Feb. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 149 



Springside. 



A meeting was held on dth. November, there being an attendance of twenty - 

 eight members. 



Mr. Swan. Fruit Inspector, addressed members during the evening, 

 dealing mainly with insect and fungoid pests and their treatment. It was 

 announced that the prize offered in connection with crops which were judged 

 by Mr. B. C. Meek, Assistant Inspector of Agriculture, was won by Mr. Jos. 

 Selwood. 



During the evening Mr. E. H. Selwood read a paper on co-operation, 

 in which he strongly advocated that producers of all kinds (including 

 industrialists) should co-operate to eliminate some of the numerous hands 

 through which produce must pass to the loss of all. " The imperfections 

 of the present industrial fabric are apparent to all, and that a drastic change 

 is necessary is also quite apparent. From this movement will spring the 

 reorganisation of production, of food supply, banking, finance, education, 

 and many other organisations which are indispensable to the happy pro- 

 gression of a young nation." 



Stratford. 



A successful meeting was held on 6th December, fifteen members being 

 present. It was decided to stage a non-competitive exhibit at the 

 Gloucester show to be held in March next. General discussion took place 

 on several subjects, including the sharpening of hand saws, introduced 

 by ]\Ir. T. Germon. An address was also given by the secretary on diseases 

 of farm stock. 



Several gentlemen present signified their intention of enrolling in the near 

 future. 



Wellington. 



At a meeting on 1st December, Mr. E. G. Harvey presiding, the principal 

 business was an address by Mr. Pedersen, Dairy Instructor of the Department 

 of Agriculture. 



Mr. Pedersen said that the first principle of dairying was good land and a good supply 

 of clean water. As it came from the cow, milk contained 87 per cent, of water, and if the 

 water which the cow drank was not good it was bound to have a detrimental eiiect on the 

 milk. Good green grass or other feed of the kind was an essential to good milk, the flavour, 

 taste and smell being largely governed by the food and water consumed by the animal. 

 Cleanliness must be practised in and around the dairy, the udder being rubbed down with 

 a clean wet cloth and then with a dry one before milking was started. 



The various breeds of cattle favoured in Australia were discussed by the lecturer, 

 who, on the whole, favoured the Milking Shorthorn for the Wellington district on account 

 of the large flow of milk and the good average standard of the cream content. The breed 

 seemed to be on the way to overrun all other breeds in such country, and a type of Short- 

 horn was being produced that put on flesh rapidly as it went dry, and when it came into 

 milk again used up the fat in making the milk. 



A demonstration in summer pruning was given by Mr. W. le Gay Brereton 

 at Mr. T. Parke's orchard, Curra Creek, during December, and on the evening 

 of the same day he lectured to a number of members and others on tV/ subject 

 of fruit-drying. He remarked that drying was a method of disposing of 

 reject fruit in the case of apples and pears, but with stone fruit (particularly 

 peaches, apricots, plums and prunes) only certain varieties should be used 

 for the purpose and then only at a proper stage of ripeness. The method 

 of drying various fruits was carefully described, and many valuable sug- 

 gestions were made concerning the process. 



