2o Afril,VJX1.\ Iiicreasiny rninnrij I'loductiun. 243 



of cattle. Several years must elapse before the herds can be brought 

 even to their pre-drouf^lit strength. In tlie meantime, every etfort 

 should bo made to rear female stock for breeding purposes. The utmost 

 efforts should be made to effect improvements in the milking herds of 

 the State by careful breeiling, rational feeding, and systematic weeding. 



The creed of the dairyman should U: " lireed, Feed, Weed." Breed 

 from the best types of cattle. Select a sire from a ])ure-bre<l herd ot 

 recognised and tested milking capacity. Feed the cattle well — for, after 

 all, the cow is but a milk factory transforming raw material — food — 

 into milk. Feed was never so plentiful, and concentrates may be 

 obtained at very low rates. 



Weed tlie herd, i.e., ascertain the (piantity of butter fat produced by 

 each individual cow for the year, and cull out those below the standard. 



The systematic ado])tion of these three |)rinciples would raise the 

 efficiency of our dairy herds by at least 50 per cent. At present the 

 average milk yield per cow in Victoria is about 325 gallons per annum. 

 Considering the favorable climatic conditions, this is a low average for 

 Victoria ; and organized efforts, on the lines indicated, might be exj^ected 

 to raise the average ultimately to 500 gallons. 



The Wheat Industry. 



Two years ago the Government made an appeal to the wheat-growers 

 to put in a larger acreage. At the time the appeal was made the country 

 was in a critical condition. The worst drought on record had been 

 experienced. Crops luid failed, dams were dry, stock were dying on all 

 sides, and fodder was selling at famine rates. Despite the unfavorable 

 circumstances, the farmers of the State responded with a record acreage, 

 and no less than 4,000,000 acres were sown to wheat. 



Last evening the Premier, Sir Alexander Peacock, made an appeal 

 for increased wheat production. Imperial necessities and Australia's 

 interests justify such an appeal. 



I will briefly detail, in the limited time at my disposal, how such 

 increased wlieat production might be brought about. Obviously, two 

 avenues lie open to the wheat-grower. He can either increase the acre- 

 age under crop or improve his average yield per acre by better farming. 



There is much imn.sed land in the Western District that could be 

 utilized for share farming, and a considerable increase in acreage is 

 possible throughout this district. Similarly, in the Gonlburn Valley and 

 the N'orth-East there are large areas of land that are used for grazing 

 which might be brought under the plough. 



One great difficulty, of course, with regard to extension of area is the 

 difficulty of securing sufficient labour; moreover, extra capital and 

 equipment are necessary. But, in view of the certainty of payable prices 

 for wheat for some years, there is a fine opportunity for capitalists in 

 assisting the extension of arable farming. If some scheme could be 

 devised whereby capitalists, share farmers, and large land-holders could 

 be brought together, it would doubtless lead to a considerable increase in 

 the acreage. 



Nature seems to be working in the farmers' interests this season. 

 We experienced the heaviest rainfall on record in 1916, and there are 

 large reserves of moisture stored in the soil. With but a moderate rain- 

 fall in 1017 good crops may, therefore, be expected. 



