25 April, 1917.] German Challenge to British Agriculture. 221 



by means of experiment and researcli, of new knowledge which will form 

 the basis of future improvements in the practice of agriculture. 



The application of science to agriculture, however, requires a body 

 of trained agricultural scientists; some to engage in research work and 

 attack new problems, others to apply existing knowledge to local problems, 

 and show how the adojition of correct farming methods inevitably in- 

 creases the output. 



We require a body of trained workers to act as evangelists who will 

 spread the gospel of better farming methods, and transform those who 

 at present farm by rule of thumb into active apostles of the profitable 

 practices dictated by the achievement of science. 



At the risk of wearying the reader, let us consider a few simple 

 truths, the widespread application of which in Victoria would increase 

 our aggregate output by at least 50-60 per cent. Among a few of the 

 technical improvements that might be suggested for Victorian practice 

 are — 



(1) The more extensive use of fertilizers in toji dressing pasture 



lands, especially in the moister districts of the State. 



(2) The value of more liberal applications of artificial manures 



in increasing wheat, lucerne, and potato crops. 



(3) The value of selection in raising the prolificacy of our farm 



crops, particularly wheat, cereals, and potatoes. 



(4) The adoption of crop rotations suited to the climatic condi- 



tions — 



(a) The more extended use of bare-fallowing in the 



drier districts. 

 (h) The use of forage crops fed off with sheep, to take 



the place of fallow in the moister districts. 



(5) The use of regular and systematic crop rotations in cereal 



growing, dairy farming, and potato culture. 



(6) The use of underground drainage in wet districts. 



(7) The wider use of forage crops in wheat and sheep farming. 



(8) Extending the area under tillage on dairy farms, to increase 



the supply of forage crops and foodstuffs. 



(9) The systematic feeding of dairy stock and the use of balanced 



rations. 



(10) The general adoption of herd testing on dairy farms to 



eliminate unprofitable animals. 



(11) The use of pure bred bulls, bred from animals of proved 



milking capacity. 



(12) The use of immature seed and sprouted seed in potato 



culture. 



(13) The use of lime south of the Dividing Eange and in Gipps- 



land. 



(14) The use of proper methods to control insect and fungoid pests 



of farm crops, particularly smut and takeall in wheat, 

 Irish blight in potatoes, eelworm in onions, aphides, scale, 

 &c., in fruit. 



(15) The use of the most efficient types of machinery to counter 



the increasing cost of labour. 



(16) The benefits to be derived from co-operative buying and 



selling of all forms of produce. 



