Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo May, 1909. 



Another dairy farm in the same district, which, though on a still 

 smaller scale, presents several points of interest, is that of Mr. R. A. 

 Cummings, Kilsyth. This is a 40-acre block near the Canterbury-road, 

 in about the centre of that low-lying country which extends from the 

 Dandenong Creek at Bayswater to the foot of Mount Dandenong ; and 

 which is still largely in its imimproved state. There was a thick bush 

 growth of timber, scrub, and wire grass on this land w^hen it was ac- 

 quired bv its present owner some fifteen vears ago. It is a cold heavy 

 grey soil over rotten stone with a clay sub.soil. 



The natural vegetation here is of no use for milk production, and the 

 low price of the land was the only inducement it then offered tO' settle- 

 ment. The last 5 acres of the block was brought under cultivation about 

 eighteen months ago; and a profitable farm is now the result of that 

 fifteen years' work. 



AWAITING EVENING MILKING. 



As the land was gradually cleared, fruit trees were planted in the 

 first few acres, and vegetables were grown for market. The taking 

 up of dairying work was the outcome of the necessity lor providing 

 humus to improve the land. The ground was found to improve rapidly, 

 both in texture and productiveness, by the use of farm vard manure. 

 The distance from the city placed the obtaining of the necessary quan- 

 tity of stable manure beyond consideration. The idea of keeping dairy 

 cows, and thus getting a double return from them bv using the manure 

 to improve the soil, was therefore put into practice. 



The purchase of a cow for the production of the household milk and 

 butter is one of the most important events in the early history of each 

 small farm. Very few settlers, however, make full use of their farm 

 animals, for they allow the bulk of the farm-yard manure to waste. A 

 very conservative estimate of this product suggests that fully ;£2 worth 

 of manure per cow is allowed to waste on many farms each year through 

 want of thought. The careful use of this farm manure has been a 

 great aid to the success of manv small farms in this district ; but in 

 the majority of cases much of it is allowed to accumulate on camping 

 grounds, and adjacent to slip-rails and such places to leach and wash 

 away with every rainfall, instead of being carefully gathered and used 

 for the improvement of the soil. 



Housing of the cows at night was practised on Mr. Cummings' farm 

 from the first; and the manure and shed drainage were carefully col- 

 lected to be u.sed as required. As the land was gradually cleared and 



