492 



Journal of Agriciiliiirc. [lo Aug., 1908. 



concerns, and of every line of business. Some of them may fail in their 

 original proposition, and yet succeed beyond expectation in another direc- 

 tion through taking advantage of some previously unforseen circumstance. 

 vSifted out. the matter resolves itself into a question, as with all businesses, 

 large or small, of proper management and qualified workmen. With these 

 provided, the balance should be in favour of the large concern, both on 

 account of the comparatively larger capital at its disposal, and the possi- 

 bility of the expenditure being reduced on account of the wholesale 

 principle on which it is conducted. Conversely, if unsuccessful, losses 

 which would appear trifling on a small farm will be magnified in 

 accordance with the extent of the operations. On every farm, large or 

 small, similar work has to be done and difficulties faced, but with the 

 difference again in favour of the larger farm, in that, as the work as a 

 whole is larger, each separate item is more con,spicuous, and if any 

 mistake or mismanagement occurs in any section, it should be the more 

 easilv observed, and the more speedily remedied. 



As regards the management, every army must have its commander, but 

 it is not necessary that he should be a man of either high physical 

 development or skilled in the use of weapons. His position demands, 

 among other qualities a thorough grasp of the requirements necessary for 

 the execution of the work before him, the ability to choose his ofiicers 

 with discrimination, and. above all, that his mind should be capable of 

 attention to' either large undertakings or minute detail, according as 

 exigencv may demand. As with the commander of an army so with the 

 leader of any industrial enterprise ; and it is not necessary that a man be 

 either a good milker or a machinery expert in order to successfully superin- 

 tend a large dairy farm. If he knows how the work should be done, 

 gets together competent men to do it, and sees that it is done, there need 

 be no fear for the success of the project ; but, as a chain is the strength 

 only of its weakest link, so also will any incompetence in any part of 

 the work tend to a reduction in the total returns relatively commensurate 

 with the importance of that section. 



With this project of the Geelong Harbor Trust, however, there would 

 appear to be no possibility of absolute failure. Some of the smaller 

 items of the scheme it may be found necessary to change, and some are 

 even now being varied ; but these can have little bearing on the project as 

 a whole. The foundation of the work is the reclaiming of a large 

 amount of waste ground that in its unimproved state was useless ; but 

 which, if properly drained and cleared of scrub, is of high agricultural 

 value. The dairy farming part of the scheme is but a very small item 

 in the whole, and the amount of money being spent solely on it is com- 

 paratively insignificant ; nevertheless, many take upon themselves to 

 criticise the whole undertaking merely on the possibility of this section 

 not proving a success. However, the ultimate result of the dairy-farm 

 portion of the undertaking will not be failure either from want of funds 

 or extravagant expenditure. The buildings are being erected reasonably 

 substantial, and without any waste of material ; they are situated 

 favorably for drainage, shelter, and convenience. The working scheme 

 is planned to take advantage of the various conditions of the farm; and 

 those in charge of it intend making full use of all that can be learnt 

 from both practical and scientific sources. 



The only noticeable disadvantage at the present time is a temporary 

 one, namely, the possibilitv that dairying was begun too soon, or on too 

 large a scale for the season, as the stock have fallen rather low to be 



