most suitable to the Turnip Crop. 51 
the turnip crop was to call the attention of farmers to the 
subject, with a view to trying experiments over a more ex- 
tensive tract of country, and thereby eliciting, if possible, 
correct information as to the right proportion and kind of 
manures, proper distances apart in thinning the crop, &c. 
I would submit to the Society that the object here sought 
to be obtained with regard to the turnip crop only is one 
which in this Colony it would be advisable to attempt to — 
attain, with regard to all the staple agricultural products. 
It would be desirable at the annual exhibitions of stock 
throughout Van Diemen’s Land to pay attention to not 
merely the shape of the animal, or the quality of the wool, 
as regards sheep, but also particularly to the weight of the 
carcase, upon which the value of the animal, when brought 
into competition with the imported stock from Port Phillip, 
must mainly depend. As regards the amount of agricul- 
tural produce to the acre, the average quantities taken 
throughout the colony show evidence of a system of 
farming far below mediocrity. The first step towards 
improvement will be the dissemination of accurate reports 
of the results of actual experiments in various parts of the 
island on soils of different characters, with various kinds of 
manures ;—and I would suggest that the attention of the 
‘ Midland Agricultural Society should be called to the subject ; 
and also that communications should be addressed to gentle- 
men who may be known to individual members of this Society 
as practical farmers, requesting their co-operation in carrying 
out the objects before stated, by making accurate and detailed 
experiments on various crops grown on their farms. 
Tn order that these experiments may be made upon some 
system which would admit of an exact comparison of results, 
it would be as well that a committee should be appointed 
to draw up some blank forms showing the nature of. the 
E 2 
