such loan, and also for all current expenses incurred by such trust inthe control and management of such irrigation area.

Every such rate shall be made for one year, and shall be uniform in amount on the gross value of all lands capable of being irrigated in the irrigation area.

On the repayment of the amount advanced as a loan for the construction of any water works, such works shall vest in the owners of the lands capable of irrigation within the irrigation area, and shall be managed by them subject to the provisions of the act.

PRODUCE OF THE CROPS.

The produce of the crops in the several colonies for 1882 shows a decided improvement on the previous year.

* Including beans and peas, except in the case of New South Wales. The produce of crops given for Western Australia is the result of an estimate made by the Government of that colony, which may perhaps be wide of the truth.

In Victoria the appearance of this year's crop is, for the most part, highly promising. The aggregate yield of wheat bids fair to be by far the largest that has ever been harvested in the colony, about 230,000 tons of which will be available for the foreign market.

In South Australia a good harvest is anticipated, and if no adverse circumstances affect the crops it is estimated that there will be a general average of 12 bushels per acre, and that 540,000 tons of cereals will be available for exportation.

In New South Wales both farmers and pastoralists are in high spirits, and anticipate the most favorable results.

In Queensland, however, immense losses of sheep and cattle have occurred in consequence of the severe and long continued drought.

PHYLLOXERA.

The secretary for agriculture furnishes the following account of the visitation of the phylloxera, and the measures adopted for its suppression in Victoria:

The vine disease caused by the insect known as Phylloxera vastatrix made its appearance known in the Geelong district by a decadence of vigor in the vines in small patches in different parts of the vineyard, i. e., by a want of strength, and presenting a sickly appearance. The leaves afterwards became yellow round the edges, the plants sickened still further, and after a few years died completely. It was in or about the year 1875 that the disease commenced to demonstrate itself. As the vines died out, they were frequently replaced by others on the same spot by the vignerous, and these vines and cuttings likewise died. The origin of the disease is believed to have arisen by the importation of vines. When vines are diseased the roots become covered with patches of a yellow orange color, when viewed with the naked eye, and the rootlets have at their terminal points and at other parts nodules or swellings; in the fissures, also, of the bark on the roots may be seen their little bodies. When viewed with the microscope these spots are seen to be little clusters of insects, having six legs and two antennæ.

The disease has been confined to the Geelong district, extending from Gheringhap to Germantown, a distance of about 14 miles. In order, if possible, to prevent the spread of the disease, an act was passed providing for the appointment of inspectors of vineyards, with power to enter any lands whereon vines were grown, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the vines were infected, in which case the fact was to be reported to the chief secretary, who might authorize steps to be taken to eradicate the disease, either by destroying the vines or otherwise, no compensation being granted to the proprietor for any loss he might sustain in consequence of such measures. In 1878 thirteen vineyards, containing an area of 75 acres, were found to be diseased; some were partially destroyed and others were wholly rooted out. Six vineyards, containing an area of 35 acres, were destroyed in 1879. In November, 1880, a select committee of the legislative assembly was appointed to inquire into the condition of the disease, and the best means of eradicating or otherwise mitigating it. The committee reported there was no evidence to show that the insect settled on any vegetation other than vines; that so far as experiments have been carried on no remedy or cure for the disease was known: the time most to be dreaded for the spread of the scourge was about the end of December; and that there was no other cure than entire eradication. It was recommended that a cordon, having a radius of 20 miles, should be drawn round Geelong, and that no part of the vines within that cordon, whether cuttings, leaves, fruit, or roots should be removed outside of it; that all vines within that cordon should be inspected, and all reported as diseased, or situated within a 3-mile radius of any reported as diseased, should be destroyed by the complete rooting up of such vines, and burning the roots, the owners being awarded a moderate compensation, based, not upon the value of the vines, but of the grape crop which might have been expected during the next three years.

Consequently upon this report another act was passed repealing all former ones relating to vines or vineyards, and providing for the proclamation of infected localities as "vine disease districts," to which inspectors should be appointed, on the receipt of whose reports the minister might order any diseased vines to be uprooted, as well as all other vines within a radius of 3 miles thereof, whether diseased or not, compensation being given to owners of diseased vines up to the value of one year's crop, and to owners of vines not diseased up to the value of three years' crops. Persons were, moreover, prohibited, under a penalty not exceeding £100 or imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months, from removing from a "vine disease district" any vine or part of a vine. The governor in council was also granted power to restrict the importation of vines, vine cuttings, or grapes, and to make regulations for the purpose of carrying the act into effect. The question, moreover, formed one of the subjects of discussion at the Intercolonial Conference, held in Melbourne, in December, 1880, when it was agreed by the colonies of New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria to contribute jointly to the expense of eradicating the disease.

The total amount paid for eradication, compensation, and departmental expenses up to the end of June, 1883, is £33,767.

WAGES OF AGRICULTURAL LABORERS.

The following figures will show the average rates of wages, in addition to rations, of agricultural laborers for the years 1881-82 and 1882-'83:

An exhibition of Queensland sugars was held recently in Melbourne which attracted considerable attention, as showing the rapid development of the sugar industry in that colony. Altogether about fifty samples were exhibited, the collection comprising finest whites made from vacuum-pan, finest refined whites, yellow brewing crystals, yellow crystalized counters, and other varieties of the colonial product which would reflect no discredit upon any sugar-growing country in the world.

