488 Jouriial of Ai^^'i culture. Mct.'r'a. [10 July, 191 i. 



pruning. This will certainly give the shrubs a somewhat ragged and untidy 

 appearance in the winter, but it is the only way to secure the best flowering^ 

 results. 



All herbaceous plants such as Sahia, Aster, Delphinium, Polygonum^ 

 Boltonia, Gaura, and Chrysanthemum should be cut back; and, if neces- 

 sary, lifted and heeled in a temporary location for the winter. 



Plant out Gladioli, Iris, and Liliums. 



Continue digging, manuring, and trenching. 



THE VALUE OF MILK RECORDS. 



/. S. M cFadzCdii, Senior Dairy Supervisor. 



The system of keeping records of the milk yield of each cow in the 

 dairy herd, in order that inferior milking stock may- be culled out, is 

 . graclually gaining favour with dairymen throughout the State; and those 

 following it are unanimous in their opinion of its value. A letter is 

 to hand from a breeder of Holstein cattle, whose milking herd runs well 

 over 150 head. In referring to his records, which have been for years past 

 estimated from one day's milking per cow per month, he says that he is 

 now taking records weekly, and intends to continue on this method for 

 the future. Thfs is sufficient to .show that the work is proving highly 

 satisfactory to him. 



Some interesting figures have also lieen received from Mr. F. J. 

 Stansmore, of " Yalart,'' Pomborneit, in connexion with the rt cording of 

 the work of each of his cows during the past vear. 



Out of a total of 141 head : — 



iq cows gave approximately 300 gallons each in 12 monllis. 



9 -> >, ;, ' 350 



10 ,, ,, ,, 400 ,, ,, ,, 



16 ,, ,, „ 450 



10 '- ., ', 500 



21 M ,, .. 550 O ,, ,, 



29 ,, ,, ,, 600 ,, ,, ,, 



" ,. " ., 650 



6 „ ,, ., ;oo 



7 M ,, ,, 7SO ,, ., ., 

 •^ ,> „ ,, 800 



1 ,) 5> ,, 900 ,, ,, ,, 



As showing the wide variation in milk production that does occur among 

 dairy cows these figures are worth studying by every' dairy farmer ; but, 

 to the owner of the herd, they are of highe.st importance. Through keeping 

 tally of each cow's milk for one year, he is now in a position to cull out 

 many which show little profit over the cost of handling them. He can 

 thus reduce his working expenses, and proportionately increase his average 

 return per cow. 



The total amount of milk delivered at the factory from the 141 cows 

 during the year was a trifle over 76,000 gallons ; or an average of 539 

 gallons per cow. For a large herd, this is a very fair return, and it is 

 probably fully 150 gallons over the average yield for the State. 



The factory milk tests show that only in one month — June — was the 

 butter-fat percentage down to 3.8, the average for the year being a frac- 

 tion o\er 4 per cent. 



