COMMITTEE ON COLONIAL BOTANISTS REPORT. 1 5 



" experimental farm " in contradistinction to " model farm," DT.J.C. Brown, 

 attaching no importance whatever to the latter. 1 have had Aug. 21, iseo. 

 correspondence with agriculturists in different part of the 

 Colony, some of whom advocate the establishment of an 

 experimental farm upon a large scale. My own views 

 are very decided in favour of a small scale ; and what 

 is principally required is, exact detailed statements as 

 to the soil used ; the hours occupied in preparing the 

 soil, sowing, and reaping ; cost of labour, cost of seed, 

 and market value of produce, in order that it may be 

 seen whether it would be profitable or unprofitable in altered 

 circumstances to carry on the cultivation of that particular 

 plant upon a lar^e scale. With regard to the situation, it 

 ought to be near some large central market, that agricul- 

 turists might have an opportunity of visiting it, as well as of 

 reading what reports may he published. 



80. Mr. van Breda.'] Would you include experiments 

 with different kinds of manure? Yes, certainly. And in 

 my report for 1864, at pages 76 to 80 are given illustrations, 

 of how I consider accounts of such experiments ought to be 

 preserved. 



81. Have you any information with regard to manuring 

 with guano, as to what length of time you may continue to 

 use it on the same land ? As long as you please. Its effect 

 is limited to the season in which it is used. You may go on 

 applying it for twenty years, provided the crop requires it. 

 Most of the beneficial effects are experienced only in the 

 year when it is employed, but not all the effects, for the 

 luxurious growth which it induces tends generally to improve 

 the land. 



82. Have you observed that land manured for several 

 successive years with guano becomes exhausted, and will 

 produce nothing ? It will always produce something, but 

 may fail to produce the crops, required, because the luxu- 

 riant growth to which it has ministered may exhaust some 

 other constituent of the soil necessary to the production of 

 that plant. 



83. What sort of manure would you most recommend for 

 wheat? It would depend entirely on the character of the 

 soil. If it be clay, what is required is simply sand. 



84. Do you consider that the use of powdered lime on the 

 surface would be at all serviceable in checking rust? I 



