25 
competent lecturers is the publication of their lectures for general dissemination throughout the country. 
I could quote many answers in support of this view, but a few will suffice. Thus a gentleman of 
Woodburii says — “I am of opinion that the State, in order to diffuse industrial and agricultural knowledge, 
should collect and print at the expense of the State all information they can bearing on the modes of 
cultivating different useful plants, thus forwarding all information they can procure to the various centres 
of every kind of industry.” Again, a resident of Bacchus Marsh is of opinion “that there should 
be an Agricultural and Industrial Department to collect information, and, when necessary, diffuse it through 
the press and by means of pamphlets, also to collect and distribute seeds, and to collect information from 
the growers thereof. A good agricultural chemist, to analyse soils, roots, and plants, to give lectures, &c., 
should also be under the control of the department.” Then a stockowner of the Wimmera says — 
“A professor of agriculture might be appointed in the University. Lectures given in various places 
throughout the colony, and published in newspapers and pamphlets, would assist this object.” There i* 
also the following answer from Nunawading, viz.: — “The issuing of pamphlets on all matters concerning 
the fostering of new industries would be an inducement to the farmers and gardeners to establish 
agricultuial societies in the various country districts.” The Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens, 
Castlemaine, believes that the spread of this special knowledge can be best promoted “by offering pre- 
miums for the best essays on the culture and manufacture of certain articles not yet established in the 
colony, and by maintaining in an efficient manner the botanic and horticultural gardens, where new plants 
and f-uits should be tried and experimented on, and by taking respectable youths as apprentices into these 
establishments.” This last is a good suggestion, although bearing little on the subject-matter im- 
diately under notice — the providing of instructive publications, to be widely read. One correspondent 
from Daylesford recommends — “ That the Government should annually give a substantial reward to either 
one of the leading papers of the colony which should in the twelve months publish the best series of essays 
on agriculture and new industries,” llowever the State is called upon to assist in promoting rural indus- 
tries, old or new — whether by the formation of a department or otherwise — the collection and publication of 
special information is one of the duties invariably insisted on. 
LIBRARIES. 
I have already noticed the suggestion that lending libraries should be established in connection wdth 
evening schools, and it is recommended besides, that assistance should bo given to the formation of good 
libraries of an agricultural character in connection with farmers’ clubs and rural societies of every kind. 
Reading-rooms are also a country want ; but an agricultural population is so much scattered that, except in a 
few districts, each room would have but few supporters. 
farmers’ clubs. 
Farmers’ clubs arc being formed slowly, owing to this difficulty in getting persons to meet for 
their mutual benefit. But the good they might do is widely acknowledged, and various inducements are 
suggested. One gentleman says that the spread of information would bo promoted by “ the organization 
of farmers’ and gardeners’ mutual improvement societies and the establishment of experimental farms and 
gardens.” By this gentleman it is supposed that the experimental farms and gardens would form a 
nucleus for the improvement societies. And the following is the recommendation of a resident near 
Ballarat ; — “Farmers’ clubs, which arc recently being established throughout the colony, should be 
recognized by the Government by sending a thoroughly practical analytic chemist to deliver lectures 
and to analyse the different soils.” According to another gentleman practically engaged in fanning, the 
best teaching for farmers would be — “ 'i he encouragement of farmers’ Ibcieties and clubs in every district, as 
the means most likely to benefit the husbandman. No one system of farming can be profitably followed in 
Victoria. 1 have frequently observed the best cultivated fields yield the worst crops ; I therefore believe 
that showing the practical results of success, and a description of failures by farmers, one to another, is 
the agricultural education best adapted to the colony.” The word education is of course here used in a 
limited sense, but very many believe, with the writer of the foregoing that practical farmers learn more in 
discussions amongst themselves than in any other way. The answer of another practical farmer to the 
question is — “Encourage pastoral and agricultural societies by liberally subsidizing only those which are 
liberally supported by the communities in which they exist. Collect and make public the latest information 
on such subjects. Encourage the establishment of farmers’ clubs in country districts.” 
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 
The agricultural societies are frequently mentioned as vehicles for instruction, and one correspondent 
believes that the endeavor to make our national society an imitation of the Royal Agricultural Society of 
England would be worth all it would cost. But this would be a difficult task, for, in the first place, there 
are not many men of means and leisure here to undertake the management of such a society with spirit, 
and, in the next place, some of the country societies are too firmly established to tolerate any interrercnce 
with them in their own districts. However, the Royal Society is only useful as a teacher bj' getting up 
the best shows possible in the area within which its functions lie, and the same thing may be done 
hero by our well-managed country societies. To enable them to do this, it is recommended that money 
be placed at their disposal, to be offered in large prizes occasionally for such animals, or jiraduce, or 
machinery, as their disiricts excel in. This principle was acted on by the laie Board of Agriculture, in 
granting to one society, each year, a large sum of money in prizes for a national show ; and often, of late, 
with a considerable degree of success. Certain it is, that, as pointed out, if agricultural shows are to be 
looked on in their true light, and to be made valuable for instructing the practical farmers, every means 
should be adopted to have them as good as they can be, and to prevent anything inferior from being 
decorated with a prize ticket, owing to a want of competition. When public money is asked for, it is said 
that the public have a right to demand that it be devoted to sound teaching, and that this should be the 
main object of every agricultural society is allowed by including all suggestions for their improvement in 
the answers to question 13. 
No. 16. 
C 
