TO Jan., ipii-] Rainbow Farm Compeiifions. 37 



daisy, and, in some cases, " white heads '' is to be regretted. I observed 

 that the oat crops were freer than the wheat from foreign matter. If 

 a more thorough system of cultivation, earlier fallowing, and a proper 

 system of rotation of crops were practised, these evils would be greatly 

 checked. The cultivation ground would also be better if allowed to 

 remain in pasture longer and grazed with sheep, than the system practised 

 on mo6t of the farms at present. 



D. — The breeding of horses is attracting much more attention at the 

 present time throughout the Mallee, than at any other period in the history 

 of the State. The keen demand existing during the past five years, and 

 the cutting up of large estates, is no doubt responsible to a great extent 

 for this condition. The farmer who breeds the tight stamp of animals 

 need not have any fear of over-production or depressed condition of 

 trade. I was glad to .see that the Rainbow farmers are steering clear of 

 the pernicious habit that prevails so much among many farmers, of 

 breeding from nondescript sires. The stallions used in the district are 

 of good type. The beautiful brood mares and foals inspected would 

 justly grace any stud, particularly was this so on the farms of Messrs. 

 ■Tust, Dart, Nowotna. and Watt. The foals in each case gave promise 

 of growing into valuable animals. 



The importance of keeping large numbers of sheep is fully recognised 

 by most of the farmers. The stud flock of pure bred Lincolns on Mr. 

 Tust's farm will be of great value to the district in the near future. 

 Mr. Chapman has the largest number of sheep and has bred up a very 

 fine class of large framed crossbred ewes. He is working on .sound 

 lines and his crossing methods, and care of the future maiden flock ewes 

 have much to commend them. He has received the sum of jQ^Ao 5s. lod. 

 from the sale of wool, lambs, .skins, and tallow, since January, and still 

 has on the farm 1,032 ewes and lambs. This shows the profitableness 

 of keeping a good class of sheep. 



As far as cattle, pigs, and poultry were concerned sad neglect was 

 •evident on most of the farms inspected. As necessary adjuncts to the 

 well being of any well managed farm, and more particularly to the 

 farmer's family, the.se three classes of stock should receive more favourable 

 attention. With such an abundance of suitable foodstuffs, what animals 

 would be of more economical value than a few well bred breeding .sows? 

 The few head of milking cows on the farms of Messrs. Cust, Chaplin and 

 Watt were of good quality and type, but in all cases there are justifiable 

 grounds for increasing the numbers. This could be very profitably done 

 if the farmers would only take the precaution of saving the large quan- 

 tities of surplus native gra.s.ses, and weeds that are at the present time 

 allowed to go to waste. Silos could he very i)rofitably utilized in this 

 ■way. 



The pigs .seen were of a very inferior type, with the exception of 

 Mr. Chaplin's sows; the returns received from the ist January totalled 

 ;^54 17s. pd. The same owner has also already received ^^15 5s. this 

 .sea.son for eggs. These returns must surely impress upon the farmers of 

 the district the advisability of keei)iMg both pigs and jKniltrv. Some 

 of the pig-styes inspectt-d were not only insanitary l)ut a menace to health. 

 Mr. Cust is to be commenrled for the kfvnness disphived in his pens of 

 pure bred jKUiltry and the district will in- the gaim-r for his nitcrpris*'. 



E. — Tn the sectif>n for the best system of fallowing and working 

 fallow, till- cnmix'titors wt-n' not miv nnilDrm in tlirir work and thin- 



