48 



a^NERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. 



[June 18U5, 



! . GENERAL AGRIGUL/l URAL NOTES. 



. , ; Timber Trade of Victoria, 



Th& 3Mhdiirri,e Weekly Times states, that the timber trade of 

 Victoria has not hitherto had the attention it merits. Although 

 parts of the (^biihtry, and notably Gippsland, devote themselves 

 to the trade/ which ig proving profitable, there has not, until 

 lately, b'efen aiiy'i^tte'mpt made' to export Victorian timbers. It 

 is known that the Colony can produce, like the other provinces 

 of Austi*alia, Wobxl HVhich, when properly ripened arid seasoned, 

 is unequalled, save by rare and costly timbers. It .^eems that 

 experts, who are thoroughly acquainted with Victorian timber, 

 have" 'declared that it is admirably adapted for inhuinerable pur- 

 poses' and would command large sales in England. An announce- 

 liient ' has already been made that Australian timber has been 

 f5tind eminently suitable for paving purposes, and it is now 

 f\irther stated that the Victorian timber will suit very well for 

 railway sleepers, and that the railway companies in the United 

 Kingdom will be prepared to do business if the Victorians can 

 meet them somewhat in prices. A proposal has lately been put 

 forth that an application should be made to the authorities in 

 New York, and other great American cities, for leave to put 

 down in one of the pritfcipal streets, as. a practical test, a pave- 

 ment of timber grown in Australia. 



Dairying and Beekeeping in South Australia. . 



The Board of Agriculture have recently received a copy of tlie 

 annual report on the work and proceedings of the Agricultural 

 Bureau of South Australia for the year 1893-94. y 



As regards the dairy industry of the colony, it is stated that 

 very satisfactory progress was made during the period covered 

 by the report, particularly in the direction of the establishment of 

 private and co-operative creameries. The Butter Bonus Act is said 

 to have largely assisted in this progress, but the chief factor seems 

 to have been the very low price of wheat, which compelled farmers 

 to divert their energies to more profitable channels. About 300 

 tons of butter were exported, and it was anticipated that this 

 quantity would be, in all probability, doubled during the next 

 season. Attention is directed to the gratifying reception accorded 

 to South Australian butter in foreign markets, and the opinion 

 is expressed that it will be excelled by few, if any, competing 

 butters when the industry becomes more extended and fully 

 established in South Australia, the climate and natural pastures 

 of which are reported to be most favourable to the healthy 

 rearing and keeping of dairy stock, 



