Australia : The Dairy Country. 21 



" Australia possesses natural conditions of almost unequalled value 

 for the profitable keeping of poultry. In climate, soil, shelter, and in 

 natural food she has the essential attributes to success." Poultry- 

 farming is carried on together with wheat or dairying or pig farm- 

 ing, but in many places the raising of poultry is carried on as a 

 single line. Poultry for consumption is extensively reared, and the 

 egg-producing qualities of the birds have also been greatly improved 

 by careful breeding. Egg-collecting circles have been formed in 

 some country districts, to develop (under Government supervision 

 and with Government aid until the organisation is self-supporting) 

 the industry on co-operative lines. A member of the circle is elected 

 to act as secretary, and he receives all the eggs from the members, 

 tests, packs, and forwards them to the metropolitan depot for ship- 

 ment. Only clean and fresh eggs are to be delivered to the secretary 

 under penalty of fine and expulsion from the circle. Another 

 method of collecting and marketing the eggs is through the local 

 butter factories, where eggs are delivered by the suppliers of milk 

 and cream a number of times each week. 



Government Farm. Pens at Burnley, Victoria, for Egg-laying Competition. 



Bee-farming. Bee-farming has ordinarily been an adjunct to the 

 agricultural or dairying industries, and can hardly yet be said to have 

 been organised as a distinct industry. There are many prosperous 

 bee farms in the Commonwealth. 



The indigenous flora is rich in 



