628 Journal of Agriculture. [jo Oct., 1910. 



of jP^-:)'^ or ;^42 los. per farm. On the other hand, the average co.st of 

 supervision of the cows to the owner was J[^\ 2s. 6d. per farm. Thus, 

 if by inspection nothing more was done than the eradication of such 

 diseases, the boon to the farming community would more than warrant 

 the expenditure incurred. 



The cowsheds and dairies are for the most part old and dilapidated,. 

 straw roofed and earth floored. Taking into account the exceedingly wet 

 winters, sometimes experienced, the sites were in most cases fairly suitable 

 for drainage purposes, consideration from a central position standpoint 

 in some cases having to be foregone for the reason given. 



Farmyard manure in large heaps is met with on most of the farms, 

 but the general tendency appears to be to conserve it too long in this 

 manner. This practice causes it to ferment and certain of the fertilizing 

 elements to become broken down and to escape by evaporation. This could 

 be prevented to .some extent by the use of gypsum in the stables, bail- 

 drains, &c. ; also by covering the manure heap with earth, but the proper 

 plan is to cart out and plough under regularly, thus doing away with the 

 insanitariness and unsightliness of the larger heap, and at the same time 

 securing in the soil the whole fertility of the manure. The farmer's 

 argument against this method is that the undigested seeds sprout and foul 

 the land, but weeds can be kept in check by a proper system of tillage 

 and, furthermore, lying in the manure heap does not necessarily destroy 

 the germinating power of the seeds. 



SHEEP DIPPING. 



{Continued from page 543.) 

 H . IT. Ham, Sheep Expert. 



The general enforcement of the Sheep Dipping Act throughout the 

 State will gradually bring about greater freedom from lice and ticks. 

 This will mean better wool, and more of it, from flocks which up to the 

 present have been undipped; and, what is still more important, better 

 lambs from the ewe flocks, for the mothers when clean will give more 

 milk. Further, the lambs will be free from ticks and lice, another factor 

 towards better quality, for both ticks and lice begin to go from the ewes 

 to the lambs while the latter are only a few weeks old. In spring weather 

 ticks and lice come to the outside of the fleece. They are usually thickest 

 at the flanks, just where the lamb goes when sucking; also behind the arm 

 and under the neck where lambs rub and run under when yarded. 



There are three classes of sheep owners who do not take kindly to 

 dipping: — 



The owner who has not previously dipped and therefore does not 

 know the benefit. 



The .small farmer who has dipped in unwieldy station baths and 

 has lost a percentage by severe handling and adverse weather. 



The dealer who, having bought for delivery off-shears, knows that 

 for a few weeks after dipping, sheep do not show to advantage, often 

 losing condition and looking dry and common, thereby spoiling imme- 

 diate sale at a profit. 

 It has been the custom with many sheep owners to leave undipped all 

 sheep intended for sale as fats or those sold for delivery off-shears. Sheep 

 in good condition are sometimes .set back fully three weeks by rough. 



