"The abundance and superior quality of the agricultural products, for which the markets of Ballarat are distinguished, are probably the fruition, and certainly the just reward, of the interest that has always been manifested by her farmer's agricultural improvement. As early as 1857 a number of gentlemen interested in agricultural pursuits met together, and established the first agricultural society in this district. This society has the proud distinction of having led the ways in its OWN particular sphere, and induced the creation of many kindred associations; prompting and stimulating improvement by holding annual exhibitions, at which five stock, implements, grain, butter, cheese, &c., were brought into The exhibitions of the society have, especially our sheep exhibition, attracted throngs of intelligent observers, practical cultivators, and stock owners front neighbouring colonies, as well as from New Zealand, and have diffused a most Salutary and beneficial influence. The shires immediately surrounding Ballarnt are four, viz.:—Ballarat shire. Creswick shire, Dungaree shire, and Grenville shire they have each their individuality in their products, and rival the best shire in any other part of the colony, both in the quality and quantity of their produvtioes

"Ballarat shire.—Lying to the north and west of the city, contains large tracts of volcanic soil, and also considerable areas of strong loan on clay subsoul.

The Learmouth, Springs, Cogbill's Creek, and Bald Hills districts are largely volcanic in their soils. For the first ten or fifteen years after settlement these page 103 lands were almost exclusively devoted to the production of wheat

Georpe Smith, continued, 18th June 1886.

and oat crops. Por the last ten or fifteen years mixed husbandry has prevailed, and most of the laud in Ballarat shire is now farmed partly as arable and partly as pasture land. Root crops, as potatoes, mangolda, swedes, and carrots are grown, but not extensively; but nearly all this land is eminently adapted for their culture, and the yields in some cases are very large. This shire also contains some of the finest sheep country in Victoria, we might say in Australia. The low-lying lands about Learmonth, notably Ceres, are occupied by their owners as sheep farms exclusively and the hula of Ercildoune beyond the lake, covering a large area of fine fertile country, are also devoted to sheep farming. This shire has been well timbered in early years, but has now been denuded of nearly all its indigenous timber, with the exception of Ercildoune estate. The shire council have in past years paid considerable attention to planting their shire reserves, but much remains to be done. The principal trees planted have been pinus insignia, with elm, oak, and bluegum. All the trees in the reserves planted have much rapid Egrowth, and will in a few years be valuable for both ahelter and other purposes. Live hedges have been planted extensively in most parts of this shire, the white thorn, whin, and box thorn being the principal varieties used.

"Crewrick Shtre—This shire contains various kinds of soil, for instance, that line of country from Spring Hill to the south, including Dean, and on the east including the Kangaroo Hills, Smeaton, and Kingston districts, are all good alluvial soils, with large areas of very rich volcanic soils. This was in its first years cultivated much on the same lines as Ballarat a hire, but recently root crops have been largely grown, and many thousands of tons of our finest potatoes, and other root crops nave been raised. Mixed farming is also prevailing of late years, as some of the most enterprising of the farmers have gone largely into resting their lands and raising sheep and horses. In many parta of this district, underground drainage has been largely used for improving the low-lying lands. Live hedges have also been extensively planted. The hills of this district, on the Ballarat side of Creswick, are, in many places, poor, and very stony; but we think many portions could be usefully planted either with acacias or other indigenous trees, as the whole of the ranges were formerly covered with heavy timber.

"Bungaree Shire,—This shire possesses many favorable features in its climate and general character. The chief part of the shire was formerly the heart of the great belt of forest country running parallel with the Dividing range, and is still, in some portions, very heavily timbered. The greatest portion of the soil in this shire consists of a rich volcanic ash, on a strong basalt subsoil. Its fertility has been proved by its large yields of grain, pease, and root crops; as a potato and pea district it stands pre-eminent. Nearly the whole shire abounds with permanent springs of the finest water. The Ballarat Water Reserves, that occupy a long narrow strip of country right in the heart of the shire, have been planted to some extent by the Ballarat Water Commission; but larger areas still remain unplanted and unimproved, so far as forestry is concerned. These reserves, if properly planted, would, A few years hence, be of great value, From the altitude of this area, some 1,600 feet above the sea, nearly alt the deciduous trees of the northern hemisphere grow most luxuriantly. Here also the most valuable of our indigenous timber trees would flourish, as the blue gum, stringy bark, and others. We might mention that a number of tea plants, supplied by Baron von Mueller some years since, have grown as freely as any indigenous tree or plant in the reserves.

"Grenville Shire.—Lying to the south and west of Ballarat, is principally of a hungry, poor, loamy soil, and is principally devoted to grazing.

"Dairy and Sheep Farming.—The land under cultivation in this shire is much less than in either of the former shires named, excepting the eastern portion. Between Buninyong and Cordnroy there is a long strip of strong rich land, which was formerly heavily timbered, and is now nearly all under cultivation.

"Grasses.—The land laid down to grass in the Ballarat district is mostly under perennial rye grass. Where mixtures hare been used, they have been principally red and white clover, timothy, and rib grass. Cocksfoot, except in the Dean and Mount Prospect, and to some slight extent in the Coghill's Creek district, has been hut little sown.

"I have not mentioned our resources as a fruhVproducing district, but nearly all the English fruits succeed here admirably.

"Cultivation.—The farms of thid district have always been to the front in seizing upon the best and latest implements, and on nearly every farm the latest and most highly improved reapers and binders, double-furrow ploughs, harrows, seed drills, and scarifiera are procured and utilized; even the Hodges Hornsby page 104

Georpe Smith, continued, 18th June 1886.

Hedge Clipper has been introduced, and every new implement sur to be partronized that will assist in minimizing labour.