AUSTRAI-ASIA : VICTORIA. 651 



CATTLE IN VICTORIA. 



REPORT BY OONSVL-GENEEAL SPElfOEIt. 



Eeferring to circular letter of Jnly 18, 1883, relative to stock breeding 

 and dairy prodncts in this colony, I herewith traflsmit all the informa- 

 tion I have been able to obtain on the subject, which is, I regret to say, 

 very meager and unsatisfactory. 



On the receipt of the circular I placed myself in communication with 

 the secretary of agriculture for this colony, requesting him to furnish 

 me, 80 far as practicable, with the desired information. 



On the receipt of his reply, in view of the disappointing character of 

 the information thus obtained, I addressed a circular letter to the lead- 

 ing cattle-breeders and dairymen of this colony, but with only indiffer- 

 ent success. 



As the result of my inquiries and observations, I am led to believe 

 that the United States has little or nothing to learn in respect to cattle 

 breeding and dairy farming from Australia, where both these industries 

 may be regarded as still in their experimental stage. 



With a boundless pasturage and a most propitious climate, rendering 

 housing or hand-feeding unnecessary, all the year round, there has 

 hitherto been no necessity for conducting these and similar industries 

 on strictly scientific principles; hence I account for the unsatisfactory 

 character of the information obtained. 



O. M. SPENCER, 



Consul- General. 



United States Oonsulate-Gbneeal, 



Melbourne, May 16, 1884. 



