54 



Our colony is so geographically situated and subject to such 

 favorable climatic influences, that encouragement to all the matters 

 above referred to could be (in my opinion) given with the best 

 results. 



In a number of the above subjects I think out experimental 

 farms have come short of requirements ; but, in view of the 

 strides the dairying industry has taken, T hope, Sir, that during 

 your term as Minister of Agriculture you will cause such im- 

 provements to be made, and such a stimulus to be given to our 

 channels of production, that the producers of Victoria may look 

 back with pleasure and satisfaction on your term of office. 



Mr. Ceaike agreed very much with Mr. Williams. He had 

 noticed recently that the Department of Agriculture had not been 

 supported in the way it should be by the Council of Agriculture. 

 He thought the method of electing that body was faulty, and the 

 interest taken by the members very meagre. Those gentlemen 

 seemed to have been elected for ever, and he could not see what 

 they were doing. They seemed to have very little idea of starting 

 out new lines. The department was not to blame. As to the 

 experimental farms, he had been several times to Dookie and 

 could see there no steps being taken with a view to testing the 

 adaptability of that part of the colony to fibrous plants and other 

 things that Mr. Williams spoke of. In the past the main object 

 at Dookie seemed to have been to raise wheat. The land was 

 worn out, and, unless heavily manured, the wheat could be grown 

 only at a great expense. He would suggest that the land should 

 be laid down to lucerne and various grasses to prove their 

 adaptability to that part of the country. Malting barley should 

 also be experimented on. He thought it was high time that the 

 Council of Agriculture bestirred itself, and that the best way 

 would be to reconsider the method of electing that body. 



Mr. Haekis said that Mr. Williams seemed to be full of fault 

 finding, and it was a question whether some of the subjects re- 

 ferred to by him were pertinent to the present Conference. He 

 had not much acquaintance with the work done at Dookie and 

 Longerenong, but Mr. Williams referred to the fact of farmers 

 and others taking students to teach them farming and viticulture. 

 He did not think they should blame any one doing that. 

 He thought rather it should be encouraged. He did not agree 

 that there should be affiliated colleges. Then it was com- 

 plained that at Dookie they were not growing a sufficient number 

 of products, but in that hot climate it would be impossible to 

 grow them. Very few fibres, hemp or flax, would grow there. 

 What he would impress on the Minister of Agriculture was the 

 desirability of starting another college in the cooler districts, say 



