SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
The Viticultural Industry. 
Research at Mildura. 
By A. V. LYON, B.Ag.Sc. 
Important and far-reaching problems are embraced by the scheme 
of viticultural investigations to be carried out by the Mildura and 
District Research Committee, in association with the Institute of Science 
and Industry. They include physical and chemical, as well as patho- 
logical and entomological research, and will be directed to the discovery 
of remedial measures for many of the more serious troubles that afflict 
the vignerons in many parts of the Commonwealth. All preliminary 
arrangements have now been concluded, and a commencement has been 
made with the work. The experiments will be carried out at Mildura 
on a block of 60 acres, 48 acres of which are irrigable. The agricul- 
tural laboratory and library have been erected, and are being stocked, 
and a number of plots have been planted to serve as a basis for the 
following investigations :— 
1. Fifteen acres have been planted, composed of seven experi- 
mental plots. 
2, The library and agricultural laboratory have been erected, 
and both are being stocked. 
3. Material (old housing) has been purchased for the purpose of 
erecting residences for the Agricultural Scientist, and for the 
workmen. 
Our farm assets at present are :— 
1. Buildings .. bo no Sik) ily 
2. Implements and plant ao 8% 2 5 
3. Improvements to land an EADY 
4. Farm buildings 34 = 12 4 49 
Weiyall ee .. £880 138 1 
These figures give the actual capital expenditure by 30th Sep- 
tember, 1919, and represent the value of improvements alone, 
without taking into account the improved value of 48 acres of land 
with a water right. The whole of the property as it now stands 
has been valued by the Committee at considerably over £1,000. 
A number of experimental plots have been planted to serve as a 
basis for the following investigations :— 
Plot 1.—Experiment to determine the most payable quantity of 
phosphatic manures. This field is divided into plots of 
five rows, sub-plots receiving 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 units of 
phosphatic manures respectively. This work is being done 
with currants, sultanas, and gordos, and the results will 
be judged by the yields of green fruit and dry fruit. 
Plot 2.—Experiment to determine the most payable quantity 
of potash manure. ‘This work is on similar lines to the 
work detailed above. 
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