HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



163 



and the farmer complains that the land is " worn out;" 

 this can only be cured by manure, growing a totally 

 different crop, or giving it rest by laying it down in 

 grass for a few years. Sheep farming is known to pay 

 well ; but we feel sure that if the farmers were to add 

 a small flock of sheep to their stock they would get a 

 far better return, in proportion to the capital invested, 

 than the large squatters do. 



Clover and grass paddocks would enable our farmers 

 to supply good butter throughout the winter, or fatten 

 their spare stock for the shambles. 



Lucerne mown for hay will yield five or six cuttings 

 in the season, which, at the present price (£8 to £10 

 per ton), affords a very tempting return. Take the 

 average cuttings as only four per annum, and the 

 weight only one and a-half tons, at £&, we have a 

 return of forty-eight pounds sterling per acre per 

 annum j and one sowing will last for twenty years. 

 Some enterprising farmer's have tried it successfully, 

 and their example should be followed. 



Most encouraging results attended an experiment 

 with a flock of sheep fed in a lucerne paddock. The 

 wool was much longer, and the fleece half as heavy 

 again, as from sheep in a similar flock fed in the usual 

 manner on the natural grasses. This, however, was 

 not the only advantage, as the wool sold for a higher 

 price per pound in consequence of its extra length. 



The value of lucerne for grazing is so well uncler- 

 stood now by all improving squatters, that extensive lu- 

 cerne paddocks are provided for then stud flocks, during 

 winter and spring, and larger areas are being sown. 



The native grassses have hitherto been found unfit 

 for cultivation, and in the rich agricultural districts of 

 New South Wales they are everywhere giving place 

 to imported grasses. The consequence is that five 

 beasts can now be fattened on the same land that 

 would have starved one previously ; and then dairy 

 produce is so abundant that tht teeming thousands 



