736 Journal of Agriciiliure , Victoria. [10 Nov., 1911. 



Probably these items could stand over till after the first three months, 

 in which case the unexpended portion of the settler's ^300 — jC^9 ips- — 

 will be sufficient to cover cost of food and those unforeseen expenses that 

 are unavoidable. 



Returns. 



Corr,ing now to what will be. to most settlers, the most important con- 

 sideration, we can estimate the gross returns at about ^2 12s. per week, 

 made up as follows : — 



A good cow, properly fed, should average 3 gallons per day. At 4d. 

 per gallon this will amount to 7s. per week, or for six cows, ^2 per week, 

 over the first six months of the milking period. In three months, the store 

 pigs should be ready for the market as " fats," weighing about 130 lbs. 

 At 5d. per lb. this would show a profit of, approximately, los. per week 

 for the four pigs. The fowls should produce two dozen eggs per week, 

 adding another 2s. 



These returns can be increased by adding gradually to the stock and 

 providing plenty of nutritious food. The heifers, too, will be coming in 

 to swell the returns. If grass has been plentiful and sheep stocked, they 

 should show a profit of, at least, 4s. per head, i.e., ^a, for twenty sheep. 

 This could be expended in the purchase of another heifer. 



Of course, the income shown above cannot be regarded as a princely 

 one ; but the settler who^ is prepared tO' move along quietly for a time, 

 .should be very well satisfied. He is " keeping the pot boiling," while 

 he is all the time increasing his capital by increasing the value of his pro- 

 perty. Apart from the financial aspect, the life is a healthy one and the 

 settler is economically independent. The working day may at times be 

 long ; but with judicious management, this can be avoided without diminish- 

 ing the income derived from the farm. 



Conclusion. 



It is essential that, in the course of time, the farmer should be up-to- 

 date in his methods ; breeding only good stock ; making substantial im- 

 provements by further .subdivision ; erecting good farm buildings ; making 

 provision to conserve fodder ; increasing the area under lucerne and other 

 fodder crops ; keeping himself well informed in connexion with improve- 

 ments in machinery and appliances ; and adopting those methods that will 

 facilitate the economical working of his business. 



If we look into the future, the prospects of the .settler are not unallur- 

 ing. He has established a comfortable home; and, apart from the living 

 obtained in the meantime, he will have, as assets, his land and improve- 

 ments, live stock, and plant, to show for the hard work of the earlier 

 years. In addition, it may be estimated without exaggeration that, after 

 a few years^ from a 50-acre irrigation block developed on good lines and 

 properly managed, there can be derived a net income of ;^4oo per 

 annum. 



The farmer, in common with all men, is liable to strike unforeseen 

 troubles. In the case of our settler, the loss of one or more horses or 

 cows in the early stages would be a set-back ; but with hard work and 

 determination to overcome any difficulties that stand in the way, an enter- 

 prising and energetic settler will come out on top, making his little farm 

 prolific and proving ultimately that, whether looked at from a financial, 

 moral, or physical standpoint, he has made no mistake in adopting fai'm- 

 ing as a profession. 



