lo May, 1909.] Profitable Dairying on Small Farms. 299 



brought under cultiwition, more fodder and surplus _ market vegetables 

 were produced; and the stock were increased accordingly and handled 

 on the profitable lines that had been followed from the start. Mrs. 

 Cummings had charge of the dairy work, and the accounts were kept me- 

 thodicallv. The direct monetary result of the dairying was thus always 

 under observation. It was consistently satisfactory, for the stock were 

 well fed. This is another item in farm management that is too often 

 overlooked by the small settler. iFrequently, more cows are kept than can 

 be supplied with sufficient food from the area cultivated. The result is 

 ill-fed cows and poor returns. One well-fed cow will give a better return 

 than will be obtained from three others that are kept on short rations; 

 and it is much easier to milk and look after one cow than three. Usually 

 a settler's first cow is well cared for, and she gives a good return for 

 her keep. Too often, however, the stock are increased without allowing 

 for a corresponding increase in the available fodder ; and the result is 

 that all are poorly fed and none are profitable. On the farm referred 

 to, however, every cow is as well fed and well cared for as the first 

 was; and the profits from them have been eq'-ially sustained. 



The 40 acres are now subdivided into nine paddocks, and ten cows 

 are kept. As the land came more under cultivation and the dairying 

 work extended, the growing of fruit and vegetables for market was re- 

 duced. The bulk of the fruit trees have now been graduallv removed 

 to make room for fodder crops. In the rotation of cropping, two or 

 more paddocks are usually down in grass. These are top dressed with 

 2 cwts. of superphosphate per acre per year till again broken up. 

 -Besides the farm manure, bone dust is also used in cultivation ; and the 

 land kept in good heart. Oats, maize, peas, and turnips are the prin- 

 cipal crops grown. 



The cows are purchased stock, of fairly even medium size, but of 

 mixed breeding. From July, 1907, to June, 1908, inclusive, the re- 

 turns in cream from the ten cows amounted to ;^ii5 9s. rod. — an 

 average of jT^w iis. per cow. The milk is now being sent daily to 

 one of the Melbourne suburbs, the vield being 20 gallons per day. 



Water has been found at various depths over most of this district, 

 but the quality varies. In different parts of his farm, Mr. Cummings 

 nas obtained both fresh and brackish supplies, more than sufficient for 

 stock purposes. 



On a lo-acre block in this vicinity the owner, Mr. Helwig. after 

 sinking 30 feet came on a fine supply of good water that rose 9 feet in 

 the well. He erected a windmill and is using the water for irrigation. 

 By leasing a 50-acre block for grazing, and increasing his cows from two 

 to eight head, he is now also assisting in the citv milk trade. From 

 the several small farms that are in a similar state of dairy-farm develop- 

 ment here, it is evident that the value of the dairy cow on small holdings 

 is gradually becoming recognised. 



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