Report of the Chief Inspector of Stock. 8G9 



Inspector McLennan, Ecliuca, reports that self-sown second crops 

 liarvestecl in liis district for hay and grain gave in some instances 

 better returns than the first crop ; autumn dry, however. Inspected 

 2,582 cattle locally raised, two destroyed for tuberculosis ; attributes 

 splendid health of cattle to the fact that no Queensland bx'ed cattle 

 have been through for some years. Lambing per cent, promises to 

 be high. 



Senior Constable Carter, Mildura, reports the stations in that 

 district have not yet recovered from the effects of the drought ; some 

 stations are closed, others very much understocked ; on these the 

 stock were kept alive during the late drought by saltbush, of which 

 three varieties are common, viz., creeping, dwarf and old man. At 

 the present time there are thousands of square miles of mallee 

 heavily grassed with spear grass, with not a beast running on it. 

 Class of land in this district, mallee, with pine clad sandy ridges and 

 box on the Hooded lands adjacent to the river. All stock healthy, no 

 grave disease in stock known in the locality. 



Inspector Rockett, Narung : — Feed plentiful, country under- 

 stocked, owners of fat wethers prefer holding them until after 

 shearing. Dry autumn succeeded by nice showers. Stock healthy. 



Inspector Irwin, Cobram and Tocumwal : — Dry autumn raised 

 fears that dams and tanks would give out, but recent rains have 

 replenished water storage, and induced a growth of young grass. 

 Late droughts have killed off weakly animals, leaving only strong 

 and healthy as survivors. Breeders change bulls frequently; cripples 

 unknown. Ploughing delayed very late. 



Inspector Forbes, Yarrawonga : — Season backward ; recent rains 

 give pros])ect of good season. Wheat general crop grown. Stock 

 healthy. 



Constable J. Green, Koondrook : — Stock all healthy; general type 

 good. In cattle, breeds favoured are crosses between Ayrshire and 

 Shorthorn or Ayrshire and Jersey. Average milk yield, 2^ to 2| 

 gallons per cow daily. Milk treated on farms by hand separators 

 and cream sent to Cohuna or Gannawarra factories. Pleuro-pneu- 

 monia unknown for many years ; anthrax unknown. Types of dairy 

 construction, excavation with double roof, outer of earth or built up 

 of sun-dried bricks, having double walls, intervening space of 1 foot 

 being insulated with sawdust; double roofed, inner of shingles, outer 

 of earth. Lambing over 90 per cent., in two cases 104 per cent. 

 Horse breeding on increase ; good type of draughts bred, but light 

 horses other than ponies are decidedly inferior. Ponies have a strong- 

 dash of Arab and are a good class of animal. Have noticed a few 

 mild cases of stringhalt. Poultry tick. — Whilst collecting agricultural 

 statistics made inquiries among owners of over 2,000 fowls ; this, 

 together wnth the result of six months' inspection of poultry at 

 railway station, strengthens the conviction there are none in this 

 district. Irrigation. — Three trusts supply water to 200,000 acres in 

 addition to private plants, and six feet of a rise in the Murray above 



