22 Journal of Agriculture. [8 Jan., 1907. 



condition of many of the farm horses. Frequent cultivation will be 

 necessary during the coming summer if the fallow is to be kept in any- 

 thing like good order. 



{F) The Best and Most Profitable Classes of Live Stock kept on each 

 Farm — ij Points Maximum. — I regard this item in the farm competition 

 as being of the very highest importance, because on the well being and 

 utility of his farm stock the wheat farmer is entirely dependent. 



Horses. — -As the points indicate, the horses shown by all competitors 

 were of good class. Messrs. Duftv and Son's fine mares and foals, as 

 well as the general excellence of their other horses, deservedly rank first. 

 Mr. Crouch is also the possessor of some particularly fine animals, well 

 suited to their work. Mr. Batson's horses are a, more mixed lot, good 

 useful sorts, but hardly showing the same quality as the others. 



Sheep. — The establishment of the lamb industry has already made its 

 mark on the class of sheep kept bv farmers in the Wimmera. The Shrop- 

 shire on cross-bred or come-back ewes seems to be the most popular line of 

 breeding for big-framed, early -maturing lambs. Judging from the prices 

 realized for lambs already sold, there must be a good margin of profit in 

 lamb raising in the Wimmera, and too much care cannot be taken in main- 

 taining tlie sound lines on which the industry is being conducted. I might 

 here point out the value of rape as an adjunct for lamb fattening, and also 

 of ensilage for feeding breeding ewes. Overstocking is perha,ps the greatest 

 trouble likely to eventuate in the future, but the previous experiences of 

 northern farmers ought to make an annual insurance in the way of fodder 

 reserves imperative. 



Cows, Pigs, and Poultry. — As adjuncts to the farm, these three classes 

 of stock are of the highest economical importance, not only for the milk, 

 butter, bacon, and eggs they furnish, but also as the medium for the utili- 

 zation of a great amount of feeding stuff that would otherwise go to waste. 

 I can conceive no^ farm so badly equipped and conducted as the one which 

 does not include the above-mentioned domestic stock. 



{G) The Best Implements and Machinery kept and used on each Farm 

 — 20 Points Maximum. — ^From the purely agricultural aspect, the factor 

 which controls the productiveness of the soil as much as anything else, is 

 the class of implements used. Speed, durability, and etficiency are the 

 three things demanded in a farm implement. The improvements in im- 

 plements have made such great strides Avithin the last few years that now- 

 adays the pattern of a few years back is almost obsolete to-day. To keep 

 pace with the times in the matter of implements needs money, but I am 

 glad to say that I saw little to criticise in this respect among the larger farms. 

 Messrs. Dufty and Son's farm equipment is, I think, the most comprehensive 

 T have seen for a property of its size. In addition to this the services of a 

 blacksmith and wheelwright are permanently employed, and besides all 

 mechanical repairs, most excellent waggons are made on the place. This 

 fine property, situated as it is some 18 miles from Nhill, is compelled to be 

 independent of the busy country mechanic, and it is most pleasing to see 

 the well furnished smithy and shop. Messrs. Batson and Crouch are well 

 equipped in all the ordinary farm implements, but living nearer to the 

 town, their repairing outfit is not such a prominent feature. I might re- 

 mark that in no farm, inspected bv me. was there any evidence that in the 

 " off season " the implements served the purpose of hen roosts, nor were 

 the angles of the paddocks the resting place for derelict machinery, as is 

 unfortunately too frequently the case. 



