AGRONOMICAL NOTES FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 



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AGRONOMICAL NOTES FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 

 By F. E. H. W. Krichauff, Cor. Memb. R.H.S. 



I have read "Horticultural Education in Greater Britain," by R. Hedger 

 Wallace, F.R.H.S., in vol. xxviii. (October 1903) of the Journal of 

 R.H.S. He desires discussion, or to be corrected on matters which 

 escaped his notice. Australia has not received as much notice as it 

 deserves, but I will merely refer to South Australia. Of the other States 

 of the Commonwealth I am unable to give as full information as may be 

 desirable. 



South Australia depends apparently more on the prosperity of rural 

 industries than any of the other States. Founded as a Colony, although 

 named a "Province," in the year 1836, some years elapsed before much 

 use could be made of a rich soil, but in a dry and unknown climate. 

 There was, however, one great advantage for the new settlement. No 

 convicts could be transported to it, and the free emigrants were of the 

 right sort. They had to follow Pope's lines : 



First follow Nature, and your judgment frame 

 By her just standard, which is still the same, 

 Unerring . . . 



and they were not disappointed. Agronomical science was in its infancy, 

 but a virgin soil yielded to practical farmers and gardeners more than fair 

 crops. The settlement had a hard struggle, though, until diggers for gold 

 returned from Victoria. Although the Government obtained large sums 

 from the sale of Crown lands for cash, rural industries were left to them- 

 selves. Only twenty-five years later, when crops felt the gradual exhaustion 

 of the soil, public attention was directed to the decline of farming and 

 gardening. Certainly good roads and bridges and railways had been 

 built, but the price of land had been forced ahead by undue speculation, 

 and very many settlers found it difficult to make a living. The opening 

 of Crown lands on lease, with right of purchase, assisted a good many, 

 who sold their freeholds and moved to these agricultural areas, which 

 were again subjected to the same system of exhaustion. Then at last it 

 was found necessary to apply technical education and instruction in 

 modern practical and scientific methods, and not the least advantage was 

 derived from the visiting rounds made among farmers and gardeners by 

 the Inspector of the leases granted by the South Australian Company, to 

 which company South Australia has been so much indebted since its 

 foundation. Thus was spread far and wide valuable information of 

 improved agronomical methods. The State Government became suddenly 

 aware that these were becoming absolutely necessary, and Parlia- 

 ment granted not very large sums, but sufficient to greatly advance the 



