8 Jan., 1908.] Bacchus Marsh Farm Competition. v3 



ones. I saw a rape crop on only one farm (that of Mr. Dugdale). It is 

 bound to show him a profit as he has been able to top oft' two separate lots 

 of sheep and in addition the land will be thoroughly cleaned of wild oats 

 and other objectionable weeds. Mangolds, too, are a good feed for cows if 

 pulped and mixed with straw chaff; although not a good ration b\ them- 

 selves they will keep the cows in first class condition. 



The grow'ing of maize appears to be almost wholly neglected. I think 

 it would be better to grow more fodder of this kind to throw^ out to the 

 cows and thus save the lucerne (a great deal of which is now wasted) for 

 hav. Maize cannot well be made into good hay, but it is a splendid 

 food when fed in the green state. I am sure prolific crops could be grown 

 on the class of land I saw if properly worked and especially if the stalile 

 and farm-vard manure, which at most of the farms was lying about ex- 

 posed to sun and wind, was used in the cultivation. If farm-yard manure 

 was more used in growing crops of this kind more attention would be 

 given to its proper conservation and a very great saving effected each vear. 



Fences. 



The fences on the farms visited wt*re, on the whole, good, a great 

 many being rabbit proof and all of them sheep proof. This is not to be 

 wondered at, a supplv of first-class timter for posts being available. ■ I 

 did not see as many posts and rails stored at the homesteads as I would 

 like. When a post or rail is at hand it can be put in immediatelv and the 

 fence kept good, but if a tree has to he felled and posts split the fence 

 has a good chance of going to pieces. I noticed a boring frame and a 

 fine heap of posts on one place. This showed a tendencv to take advan- 

 tage of a wet day, and a due appreciation of the onK wav to keep the 

 fences in thorough repair. 



A regrettable feature noticed on one of the best farms, which dulv 

 lost points for it, was the presence of log fences in parts, furnishing a 

 harbour for rabbits, which were plentiful. At this propertv also the 

 absence of gates, except round the homestead, was a notable deficiencv. 



Mr. Meyer's farm was the onlv place where I noticed anv hedge. 

 On the hilly lands of the district the wind must sweep over them with 

 great violence, whereas if hedges were planted and kept in good order 

 they would be a great break-wind for the crops as well as shelter for 

 the stock. Nothing looks nicer than live fences well kept. Thev mav take 

 some plant food from the surrounding soil, but I saw^ enough idle land else- 

 where on the farms to grow all the hedges required. If a man won't 

 plough the headland he does not value the land very much. The argu- 

 ment does not apply, either, when a log fence is allowed to remain. It 

 takes up more ground than a well-kept hedge and is a harbour for rabbits 

 as well. 



Subdivision into small paddocks is an advantageous feature and this is 

 carried out fairly well on the competing farms the whole of the farmers 

 having well laid out paddocks so arranged that when grazed the stock 

 has fairly easy access to water. 



The General Management. 



This, on the whole, must be considered good, seeing that there are 

 only eight points dividing the first four farms. In the laying-out of farm 

 buildings, it is always well to give some consideration to the minor ones, 

 such as pig styes and calf pens. With few exceptions there appeared to 

 me to be neglect in this regard. Both pigs and calves are a valuable 



