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AGRICULTURAL BUREAUS
KOOLUKGA, October 12._
Present—Messrs. Butcher (chair), Button, San
don-, Cpoper, Lawry, ruller, Butte rfield, Jose,
Palmer, Noack (lion, secretary), and one visitor.
Mr. Button initiated a discussion on improved
tarming implements and the working men,
whptber improved labour-saving farm implements
were beneficial or otherwise to the working men.
His answer was emphatically "Ves." These im
plements render it possible to grow wheat whore,
under the old conditions, it would have been im
practicable; they provide employment for thori
-sands, and render a clieap loai possible. Mr.
Ridley's invention o£ the stripper was one of the
greatest inventions connected with agriculture.
Every stripper and harvester was based on the
principles of Ridley's reaper. There was no doubt
in Ids mind that every improvement in imple
ments had the effect, of increasing production.
Mr. JsiwTy said he had read that a machine simi
lar to the stripper was used in America before
the liidley stripper was invented; He contended
that the mechanic did not benefit by the introduc
tion of new machinery, as there was less jobbing
work for him to do. Sir. Palmer doubted whether
the farm labourer was better off, as machinery
hud thrown many men out of employment. Mr.
Butcher thought a good deal could be said on
both sides of the question. There was no doubt
that in some instances the introduction of ma
chinery-had thrown many men out of work. Mx\
Saadow. cited the number of men now employed
as the result of Hie introduction of machinery to
treat low-grade ores formerly considered too poor
to handle.
OOONALPYN, October 6.
Present—Messrs. Masters (chair), H. and M. E.
Bone, T., T. H., and .T. Johns, W. and J. Hill
(lion, secretary), and eix visitors. Some discus
sion look place on the application of manure as
a top dressing for wheat crops; hut none of those
.present had any experience in-TIiiBT)ractice. It
was decided to ascertain charge made by the de
partment for analyses of soils and advice as to
treatment. (The cost of analyses depends upon
"the number of items to be determined; but for
general purposes the sum of 12/ will cover -all
that is -required for each sample. Up cliarge is
made for advice as to manures to apply to soils
Jinniysed.—Ed.]
ONETREE THLTj, September IS.
Present—Messrs. Ifould (eliair), Blackham, Har
vey, IV., E. A.,- and TV. Kelly, jun., Smith, and
Clueas (lion, secretary). The loss of several cat
tle recently was reported; also a few ewes were
-stated to have died shortly before they were due
.to lamb. Mr. E. A. Kelly initiated a discission
on water conservation. Usually they associated
the idea of water conservation with some large
and expensive scheme. He wished, however, to
refer to it as applicable to iudividual effort. A
liberal supply of water in the summer was a great
comfort to Hie landowner; but, when every gallon 1
nsyd had to be paid for, ss was the case with ;
the -public schemes, water became a luxury. In :
Ilia opinion, It would be found flint liy Compan
-son they, -could conserve water for themselves at
less co3t, the principal outlay being; for labour.
As, however,- -on. mast farms some hands had to
be employed on the farm, the -whole year found, ;
tbey would not find the cpst .so great as might ■
be anticipated, and if the work is carried out
judiciously a more than compensating asset would
appear in the enhanced value of the land. Heal
ing with dam -making, the usual process of exca
vation was by means of scoopB, anil, were condi
' tions favourable to their use, provision could be
made at a minimum of cost for all requirements
for water for their -stock. A dam time formed in
clay soil would require to he fenced in and a
pump erected. A frequent, mistake. was to mako
: only one dam, when two or three would he much
more serviceable and convenient. Each dam
should he sunk to its greatest practicable depth,
j in order to lessen the comparative loss by evapo
ration, and if it can he roofed over this loss will
! he minimized. The heavy loss by evaporation
j during the. summer was referred to at some
length, and Mr. Kelly- instanced the case pf -a
| -farmer who had two damp of almost the same :
. holding capacity, one being covered, while the 1
I other was open. At the former dam he watered
35 head of cattle for six weeks, and then found
that the cattle had consumed no more water than
-the other 'dam lad lost-by evaporation alone. By
using forked uprights and cheap timber the
roofing of the dam was not an expensive item.
Covered dams were more expensive to clean than
open dams; but they, did not.require cleaning so
often. One important point in selecting the sites
for dams was to secure that they were easy of
access. If stock had' to travel far to water they
would often go for longer periods than was ad
visable without a drink,' and they suffered from
this neglect. In this connection two or three
suiailer deep dams were better than one very large ,
dam. Besides, with several dams there should
always be a reserve of water when pne or other
lias to he emptied for cleaning. If there was only
one dam, the work of cleaning was a formidable
task, which could only he undertaken under
favourable conditions. Two of the principal points
connected with darn sinking were to obtain
a good catchment area, and to locate the dam
where it was not likely to he washed away. This
latter point did not receive the attention it
Bhould. How often after a heavy fall of rain
did they see portions of the fallow and the land
under crop badly washed? In other cases perma
nent watercourses are formed, to the great injury
of the farm. Nearly all this damage and conse
quent inconvenience could he prevented by tlio
construction of dams to retain the water at the
points where the further onrush would he likely
to cause damage. The water always ran qulekly
off hard surfaces, and on this account the toads
were often a menace to adjoining properties if
precautions were not taken to turn thein to the
test recount for water conservation purposes.
