798 



Journal of Agriculture 



[lo Dec, 1910. 



The water storage here is something exceptional in the way of a dam, 

 on a small creek ; and the quantity in sight is sufficient for the irrigation 

 of a few acres of land, if desired, as well as pro\iding for the full re- 

 quirements of the stock. 



There are substantial roomy buildings on the farm ; and, with its 

 quality of land and abundance of water, the place could easily be made 

 into a large and profitable dairy farm. 



The judging of these farms was done on the point system ; 100 points 

 being allowed as the maximum for each section of (i) Stock, (2) Feeding 

 and Care, (3) General Management. These sections were further sub- 

 divided into a total of 38 sub-sections, .so that each item of the whole work 

 could be separately dealt with. The principal of these are here given : — 



o /Stock — -Quality 

 -H \^ Condition 



I Pasture — Subdivision . 

 ^ Quality 



o { Cultivation and Fodder . 



Water 



Shelter 



Buildings and Utensils . . 



Fencing, Gates, Yards, 



Roads 

 .Manure, removal 

 Farm book-keeping 



1st . . Mr. Wilkins. 



2nd . . Messrs. Glanville anil Muller (c(|ual). 



3rd . . Mrs. Felgenhauer 



4th . . Mrs. Hill and :\Ir. Wilson (equal). 



The success of the winning farm was due to the more general attention 

 given to each department of the dairy-farm work, whereas the others each 

 fell short in some particular section. 



Most of the farms get their highest points in connexion with the pasture, 

 water, and condition of the stock. The cattle, as a whole, are a long way 

 from being good dairy stock. There are some very nice cows on each of 

 the farms ; but there are too many that are evidently indifferent milkers 

 also kept. The bulls on all the farms were Shorthorns ; and, with few 

 exceptions, the calves gave promi.se to develop into better butcher's cattle 

 than dairy stock. On no farm was there any evidence of advancement 

 being made bv way of breeding. Broadly speaking, the Shorthorn is not 

 a dairv breed, more especially in the hands of a beginner; and breeding 

 mixed quality stock, such as are seen on the.se farms, is wasting valuable 

 time. The use of a Jersey or Ayrshire bull in the herds would, in a few 

 vears, make a great improvement in their milking quality. 



Shelter from the extremes of heat and cold is a most important matter 

 in the care of the dairv herd; and on some of the farms this item had 

 been almost lost sight of. Cows will seek the protection of trees, hedges, 



