890 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



is so backward hi making" provision for fodder for stock. A few 

 farmers do make ensilage, but tliey are the exception rather than the 

 rule. In Victoria in 1903 only 10,931 tons were made. The con- 

 ditions surrounding sheep husbandry are now quite altered to what 

 they were 12 years ago. Then there was little or no export of frozen 

 mutton from Australia, now it is a staple export commodity. Then 

 sheep off the shears had no great market value, for there was no 

 outlet for the ever-increasing number except through the medium of 

 the boiling down works. Fifteen years ago it was no uncommon 

 thing to see sides of mutton sold for Is. 6d. and legs of mutton for 

 6d. in the markets and shops of Melbourne. Nowadays such a state 

 of things is impossible, unless some protracted interruption occurred 

 to our export trade. The export mutton trade has been of incalcul- 

 able advantage to graziers, as now instead of, as at one time, trying 

 to force their surplus stock on the butchers and boiling down works, 

 they can hold on to it and await the solicitations of the representative 

 of the exporter, who is an eager buyer. 



In consequence of the prices ruling so high last season, export 

 operations stopped about January last. In the earlier part of the 

 season Messrs. Lowe and Peppard assisted in the inspection of foods 

 prepared for export in the metropolitan area, and later, through 

 Mr. Peppard being transferred to the Agent-General's ofhce, London, 

 Mr. Holt, whose work at Hamilton has been completed, took up the 

 running. At Geelong Mr. Pollock, who was appointed for the season 

 to supervise exports of meat frtmi that port, very ably conducted 

 inspections. The War Office authorities now require a tag certifying 

 to inspection to be attached to each carcase, and this retjuirement 

 entails considerable labour and the bestowal of close inspections. 

 The high price prevailing Jast year for stock was the cause of the 

 export trade being very much contracted. Further, graziers were 

 loth to j^art with their stock to exporters at a price that would enable 

 export operations to be conducted, and, through so many holding on 

 tightly, the local markets even were undersupplied, and the price of 

 mutton in Victoria went up to 4d. per lb. wholesale. Not only did 

 those graziers who parted with stock get exceptional prices, but they 

 were confident that they were running no risk if they held on, as the 

 prospects of the seasons keeping favourable were never more certain. 

 In good years ewes of six years of age are generally parted with, but last 

 year ewes of all ages were kept for breeding purposes, and scarcity of 

 mutton in the local markets was in part to be attributed to that fact. 

 Until Australia is again re-stocked it does not appear to be wise to 

 part with any ewes that are capable of throwing lambs. Since 

 January last the price of mutton in the State has been very high, and 

 it is many years since it was so dear. The price was never lower 

 than 3d. per lb., and the (piantity offering just about fulfilled the 

 wants of Victoria. In fact the scarcity at one time became so acute 

 that some of the large retail butchers were seriously considering the 

 advisability of importing mutton from New Zealand in order to keep 

 supplies moving. L^nexpected relief came in June last, when 3,500 

 carcases of mutton, which were damaged by water and smoke by an 



