37 2 Journal of Agriculture. [lo June, 1910. 



CLOSER SETTLEMENT STUDIES. 



1.— Nine Acres carrying Twelve Head of Stock. 



/. J/. B. Connor, Agriculiural Supcnntcndcnt . 



In every business, two questions wliich often need to be considered 

 are: — " Is it worth while?"' and ''What will it cost?" These two 

 serious considerations presented themselves to Mr. George Hyde when, 

 some seven years ago, he decided to purchase the farm of 9 acres, 

 under review, situated in Bell-street, Coburg. At that time he was without 

 means, but a friend advanced him the sum of ^25 to pay the first instal- 

 ment of purchase money. How to manage this farm, so that there should 

 hi no waste, and that its products should realize satisfactory prices, has 

 been successfully solved by the owner, through his knowledge and adoption 

 of .scientific and practical principles in the culture of fodder crops grown 

 for his dairy herd. 



To the question — " Is it worth while?" the owner emphatically answers 

 "Yes," and adds that the farm is now practically paid off. The dairy 

 cows number eight, yielding 56 quart.s of milk daily, which is sold retail 

 and wholesale around the farm, returning an average profit of ^^3 per week. 

 The cows, which a.re of good dairv type, are of the Jersey and Ayrshire 

 cTOss, and some of them milk up to 20 quarts of milk dailv when freshly 

 calved ; the test for the herd averaging at the present time 5.6 per cent, 

 butter fat. ' The farm also carries one draught horse, one pony and foal, 

 one heifer, and one bull. At the time of mv visit, no concentrated food- 

 stuffs were being jRU-chased. the produce of the f;irm being ample. 



The land has a frontage to the Merri Creek, and is sub-divided into 

 six paddocks, ranging from a \ of an acre to 3 acres. Two acres of the 

 hill portion of the farm are thickly dotted with bluestone boulders. At 

 present this paddock can onl\- be used for grazing purposes. The 

 stones are, however, being taken out gradually arid tire land levelled. 



At time of writing (23rd Fel>ruary) various crops were growing or 

 were being fed green to the dairv herd. First, there was a quarter of an 

 acre of Hungarian, French Provence, and Hunter River lucerne. This 

 paddock was trenched 2 feet deep and terraced, the sowing being done 

 during the months of April, Mav. and June, 1909. The owner states 

 that he has already cut the lucernt- seven times to date. During the warm 

 weather it has been irrigated once every fortnight. Of the 5I acres of 

 flat land running along the creek, 2\ acres are carrying a heavy crop of 

 the following varieties of maize, viz. : — Hickory King, Yellow Moruva, 

 Ninety Day and Fjclipse. The maize crop has been watered once a month 

 and is being fed with the lucerne to the cows. For green feed, 2\ acres 

 are sown w'ith Algerian oats. Crops of French beans, broad beans, and 

 potatoes, planted last November, have done remarkably well. 



Mr. Hyde has in.stalled a 7 2 h.-p. motor engine, with a 4-in. centrifugal 

 pump capable of lifting 1,800 gallons per hour. This is used to irrigate 

 the fodder crops. As the crest of the hill, w^here the lucerne is grow- 

 ing, is situated) 500 feet from the creek, and 36 feet above its level, the 

 resources of the pump are well tried. Mr. Hyde has the low lying portion 

 of the farm ploughed in lands 60 feet wide by 132 feet long and by this 

 means he can give any of them a good soaking in half-an-hour. 



The milking shed and barn, built by the owner, cost £(iO. The 

 former contains five bails whilst the barn has a capacity of 30 tons. There 



