lo July, 19 12.] Rearing of Calves. 415 



level by means of small stones evenly distributed, and as the wood be- 

 comes saturated with water they may be removed as required. The raft 

 of the trough, which is under the stand-pipe, has an upright, iron rod 

 pivoted to it in the centre. This rod connects by means of a hinge-joint 

 with a lever fastened to the head of the w"ater tap, which is screwed into 

 the .stand-pipe, so that the cone of the tap is in a horizontal position, and, 

 therefore, lowering the lever will open the tap, and raising close it. No 

 dimensions for rod and lever can be given, as these depend upon the height 

 of the tap above the raft, its distance from the centre of it, and the size 

 and passageway of the tap itself. The measurements and the angle of 

 bend in the tap lever can, however, be easily ascertained. The tap should 

 be completely shut when the raft is within an inch of the top of the 

 trough, but should begin to run as soon as the raft sinks and draws down 

 the lever, when the water level is reduced by the bees drinking. 



*The accompanying illustration will give a general idea of the arrange- 

 ment. The troughs shown are of the dimensions stated, and give drinking 

 accommodation for 150 colonies. When the season is very hot and dry, 

 and the colonies strong, a third trough is added by means of a hose con- 

 nexion, as stated before. The roof of the honey house, with a ground 

 measurement of 21 feet by 18, collects with a rainfall of 20 inches suffi- 

 cient water for the bees and the ordinary requirement of extracting, &:c. 



There are many well-timbered areas in Northern Victoria where bee- 

 keeping could be carried on successfully, but which remain vacant owing 

 to the absence of a water supply for the bees. Every beekeeper requires- 

 a dwelling and a building for the requirements of his business ; if these are 

 constructed in time to get a supply of water for the following season, and 

 if the roof area is sufficient to give the required quantity with the rainfall 

 of the locality selected, there is nothing to prevent some of the waterless,, 

 but for beekeeping, odierwise excellent country, being utilized. 



To be continued. 



REARING OF CALVES. 



A. Kyle, Dairy Supervisor. 



In building up a good dairy herd, there are other things to be 

 considered besides the dam and sire. Provided there are cows and bulls 

 with all the breeding and quality necessary for the foundation of a good 

 dairy herd, great attention must be paid to the offspring if the herd of the 

 future is to be improved. If a heifer when born was ready for 

 milking, perhaps every attention would be shown; but, as she is not profit- 

 able for about three years, she is oftentimes neglected, or even subjected 

 to very bad treatment, it is always well to bear in mind that from 

 poor, half-starved, pot-bellied creatures the dairy herds of the country can- 

 not be raised successfully. 



Few dairy farmers have enough land to enable them to rear all the 

 calves dropped on a place, and the males are generally sold for veal, or 

 killed and fed to pigs. Many heifers born should share the same fate, as; 

 they will never make good dairy cows, and only take the milk from those 

 which have all the milking qualities desirable.' Each heifer calf should 

 be examined as soon as possible after its birth, and it is a sign of future 

 inferiority if the teats are small and huddled together. If, on the other 



* Illustration will appear in August issue of Journal. 



