622 



] surnal of Agriculture. 



[lo Oct., 1910- 



Manure Coiiscn'ati'ni. — The whole of the solid and liquid manure 

 from the cow byre antl stable is conserved in an earthen hole, situated about 

 half a chain distant, where it is mixed and turned over at intervals until 

 required foi use on the cultivation paddocks. The cultivated land is- 

 manured ai the rate of from 15 to 40 loads of stable manure per acre, care 

 being taken that it is turned in without delay. By this means, the soil 

 is continuously supplied with beneficial micro-organisms and is kept in a 

 good mechanical and physical condition and replenished with any plant 

 food taken out by the preceding crop. The cereal crops are manured at 

 the rate of 15 to 20 loads per acre, whilst the root crops are supplied with- 

 a heavier dressing, 35 to 40 loads per acre. When the oats are sown for 

 hay. the manure is broadcasted and scarified in before starting to plougii, 

 and. by this means, it is more evenly distributed through the soil. If the 



Cv^'real crops show any 

 backward g r o w t h, 

 nitrate of soda at the 

 rate of 30 lbs. per 

 acre is sown broadcast 

 with wonderfully stimu- 

 lating effect, care being- 

 taken to apply it pre- 

 \inus to rain. In ad- 

 dition to the farmyard 

 manure the humus of 

 :'ie soil is gradually 

 increased vear by year 

 i ly the ploughing in of 

 ureen crops. 



TIic Dairy Herd. — 

 Some members of the 

 dairy herd of 24 Jer- 

 sey cows will be seen 

 in the photograph on 

 ])age 62]. and repre- 

 sent a tvpe of cow^ 

 rarely met with. Some 

 30 years ago, the 

 owner's father formed 

 =1 the nucleus of the pre- 

 sent herd by purchas- 

 ing some Alderney cows- 

 from Mr. Thomas Crisp. The first bull used — the Alderney bull 

 " Prince," bred from imported stock on both sides — was awarded the first 

 silver medal given at the show of the National Agricultural Society of 

 Victoria in 1875. Although the herd has not been bred true to type, 

 having been continuously crossed with the Jersey bull, still there is. even- 

 now, evidence of the Alderney strain in the silver markings around the 

 eyes and muzzle, and in the richness of skin. 



Mr. Higgins is working on safe lines in being such a strong advocate- 

 and lover of the Jersey breed for town purpo.ses. His herd is evidence of 

 judicious culling for years past, and the result is that there is not a cow 

 in it that will not yield from 15 to 20 quarts of milk daily just after 

 calving. Mr. Higgins takes pride in producing official tests by the Board 

 of Public Health of samples taken from the carts, when on their daih^ 



VELLOW MORUy--^ MAIZE PLOT. 



