Keyline Vol1 No3 Sept 1955

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A

NA'T\ONAL

AGR\CULTURAL

JOURNAL_SEPTEMBER

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I lt Good irrigation systems 'ircj 'l'i- ::i" Irrigation Mains. Don't -(Pâ‚Źr;i-i:c -'':.;;{.

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SOLE MANL|FACTURERS:

JAMES IIARITIE .

Newcastle Melbourne tsrisbane perth .

Auckland Sydney

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GOY. PTY. LTII.

Cnr- Yort and Barrack Streets --- 3l+3?6 King Street Citl' Road ard Clarendon Street

- Breatfast

Creek Road, Newstead Welshpool

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Penrose, S.E.6

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Vol.

t,

No.

3

SEPTEMBER, ,95S

C)FFICIAL JOURNAL

OF THE KEYLINE (RESEARCH) FOUNDATION

Editorial Correspondence: Keyline publishing pty. Lrd,, Room 5, gth Floor, 1'17

Pitt Streer, Sydney (BW6912).

Advertising lnluiries: J. T. O'Mara, Room 2, 3rd Floor, 283 Elizabeth Srreet, Sydney (MA26gg).

E,DITORIAL f \

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Irr t]re "rrot too distzrnt lirture," thc dire ctor of Iingland's Iarnous Rothamstead lixperimental Station, Sir William Ogg, told the International Conference oi lndustrial Chemists at Birmingham, food production r,vill be mankind's major problem.

On estimated world population increase in the next half-century, there u,ill have to be a 50 per ceut. increase in ae'ricultuial ae'ricultural production just ro kedp keep the rvorld ,"oitJ fed f.a at present nutrition levels.

If "undernourishment" is to be remedied, the increase in procluction rvill hat,c to be sornething like 70 per ccnt.

Wherr any such picture is cnvisaeed, Australia, naturally, stands fair in the foreground. And th:rt rneans cvery producer in Australia is there, too.

Everyone of course knows that in some things, such as wheat, profitable distribution of what is llready available intrudes into the picture. Rut this does not alter the realism in Sir William Ogg't statement.

And Australia's decisive contribution is expccted by the te Keytrne Keyline "fFoundation ounclatron to artse arise out of the two main rnain rinciples adopted as the very basis of its plans: (1) 'hat vast areas of asricultural and pastoral- lancl can be made much more productive; (2) that equally vast areas of land hitherto considered of no agricultural value can be made richly productive, rapidiy and profitably.

Every iand man comes in somewhere under one or the other of those two heads.

Sr,.r.rnrunrn, 1955

KAME,RTJKA

"Watt

Till I

I

Return"

By F,

G. DILLON

Komeruko LondscoPe.

TZi\MERUKA Estate, 14,800 acres of rolling 1\ countr)', timbered ridges and river-flats in the I..L.

south-east corrter of N.S.\\-., is 300 miles ll'onr Sl.dney and 40 miles from the \-icrorian borcier. \eari''

- -

100 years ago the Lucas-footh l:rmih. b'ru'{ht ti''e propertv from the Tv'ofoid Bav Pastolrli ^\'>' 'i':' ':'

The tree-lilrecl clrive fi'crm rhe l,-,dcc tu th. h"::'--:t'-' and the Tudor-style houses bevond, rhe \It::r' 'r'i''Hali and Holv T'rinitl' Church, baskins iri rhin rr itLie:. sunlight, Iooked l'er-v English. But tl're name is '\r't'tralian errough. I t c{erives, I unde|stand, ii'UIn :rll :

irtstmctiou given lry arr aborigit.ral to his gir.r rtherr he spotted a kangaroo : "Kamerttka ---rvait tiil I lttrrllt l" As a legend, pt"haps, it leaves somethillg t, l)e desired; a bit ltare. But so, probabll', are nlost leqenci' ivhen closell'e-xamined. fime, doubtless, u'ill d() thing poetic rvith such a promising phrase

A jeep stood outside the hrr't-tsl:

',Illr-

manor-hortse. and

\lr' Srr,r:

and other mod. cons. Plenty of ground lor grorving

the backbone of this alrnost fabulor.rs clieddar-cheese industry is nowJersey stud stock.

Sir Robert Lucas Lucas-Tooth began the.]ersey stud

vegetables, and each family has

lBB0, when he imported tire bull Lr-rcius and the cows Majestic, Princess Royal and Pretty Queen, bred

church, schools and sportsground. Butter and

in

in England by Mr.

George Simpson ol'Wra1' Park, Reigate. The policy of the Estate is to import the best.

A recent importation, the buli Naomi's Draconian, r,l'as a first-prize r.vinner on the Island and the first progeny-prize-lvinner to come to Australia. The latest importations are three cows and a bull, and their performances in this countr,v are beine u,atched rvith keen interest by breeders.

Eight miies of

river-frontage meander through the

property, on which the human population numbers 15 some 250 : dairy families and about 50 on the - carpenters, painters, general staff, including engineers,

butcher and general farm hands. Mr. Booth explained that the executive stafl cnnsists of himsell, an assistant nlanager, accountant, clerk and tvpist, under the over-all mana5^ernent of Mr. V" A. Rovd, rvho is Australian trustee of Karueruka Lstate.

Irr addition to the homes ol the 15 dairy,rnen, there are 30 dwellings for emplovees, with r,vater, electricitr',

a cluota of 351b. of nothing-but-the-best meat, at a maximum price of 6d. per lb. Other arnenities inciude a Memorial Hall, cheese

are avaiiable at low prices which are fixed and are not subject to outside influences. Each familv gels a gallon of milk free. Fireu,ood is there for the coilecting.

In the flush of the season an aggregate of 2,000 milking cows provide over 3,500 gallons olmilk daily.

The Estate's own collection-service delivers this Iiquid harvest to the cheese factory rt'here, when it is in full

swing, a sta$ of seven manttlacture 32 crt t. of daily.

cheese

Watching operations lr,ithin the factorv is a fascinating experience as paddles surge the milk backwards and forwards in the spotlessness of stainless-steel vats.