VIRGINIA, October 0. I
Present—Messrs. Baker (chair), Shecdy, nux- !
table, Nasii. Hatcher', Roberts, Hummers, Ji |
A. and F. J. Taylor, Ryan (bon. secretary), nnl l
one visitor. Mr. IV. Summers read *i pi per on '
the farm workshop. Success in anv In,sinews is !
partly dependent upon the ccon .at rt lime, j
and the ffirmer who justly considers his time '
as money should possess a spacious workshop, !
well supplied wltli tools needed in repairing mn- I
cliinery, and doing1 various o-.ld jobs. In his I
opinion tliis was a piece of economy tliat no |
farmer can afford to neglect, yet many farmers
consider the initial old lay too great. The fanner ;
possessing a good stock of tools knows what it
is to he continually beset bv neighbours borrow- I
ing tools they are in daily need of, but who [
appear to think that it was cheaper to borrow ,
than to buy. The farmer who actually loses all
the days when it is unpropitious for outside work :
loses much, valuable time that could he pro- '■
fHably utilized in the workshop. Seme may say
that these wet days were needed bv the fanner
as days of rest; but they were always told that
the change of occupation was rest. There was
never a time on the farm when there is not
some kind of work which unexpectedly presents
itself, and, in most cases, can he laid aside until
the weather was unfit for outdoor work; and he
was satisfied that in four or five years the fanner
with a workshop could save more than sufficient
to cover the whole outlay on same. Without such
n shop the farmer will cither have to pav to
have the work done, or leave it undone, either
of which is an unprofitable course. Besides this,
they all knew that often a simple breakdown at j
harvest time will delay operations for a day ov
more if it cannot be attended to on the farm, I
in which case, however, an hour's work would ;
set things right. Then there were many house- j
hold and farm conveniences tliat can lie made j
Try a handy man in the shop. The sire of the i
workshop, and-the amount of tools required, will ;
depend upon the individual circumstances; but |
the shop should he large enough to conlaiu a i
forge, workbench, blacksmith's outfit, &e. Ho ■
was satisfied that if the farmer was to carefully
consider the cost of repairs, loss of time, &c.,
he would find tliat the outlay in purchasing tools,
&c., was more than repaid.
MlLhlCENT, November 2.
Present—Messrs, Harris (chair), Varcoc. Ober
lnnder, Hart, llolrgrefc, Stuekey, and Campbell
(bon secretary.) Milk Powder.—Samples from
Department of Agriculture was tabled and tested.
Membei-s were impressed with the possibilities
of the manufacture of this product in South Aus
tralia, especially in connection with cheere fac
tories, wiien the price of tliat article was low.
The lion, secretary gave some interesting infor
mation concerning the manufacture and use of
this product in Europe mid America. The lion.
■ secretary said some years ago lie had
compiled a number of recipes of ways
and methods of dishing up cheese, and
suggested to several factories tliat, if
these were published in a small brochure, it
would do much to increase the consumption of I
cheese, to the benefit of the factories and their
members; but -the companies did not take the 1
matter up with much interest, so it was allowed to J
drop. He thought the idea, if carried out, would j
increase the consumption of cheese auite 50 per I
cent. Members thought the suggestion a good
one. The lion, secretary called attention to sug- :
gestion [A Eudunda Branch, that a fund should ho 1
raised from which to offer prizes for seed and
fertilizer drills, side-delivery mowers, binders,
&c., of local manufacture. Members thought the
miggeetion-*^goiad--oro,—"eei J
should be a^ppted to bring the nuitterto.^ftffl j.%
jiitc conclusion* -Mr. -ten
ly-lost-a- eow," and detailed the 63rinjtoni^^g«i5|
possibly members might 1)6 able to give
suggestion ' as to' complaint. The cow mopeu tsnu
lay about'for some days, and -vhen ifcus^wp
would strike her belly alternately udtli jach-pj®
her hind' feet, as if in pain. .'From
had first noticed her unwell till she died—S_tog
10 days—she had passed no dung. Fouror flV<vij
days before be had given her; "16 .ijogejS
of Epsom €alts; but *it had:. Ho
whatever. After death he had, "opened ^iHjVpsg
and found -the main stomach very -.-muolpg
distended; the second stomach appeared
healthy, but the bowels were very tender, andsg
would not stand- any strain. He couldl not discfll^s
anything wrong, or stoppage anywhere «16ng-Jte^
passage. She was only a young cow, -aptl 'max
■calved about four months. Members did ndt/B;
know what could bare been the trouble. Inflam^
mation -or bladder trouble wob suggested; btitJS
Mr. Varcoe could not say that he had notlcea^
anything unusual in the appearance of these "«rr®
pans. Mr. Holzgrefe asked ior particulars HB; to"|0
growing and feeding lucerne. ' He had grown
trial plot along with several grasses, and after V
turning in the -stock the lucerne had disappeared;"*;;
lie was -sowing more, and asked whether .it woiddti;
lie necessary to cut and feed, or feed -off. Mepv-^S;
bnrs considered it a waste of seed to sow in thiS fc
district in the autumn, as the young plant fak'S
so easily lulled by frost or smothered by weedst|?l
If fed ofT, it' must be done in small paddocks,.and*!:
the stock moved before the next growth
' The treading of stock, or nibbling at Hie young-*
growth nn the crown, would soon kill' it.
