June 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N,S.W. 449 



Cotta Walla. 



On 6th April Mr. J. E. O'Neill read an interesting paper on the use of a 

 pure-bred sire in a dairy herd. He pointed out that a good paying herd 

 ■could be built up from a foundation of ordinary cows by the consistent use of 

 a pure-bred sire. With over 2,000,000 cows in Australia, whose average 

 production was not half what it might be if proper methods of selection, 

 breeding and management were followed by their owners, the subject was 

 important. It was essential that the bull should be of a good producing 

 strain, and the performances of his dam and of the family as far back as 

 possible should be known. A good dam and a good grand-dam went a long 

 way in establishing the quality of a bull, provided, of course, that his sire 

 was also of a good strain. 



Dural. 



Thp questions in the Agricultural Gazette for March were brought before 

 the members at their meeting on 26th March, and a useful discussion ensued. 



At the meeting held on 30th April the questions in the April Gazette were 

 considered. Growers expressed the opinion that the ground should be 

 ploughed as soon as possime after harvest operations. Several spoke of the 

 good effects of frequent cultivation for retention of moisture. 



Growers were quite unanimous that fumigation stood alone as a means of 

 destruction of scale insects. In their opinion no other treatment was 

 comparable to it. Whether this method was cheaper than spraying depended 

 upon the material used in spraying. Several contended that it was as cheap 

 to fumigate as to spray with oils. Even though spraying with some spi'ays 

 might be cheaper, growers contended that by far the best value for the money 

 -spent was obtained by fumigation. 



Kellyville. 



At the usual monthly meeting on 3rd May, a lecture was given by 

 Mr. H; Reid on the blooming of deciduous trees in winter. He was accorded 

 a hearty vote of thanks for a useful contribution. 



The annual pruning demonstration was conducted by Mr. W. Le Gay 

 Brereton, Assistant Fruit Expert, at Mrs. Agnew's orchard on 7th May. 

 The attendance was good and valuable suggestions were offered.^ 



Lidcombe. 



At a meeting on 19th April, Mr. L. Rumble delivered a lecture on 

 vegetable growing. He advocated thorough work at the outset of any such 

 'enterprise, and good drainage. When manure was being dug in, it was a 

 good plan first to dig in half, and a fortnight later to apply the balance ; this 

 ■ensured more thorough distribution. Seedlings should not be raised in very 

 rich soil, or they suffered a severe check when transplanted to poorer land. 

 Useful information on the crops to sow at different times was also given. 



In the discussion that ensued a good deal of further information was 

 afforded by several members. 



March. 



The usual monthly meeting was held on 28th April, when general business 

 was disposed of. 



Matcham. 



A meeting of this branch was held on 1st May, when eighteen members 

 attended. After the disposal of general business, a discussion took place on 

 co-operative buying of manures, seeds, &c. 



