862 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



f urtlier made diligent enquiry re the number of remount liorses likely 

 to be available for army purposes. 



The dairy cattle inspected numbei-ed 29,oU7, and of these three 

 Avere slaughtered and three isolated for disease. Of cattle other than 

 dairy 14,460 were inspected, of which five were found diseased, three 

 were isolated, and two slaughtered. No poultry tick exists in my 

 district. During the past six months, I am happy to state, my 

 district has been almost free of disease in stock other than pigs — an 

 (_»utbreak of swine fever occurred in April, but owing to strict inspec- 

 tion and quarantine of premises being effected, and no store pigs 

 being brought into market, thus preventing movements from farm to 

 farm, the disease is nearly at an end. No cases have been found or 

 reported for nearly a month. Tuberculosis and actinomycosis seem 

 to be getting less prevalent, owing in a great measure to more care, 

 and destruction of affected animals by owners, and to a better class 

 of cattle being used for dairy ])urposes, together with the exercise of 

 better judgment in the selection of the bulls. Eickets and cripples 

 are still bad on my western border. Abortion has been prevalent in 

 some dairy herds near Warrnambool, but the usual antiseptic pre- 

 cautions when adopted, appear to have stopped it. But one outbreak 

 of pleuro-pneunionia occurred during the past six months ; this was in 

 some Queensland bred animals, the disease developing shortly after 

 their arrival in the district, and twelve died. The remainder of the 

 mob were inoculated, and no further deaths occurred. The owner is of 

 opinion these cattle contracted the disease through the medium of the 

 railway trucks in which they were carried in South Australia. 



The best favoured breed of dairy cattle in this district seems to 

 be a cross between the milking strain of Shorthorn with the Jersey 

 or Ayrshire ; pure Jerseys seem too delicate for this climate. The 

 average yield of milk per cow is 400 gallons per annum. 



Plenty of rain has fallen, store stock are in good condition, and 

 there is every prospect for stock unless exceptionally cold weather 

 sets in. The country being understocked, feed is abundant. The 

 best native grass on the cattle stations appears to be kangaroo grass. 

 Artificial grasses adapted with best results are : Rye grass and clover 

 for good rich land, and cocksfoot for rough hilly country. 



Among sheep but few deaths are reported, and all inspected 

 seemed very healthy. Lambing returns good, although in some 

 localities spells of very cold weather killed a good many young lambs, 

 l^ips containing arsenic, mixed with soft soap or pearl asli, considered 

 best as they destroy the ova as well as the ticks or lice. Lucerne in 

 the opinion of many owners is considered to prevent impaction in dry 

 seasons, hence it is much favoured as a summer food. Irrigation is 

 not practised in this district. 



The last outbreak of swine fever in this district was of a very 

 virulent form. 



Geelong District. 



Mr. Cother reports : — The latter part of the past summer was 

 exceptionally moist, consequently instead of the grass dying off, as 



