314 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 May, 1917. 



readiness to learn more. The supervisor is not a mere inspector, 

 though he may have to speak and act ou some occasions as such, because 

 there is a percentage of cases where negligence has become chronic and 

 the sensibilities of the cow-keeper have become so blunted, that the ordi- 

 nary stimulus has no effect, and his mind is closed to reason. In the 

 minds of some of the country folk there is the idea which I recently 

 heard expressed in the following remark: — "I don't want any model 

 farm in this district, because those coves from the city, with their long- 

 tailed coats, can't teach me how to farm." In sucii an objection there 

 is evidence of a fear of impracticable advice, and useless expense being 

 incurred, and the only hope for improvement of that type of mind is 

 by actual demonstrations on neighbouring farms occupied by more open- 

 minded settlers who are stimulated by the supervisor's visits. 



The work of these officers needs to be associated with the agricultural 

 interests of the country State school, and it can be made a big factor in 

 hastening the transition which we are undergoing trom the pioneering 

 stage; from the exploitation of the soil to more or less scientific systems 

 of farming. To foster in the minds of the younger generations a 

 sensible interest in rural matters generally is clearly the most important 

 work of the country school with due regard to the special cases of extra 

 capacity and desire of some scholars to follow city avocations or pro- 

 fessons; but such has been, to some extent, obscured in the past bv the 

 ambition of the teachers to obtain the highest percentage of passes in 

 examinations which gave very little room to rural interests. 



The supervisor has not come from the classes who wear or who have 

 worn long-tailed coats, and perhaps they are not likely to wear the 

 insignia of science, the professor's robes, but they have graduated in the 

 school of experience and are men of the world. There may be pro- 

 fessors and scientists who are not sufficiently practical for the work-a- 

 day world, but the supervisor, by his training, is fitted to suggest the 

 next step in each ease, and not to he or seem to be in the clorids. 

 If the system should be extended so as to cover the whole State there 

 would be a decided counter influence to the " drift to the cities," be- 

 cause every proper action of a supervisor comes directly under one or 

 other of the headings in Roosevelt's font ula for the prevention of such 

 drift n.s descrihed in the book by Sir H. Plunkett, Rural Life Problems, 

 i.e.. better farming, better business, better living. 



Ax Engli.sh paper points out that " the milk from cows that have been 

 feeding on artichoke leaves is dangerous for infants. This peculiarity 

 is said to explain eases of infant diari-h(iea which occurred suddenly 

 without apparent cause. It is a fact to be kept in view by dairymen 

 and by doctors." — Leader, 24th March, 1917. 



The control of aphids, or plant lice, by means of ladybirds is proving a 

 distinct success in America. During the years 1913 and 1914 a large 

 number, estimated at about a million ladybirds, were distributed. The 

 life of a ladybird from egg to egg is from four to six weeks — the life of 

 a larva is about 20 days; an adult ladybird lives from 20 to .50 dayS' 

 The number of aphids eaten by a larva during its lifetime is about 250; 

 by an adult from 100 to 1,000. !N^o further serious trouble from aphids 

 has been reported from districts where ladybirds were well introduced. 