Chairman had had good success from -cutting.:;,,
At the first cutting there was generally a loljs
of grass; hut the succeeding cutters were only iS
lucerne. v".
- KADINA, November i. . , , 4;
Present—Messrs. Malcolm {chairj, Kennedy,"
Hier, Pedler, Correll, Harris, and iaylpr (hem. '<•
secretary). Some Gluyas wheat from July needing ~
was shown, the late rain having greatly im;
proved the crop, which was ig>w two 'feet in -•
weight, with good heads. Mr. J. Malcolm read.;:2
a short paper on preparing wheat for market.! A." ii
good sample of wheat should be plump and '
bright, wii)i no sprouted grain,, smut, .foreign.:
seeds, &c. It was sometimes said, and not witti-'T
out reason, that the buyer did not encourage the S
firmer to clean .his wheat wiell, and tins was
greatly to be regretted. He was a strong believer !■
in the grading of wheat, and- care must be taken ";
to keep the grades separate. It behoved them to;
do all jn their power to keep up the reputation
of Soutli Australian wheat, consequently the farmer
slipuld make use of the screenings on the farm,"
instead of sending them to the miller or mer
chant. He had found at times at least three ■'/
grades of wheat in a single load offered for sale,
and they could rest assured that the buyer gives ;
less for such a load than he will if each grade
is kept separate. In the discussion it was con
tended fl:at buyers did not encourage fanners to;
bring in a prime sample, as tlicy gave no mora
fcr such than for a 6econd-quality sample tlgit
conic just up to the standard for the season. The
farmer who supplies a plump, clean, bright"/;
sample should be encouraged by tlte buyer. ±
QUORN, October 14.
Present—Messrs. Thompson (chair), Patten, Fin-"
lay, McCoIJ, Toll, Cook, Brewster, and WalkeJ
(hon. secretary). Mr. Brewster initiated a discus
sion on best wheats to crow in the North. Be.-,
thought farmers had made a mistake in going In
so much for Marshall's No. 3, as it was a little
too late to be safe. Mr. McOoll agreed that tli'ey
must be careful not to sow too much No 3; hut
it was still fresh and green, and would reap the
benefit from any late rain. Mr. Patten's experi
ence bore out this; while the early varieties wcro
drving oif, No. 3 was still fresh and green. Mr.
Walker raid he liiul promise, of a good crop of No.
3 on clean fallow; hut on a vote being taken
the majority favoured an earlier wheat for the
district. Mr. Walker tabled a nioe cut
of lucerne, the second growth this sum-.,
mer. Mr. Lawson (of Wilmington) 6ooko-;
at length on standard bushel oueslion,.
and doubted the wisdom of having the ;
standard so high. There would, however, be no
harm in a standard of. G31b., or even higher, if
a pro rata reduction for under-standard and in-"
crease in price for over-standard wheat was paid.
He thought a delegation of representative farmers,
from the different wheat districts should meet
the Chamber of Commerce when- the standard
for the season was fixed. Members thought
that a sufficient number of farmers did not supply
fair average samples of the season's crop to tho
Chamber, and it was resolved, that it, be a re
commendation from this branch that the various .
branches of the Bureau he asked to make it
their duty from year to year to send to the
Cuamber of Commerce fair average samples of
the produce of their respective districts.
CHERRY GARDENS, November 7.
Present—Messrs. O. Lewis (chair), Jacobs, ,T,
Lewis, Potter, Wright, Curnow, Brumby, Hicks,
Burpee, Hicks (hon. secretary), and one visitor,
Mr. G. Hicks read a paper on "Hand Separators
on the Farm." He contended tlmt dairying on
the small holdings would pay very well; but a
hand separator was. almost essential, It was ve:y
much bfctter to separate the milk on lhe 'farm, .
and have the skim milk clean and sweet,, than
to cart to the factory, and bring a mixed lot of
skim milk back. The majority of the members
agreed, and, while they admitted that they could
see no reason why cream should not he purchased,
aB, instead of having to send milk every day, a -
smaller weight of cream would need to be car
ried only three times a week to the factory.
QUORN. November Jl.
Present—Messrs. Thompson (chair), Rowe, Pat- ,
ten, MeColl, Cook, Brewster, Noll, and Walker
(lion, secretary). Mr. Mc-Coll advised members to
select from tlie standing crops the best heads of .
wheat they could find, and to grow ibis for seed...
He was satisfied they would considerably improve
the strain of wheat by this method. Mr. MeColl
also tabled six varieties of wheat in the straw,
and explained their characteristics. Mr. G. Sum
merton, of Castle Springs, forwarded a collection
o! wheat for information of members.
$