A Successful Mixed Farmer.
In the Springsure district (Central Queensland) Mr. M. T. Bourke is one of the most successful dairymen and mixed farmers. His dairy herd consists of pure-bred Shorthorns and pedigreed bulls. On an average he milks 88 cows once daily during the year, and these are fed on natural pastures. Last year he obtained 19,094 gallons of milk, and 9,339 lb. of cream produced 2,649 lb. of commercial butter. In April, 1913, 1,039 lb. of cream sent to one of the Rockhampton factories returned over 576 lb. of commercial butter. His year’s transactions in pigs realised £91 12s.; turkeys, £27 3s.; fowls, £2 10s. 8d.; eggs (317 dozen), £16; fat bullocks, 400 at £7 per head; horses (artillery and draught), £626 10s. Several of the horses brought from £26 to £28 per head.
What the Daniels Family are Doing.
The Daniels family, which numbers no less than eight distinct branches, are also very successful mixed farmers in the Gindie district (Central Queensland). Their operations comprise wheat-growing, dairying, sheep-breeding, &c. In 1913 they had about 250 acres under wheat.
Mr. T. C. Daniels gives the following particulars in regard to the cultivation and harvesting of wheat:—“The first ploughing,” he says, “will cost 15s. per acre, but afterwards it will only be 5s. for the same area. Other expenditure includes: Seed wheat, about 8s. per acre; cultivating after first ploughing, 2s. 6d. per acre; harvesting with reaper and binder, 5s. per acre; carting and stooking, 5s. per acre; total expenditure, £1 5s. 6d. per acre. The cost of cutting a ton of chaff is about £1 5s., and bags are 8d. each. His crop averaged 30 cwt. to the acre, and he received £6 10s. per ton for his wheaten chaff on the rails at Gindie Station.”
Started with £100.
In the course of an interview, Mr. J. Edminstone, of Craigend Farm, Belmont Pocket, near Rockhampton (Central Queensland), gave some information which should be invaluable to intending settlers in Queensland. Mr. Edminstone is, at the present time, one of the most prosperous dairymen in the State.
“A labouring man,” Mr. Edminstone said, “could easily earn about £200 a year at farming in Queensland. I have made that myself. I had experience on a farm in the old country, but that is not absolutely necessary.
“I consider farming is the best thing for new settlers to turn their attention to in Queensland.
“I would recommend a man to take up dairy farming. Cows can be bought for about £4 to £7 each. Then you can buy good dairy land for about £1 per acre. You have long terms, about twenty years, to pay for your land, and the payments are not equal to a good rent in the old country. When a man has got his land he can grow plenty of feed for his cattle for the few months of the winter, when they have to be fed on account of the pastures being dry. During the rest of the year his cattle find their food in the natural grasses of his pastures.