The chilled gloom of the stores, shelved to the roof, each almost groaning under the weight of curing produce, is in contrast to the stearry rvarrnth of the well-lit, gleaming make-roorris. Seventy-fir.e tons of it in cloth-covered rounds, each da1,'s production dated, each cheese turned daily, slowl,v rlc-,r,ing on a fivemonths schedule of curing.

"The Loke"-mon-made, it is o fovoutite scene with photogtophers.

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105

5

the backbone of this ahnost fabulous cheddar-cl'reese industry is nowJersey stud stock.

Sir Robert Lucas Lucas-Tooth began the.]ersey stud

in

IBB0, when he imported the

bull Lucius and the

cows Majestic, Princess Royal and Pretty Queen, bred

in England by Mr.

George Simpson of'Wray Park, Reigate. The policy of the Estate is to import the best.

A recent importation, the buli Naomi's Draconian, rvas a first-prize rt'inner on the Island and the first progeny-prize-winner to come to Australia. 'llhe latest importations are three cows and a bull, and their performances in this countrv are being rvatched u.ith keen interest b), breeders.

Eight miles ol river-frontase meander through the property, on which the human population numbers some 250 : dairy families

and about 50 on the - carpenters, painters, general staff, including enginee$, butcher and general farm hands. N{r. Booth explained that the executive staff consists of himself, an assistant 15

manager, accountant, clerk an<l typist, under the

over-all rnanagement of Mr. V. A. Bovd, rvho is Australian trustee of Kameruka Estate.

In addition to the homes of the 15 dairynnen, there are 30 dweilings f<ir employees, with rvater, electricitv,

and other mod. cons. Pienty o{ ground ftir gror,r-ing a quota of 351b. of nothing-but-the-best meat, at a maximum price of 6d. per lb. Other amenities include a Mernnrial Hall, church,. schools and sportsground. Butter and cheese

vegetables, and each family has

are available at lorv prices whicir are fixed and are not subject to outside influences. Each flamily gets a gallon of milk free. Firelvood is there for the collecting.

In the flush of the season an aggregate of 2,000 milking cows provide over 3,500 gallons of milk dailv.

The Estate's own collection-service delivers this liquid harwest to the cheese factory where, when it is in full swing, a staff of seven manufacture 32 cwt. of cheese daily"

Watching operations i,vithin the l-actory is a fascinating experience as paddles surge the milk backwards and forwards in the spotlessness of stainless-steel vats.

The chilled gloom of the stores, shelved to the roof, each almost groaning under the rveight of curing produce, is in contrast to the steam'v warmth of the well-lit, gleaming make-rooms. Seventy-fir,e tons of it in cloth-covered rounds, each da1,'s production dated, each cheese turned daily, siorvly mo.,,ing on a fivemonths schedule of' r'uring.

"The Loke"-mon-made, it is o fovourite scene with photographers.

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05

5

SE.CRE,TARY'S

I\OTE,S

By H. N. SARINA

(r) That

vast areas of agricultural and pastoral land can be made much more Productive;

R. P. A. YEOMANS, rvho pioneered the technique of Keyline farming, rvas elected First Prisident and Founder of the Keyline (Rcscarcir) Fottndation at a rncctirlg held at thc Rr-rral Bank, in S.vdrrey.

Sir C. Stanton Hicks, Prol-essor of Human Phl.siologv

and Pharmacologv at Adelaide University and \1r'

D. R. N{cCaughey, ofBorambola Park Shorthorn Stud, Wagga, and Coonong N4erino Stud, Narrandera, lvere elected \/ice-Presidents.

(d) 'that equally va.st are;rs of land hitherto eonsidered of no agricultural value can be made richly productive, rapidl;' and profitably; (e) That soil can be developed, water can be conserved, forest areas improved and increased, and

human and animal health safeguarded by the application of some or: zrll of the techniques of the Ke1,line Plan and thc filrther development of thesr: basic techniques; (f) That the objects of the Foundation are to promote, foster and encourage practical interest in soil fertility and better land use. This necessaril,v takes into account such practices as water conservation and irrigation, affol:station, crop and pasture raising, animal husbandry and sub'

J. R. A. lvlcMillan, Dean of the Facultl' o1'Agriculture at Sydney University; Mr. C. R' McKerihan, President of the Rural Bank; Mr. G' B' S' Falkiner, of Haddon Rig Merino Stud, Warren Professor

(N.S.W.), who is also a Vice-President of the N'S'W' Sheepbreeders' Association; Iv{r. Anthony }Iordem, jnr., of the well-known commercial and grazing famil.v, *ho ir a Councillor of the R'A.S'; Mr. John Darling, ofJohn Darling and Son, Pt,v. Ltd. flourmillers; ancl Mis. P. A. Yeoman ancl \{rs. Arrthorir- Hordern. Jnr', were electecl Foundation Trustees, The Keyline (Research) l'oundation is a national agriculturai and land -development researcir alC educational organisation, constituted lor the Purpo" of preparing and applf ing, on a national scale - ard:':: rruiiotui .iurorrt techniques ol land dtr.elopinei:l originated by trIr' Yeornans on hls properties at \orrh RiJhmond, \.S.\\' , and de-'cribed bv him i-ll ris book' Tlrc Kelline Plan.

Trustees of the Foundation sr-rbscribe to the lollorrins beiiefs : (a) That the permanent fertiiitr- of the soil is the

ol the n'ealth and stabiliry of the u'eIl-being of its people; the and nation (D) That the fundamental factor in a1l agriculture, fi.rndamental

including animal husbandry, u'ater consen'ation, and subsidiarv activities, is healthl' fertile soil;

Krvltrr.

sidiary techniques, and the deveiopment o1' research in these rvide and inter-related fields ol activitl'.

At the Foundation netl:-.:. :::: P:e.lde::. \{:.

