Journal of Agriculture. [8 Jan., 1908. 



Crouch are the possessors of animals of unusually good class and even- 

 ness. Mr. Stapleton's horses do not show the same quality, and, although 

 well fitted for their work, are more uneven in age and size. The two 

 years' old, yearlings and foals of which each competitor has a number, 

 Teflect the advantage of the good class entire horses which have been 

 iniroduced into the Wimmera of recent years. I might remark that I see 

 a marked improvement in the type of farm horse now in vogue, to that 

 of four years ago. Messrs Sanders and John Dufty and Son keep 

 entire horses, the other competitors do not. Of the lighter horses, little 

 more need be said than that they are quite suitable for their purpose. 



Slice f. — Some distinction must be made in this item according to 

 whether sheep are bred for wool or lambs. Mr. Sanders devotes more 

 attention to the former, whereas, the other competitors either incline to 

 the raising of " freezers " or combine breeds for both purposes. I have 

 been much struck by the general excellence of the sheep, and from the 

 prices secured this season for wool and lambs it is evident that careful 

 attention is paid to culling and no reasonable expense spared to secure 

 good rams. The sheep were in uniformly good condition at the time 

 of my inspection, and there was on most farms, a good provision of grass 

 and stubble to carry them through the summer. High prices have brought 

 about fairly heavy stocking, but there appears little danger in this 

 direction. 



Cons, Pigs and Poultry. — These classes of stock contribute more to 

 the comfort of the farm than to its financial improvement. Several head 

 of cows for the domestic milk supply, pigs for bacon, and poultry for 

 an abundant supply of eggs are features of each homestead. The young 

 cattle are either fattened off and sold locally, or else replace the older 

 ones. If it were feasible to land eggs in the large centres of population 

 without much trouble or expense, I have no doubt more attention would 

 be paid to poultry as an industry. 



(yg) The best implements and machinery — 20 points. — In this respect 

 Mr. Dahlenberg occupies premier place. A recently -erected oil engine 

 and chaffcutteir, aiew binders and harvesters, > corrtiplelte equipment of 

 ploughs, harrows, drills, seed grader, cultivators, earth scoops, land 

 levelling implements discs, farm waggons and many other useful im- 

 plements are all so well looked after that it would be difficult to add to it. 

 The farm plants of Messrs. John Dufty and Son and Sanders are also 

 worthy of the highest mention. Portable engines, oil in the former and 

 steam in the latter, are to be found executing a variety of farm work 

 on both properties. Mr. Sanders having lately installed a machine- 

 shearing plant, finds his engine invaluable during shearing time, and 

 also for chaff-cutting and wood-sawing. Messrs. Crouch and Stapleton 

 have not, so far, gone in for machinery of this character, although 

 ■their ordinary farm plant is of a comprehensive nature. 



{h) The condition and system of fencing — 10 foin's. — The fences, 

 both boundary and subdivisional, in all cases are good, consisting chiefly 

 ■of five plain wires and a barbed wire. Fencing of this character is sheep 

 and cattle proof, and could not well be improved upon. Little or no 

 netting is made use of. The gates, which are always prominently 

 'brought under the notice of the judge and those visitors who accompany 

 him, are generally good. 



(i) The best kept Kitchen Garden and Orchard — 10 points. — On the 

 properties of Messrs. John Dufty and Son, Stapleton, Sanders and Dahlen- 

 iberg the orchard in close proximity to the house, is a most pleasing feature. 



