FIRST CENTURY OF DAIRYING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



he fixed the minimum value on both sheep and cattle. The ^ 

 proving profitable, it was regularly established, and enormous num- 

 bers of sheep and cattle have annually terminated their career in boil- 

 ing vats. The process as described by our fathers is abundantly dis- 

 gusting and revolting in its details; but as custom reconciles us, to 

 strange things, this butchery was simply regarded as an affair of busi- 

 ness, to be despatched in the easiest and the quickest way. and was 

 conducted with as much indifference as the cutting down of wheat 

 by the farmers. Certain portions of the animals, such as tongues and 

 rounds, were conve'rted into salted meat ior export ; the gelatine, or 

 essence of the boiled Hesh, was sent in cakes to London to make soap. 

 Neatsfoot oil was obtained from the feet, the bones and hides were 

 also exported ; and as for green ox-hide, it was used as a kind of 

 universal social specific ; it was the great bond that kept the edifice 

 of domestic life from sad derangement. Almost everything was tied, 

 held, or mended with it. It was also used as bags for packing the 

 tallow from the boiling-down stations to the nearest port. 



During seven years, from the commencement of the system in a 

 general way that is, from 1843 to end of 1850 in New South Wales 

 and Victoria, there were thus disposed of 2,364,539 sheep and 261.100 

 head of horned cattle, which produced 673,Q43cwt. of tallow, repre- 

 senting a money value of 1,314,183. In a single year it has been 

 calculated that not less than sixty-two million pounds of meat have 

 been literally thrown away. In those days there was no value placed 

 on the manural value of the offal, which was of incalculable value to 

 the generations that were to follow. It seems extraordinary, and is 

 certainly lamentable, such a state of things could and did eventuate. 



Eminently pastoral nations, however, have never been great in the 

 annals of civilisation, and seem precluded by circumstances from be- 

 coming so. Men became so many units, thinly scattered as they were 

 over vast tracts o-f country, living isolated and apart from the human- 

 ising influences of social institutions, which are only found where 

 numbers exist in neighbourhood. This has been conclusively proven 

 by the great strides made in dairying in France, Denmark, Sweden, 

 and Holland. The gregariousness of the people of these nations give 

 the impetus to most of the modern improvements and inventions in 

 connection with the dairying industry, and go to show that nations 

 thrive where the pastoral is an adjunct to agricultural, mineral, manu- 

 facturing, and commercial occupations, where flocks and herds are 

 seen in connection with arable lands, vintages, plantations, mines ..fac- 

 tories, fisheries, and shipping. Hence it is with pleasure and hope, 

 yea ! even confidence, we look to the future of Australia. 



188. 