Yeomans. said he had. l--ee: i:-:t:e.:e'd in

la::l

ce"'e:':':-

ment and land p::5lt:::. :-': l- "'ears and dat the 'c'-rsiness' and then interest bc:.'.:re a h,,'i::'..::iti-- 11

an ab.c:r:::. l-t-'.';crk. His cook. The h'e1lirc Plan, ra: :--ti ',"'i:h rtidespread approval, rvas simpl,v a :-',repr:rt :. land-use for long-term agriculture.

...,'Ich

''There is

::ees."

\Ir.

reallv pâ&#x201A;Źrmanent agriculture without \'eomans continued, "and the basis of

n.-,

agriculture must be the promotion of deep fertile soil. \\'ater consen'atioo by means of water held in the soil, particularly on farming and grazing land. is r-ital to more so in the case of Australia than most the nation countries. other is necessary first to consen-e " .--: -:- :-e soil to promote deep fertile soil ma::--"' "-:- ' -:: and air and, second, to consen'e e-'': -- . - " :ter that --:: : ::-.i ponds.

-normally -runs al\'ay dorvn 3rli,-:. ,

"It

"On Nevallan, at North R- - - :: - - -"' l:. \-eomans ' --: . -l fertility saidr "we have seen soil d:' :-- .*', :' :: . accord spread of its own -'t --", - -:::.d to the untreated land underne:::. : - :* ':':i fertility

r,,.:a.

1955

to be something that spreads of its own volition once started. From my own experience with recommended practices of soil conservation, the Keviine seems

PIan is most economical and, in every instance I have studied, likely to be highly profitable the fact thar it is cheap is one of its most appealing -aspects.

"The development on Nevallan has been described

in various terms, including

'miracr.rlous',

but I

feel

that still more can be done to increase the rate of land development over and above anything that has yet been seen, To that end, the Foundation is, first and foremost, a research and educational organisatinn rvith national, or even wider, application. "f expect that certain farrns and graziug properties 'i'r,ill, with the approval of the owners, become Foun-

dation Farms, where the information gained will be

recorded. It will be part of the rvork of the Foundation to disseminate the information frorn these records in the best way possible to other farmers and graziers.

"Many requests for information on Keyline larming have been received and I anticipate that the Foundation will rvork through its orvn qualified agricultural officers advising on, and supervising, development on properties. A Keyline Field Officer could meet the farmer, decide on the planning point of the property and start work immediately. By the end of the first day the farmer would knorv the whole aspect of his

property and have enough to go on for twelve months; he should know enough after one day not to require the Field Officer's service again on the other hand,

the Field Officer could undertake the supervision of the rvork. Three hundred to eight hundred acres could be planned in one day as the level-lvork u'hich

needs to be done can be done very rapidll'.

"I do not quite knowwhat the response to Keyline wiil be," Mr. Yeomans concluded, "But the Foundation could conceivably be embarrassed by the number of farmers and graziers.r,r,ho would like to see the Keyline Plan started on their properties and made available for research and inspection,"

Professor McMillan congratulated Mr. Yeomans on the establishment of the Foundation and on the cxcelient results achieved at Nevallan.

"I

have seen the nork

at Nevallan over

several

vears," Professor McMillan said, "and there is not the slightest doubt that the fertility of the soil has been increased. I have seen some very interesting figur-es in reports of run-off on properties under control and not under control. Where there is control, there is little if any run-off as the soil can retain several inches more water to be used on the spot instead of being allolved to run down into the gullies and dams to be stored ;rnd prrmped back.

"Mr. Yeomans's work in the conservation of exr:ess rnoisture has been remarkable," Professor McMillan added. "The trained mind of an engineer has brought these problems dou'n to earth, as it',vere."

After further comment and discussion on Ke,vline farming, a Constitution Committee, a Finance Comrnittee, an Organising Committee and a Public Relations Committee were appointed. The Trustees then discussed the appointments of a Chief I'ield Officer, an Educationai Officer and Field Officers, and the President was then authorised to proceed with negotiations for the appointment of a Chief Field Officer.

Details o[ policy and organisation rvill have to

hammcred out at subsecSrent meetings.

\fuch

Sup

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be

rernains

Below: Life ond growth in the soil immediotely it is oeroted. Right: Posture obova the Keyline

.

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following outumn cultivotion.

1!)55

1945, at the first Perth (Scotlancl) sale alter hi' appointment, the champion bull made what \\'as thell the recorcl price of 4500 gns. This ,vear the champion bull made it,iOO grrt. Exports this,vear are runninq at the rate o1'al>out i00 per qtlarter, u'hich is vert' nlrtch higher than the average belore the rvar'

Il

to be clone, particularly in the implementation of the Ke1'line PIan on individual properties' There will, of necessity, be some time-lag between the selection of Field Officers and the time when a sulficient number are trained to clo the rvork awaitinq them' And, everv mail, requests for this sort of assistance come pouring

1-his 1'ear the r':rhrc ol :\berdeen Angrts c:rltie in (ireat lli'itain arttl Ircl:rnrl srll6'l |;1' 1:rrblic n11s1i1ln rfill tlle <,'xccec1 /, I rnillion, atrcl zrt tlre I)r:r'tlr' slrles tlris \tar u'as lnrlls 5rtl9 ijs' 5tl' {br ,rr',-tnring ?l\'erage o1' d70:i ar:hievecl. 'fhis is the higliest a\-er;lge ever rea<'lied bl' anv British bleecl in the Btitish lsles' r'isited- t' 'S'r\'' During his secretan'sl'rip, .\ler' '/ ,ealand, and built up and Ar-rstlalia, -\e',r' Argentin.-a, 'breeder's in thesc ,r-ru-r-r,' p"trnnal connectir'trs u'ith

in, {r'om lando.ttl.rs in diffr:rent parts of the Cornmotrwcalth. Incliczttions arr: that this demand r"'ill grolv' Br,rt, takert qoorl slirt't,

all rouncl, .Ihc Forrnclatir:n has macle :i< iF

a

,:

\Vell-known ltrcecler o{' ,\yrshires,

ivlr' Ir'

A'

l\'lclntosh, of Woodside Park, Berry, New South Wales, a recent visitor to the ofEce of The Keyline (Research) Foundation, enthusiastically endorsed Bill Maxrt'ell's desire to meet and discuss farming problems with the ,voung people of New South Wales' Fred, no doubt, has in mind the slrccess of simiiar schemes overseas, ol lvhich he sarv sornething during his recent trip. He said that the Kiama Young Iiarmers rvould welcome Bill lvfaxweil's proposal' Further, an opportunity should be aff<irded the members of the local Junior Farmers' Club to join in the discussions' Bill Maxwell n,as born in Hobart 25 ,vears ago' He u,ent to school in England until 1940, then to Geelong (]rammar Schooi. For a time he was a jackeroo at

countries.

