372 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. ^10 June, 1916. 



in any case it is absolutely necessary that the whole of the building 

 should receive its share. If any crack or crevice remains untouched, the 

 operation is practically useless. Another remedy is kerosene emulsion. 

 This is made by boilina a gallon of water and adding about a pound of 

 soft soap. Then stir in a quart of kerosene and apply as hot as possible 

 with either a spray or brush. A coating of boiling tar to which a little 

 pitch is added may be used. This will kill the mites and also fill up 

 cracks or crevices. Washing with hot limewash is also a remedy. There 

 are also several forms of insect powder and ointments which are useful 

 in eradicating red mites. Kerosene or emulsion will, however, be found 

 an effective as well as a cheap remedy. 



FIELD CROP COMPETITIOXS (POTATOES). 



B// J. T. Ramsay, Potato ExjJert. 



Continuing their efforts to foster the potato-growing industry in 

 their respective districts, the Agricultural Societies of Pakenham, Leon- 

 gatha, Trafalgar, and Yarragon (the latter two in conjunction), again 

 offered prizes fcr the best crops for the season 1915-16. For this the 

 societies are to be commended. 



Their example might be followed with profitable results by the 

 societies of other districts, not only for potato crops, but for every crop 

 commerically grown. Competition is the soul of business, and it is 

 equally true that com])etition in crop-growing is the best whip that 

 is possible of application, to induce land-holders to put that interest 

 and applied knowledge into practice. These two things only can raise 

 the average production of their acres and elevate the standard of their 

 operations to a plane worthy of the name of farming. 



Such competitions cannot but have an all-round beneficial influence. 

 The leavening of friendly rivalry created by them must of necessity pro- 

 mote effort to incrcas3 "knowledge of how soils can best be husbanded 

 to increase their productiveness, and how crops can best be treated so 

 that their prolificacy may be augmented. The acquirement of that 

 knowledge, coupled with the desire to eclipse the results obtained by 

 other growers, must develop interest which will find expression in its 

 practical application to the cultivation of crops, with the necessary re- 

 sult that higher all-round yields will obtain than can possibly be secured 

 by what might be termed a laissez-faire system of farming. 



These being self-evident truths, the societies promoting these com- 

 petitions deserve every support by the growers in their respective dis- 

 tricts. If these growers would only realize that in supporting and 

 making the competition a success they were not merely advertising the 

 society, but advertising the district and their own wares in a most 

 effective manner, there would be no paucity of competitors for the 

 honour of securing the distinction of having produced the best crop of 

 the season. 



