66o 



journal of Agriculture. 



[8 Nov., 1907. 



CLOSER SETTLEMENT STUDIES. 



A Suburban Dairy Farm. 



/. M . B. Connor, Dairx Supervisor. 

 Business ability amongst farmers in general, and producers of 

 specialities in particular, is more common than is generally recognised. 

 This has been demonstrated again and again in the successful manage- 

 ment of small areas, where intense cultivation has been thoroughly gone in 

 for, and a systematic rotation of fodder crops grown and maintained 

 on strictly business lines, the underlying principles of the work undertaken 

 being always borne in mind. The feeling amongst small holders in favour of 

 intense cultivation is rapidly gaining ground, the system having already 

 accomplished more than has been claimed for it, as shown bv the handsome 

 returns obtained from the small area described in this article. 



(,i:M;K.\L \ ii'.w (Ji I ill. ill ii.iiixc;. 

 Small grazing paddock and siielier slied in foreground. 



The " farm " in question has an area of about two acres, and is owned 

 and cultivated by Mr. W. F. Darke, of Church-street, Richmond, an 

 enthusiastic and practical worker, who does not spare himself when there 

 is any work to be done. His methods are plain and simple, no expensive 

 tools are used, and in fact no effort is made for the mere sake of 

 appearance. His accounts are kept in two books, an expense book and a 

 sales book. The former contains a complete record of both household 

 and farm expenses, and the latter records all sales from produce of 

 cows, orchard, and poultry yard ; giving in each instance the date of the 

 transaction ana the price obtained. These accounts are balanced from 

 time to time, and are closed at the end of the year. It is an effective 

 system for keeping an account of the income and expenditure without much 

 trouble. Everything sold from the farm is credited to it, and everything 

 paid out in any way in its management is charged against it. The 



