I 



AGRICULTURE. u^ 



be noted tliat at the Agricultural College over eight}-- lectures (with 

 suitable practical work) are devoted to this subject during a student's 

 two years' residence. 



Large numbers of noxious animals are destroyed ercrv year, whilst, 

 unfortunately, wo have many native plants possessing properties 

 poisonous to stock. 



The best farmers' SJteci-), for carcase, is the cross-bred ; for low-lying, 

 undraiued land Romney ]\Iarsh should be tried, or a cross between 

 Merino and Romney Marsh. Merinos are pre-eminently wool-producers. 



Our hest. Dairy Cattle arc Ayrshire, Jersey, and Holstein ; f(jr beef. 

 Shorthorns and Herefords ; for workers, Devons. Other breeds and 

 crosses, however, give good general-purpose cows. The average yield 

 is, with separator, 200 lb butter or 500 lb cheese from 500 gallons or 

 more of milk. The factory system is well established, and dairying 

 may be looked upon as one of our most paying industries. Shipments 

 of dairy produce are now regularly sent to England. Cheese sent 

 from the Hawkesbury Agricultural College was pronounced by experts 

 '^ equal to the best English Cheddar." College butter sent to the 

 British Dairy Farmers' Association, Islington, was reported by the 

 Colonial Consignment and Distributing Co. " as being of real choice 

 quality with fine aroma," realising 128s. per cwt. It is satisfactory to 

 note that this butter was made by a student of the College. 



Polled breeds of cattle are coming more into prominence, or dis- 

 horning is resorted to — a hot iron or caustic potash being applied to 

 the horn-bud when a few weeks old. The chief advantages lie in the 

 greater gentleness of manners and security in travelling. It is 

 unnecessary to house stock in winter except in the cold parts of New 

 South Wales, but shelter should be provided against sun heat. One 

 very important matter, especially so in a country with variable 

 seasons and subject to drought, is provision of winter food for dairy 

 stock, in the shape of ensilage, hay, or green food. Nothing can 

 surpass the first-named ; any plant that stock will eat, including such 

 things as spotted thistle, mangold and turnip tops, and all surplus 

 fodder, can go into the silo. Chaffed maize, cut when the cobs are 

 fully formed but before they ripen, makes excellent silage. 



The chief farm Horses are Clydesdales. Much orcarhd and light 

 farm work is done by the product of thoroughbred stallions and clean- 

 legged draught mares. Suffolk Punch is used to a small extent. The 

 climate is well adapted for horse-breeding, and of late a good trade 

 has been developed with India in horses for military purposes. 

 Cleveland Bay or hackney stallions with good-actioned, sound, 

 medium-sized draught mares should give the stamp of horse required. 

 Small holders could bring up such horses with advantage, as they 

 would be much more docile than if reared on a large run. 



Pig-hreeding and bacon-curing are largely carried on, and make a 

 profitable industry. When farm produce is low in price, or inferior in 

 quality, it pays well to fatten pigs for market. Berkshire, Poland-China, 

 and Tamworth are our chief breeds. Every farmer should keep pigs, 

 and if in dry-curing, half coarse salt, half sugar, with \ oz. saltpetre to 

 each pound of the mixture be used, a sound, sweet bacon results. 



