

 the various methods of agriculture. Mr. Richardson had attended 

 manv field davs, and he was sure that everv time he visited the district 



