7f)5 
MaV 2, 1S98.] Supphmmi to the. Tropical AgricuUurkt ''' 
mate with a good cow. There is money in a 
really good bull in dairy districts for the breeder, 
if lie watched his opportunities as owners of 
stallions do. 
Handle calves and get them familiar with you 
from birth ; that is, those that are meant for the 
herd. Then, when they drop their first calf, and 
are ready for the milk pail, they come up to you 
without fear, and “ let it go” like winking. If 
this isn’t done, there is a lot of good time and 
good milk wasted. 
A good dairy stock breeder will go less by 
breeds or types than actual individual milk results, 
as shown by careful separate tests. Hairy farmers 
have predilections for certain strains, and for 
large or small cows, but this bias shouldn’t run 
away with their judgment. 
Says the Farm and Dairy (Sydney) Some 
condensed milk doesn’t contain enough butter-fat 
in a dozen tins to oil the wing of a mosquito ! 
We all know that by the modern system of 
milk separation fully 97 per cent of the 
butter-fat is e.xtracted from the milk. Well now, 
some condensed milk makers eliminate the butter- 
fat, turn it into butter, and whisk up the solid 
refuse with sugar into “ condensed milk.” This 
stuff comes on to the market as a whole- milk 
product, whereas, it is a separated article, and, 
as a food, a mere worthless, indigestible com- 
pound. Only so recently as si.v weeks ago, three 
London grocers were proceeded against for selling 
tins of condensed milk not of the quality, nature 
and substance demanded. That is to say, the 
labels on the tins were de!u.'ive. Tlie fact wasn’t 
dimlosed that the tins didn't contain wliole 
milk, and the purchasing })ublic were defrauded’ 
in consequence. Condensed milk is made at C jo- 
langatta and near Singleton, and, doubtless, they 
will be able to stand the test ; also, possibly, some 
imported brands. On the other hand, some brands 
are not milk in the food sense at all, and 
shouldn’t be allowed to be sold. Anyhow, before 
any prosecutions are instituted against our own 
dairymen for having milk a few points below 
par, let the authorities see that no imported 
“milk’ goes forth for general consumption that 
is below the standard for butter-fat. 
WOMEN AGRICULTUEISTS, 
From time immemorial women have been con- 
nected with agriculture, but only as helper.s 
to man. A new era has dawned for woman in this 
respect in all parts of the world ; she takes an 
interest more or less direct in nearly all branches 
of husbandry. But now that interest is to be 
carried a step further. Instead of bjing, as at 
first, the .<;ervant of man, or, as afterwards, as 
man’s assistant or helpmeet, she will now a.ssume 
the role of man’s competitor. In an article from 
the pen of the Countess of Warwick, contributed 
to the Chri.itmas number of the Land Magazine, a 
perfect scheme is laid down for women (unmarry- 
ing women, as the Countess puts it) desirous of 
escaping from city rack rents, and enjoyi 
country pursuits. The immediate object of t 
scheme is threefold — 
1. To open a new field of work for women. 
2. To stay the depopulation of our rural di^trictsl 
3. To keep some of the money in this country 
which is annually spent in foreign dairy, 
poultry, and horticultural produce. 
Tlie Countess argues down any objections that 
might be brought up against the objects, and es- 
pecially the first and third clauses. With the 
second we are not quite so sure. It is contended 
that the young men of our day have a tendency 
to leave the country and flock to the towns. To 
remedy this it is now attempted in this scheme 
to make amend.s for this by inducing the young 
women to flock to the country. Wo cannot per- 
ceive how the depopulation of the rural districts 
is to be prevented if such a state of things con- 
tinues. Would it not be better to include in the 
scheme the idea that the presence of the emanci- 
pated, or shall we merely say sensible, women in 
the country would so attract the giddy young men 
that they would stay at home, and take a new 
lease of life as it were ? An organisation is 
proposed to be formed under two distinct he.ads:— • 
1. To open an agricultural training college for 
women. 
2. To establish women’s agricultural settle- 
ments in different parts of the country’. 
It is intended to start the college at an early 
date, and it will be under the control of a lady’ 
principal, a lady by birth and education, and 
fully qualified to give instructions on two or three of 
the branches of the work to be carried o-ut. The 
otherinstructions willbecarried out by a thoroughly 
efiicient staff of lecturers and practic il instructor.s. 
The practical work will include: — Dairy work 
in all its branches, jrig keeping, poultry rearing, 
market gardening, fruit growing, bee keeping, 
jam making, bottling fruit, home made wines, &c; 
The other details of management are all plainly 
set forth. These include the age (minimum 16), 
pliysical exerci-e and games, library, debating 
club, e.xaminations and certificates, laying out of 
the ground, &c-, &c- 
Under the second heading, “Women’s Agricul- 
tural Settlements,” the plans are very’ complete 
in details: Each settlement shall consist of from 
6 to 10 or 20 holdings or cottages, occupying 
from 1 to 4 acres, each holding to be occupied by two 
women settlers: A lady’ warden will have the con- 
trol of each settlement as far as business (only) is 
concerned. Each settlement will have a factory, a 
creamery’, central office and club room, but the 
entire management of the whole sy’stem will be 
directed from a ceiUral office in London. Co- 
operation will be the guiditig spirit of the sclierae. 
The scheme is elaborate in detail, and quite 
within the possibility of actual fact, although 
the idea comes as something like a surprise to 
most of us. With Australians the idea will not 
“ take on,” but in a densely populated country’ like 
Great Biitain we See no reason to doubt its taking 
a practical shape. Audit' young women take the 
lead in inaugurating such a sy.stem, who shall 
say that our men will not follow.^ We firmly 
believe that a tendency to go on the land, as a 
means of livelihood, will become stronger in the 
immediate future. 