Alex. has a tarn-r near Allerdeen, Scotland, rvhere the headquarters of the societl' are, and he maintains a nera nf e.A. cattle ancl anothel ol A"\' crosses' He has been revising uind completing a historv of the breed rvhich n,as left unfinished 1rr" his predecessor,.James R' Barclay, and it is expecterl that this histor"v rviJl soon he

zrvailable"

"Jarver" ) Porveli

is a

the siglnal service as otre cil the Red Coat Stervards (norv associain Nor'v, pr:irrcipall at the Roval Ea-ster Shou" ii.rr-,

.,'i,h

proprietor of The Powell Enat Cioulllurn (N.S.W')'

hi,s sott, he is

sineerinq Cr,r.

Recentlr- I had an lrrgent telephone call h'orn.|an"er lirr 12 copies rf 'l-he lr-e1lirrc l'lan' "a-weh'r: cr'1lics " I said. ''\\'hr- ru'elve?" ''Oh," he said, rather impatientll', "manv ol our

Country con{brences, and discussions rvith men on

the land, are among numerous educationai plans rr'hich be undertaken by The Keyline (Research) Foundation. At an early date Bill Maxwell's idea rvill be set in motion, when gatherings of the vounger lblks u-i1l be

clients are interested in The Kel'line Plan' and l'e intend to give them ser','ice."

His orcler, with a complirnentarv cYrpv lirl hinrself' ilut()gra.l)hocl by tl-re :rtttltol', \\'2I\ selrt post hntr:'

will

organised. 'I'he a.ddresses, supported b,v films, rvill inih.rde'I'he Keylirre Plan, stor''k-feeding, and pastnle*

'\' \'e"m;n''s pro\ '::i: Richrnond' lal :l'D'D()intnlenri >:c is Sr.rndar' Wales, ,rr-ew South are also arranged cllrinq th" ""t:i. Rt:''ilarlr as clockwork, at 2.30 each 'Sunc1:: ''-:t::- n' \1r' \'eomans personall,v concluctt pal i:.' - .:':t:'t'ieci larmers and gruriea, qvel both ''rt'":ltt '-' 'lr::t:-- ihe number ol 'fhe popular visiting dar. to -\lr' P p.rit.s, \ievallan and Yobalnit' 'rr

Alexander Keith has resigned from the secretaryship of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society (in Scotland), and will be succeeded by his assistant, Hugh R. Neilson, who was appointed to assist him last year after doing his National Service as an officer in the Black Watch in Korea and Kenya.

visitors exceeds 1't'.

Alex., as he is known to all his friends, has been just I I years secretary of the society. During that time there has been a great expansion in the popularity of the Aberdeen Angus breed and, consequently, in the rt'ork of the parent society. When he became secretary, there *.r" {t*., than 800 members; now there are nearh' 2000. The income of the society was d4500; now it is

\tsLtot'st' \i-.

-

lears har-e lrl, -.:

i-:

practicalh ajl '

-:

atrd grazi"t'-: ::.

In addtl-, periies. e\: ':.':.pcl'tir. .i- (.'.: '. rlrrlrcd:

nearly {25,000. The entries lbr the herd book rvere under 5000; nou' thev are in the region of 8000' KEr-lr:;r

as

mzrn of parts. l:or gtiodness knolvs hou' manv ,vears he ,"u, o ,..ti.,. lruit officer in the N'S'\V' Department of Agriculture. Since 1 u'zrs a litt1e bov he lias been doing

Sydney and Wagga, he returned to England, where he studied under Piofessor Robert Boutflour, Principal of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester' Professor Boutflour:, ol course, recently visited Australia, on the invitation of the New South Wales N'Iilk Board'

* *

*

'l'. N. (mole gencralh' ktto"r'rt

Burrabogie (Hay, N.S.W.) Merino stud, and after 12 montf,s.riih the N.Z' L' and F. stock department, in

impt.vement'

,+ *

8

I :t

:r' -: ,r\.er ti-re past fert' .--. - : .-.' I :: . :-.;--l'-ies ft'<lm overseas, = . -tntists, and farmers :. : :ire Cjommonrvealth :. \'-,rth Richmond Pro... . t-:-.g conducted on Pro-

-.:-: (lt'atrse, recentlY ac.' -. .ri plesen(, are in ir :l l r l.llr:t;rr.

I Ul5,5

\lorked-our, hungri' condition. lVithin three or four vears revolutionary changes

wili have taken place : the practical application of the Keyline Plan to poor soil.

Both properties r,r,ill then be in full production.

:\t a "rvelcome" to orrl .* *.rO Lou Toyne (former Agricultural Attache to the U.S. Embassy at Canber-ra), Lou gave some good advice : "Get together you hare too many farmers' organisations!"

It is my personal opinion not, necessarily, the offlcial view of The Keyline (Research) Foundation that Lou is right. Few will deny that he is well qualified, by.virtue of his U.S. and Australian experience, to give advice on rhis subject.

'I'oo rnarrl' producers' orgarrisatiorrs rnean a dissipation of energies; and, consequently, the primarl, producer does not exert the influence he should orr public policy and his own industr-y. \\rhat is the position overseas?