The Queensland sugar industry may now be regarded as having passed its experimental stage, and become an acknowledged and assured suecess. Scarcely a decade has elapsed since it was considered as the height of folly to invest capital in colonial sugar plantations, but now they are regarded as among the most profitable of investments, while the planters look forward to the time as not far distant when the domestic supply will not only equal the home demand, but will have a surplus for foreign exportation.

The climate and soil of Queensland are admirably adapted to the growth of the sugar cane, and capital is not wanting for the successful prosecution of the industry. The great drawback at present is the dif ficulty of obtaining suitable labor on the plantations. A large section of the white population is averse to the introduction of colored labor, while it is patent to the most casual observer that white labor can never be successfully employed in the cultivation of the sugar-cane in a tropical or semi-tropical climate. Until a satisfactory solution is found to the labor problem, which may result in a division of the colony into North and South, any further development of the Queensland sugar industry on a large scale is practically out of the question.

LIVE STOCK.

A comparison of the return of live stock, contained in the following table, with that for 1881, shows an increase throughout Australia of 4,329 horses and 135,352 cattle, but a decrease of 1,663,336 sheep and 191,859 hogs. This falling off is attributable, for the most part, to the effects of the severe drought which prevailed last year in a major por

tion of the Riverina, as well as various parts of this and the adjoining colonies.

*The live stock returns of New Zealand are those obtained at the census of 1881.

28.28

As reference has already been made in a previous report to the high prices that have been paid for merino sheep in Victoria, it may be of interest to state that, at a recent sale of stud sheep in Melbourne, a merino ram realized the unprecedentedly high price of 3,150 guineas, or over $16,000.

TUBERCULOSIS AND PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.

A number of well-authenticated cases of tuberculosis in cattle has recently appeared in Victoria, while several cases of pleuro-pneumonia have been discovered among a herd of cattle in the Camden district, New South Wales.

In reference to the former a tuberculosis board has been appointed by the Victorian Government to fully investigate the matter, whose report on the subject, when published, will be duly transmitted to the Department.

As some difficulty is experienced in distinguishing between the symptoms of bovine tuberculosis and pleuro-pneumonia, a description of the symptoms of the former disease may prove of interest, especially in view of the fact that it is believed to be communicable to the human subject. Mr. J. W. Hill, in Bovine Medicine and Surgery, says:

The earliest indication of mischief usually observed is a failing appetite, a somewhat harsh coat, and occasional cough. The bowels are irregular and the milk is blue and watery. As the malady develops the cough becomes more constant and of a deeper and hoarser character. The animal sinks in flesh, the coat is harsher, and the skin fast over the ribs, the respiration is labored and difficult, and exertion causes considerable distress; the cough is incessant and easily induced, and is accompanied by a muco-purulent expectoration.

The milk still decreases in quality, and the animal presents a miserable, dejected, and emaciated appearance.

According to Clatter's Cattle Doctor

The various external glands of the body are sometimes swollen from deposition of tubercular matter within their substance, a long groan is uttered in expiration, and the inspiration is irregular and even spasmodic, not unlike a gasp.

It may be added that the disease is often very insidious in its onset, and slow in its course, often extending over a period of several years.

THE RABBIT PLAGUE.

The multiplication of rabbits in the colonies has become a veritable plague. A single pair, introduced for the amusement of the sportsman, has propagated into millions. Before the advance of this most timid of animals, flocks and herds are compelled to retire, and even man him. self is starved into surrender. In some instances squatters have been compelled to relinquish their sheep" runs," and selectors to abandon their holdings. Their advance is as noiseless and persistent as that of the dreaded phylloxera. Crossing rivers and mountain ranges, they are steadily penetrating into the interior, and ere long will probably be found in every part of the island continent, occasioning heavy losses to the agriculturist and grazier, and involving expenditure for partial suppression that will be reckoned by many millions sterling.

To exterminate the pest all the known appliances of modern science have been brought to bear, with the result, in some localities, of only checking its steady advance. Traps, poison, firearms, deadly gases, the dog, the dingo, and mongoose have been brought into requisition, but hitherto with only partial or indifferent success.

Government aid, too, has been invoked, and there has been a generous response. The parliaments of Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales have already appropriated nearly a million of dollars for the extirpation of the plague, and in all probability will have to expend many millions more even to keep it within moderate bounds. Add to this sum the expenditure of private individuals in the colonies named, as well as Tasmania and New Zealand, and the outlay, both past and prospective, is something enormous.

According to the report of the chief inspector of stock in New South Wales no less than 700,000 acres in that colony are infested with rabbits. On twenty-seven runs they are said to be increasing, on thirty-six stationery, and on forty-four runs decreasing. Some one hundred and fif teen men, under supervision of inspectors, have latterly been employed in trapping and poisoning, and who report having destroyed immense numbers. Of the various means employed in this war of extermination the most efficient are trapping and poisoning, phosphorized oats and sulphide of carbon having been found especially effective. Latterly some specimens of the mongoose family have been imported from Colombo, and after being kept in confinement for some time were turned out on some large estates in those districts in Victoria and New South Wales where the rabbits are most numerous, and, so far as is known, the result of the experiment is said to be most favorable.

But even the rabbit plague has its compensations. It has opened up new channels of trade and given rise to new industries. Not to speak of the other colonies, in 1882 Victoria exported 4,929,432 rabbit skins, and New Zealand 9,198,837, of the aggregate value of $631,315. The various uses to which these are applied, from a felt hat to an ermine. tippet, are probably known only to the initiated.