TO July. 1909.] The /•'iiiiirc of Dair\ Farming in Victoria. 



417 



•dairy farming is carried on in districts with a rainfall of 25 inches per 

 .annum, or even in an irrigation area, there is no form of human industry 

 which is capable of such steady and uninterrupted expansion or which is 

 Jikelv to give such stable and profitable returns. 



.SOME TVPICAi. ^11, 1 l^M .\^ <_M -MR. W . J. MAMIoLI. S MILKING SHORTHORNS. 



While the clearing out sale of the successful dairyman has been re- 

 sponsible for many families relinquishing the industry, there has been in 

 too many cases a compulsory clearing out sale which is wholly unjustifiable. 

 This is due to the fact that the farmer has not been successful ; that his 

 returns have steadilv diminished ; and in too many cases a large number 

 of cows have died. Bad seasons are usuallv blamed for this state of 

 affairs, but as a matter of fact it is bad management. No proper effort has 

 been mnde to grow suflficient fodder for the cows to tide over a few months 



" STELLA " (mR. W. T. M.-^NIFOLD S HERD OF MILKING SHORTHORNS). 



In milk fi years ; produced 2,001 lbs. butter from 4,2.39 gals, inilk ; average per 

 year, 706 gals milk, ,337 lbs. Imt'.er. (At lOd. per lb. =£14 per year. ) 



of dry weather. Consequently, there has been a long period in each 

 twelve months when the cows were dry. With good ordinary rains the 

 following season has been a so-called success, but on the other hand a 

 dry autumn followed by a dry spring has invariably meant disaster. Be- 

 fore Christmas everv cow is drv. Verv soon afterwards the voung stock 



