CONTINUOUS CROPPING: DOES IT PAY? 25 



That condition which necessitated the consumption 

 of crops on the land, chiefly by store bullocks, proved 

 to be of the greatest importance, since the profits 

 obtained are directly attributable to the Continuous 

 Cropping system of tillage, and not to enhanced 

 prices. 



NOT WAR-TIME FARMING PROFITS! 



As will be seen from the accounts, the main source 

 of revenue has been from the sale of live stock, which, 

 in all cases, was finished beef or mutton. Now, the 

 point which it is most desirable to emphasise is that 

 the margin of difference between the cost of a store 

 bullock per live cwt. and the selling price of the 

 bullock as beef per live cwt. has not been greater 

 in consequence of the war than it was in pre-war 

 times. In fact, during the year to which the sub- 

 joined accounts, refer, this margin has been less than 

 was the case in pre-war times. 



From very carefully-kept records it can be demon- 

 strated that with about 90%* of the cattle purchased, 

 taking the live cwt. prices of the store cattle as 

 delivered on the farm, with auction fees and other 

 expenses added, and comparing those prices with the 

 prices per live cwt. obtained for the finished beef, 

 the margin of difference would not exceed 1/6 per 

 live cwt.!! Of course, there have been bunches of 

 animals bought in, say in October, and sold in the 

 following May or June, where the margin referred to 

 has been as much as 10/- to 15/- per live cwt., but 

 in order to keep up supplies, as one lot of finished 

 animals went out, another lot of store cattle were 

 bought in, and often indeed, the price per live cwt. 



*About io per cent, of the cattle were neither weighed on arrival 

 at the farm, nor when sold. 