Probably the most powerful {brmers' organisatiou

in the world today is the Milk Marketing Board of England and Wales" It is constituted by Act of parlia-

ment, and is the only recognised body in the dairving industry in Errgland and Wales; and on it the larmei has effective contlol. 'fhe Goverrrment is represented on the regional commirtees and on the centrai council, but never by more than 2 per cent. o{'the total numlter ol delegates. A Government nominee is not eligible for election as a chairman of a committee or council.

To get an idea of the Board's scope it is as though the Dairy Branch of the N.S.W. Department of Agii culture, the N.S.W. Milk Board, the butter factoiies and a.i. centres were one organisation.

The Milk N,Iarketing Board advises the Government of the day on matters concerning the industry, on a non-political basis. Its influence and prestige is not effected by changes of Government. One of its .,'ital services to the dairyfarmer has been its elimination of

came up on u'hich more information rvas required.

Turning to the Local Government representative, the chairman asked him {br the information. The official replied somewhat er.asively. Like a shot, the chairman told him that it was his.job to have the facts; if he didn't know them, he was to equip hirnself r'r,ith them for the next meeting ancl date stated.

-time

Although his manner was friendly enough, the chairman's direction was really an ultimatum. He added: "You know, Mr. you are our representative. We put you there, and if you cannot give us --,other alternative than to the information we have no get rid of you."

Can you imagine such a directiorr being give n here?

But we have farmers lr,ho are eminently capable o1' handling large affairs. Australia, afier ail, is a primaryproducing country.

A consolidated fhrrners' organisation would not orily be more effective tharr a variet), ol orgarrisations -- it r,r.,ould be rnore econclmical.

'I'he short stor), in inrs;

*.rt,,'s Krvr,rNr,

"Stifl'

Luck for the Colonel", b,v Cecil Nlann, r,r,as originally published in "'I'he Bulletirr". It has been selected because, irr the opiniorr ol c:ritics, it is one <.r1'tl-re best Anstralian short stories ever r'vritten. I clon'1 pretend to be an arrthoritl, on literatnre, but lr,hai irnplesses me is its thoroughl,v Australian character. 'I'he same can be said of Cecil \Iann, u,hom I met at Nevallan a couple of weeks ago. He is a \AIar I Digger atrcl an N,I.M., and lor:ks the part. yisitors to "Nevollon"-1. to R.: f. McDougall (Gen. Sec. Formers ond Settlers' Assoc. of N.S.W. ond Sec. Aust. Wool ond Meat Producers' Federotion), B. Cole (President Aust. Wool ond Meot Producers' Federotion), F. R. Howell (Aust. Wooljond Meot Producers' Federotion ond Aust. Wool Bureau), ond G. B. Hunter (Wheat ond Wocl Crowers of Yic,).

"stop days". It undertakes responsibility for the of a1l milk, regardless of volume and the time of year, at a common price fixed by the Board at the beginning of each year. Apart from this, and disposal

other services, the Roard's publicity scheme has caused

a steady and increasing rise in the consumption of

milk in England and Wales.

In Canada and the U.S.A. the set-up is somer,r,hat similar, with the difference that in these countries the processirrg side is separate, .being reserved for companies and co-operatives, on the understanding that these lvill not infringe each other's rights. It is ex_

tremely difficult for a supplier to return to the loid should he break away voluntarilv, or if, for some

reason, his milk has been refused.

,t\ttending a reaional general meeting of larmers in America, I rvas very impressed b,v the forthright rnanner ol the discussions. Probablv the farmer_ chairman u,asn't strong r)n meeting-procedure, but he knerv ,,r,hat he u,anted. On this occasion a matter I\

E

\'

t.1 N

Ir.

Sr t,r t.rrtrltr. l !J55

KE.YLII\E. By

E.

l. BREAKWELL, M.Ag.Sc.

Pastures Adviser to the Australian Mercantile Land & Finance Co. Ltd'

ti,sr 1,rl,lishirl lr .1.11./. k b. in rlpir llots" llilletitt

Yeontans preserlts the case for" Keyline very well in his book Thi Ke2tine PLatu\Nhe:n I first read this book, I, like rnany others, dismissed it as quite a good idea

but not widely applicable. Nor did

I

agree u'ith all his

interpretatio"t u"h expianations. I still consider that some of his inference. ha.'. yet to be proved, but that does not affect my acceptance of the central idea' It r,r'as onlv quite recently that the significance of Keyline really dawned on me. In the past year when driving through the countryside, I have-often glanced at the valieys and hills and thought: "Well, Keyline might be utt .igt t at Yeomans' property-.at North Rilhmond, N.S.W., but it could not be applied here"'

Mr. Breakwell examining soil ot Yeomons' property, Campbelltown.

In this attitude I was quite wrong' I am certain now that it can be applied over vast areas and applied very

simply. I don'tia''ant to quote extracts.from.Yeomans' book nor do I want to complicate the issue by arguing about the merits of deep aeration of a soil or a build up of earthworms. Keyline is sufficiently attractive to me if it brings about maximum absorption of the rain into

ANY graziers have heard of Keyline farming, a small number understand

it

and only a very

few practise it.

the soil. i.nd

One can appreciate this situation, fbr Keyline is nelv and it comes at a time r,vhen methods of pasture im6i11e1 elements, provement are changing rapidly chisel ploughing, seed inoculation, rt'ater harvesting, sod-seeding, and nor,v Keyline.

I wish to talk about Keyiine at some length because I am becoming convinced that it could be a very big thing in national development and so is rvorthy of stud-v by all farsighted people. Concisely stated, Keyline is a method of obtaining maximum absorption by the soil of rain which falls on the farm' This is an obvious and laudable objective, but the Keyline principle is one which strangely enough has evaded a veritable arrny of scientific workers and practical farmers over the past lbrty vears.

believe it to be the most effective method

Yeomans is somewhat justified in being critical of current soil erosion control practices' Graded banks and absorption banks merely decrease erosion by .

controlling the velocity of the water which runs off the field. Contour or pasture furrows merely catch and concentrate the water, the land between the furrows being a watershed. \\rhile soil conserwationists have ut*uly. stressed that graded banks and pasture furrows must be assisted by sound land husbandry which will improve the soil's intake of rain, it seems to me that the mJchanics of Keyline are a big advance on the mechanics of graded banks and contour furrows'

The principle of Keyline is based upon the

con-

sistent reiationship rvhich exists betlveen the slope of

P. A. Yeomans is the founder and driving force behind Keyline and if it succeeds, as I believe it will succeed, he will have made a contribution to agriculture of the utmost magnitude.

