8 Feb., 1907.] Dairy Farm Buildings. 



first place, the cost of a considerable quantity of timber is saved. Secondly, 

 they are certainly more sanitary, in that they do not become fouled with 

 dung. The heel posts of the long partition are usually the dirtiest surfaces 

 in a cow-shed, and require most scraping and cleansing. With the short 

 partitions, again, the milking machine may be installed without any altera- 

 tions being required. 



It may be said that heel posts extending a long wav backward are 

 needed for leg-roping. Well, if leg-roping is required (and I am one of 

 those who believe that it is not required, and should be abandoned, except 

 perhaps in the case of 5 per cent, of cows at the outside), it (^an be 

 provided for by having .a wooden block containing a spike and ring 

 placed in the floor of the gangway at the proper distance to the rear. 

 As with the use of bails, so with leg-roping it was not until my arrival in 

 Australia that my first experience of that practice was gained. 



In this shed the feed tubs are moveable, and are placed on a raised 

 platform 2 ft. 6 in. wide on one side and 3 feet on the other, running the 

 whole length of the building. The platform is made of 6 in. x i in. hard- 

 wood, with a plinth of similar dimensions to keep the tub in position. 

 When not containing food the tub may be upended on the feed platform, 

 so leaving space for the feeding of hav or other long fodder. 



Incidentally, a final glance at the interior photograph is requested, and 

 attention invited to the towel rack, the water drum and tap, the spring 

 balance, and the milk records board at the far end of the building, the 

 regular use of all of which should be obvious. 



A locality plan, given along with the ground plan and elevation of the 

 shed illustrated is not in any way to be taken as a model of arrange- 

 ment of dairv farm buildings, but to show the relationship of the other 

 building to the cow-shed in question, and to give an idea of the compact- 

 ness which O'Ughit to be aimed at where choice of arranging the location 

 offers. 



THE ORCHARD. 



James Lang, Harcoiiri. 



Gathering and marketing the fruit will occupy a great deal of the time 

 of the orchardist for the next three months. Thte export season opens this 

 month, the first shipment leaving by the s.s. Britannia on the 19th inst. 

 In view of the many complaints that have been made as to the condition 

 in which the early shipments of apples have arrived in previous years, 

 shippers should be ^■ery careful in selecting and packing only sound fruit. 

 The trouble has been bitter pit, which seems to develop in the cool chamber 

 on tSfe voyage ; apples apparently clean and sound when shipped have 

 arrived in a bad state from this disease. Later shipments do not develop it 

 to anything like the same extent, the fruit being better matured. So far 

 r.o remedy has been discovered that will keep the disea.se in check. From 

 advice to hand from London, the market there will be pretty well cleared 

 of American apples by the time the first shipments arrive from Australia, 

 so that a favorable market is likelv for all fruit arriving in good condition. 



Continue spraving for the codlin moth. Where this has been constantly 

 attended to the fruit will be verv free from the grub, and 90 per cent, 

 should be clean and fit for market- In carrying out the work of the 

 orchard, spraying is very apt to be neglected, on account of other pressing 

 work. It is a great mistake to do this, as spraying should be done regu- 

 larly, no matter what other work has to stand aside. It is an advantage 



