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Journal nf Aijrindluie, Victoria. [10 Aug., 1917. 



but few. The spring was not, very advanced when the photograph was 

 taken, but there was an attractive appearance about the fields, as com- 

 pared wiih most of the neighbourhood. This field, as shown, had liad 

 2 cwt. of bonemeal top dressing per acre, and the droppings of the cattle 

 which were well fed on fodder grown on well manured ground of the 

 farm. 



The illustration No. 4 gives a picture of a very fine paddock of native 

 grass, with some rye grass, fog, and rib grass, through it. Mr. Jones, in 

 early days, was constantly sowing English grasses, but they would not 

 hold, and at length he told the sons to change their plans, and to try 

 to strengthen the native grasses that would grow, and now, on some of 

 the fields tha', have been tilled, and then .sown in grass, there is a beauti- 

 ful sheen of rye grass. This paddock has never been broken up, and 

 here there is a very thick mat of various grasses, though mostly native, 

 on which stock thrive splendidly, and recently, sheep from "Spring 

 Farm " established a record in prices at the Mornington saleyards. 



No. 5. — Dairy Cattle in the best of health. 



Our fifth picture gives an idea of the cows. They are of good dairy 

 type, and they have the " bloom " of health, which has been the reward 

 to the owner for his careful and persistent efforts to build up the soil, 

 and beautify his farm with rich green grass and splendid shelter trees. 

 Years back, when the cows were sometimes stricken with paralysis, and 

 died suddenly, they used to be in fair condition, but: they did not have 

 the "bloom " that these cattle show, and I would just here revert to 

 the words of Mr. Felix Foster regarding some opinions that were held 

 by some of the old stockmen. He says that he heard at different times 

 the belief expressed that' the sheen, or shiny part of the grass, had 

 some special property in relation to health, and in that there seems 

 to have been a hint of the vitamines. 



No. 6 is a small field near the homestead. Note that the cow and 

 horse droppings have just been spread. At the time of the visit, Mr. 

 .Tones was at work here spreading the dung with a special tool that he 

 had made. He contends that too much dung on one spot is harmful, as 

 it kills the grass, harbours vermin, and induces a rank tuft later on. 

 On this plot the grass is a splendid colour, fine, sweet, and closely cropped, 