Kt, vr,rxr,

I

yet in this resPect.

a valley and that of the ridges on either-side' Yeomans has shown how one can select a keypoint in a valley,

this being the point where the vailey commences to

l(l

Srrrrtrann,

1955

llatten out. The Ke,vline is the contour linc Irom this point at the centre of the valley to the acljacent spurs.

This is the only "surveving" work necessary'-_ to peg the Keyline. Such is the ingenuity of the man that he has even manufactrrred a very cheap and eflicient level to replace the standald dumpy ievei. After the Keyline is pegg-ed it is therr.jr-rst a rnatter ol'ploug-hine- parzrllel to thc Keyline no need for any lirrther surve ying and - accuracy, as is demanded with all conno need {br great tour: rvorks. The ploughman usins a chisel plow of course --- u.orks up from the- Keyline and completes that area first, then down lrom the Keyline. Such is the relationship of the slope of a valley to those of its neighbouring ridges that the net effect of Keyline ploughing is to make furror,vs which slope downwards from the valley to the ridges. I'hus anv water which falls on to the area does not skid off the ridges to rush dorvn the valley and into the nearest creek. On the corltrary, it is kept movins back on to the ridges. It' is kept on the soil surlhce until it soaks irl lnd so rrrrrxi-

rnrrrn al:sor'pLion ri[' rain .is efrbe:terl.

It rnight still sorrnd a bit compiicated Lo those lvho haven't studied Keyline, but I can assure such people that it isn't. It is a simple principle once understood and as Yeomans contends, it can be applied to a singlc small or large paddock or a farm and it can be appiied to a ."r,ell developed property or to virgin countrv.

Clarried out to its full, it is a complete plan fr,lr farrn

development influencing soii, crops, pasture, trees and dams.

Once the maximum amount of water is absorbed plants r,vill grow better. Better plants mean more organic matter. More orsanic matter meaus more fertility zrnd an improvement in the physical condition o1' the soil. Yeomans describes horv he capitalises upon the increase in organic matter by incorporating it into the

soil and promoting decay by greater aeration. This is a rvell-knorvn agricultural principle, but in this case the relatively new chisel plow is the implement which does the work.

But one bite of the apple is enough for a start. If graziers on hilly or sloping country only understand the mechanics of Keyline and appreciate how it can improve the rainfall intake, then the rest will follow.

Rainfall is the most important thing eet it into the soii, then learn how to capitalise it. -

I arn merely a strrdent of Keyline irt that, so

I

and a nerv student

arn not prepared to enter itrto deep controversy on the matter. I am urging however, that graziers study it closely buy or borrow the book, examine Keyline work or- contact Mr. Harold Sarina, Organising Secretarv o{' the Keyline Foundation.

"Blair," 74 Elizabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay, In very many cases it rvill

S.vdney. (Tel. FA3330).

be time rvell spent.

Clover; The pldnt on the leftwas o typical specimen fron a t1B}-per-ocre prcperty. The plant on the right wos on oyeroge sample frcm tfie highest shale hill on "Nevollon".

,"".#.

;

.:AE

"If your ansrver to this proposal should be favourable, would you kindly send me advice of same by

a piece of what was then called Southern Area parts of country taking in most sor,tthern and eastern

wire; so that

Australia.

After which he retired as a casualty-this time from a combination of ills brought on by a steady diet of work.

But he was back in harness again at the George

I

could have a suitable officer selected

and ready to move to join you at an early date.

"Wishing you all possible

success.

Yours very sincerely,

J. MoNasH."

a spell. As the accompanying it has turned out, the alternations of careers have Street address after

Across the top, "Copy for liaison officer when ap-

photographs indicate, he's still in harness. And, as

pointed.-J.lW." Moyes was the officer appointed. (rn6f exhaustive but suggestive" *-' goes with the letter. Set down in proper order, 1, 2, 3, two quotations give the general idea:

blended nicely, giving background and balance to

A list of dutis5

3. !-rontages, defitht, leapfrogging, and

professional judgment and personality. But there must after Ypres, for have been a couple of occasions

instance, and when the wool career-folded up -* when the going seemed a bit rugged.

And that, of course, is the way of Iife with most of the secret is in the reaction. us

nwnbers

employed:

(a) for waues, (b') mopping up,

-

(c') carrlting,

(d) (e)

reserues,

couering cauolidalion"

23. 'fa

keep us Jullt in touch, not be repeating a.flow oJ ltoltlt ruessages, but b2 giuing periodital resumds euery one to three hours and wheneaer anl,thing reallt

(ql,tne,

intportant happens.

Similar rvork followed attached to the N.Z. - Division.

Division and to the 3rd British N{ajor N{oyes rvas severely wounded on the Ypres the end of his Salient in October,'17, losing a leg career as a regular soldier.

Men who were to become I)ivisional Commanders in War II had less promising beginnings in \'Var I Distinguished service in the field and staff u'or* to

Krvr-rNE, the official nionthly journal of the Keyline (Research) Foundation, is published by Keyline Publishing Pty. Limited, 117 Pitt Street, Sydney. 'I-hc primaw purpose of the journal is to reflect the r,vork and aims of the Keyline Foundation in propagating

:

Australia.

Contributions on all topics of interest to the manon-the-land are invited, however, and rvill be paid for at standard rates or better, according to quality.

Where possible, articles should be accompanied by photographs. Al1 contribritions and editorial correspondence should be addressed to the Editor, Kr'vrrNn, Room 6,8th Floor, 117 Pitt Street, Sydney Ail advertising inquiries, space orders, copy instructions, materials, etc., should be directed to J. T. O'Mara, Room 2, 3rd Floor, 283 Elizabeth Street, Sydrey (NIA 2688).

