a) 
1 Aprit, 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 259 
get a rainfall little less than that in Victoria—no reason why we cannot do so. 
Again, climatic conditions in each case do not vary so very much. J have endured 
in the southern State extremes of heat and cold equally as great as, if not greater, 
than I have experienced here. Thus the element of climate should be no bar 
to our making the pastures here as serviceable as those in Victoria. It thus 
remains for some one entrusted, beginning for preference on our coastal lands, 
to experiment on these lines. I am well aware that some of these grasses have 
from time to time been introduced into this State, and in some instances have 
given promise of substantial value. Nevertheless, no success in this direction, 
as far as I am personally aware of, has resulted to equal the result it was my 
good fortune to observe elsewhere. Judging from what I saw, I have come to 
the conclusion that only by slow processes of acclimatisation can we ever hope 
to permanently improve our pastures. It is beyond question that an imported 
grass may, and often does, promise well for a time, and then will inexplicably 
languish and perhaps die. 
Such dying out is due to many causes, chiefly to the want of constitution 
or adaptability to its new environment. or this reason I hold that to success- 
fully acclimatise foreign grasses we should bear in mind the fact that essential 
conditions to success lie in the importation of those species whose former: 
habitat most nearly accords with its new surroundings. Thus there will, in all. 
probability, be better hope of ultimate gain in the improvement of our local 
pastures through the introduction of grasses grown under conditions more in 
harmony with our own. English or American seed, coming as it does from 
countries in some respects the antipodes of our own, could not be expected to: 
flourish with the same vitality as seed procured from these Victorian pastures, 
where conditions more nearly resemble those here. In the absence of experi- 
ment, it is scarcely possible to single out which of the grasses introduced is 
likely to adapt itself to our climate. One fact looms out conspicuously, and 
thatis, until we in Queensland can, by artificial means, improve our herbage, 
our Southern neighbours, more particularly in the sections here referred to, 
will ever have a substantial advantage over us in this very important matter of 
dairy competition. Although there is much to learn and much to admire in a 
visit to this noted dairying centre, one cannot help wondering at the absence of 
winter shelter for stock. As a matter of general practice this protection, 
which, in the bleakness of Victorian winters, one would think so necessary, is 
absolutely neglected. In comparison with our own practice of providing 
green fodder or hay for seasons of scarcity, the absence of such provision 
came to me as a matter of surprise. This, however, is but another 
tribute to the excellence of the pastures, and shows that the industry 
can be carried on with profit, the excellent herbage being to the Victorian 
dairymen the co-efficient of what to .us represents the preparation at 
much cost of land and fodder for the due care of the cattle. Perhaps my pur- 
pose has by these few remarks been fulfilled—that is, to call attention to the 
fact that in the improvement of our dairy pastures lie great possibilities which 
are in themselves obvious. The prosperity of the Victorian dairy farmer here 
outlined has not been the work of a short period, but it has been: the slow 
evolution of years. Grasses which on their first introduction showed little 
vitality seem in the course of time to have evolved qualities indicative of the 
survival of the fittest, and now rank through natural processes as the established 
grasses of the districts. 
Many matters of a technical character that I have made mental notes of 
regarding the manipulation of butter and cheese and general factory work I 
must leave in abeyance for the present. ‘Io the Queensland farmer a visit to 
these districts would be productive of much valuable experience, either as a 
lesson in co-operation, the management of dairy herds, or manipulation of 
dairy produce. Personally I much admire the quality of the stock kept by the 
Victorians, the character of their soil, and the general method of handling’ 
their business, but if asked to what I should ascribe their success I would say 
that primarily it is due to the nature of the grasses, upon which the results so 
18 
