AGRONOMICAL NOTES FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 



535 



were used in 1896, 3,000 tons in 1897, 12,000 tons in 1898, 16,500 tons 

 in 1899, 24,000 tens in 1900, 31,400 tons in 1901, 37,500 tons in 1902, 

 and 44,500 tons in 1903. Fortunately phosphatic rock has now bean 

 found within the agricultural centres of the State, so that the price is 

 likely to become much lower, and still more will be used. I have no idea 

 what quantity of phosphatic fertilisers is used in England ; but if the 

 same proportion as of potash is only used, which according to Dr. Paterson 

 (in the " Scottish Farmer") is only 55 lbs. per 100 acres of arable land, 

 then our farmers and gardeners show that they are becoming awake to 

 their interest, even more than English farmers, in contradistinction to 

 those of Scotland, who use 227 lbs. per 100 acres. It must be admitted, 

 however, that our settlers are not yet prepared for the use of a well- 

 balanced general manure. It is with these too often merely a phosphatic 

 manure alone which is applied, to the neglect of potash, nitrogen, and 

 lime. A few more years will show them that the soil cannot be drawn 

 upon for ever to supply these. Their crops will become poorer notwith- 

 standing the usual manuring with phosphates. 



As further assistance to the spread of scientific research, I may state 

 the following. Having passed my examination in horticulture with 

 honours after an apprenticeship at the Botanical Garden of Kiel, and 

 having attended as studiosus philosophic the Berlin University, I became 

 a settler in South Australia, and subsequently acted for thirteen years as 

 chairman of the Central Agricultural Bureau from its inception, with 

 about 1,500 members in all branches. As such (and now also), 

 I applied my leisure in extracting desirable articles from the English and 

 American Press, and translated others from German and French agrcnomical 

 papers, which appeared in our " Agricultural Journal," and now in weekly 

 newspapers. 



Dr. Holtze, director of our Botanical Garden at Adelaide, always 

 instructs some young men practically and theoretically in horticulture. 

 There is also a Botanical Garden at Port Darwin, in the Northern 

 Territory, where tropical plants are tried, and information respecting their 

 cultivation can be obtained. In 1898 Dr. Holtze was instructed to plant 

 in our hills, twenty miles from Adelaide, a typical orchard which contained 

 in June 1903 5,254 trees and about 2,000 bush fruits. This collection 

 has been made from various, but the best known, sources, yet we find that 

 the varietal names cannot all be guaranteed until all the plants have 

 fruited ; synonyms have also to be eliminated. The whole of the 

 expense of the Botanical Garden, the typical orchard, the Agricultural 

 College (so far as it cannot keep itself from the produce raised), the officers 

 of the Agricultural Council, the inspectors against the introduction 

 and spread of noxious insects and vegetable diseases, is paid by the 

 Government. So far, South Australia is free from phylloxera ; but, as 

 Victoria and New South Wales are badly infected, our vine-growers tax 

 themselves, through a Board elected from their own number, for the 

 purpose of keeping inspectors to visit all vineyards, and they amass a 

 fund, from which the owners of vineyards, that may sooner or later have 

 to be destroyed, can be partly indemnified. 



Market-gardening has not to any extent fallen into the hands of 

 Chinamen. In the Mount Lofty Hills there is a sturdy and generally 



