THE COLLECTIVE KEEPING OF COWS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—Your " Country Life " page, on July 7th, contained a most interesting account (though, of course, necessarily superficial) of small-holding communities at Holbeach- and Sutton Bridge. J should like very much to take the writer, Sir. W. Beach Thomas, round with me in my work among the new settlements in Western Australia. His outlook and opinions are not only an instructive but also a charming feature of your paper.
It would fill a volume to go into the subject of small- holdings, or economic agriculture generally, at all thoroughly ; and the most I can do now is to mention what I am trying to bring about here, namely, the keeping of cows collectively. It is doubtful if, in any conditions, it pays to milk such a small number as a few acres will carry. But, if owners, situated conveniently, grouped their cows together on a little common, and had them attended to as one herd, I think that the result would be an improvement financially.
I have prepared figures. As they would not serve for England, it is scarcely worth while quoting them in detail. They are bared on the difference between hard- and tr.achine milking, and on saving labour in other ways, and on the supposition that the farmer would use the additional time and space to increase his income. The small-holder would have all his time to devote to cultivation, except what would be occupied by cutting feed and carting it to the central barn ; and that would be much less than what all the jobs connected with the dairy require. The sows with litters would all be kept at the depot, to be near the skim milk, and the manure would be fetched from the midden as back-loading.
The one serious question is—what does it pay to grow besides fodder for stock ? Would it be more profitable to turn all crops into milk, butter, cheese, and bacon, or to reserve some ground for other produce ? I left England forty years ago, and I do not know what the opportunities there arc now
—I am, Sir, &c., H. ST. B. MORE. Bunbury, Western Australia.
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