i Fers., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 99 
Dairying. 
FARMING AND DAIRYING IN QUEENSLAND. 
[Read before Logan Farmers’ Industrial Association, in the School of Arts at Beenleigh, 
28th January, 1898.] 
By JOHN MAHON, 
Dairy Instructor. 
Havine been occupied nearly the whole of my life in agriculture, dairying, 
mixed farming, and cattle-breeding, I should be able to speak with some 
authority on the topics of general farming; at the same time it would be bold 
on my part if I were to claim perfection in one single branch of the above- 
mentioned industries. 
That greater progress has been made in every branch of agriculture during 
the last twenty years than had been made during the past century must be 
apparent to all observant persons. Progress is a law of Nature, and as 
each year passes by we shall become more enlightened, and will continue to 
become so until the end of time. 
The person who considers that he has reached the top of the ladder of 
perfection is unwise, and will surely and quickly fall. The most successful 
men in this age of progress are those who mix a little brains and eommon 
sense with their daily toils. The man who is content to go on in the footsteps 
of our forefathers in a haphazard plodding manner, as a rule, is as far advanced 
at the end of the year as he was in the beginning. Such men are usually found 
to be bush politicians, who find fault with everybody and everything, and are 
always crying out for State assistance. In my opinion, if such a class of men 
were to place more confidence in themselves, and devote more attention to their 
own business, they would be far more successful. : 
The ery of many outsiders who visit this colony periodically, and by some 
who reside here permanently, that we have no practical farmers in Queensland, is 
all bosh, and I should like very much to see some of these critics placed side by side 
on the land with men who have been farming here for the last thirty years, and 
who have had many difficulties to contend against. Then I am quite sure the 
fault-finders would have but a poor show of being as successful as the practical 
Queensland farmer. Of course if must be remembered and regretted that 
these practical farmers do not constitute the majority. I am also confident 
that a man must live here for a season or two before he becomes acquainted 
with our climate and soils, 
During my travels through this colony I have seen some very good 
farmers, who, I am sure, could hold their own even in countries where 
perfection in agriculture is claimed. I have also seen some very lazy, careless 
ones, who were never intended for the land, and need never hope to be successful. 
Such men are generally found to be faddists or theorists, and can relate from 
theory what has been done in other countries, where the conditions are quite 
different to those of our own colony. 
I maintain that there is no knowledge so valuable as that gained from 
practical experience, especially in this colony, where growth is so rapid. 
The vast improvement in the methods of agriculture and dairying 
compels a man who would succeed to keep pace with the times. (ld ideas 
must be cast out to make room for new ones—modern and labour-saving 
appliances must take the place of the obsolete. 
Settle the people on the land is the prevailing ery of our legislators, and 
all who have the welfare of the colony at heart; which, no doubt, is essential 
to bring prosperity to such a prolific agricultural colony as this. But, in my 
iH 
