lo Dec, 1910.] Eclnica Dairy Herd Comfetitio)i. 795 



'■ Dulcie," who, with 63! lbs., secured the prize for the greatest 

 weight of milk and third place in the butter returns, is owned by Mr. 

 R. Hastings. This cow is a Holstein-Ayrshire cross and is now on 

 her second calf. She was bought as a heifer for the sum of ;^i4, and 

 is a splendid example showing how a cow can convert fodder into milk. 

 Although she has a large appetite and good digestion she is always ia 

 low condition. 



The organization of farm milking tests in the dairying districts of 

 this State is a work which would prove of wonderful value to all dairy- 

 men. It is to be greatly regretted that at present cows cannot be bought 

 on reliable figures giving records of what they can produce. 



It is hoped that the commencement made at Swan Hill will be taken 

 up by other Agricultural Societies, and will lead to more attention being, 

 iliven to the establishment of records. 



ECHUCA DAIRY HERD COMPETITION^ 



/. i\ McFadzean, Dairy Supervisor. 



There were six entries for the Echuca Dairy Herd Competition, and 

 the judging took place on the 17th and iSth October. Four of these 

 farms are within the irrigation channel area, and obtain their water sup[)ly 

 from that source, while the other two depend on the rainfall to supply 

 the requirements of both stock and cultivation. 



Throughout this district the season has been very favourable for grass ; 

 and there is abundant pasture everywhere, principally of trefoil and bar- 

 ley grass. On the irrigable farms lucerne has been sown broadcast in 

 some of the paddocks ; but, being pastured, does not last long, and is 

 soon crowded by the native grasses and weeds. Oats and wheat are sown 

 for hay and grain ; but owing to the unsystematic working of the land, 

 these crops are frequently smothered by the growth of wild oats. A little 

 maize is sown for summer greenstuff on the old-fashioned broadcast 

 method ; and the yields obtained are not heavy. 



Silage had been made on only two of the six farms inspected. If the 

 heavy growth of wild oats, thistle, barley grass, trefoil, &c., that is going- 

 to waste on many farms here this season were made to silage, not only 

 would this fodder be found most valuable in assisting the milk production 

 during the dry months, but it would help to clean the cultivation land 

 for future cropping. The wild oat seeds so much earlier than the sown 

 grain crops that it has shed its seed before the latter are ripe enough to 

 harvest ; and consequently each year of hay or grain cropping leaves the 

 land so much more foul with its seed. To feed down this weed growth 

 generallv results in a lot of the seed being trampled into the ground, as 

 well as being distributed in the manure from the stock ; so that harvesting 

 this rubbish for silage when green is the most practical way of cleaning 

 the cultivation land. 



On the farms in the channel area the pastures are watered when the 

 rainfall is insufficient to promote satisfactory growth ; and, while some 

 people claim that it is not profitable to irrigate pasture land if the water 

 has to be paid for, those who have given it sufficient trial ha^'e found it 

 most satisfactory in its results. On the other hand, it is more than pro- 

 bable that if the lucerne crops were properly drilled in. cultivated, and 