Suitable binders rvill shortly be available so that copies of Kevr-rNn ma,v be cont'eniently filed arrd the Keyline technique of larming throughout

N{onash's exacting standards. llowever, he didn't sit around feeling sorry for himself. Before going back to Australia he studied the wool game at Bradford; did wool-classing rvhen he came back to Australia (it's usually the other way round) and, at John Vicars and Sons, lvorked his sorting, way through all sections of the business - buying. scouring, carbonising, spinning, weaving, and But the stump wouldn't stand up to this, so he tried

something new financial journalism. One of his - fbr the job, at that stage, was his chief qualifications specialised knowledge of the wool trade.

himself for his new job he studied Economics, as an evening student, at Sydney University; and, over the years, learned a lot about mining, inspecting mines all over the Commonwealth. lVhen War II broke out he went back into the Ar-y. Minus a leg, of course, there was no hope of service overseas and the opportunities for command which go rvith such service. But there was plenty for him to dr.r. For a start, in 1939 he was appointed D.A.A.G. and Director of Organisation and Personnel, Eastern Command; then, over a period, A.A, and Q.M.G., Headquarters, Eastern Command Training Depots; C.O. Troops on l,eave; A.A. and Q.M.G., N.S.W. L. of C. Area, and, later, the same initials ibr

I'o equip

Kr

v Ll,r l:

_:::1::":_ I

YEAR,

LTD.,

Plese enter my subscriPtion for "Keyline" commencing with

.issue{or.,,,,, NAME (Block Letters).

.

ADDRESS

(srATE)

I 14

enclose cheque,money order,/postal nole for.

\ll,

I I I I I

I I I I

| I I | I

I I I

__.

SUBSCRIPTION ORDER 30/- 2 YEARS, 60/- 3 YEARS, 90/-

TO KEYLINE PUBLISHING PTY '!17 Pitt Street, SYdneY.

I

Ir.\{ft r.R. i!l-i5

I

I

IIII

!

*r,*ned in Australia-built

in Australia

I I lhe only ltuclot IYIG I I rllilh lhese f[lUB I I I imnotlonl leulurGs I I TIITII!G T

k,?

Ti .t;l' ::.'.l"it"I:E:'"

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suPq IiatgnP TYRES

I I I I

TRAGTOR

TITIIIIIIIIII THE GREATEST GRIP OIT EARTH !

Kryr"rxr

SepreMsoR. 1955

The Budget Speech, Conberro.

THE,

i{ATIOl\{AL BT]DGE,T

By A. C.

MOYES

Sir Arthur Fodden, Treosurer.

RFIVOi.LTION has taken prlacr: in economic and political thirrking sincc the depression ol the 1930's. During World \\'al II and sincrc events have sholvn that economics can be made the servant of public policy, not its master, thus making nonsense of the nineteenth century belief that an "invisible hand" controls our economic destinies.

In the modern community a focal point of Government policy, accepted bv all parties, is the fullemployrnent pledge of Article 55 (a) of the United Nations. This calls upon member countries to promote

"higher standards of living, fuil employrnent, and conditions of economic and social progress and development".

The problems that arose during the depression, the r,var and post-war periods, and the measures taken to meet them, have stimulated research into the national

income. This in turn deveioped into closer study of all money-florvs betrveen the main sectors of the business enterprises, households, banks economy and other -financial institutions, Governments and the rest of the lr'orld.

The importance of it all lies in the thct that the level of national income, and the portions of it generated by the various groups, help to determine the level of demand for all the goods ploduced and serwices rendered throughout the conmurritr'. Also a hreakdorvn

Kr nlrNt

16

\r:r,r'r.lror:n. M55

ol the total into its various components

are subject to lvide margin of error; which is one of the greatest weaknesses, as well as one of the strongest grounds for criticism, of the whole system of national budgeting. This defect, however, is being steadily reduced to less serious proportions as the volume of detailed inforrnation increases, thus enabling better statistical methods to be employed"

provides

useful indicators to the pattern of consumption, expenditure, and rates of savings and capital formation.

John Maynard Keynes (late Lord Keynes) was one contributors to the new concept. His arguments have been carefully examined

of the greatest individual

and severely criticised the world over. Some of them have been shown to be wrong, and others badly expressed" The fundamentals ol his theory, however, have won acceptance throughout the western world, especially among the rising generation, and now form the basis of national budgeting in Australia and else-

When the various components of total income and expenditure are known, and their relationships understood, the Treasurer and his advisers have abundant material on which to base policy decisions relating to such matters as taxation (direct and indirect), subsidies, capital expenditure, wages, import controls, etc, However imperfect, we have at hand a tool which is something better to rely upon than the intuition of the politician turned prophet.

Details of this preliminary estimate, or forecast, are rrot published. Its counterpart in thefield of trade and industry is the break-even budget, which, in these days of rapidly changing conditions, is often a quarterly or half-yearly projection of anticipated results. For purposes of illustration let us take an imaginar.y comrnunity whose expected, or estimated, national income and expenditure at the beginning of the year is as .in the

rvhere-

The essence of Keynes's argument is that the level of emplol,rnent depends upon the level of expenditure by (l ) consumers, (2) businesses, and (3) Governments.

The logical deduction is that if the aggregate expenditure of the three groups is not sreat enough to buy all the goods produced and services rendered by a fully employed community, then unemplo),rnent, and all

the evils that go with it, will follow. On the other hand, there will be inflation, and a different set of troubles, if aggregate expenditure by the groups exceeds the amount needed to pay for all the said

table below : If the community was fully empioyed at current levels of wages and salaries, {5000 million worth of goods, etc., wouid be produced during the year. But {500 million of capital would be consumed in the process, and the gross figure includes also d250 million of indirect taxes less subsidies. After deduction of these two items we are left with {4250 million, which is the

goods and services when everybody has a job. If there is inflation, it means that people are not saving enough.

