March 1895.] 



AGRICULTUBE IN VICTORIA. 



lbs. of cheese, to which must be added a further quantity of 

 311,046 lbs. returned from private farms. The development 

 of this important branch of agriculture had been somewhat 

 retarded owing to the defective methods previously adopted by 

 Victorian cheese-makers. In order to remedy this, the Colonial 

 Government have obtained the services of a cheese expert 

 thoroughly acquainted with the Canadian method (which has 

 been adopted so successfully in New Zealand) with beneficial 

 results, and hope is expressed that this industry will soon become 

 almost as important as that of butter-making. 



As regards fruit-growing, the Commissioners are of opinion 

 that everything possible should be done to encourage this im- 

 portant industry. One circumstance which is said to hold out 

 substantial encouragement to perseverance with this industry, is 

 the fact that Victoria, owing to its antipodean situation, is able to 

 produce, and put on the foreign markets in the northern hemi- 

 sphere, prime and fresh fruit in excellent condition at a time 

 when the best qualities would necessarily be scarce in those 

 markets, and would, doubtless, yield very satisfactory prices. It 

 need hardly be said that for the realisation of successful and 

 remunerative exportation, particular attention is directed to the 

 necessity of cheap freights and skilful and careful packing by 

 the most approved methods in suitable cases or receptacles. 



The preservation of Victorian fruits, one of the most important 

 branches of which is fruit-canning, is stated to be making satis- 

 factory progress. A considerable sum has been paid by the 

 Department of Agriculture in bonuses for exported canned fruits ; 

 and although the results are not considered to be up to expecta- 

 tions, the Commissioners are convinced that a little determination, 

 coupled with the expenditure of a moderate amount of capital, 

 would be sure to meet with success. 



The necessity for the cultivation of root crops and other 

 fodder, for the fattening, all the year round, of stock intended 

 for the frozen meat export trade, is said to ba rapidly making 

 manifest the wisdom of the State expenditure on irrigation-work 

 (for some fodder cannot be raised in many parts of the colony 

 without irrigation), and it is certain that the demand for summer 

 fodder for this purpose will soon be enormous. There is no 

 reason, it is added, why the colony should not be a larger ex- 

 porter of beef, mutton, pork, bacon, hams, and poultry, and there 

 is said to be nothing that will be such a help to the Victorian 

 farmers at ilie present time as the development of this important 

 trade. 



The Commissioners are of opinion that the importance of prompt 

 and united action by the Australian colonies for the purpose of 

 establishing recognised Australian markets in Europe, Asia, North 

 America, and Canada for the exhibition and sale of Australian 

 products cannot be over-estimated. They recommend that such 

 markets should be established in London and other British cities, 

 in Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Rome, New York, and elsewhere, so that 



