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EXPERIMENTAL FARMS AND GARDENS, 
Experimental farms and gardens have been mentioned as a moans of teaching, and highly valuable 
information can be gained at them if managed with judgment. One suggestion is that agricultural instruction 
could be best promoted “by establishing model farms in the agricultural districts, from which the farmers 
could get or buy plants or seeds.” But it has been pointed out by several farmers who have answered the 
questions, as, for instance, the resident near Cranbourne before quoted, that there can bo no such thing as 
model farming here, as no one system, not even one clearly defined mode of growing a single crop, can be 
laid down as the best for all parts of the colony, or for the variable seasons here. Thus there can be no 
model farm for imitation ; but every public farm should be for experiment, and every public g.ardon chiefly 
for testing and growing plants, trees, or fruits, new or uncommon. Doubtless the practice at these institutious 
should be worthy of imitation in regard to. deep tillage, the economic use of the best implements and 
machinery, and soon ; but the great object, as pointed out by your most intelligent correspondents, should be 
to fully prove at these farms and gardens every new plant or tree supposed to be a desirable addition to our 
present stock, to increase and distribute through the country all wbicli prove suitable, and to report fully on 
all tried, whether suitable or unsuitable. Every product required for novel industries might thus be raised, 
as well as better varieties of our ordinary farm or garden crops. The quarterly or half-yeaily reports would 
direct attention to these, and give the exact cost of everything raised, with the mode of treatment. Enquiry 
w'ould thus be stimulated, and the new crops could be seen at every stage. It is thus public farms and 
gardens would most efficiently perform the function of teaching, and if cverj' country school were to be supplied 
with samples of the plants proved at the central establishments to be useful, the teaching might be made very 
general. Teaching by direct example can be effected by establishing any of the w'ell-provcd industries of 
other countries at the industrial schools, as, for instance, silk-producing, fruit-drying, or olive-oil -pressing ; 
but with regard to these nothing neiy has to be learned — they have only to be naturalized. With farming, 
in the extended sense of the word, it is very different. Such are, in a condensed form, the opinions of your 
correspondents practically engaged in these pursuits. 
Establishing of New Industries. 
Query 14. Cun you offer any suggestions for the establishing of 7ieto indtistries in this colony, 
through special immigration or otherwise ? 
The answers to this question are few in number. One correspondent says — “ I believe there are 
already men in this colony qualified to superintend almost any industry; and I would prefer a man with a 
few years’ colonial, combined with old country experience, to a more active newly arrived immigrant, without 
experience of the sudden and extreme changes of the climate.” Similarly another writes — “ I believe there 
are competent men enough in this country for all branches of industry without special immigration, and 
with a little fostering of the State new industries will sf)ring up and flourish.” A stockowner of the 
Wimmera protests rather w'armly against the increase of the population for any such purpose as follows — 
“ Do not mention immigration ; there are more people here now than can make a living. Last month I 
accommodated and fed on an average about seventy men per night free. Those who chose to pay one 
•shilling to the hospital got their victuals cooked. Out of 700 men, who came in a week or two, only seventy 
paid tlie shilling.” On the other hand, a settler near Seymour says — “A few olive-oil makers and some 
families from Cannes, and other places on the Mediterranean coast of France, where flower-farming and 
scent-making are largely carried on, would, I believe, result favorably ; also silk growers and winders.” 
Another gentleman gives it as his opinion that “a few skilled laborers in each industry would doubtless 
be of great service in teaching the proper system of management;” and it is pointed out that men 
skilled in the growing of hops and the preparation of flax and hemp are required ; but we are told 
by all who acknowledge the want, except one or tw'O, that such skilled labor will prove to be in the 
country as soon as the demand for it arises. Then the difficulty of inducing such people to come hither 
is not overlooked. They are, for the most part, certain of constant employment in their own countries, if 
deserving of this. A ivant of capital is referred to as likely to militate seriously against the establishment 
of new iudustries. On another view of the question, a correspondent before quoted says — “ I make one 
suggestion: when it is considered desirable to establish any new industry, offer through pastoral and 
agricultural societies premiums for exhibits of certain quantities of its produce in the localities suitable for 
carrying on such industry.” This inducement has been recommended in the answers to some of the 
questions previously disposed of, and the principle has not been placed in any fresh aspect in connection 
with this branch of the subject. 
The Rearing and Education of Orphan Boys and Girls. 
Query 15. What are your views as to the best method of apprenticing, or otherioise bringing up to 
advantage, for industrial purposes, the destitute or neglected orphan fjjoys or girls who are 
maintained at the expense of the Utate? 
lu regard to this question opinions are divided as to the system of apprenticing. I may commence 
with the arguments in favor of rearing neglected and destitute children at Government establishments. 
First on this side comes the town clerk of Castlemaine, who says — “ Do not apprentice them to private 
persons. Those who apply for friendless children arc frequently influenced by the knowledge that the 
child is without a protector, and too frequently they are morally and physically neglected, .and prove 
bad members of society. Presuming that it is the object of the Government to make the boys and 
girls useful and industrious men and women, with an education in some labor, by which they may 
obtain an honest livelihood, in lieu of being future criminals, they might be readily instructed in the 
several branches of labor required in manufacturing wool into various fabrics of commercial value, a 
great portion of the work requiring but little skill. The establishment of a factory for blankets, flannels, 
