Australia : The Dairy Country. 35 



One dairy farmer in the West Moreton, who landed in Queens- 

 land twenty-five years ago with $0.36 in his pocket, now has 

 160 acres of freehold, of which he cultivates 50 acres for feed for 

 his cows and pigs. He began by working for his neighbours for 

 the first few years, and thus gained both cash and experience. He 

 now milks thirty to fifty cows the whole year round, and he makes 

 from $720,00 to $864.00 a year from his pigs. His income from all 

 sources is from $1920.00 to $2400.00 per annum. Six or seven years 

 ago he paid $5280.00 for the place, but to-day he would not take 

 $14,400.00 for it, and there is not a penny of debt on the property. 



An up-to-date Milking Shed. 



Grasses. 



The natural grasses of Queensland are sufficient in ordinary 

 seasons during the summer months for the dairy stock, but no 

 farmer can successfully carry on dairy operations in dry times, or 

 in winter, by means of the grass alone. He requires to supplement 

 the grass by growing fodder for the winter months. 



Splendid results have been obtained by sowing artificial grasses, 

 such as Paspalum dilatatum, Rhodes, Prairie, Guinea, and Giant 

 Couch grasses. 



Winter Feed. 



Barley, lucerne, wheat, rye, sorghum, &c., can be grown for 

 winter feed. On land which will grow lucerne, a certain supply 

 of fodder can be conserved. Lucerne (or alfalfa, as it is called in 

 America), once planted, will last from five to ten years. 



