ic Oct., 1911-] 



Closer Siillciiieiit Studies. 



689 



] \ in. wide by 2 in long, should be cut out ; or, if there be no sheet iron 

 available, a piece may be flattened out from a bar of small flat iron or 

 mild steel. 



The two holes for receiving the ends of the staple should be drilled, 

 or may be punched with the hand punch. The size of hole requires to 

 be slightly less than \ in. diameter. The bow is then gripped in the vice, 

 allowing about | in. to stand above the top of the jaws. The plate is 



BOX STAPLE. 



then driven tightly on to the ends until about | in. stands through the 

 plate. The ends are now rivetted down which prevents them from being 

 drawn out. All that remains to be done is to drill four small holes about 

 ^ in. diameter at each corner of the plate and counter-sink them with a 

 larger drill to suit the head of the screws. 



{To be continued.) 



CLOSER SETTLEMENT STUDIES. 



/. S. McFadzcan, Sej/ior Dairy Supervisor. 

 ONIONS IN SOUTH GIPPSLAND. 



The splendid quality of much of the land in South Gippsland would 

 justify far closer settlement of that district than at present exists. 

 Thousands of acres there are still covered with scrub, while over large 

 areas the only advancement that has been made towards improving its 

 natural producing capacity is that of ringing the heavy timlxr and burning 

 the undergrowth. Following on this work good grazing for st(xk is 

 obtained; and more especially where the natural pasture grasses have been 

 replaced by sowing some of the stronger growing English grasses, such 

 as perennial rye, cocksfoot, and the clovers. On the lower slopes of the 

 hills and on the more level country there is much first class farming land 

 that might be put to more profitable use than grazing ; for under the jjlough 

 it would be as productive, and consequently become as valuable, as that in 

 any other part of the State. 



All along the railway lines evidence of the fertility of this o untry 

 may frequently be seen in the heavy crops that are harvested from small 

 areas. In connexion with the various farm comj^^titions held by agricul- 

 tural societies many fine crops of maize, mangolds, turnips. &c.. have 

 previously been reported in this JounioL .\ jihotograph rejiroduced here 

 conveys some idea of a crop of onions that was grown this year close to 

 the Neerim South railway station. 



The soil there is the deep brown or reddish coloured volcanic loam so 

 frequently met with thinughout fiippsland. Similar lanil ailjoining it is 



\•^•y^1. 2 c 



