46 J. H. MAIDEN. 
potash, and phosphates—without the use of nitrogen; the min neral 
manures being usually applied, not to the leguminous crops themselves, 
but to the non-leguminous crops with which they were alternated. To 
, what are the best catch crops or green crops to be used for this 
of green manuring, and to trace out the causes of their good 
effects, ig 6 been the life work of this celebrated agriculturist.”—(Op. cit.) 
Incidentally, one might suggest experiments with lupins as a 
manurial crop in this colony. 
In the excellent article on “‘ Manures and Manuring,” by Mr. 
F. B. Guthrie, Chemist to the Department of Agriculture which 
is published in the “Farmer's and Fruit Growers’ Guide,” recently 
issued by the Department, will be found a resumé of work con- 
nected with the inoculation of the soil by pure cultures of nitrogen- 
fixing organisms. Hellriegel and Wilfarth’s work in this direction 
reads like a romance, and I only wish that time and the occasion 
permitted me to dwell longer upon the subject. 
b. Some work of the Department of Agriculture.—I would like 
to invite your attention, for a few moments, to some of the work 
which has been undertaken by our Department of Agriculture, 
for I have not time to enumerate all its agencies. Among these 
are Experiment Farms for sub-tropical products at Wollongbar, 
Richmond River, at Bathurst for miscellaneous farming, at Bomen 
near Wagga Wagga, where wheat and fruit growing are the 
specialties, and at Richmond where the Hawkesbury Agricultural 
College hasits headquarters. The last institution is presided over 
by Mr. J. L. Thompson as Principal, and it is of considerable 
magnitude. I will proceed to give some account of it and also of 
its aims and objects, 
The college opened in March 1891 with twenty-five students, 
there now being ninety in residence, whilst more than three 
hundred have already availed themselves of the facilities offered. 
Commencing with 3,500 acres of poor bush land, 2,000 acres 
have been cleared ; there are fifty acres under orchard and vine- 
yard, four hundred acres under general crops, and ten acres devoted 
to experimental work. Every branch of a farmer’s life is taught. 
Young men are trained in general farming and all the operations 
ae at 
i aieg ta Se Ra ea a ulna. 
