10 March, 191 :;.] 



Beet S//C(/r l}idititr\ 



147 



Mr. Harvey weighs all his milk and cream, and keeps a lalnilated 

 lecord of the yield of each cow. He has also a miniature chemical 

 laboratory, and makes his own tests. He is thus enabled to know exactly 

 uhat he is doing and what progress he is making. His milking .sheds and 

 general surroundings are the most advanced of the new beet farms on Bois- 

 dale. 



The following figures, supplied by some of the settlers, show that a 

 good living can be made by dairying on the small area that each man 

 holds : — 



* Si-X of these are two-year-okl heifers, 

 t Two blocks. 



The Department has a number of Red Polled and Danish cattle 

 aX Boisdale, which are being retained to form the nucleus of a dairy herrl 

 ■on one of the State experimental farms. 



' Lucerne grovvs exceptionally well, and many settlers have had three 

 fine cuttings recently. 



Beet (trowing for next Season. 

 Farmers whi intend growing beet for next season (1913) are strongly 

 advised to get their land fallowed as early as possible — not later than in 

 the Autumn, so that the final ploughing and subsciling and the working 

 up of the seedd^ed can be carried out just prior to sowing. 



Sowing should invariably be done in August, and early thinning is an 

 immense advantage, fully 25 per cent, greater yield being secured by 

 carrying out this important act in the cultivation of the crop at the right 

 time, viz. : — upon the appearance of the fourth leaf. Farmers generally 

 this year were too late, both with sowing and thinning, and the yields 

 would have been. much more satisfactory had both these operations been 

 ■carried out at the proper time. Cultivation is now particularly easy w-ith 

 the special beet cultivators imported from America by the Department, 

 and which are lent free to farmers under conditions which are ascertain- 

 able at the Sugjr Factory. 