As a corrective measure, the Government then in and does some of the saving for them.

steps

The public firrance system is an important part of

the mechanism by which Governments seek to bring about the desired results. Under a competitive-ente1'-

prise systelx, which gives freedom ro individual initiative, and which is partly dependent upon u,hat happens in the outside world, there can never be absolute stabiiity in either trade activity or employment. Even in an advancing economy, Iike our own, some industries go ahead more rapidty than others,

net amount of new wealth produced, technically known as the national income at factor cost, or the amount which can be spent on home goods and services rvithout causing inflationary pressure.

The table also assumes that the total home demand from all sources exceeded the net amount of new wealth created by {100 million, which was met by drawing

and some may decline. The proper role of the Government is to foster conditions under which adjustment can be made with the minimum of dislocaiion and

upon overseas balances, or savings. So in the absence of

hardship.

Government action, inflationary ptessure to the tune of {100 million would be released in the econ<-rmy.

The position as set out in the table is a drastic oversimplification of reality. It assumes that the estimates are in fact correct, and that prices and demand remain static, whereas in the lvorld of affairs they are dynamic.

The Treasurer's first step, before framing his parIiamentary Budget, is to estimate the expected level o{' the national income for the ensuing year at current price-levels. This is a complicated and difficult task, lvhich cannot be discussed in detail here, and the results

NATIONAL INCOME AND EXPENDITURE (A" forecast at beginning of year) . fm.

Gross national product

Less Depreciatibn lndirect taxes lesi ruUniOl., .

.

National income at factor cost Balance of payments deficit. .

Total resources available . .

Knvr,rra

fm.

Private consumption .

Governmenr cohsumption Gross investment (Government and private)

s,000 500 250

2,500 900 950

4,250 100

Total home call on resources

4,350

t7

.

.

4Jso

Serrr:uaon,1955

have cost him real of d24B mil1ion.

money-in

This is imposing a serious hardship on farmers, par'ticularly on those who depend entirely on wheat. For share-farmers who are apt to operate on a shoe-string

the last ten years a total

Throughout the post-war years the Australian grower has been supplying wheat for home-consumption at a price unimaginable in any other country.

This price varied according to a computed cost of production (like the basic wage) without a margin of profit. Fclir example, when the export price was at a peak in 1949 and the I.W.A. price at 16s. 1d., the homeconsumption price was 6s. 8d.

budget,

The Australian system of making paytnents for wheat

that, despite the astronomical sums the industry has contributed to keeping down the nation's cost of living, any assistance forthcoming to meet the present difficulties has been temporary, grudging, mean artd always repayable with interest.

The Federal Government, for instance, guarantees funds through the Commonwealth Bank for making the first advance to growers after each harvest, but the repayment of that money is a first charge against the sales of wheat. AIl subsequent payments to growers have to wait for further sales, no matter how long it may take to make them. Hence the delay, when sales are slow, before the second payment on which the grower largely depends to finance his operations.

Departmental officers in assessing the cost of production is a fair one. For example, it made no allowance for interest on working capital; the farmer's wage ailowance was less than a shed-hand's; and his land was valued at the incredibly low figure of d6 2s. 8d. per acre.

At the present time the second payment on the 1953 harvest is promised in October 1955, and this only a meagre amount of about ls. per bushel Still leaving payments to growers weli below the cost of production, on costs which began to be incurred (in part) as far back as mid 1952, in preparation of land for sowing.

The only reasons why wheatfarmers have been able to carry on so long under these punishing conditions have been the continuing'high overseas price, and the seasons.

But since

1953

there has been a good deal of uneasiness. In that year Great Britain refused to carry on with the I.W.A.

Meanwhile, State Government concerns are charging storage on the unsold surplus, and despite press statements which might lead the public to believe that much is being done by the N.S.IV. and other State Governments to cope with the storage problem, the fact is that

This action provided the realistic answer to the naive argument advanced in favour of the I"W.A" that countries which benewhen it was first mooted - prices were high would be fited from it when wheat so fil1ed with gratitude that they would continue to pay the fixed I.W.A. price when the shortage was over

it

was the Federal Government which provided the grant of d3,500,000 for emergency storage. Moreover, true to previous form, this grant is a charge on the wheat industry, to be repaid in instalments over 20 years, and tlnen, when paid for b1 the Jarmers, the buikheads and silos thus erected are to become the propert2

and world prices fell below the agreed price.

Britain, the chief benefactor under the I.W.A., a further blow to the Australian wheat industry by abolishing Government bulk buying, and soon gave

of the State Gouernment instrumentalities.

The absurdity of the wheatgrowers continuing to buy and give away more and more emergency storage

instituting trader-to-trader purchase. This has not only resulted in much more difficult and complicated sales, but has lost Australia a great part of her British market to the Argentine, where British milling interests are reputed to have substantial investments,

as the surplus builds up soon becomes apparent. Wheat

in the improvised tlpe of bulkhead now being erected is by no means safe. It is impossible to maintain completely effective control of weevil-infestation; it is impossible to "turn" the wheat in order to guard against "hot spots", and there is ahvays a possibility of damage

In the last years there has been a continual struggle on the part of all wheat-exporting countries to maintain a payabie overseas price. In U.S" and Canada stock-

piling and

price-subsidies

paid to growers by

the

by rain-water.

Government have assisted producers. In Australia, a public fed at the grower's expense on the cheapest bread in the v,orld, has been completely indifferent; in fact, the great majority appear to be completely

It was, in fact, recently discovered that the huge three-million-bushel bulkhead atJunee, finished only a short time ago, was leaking so badly that the whole of one side of the roof would have to be taken off and replaced r,vith an over-lap of trn'o corrugations of the iron instead of the present one-and-a-half. (The roof of such a bulkhead is a vast affair; the bulk of the structure, in fact.)

This year's wheat harvest is likely to be larger than last year's, and since it is by no means safe to assume that we can hold eristing markets, it is expected that

ignorant of the situation.

The position in Austraiia today is beginning to be grim. Slow sales have not only crowded our storage beyond the limits of safety, but they have resulted in delayed payments to growers. On wheat harvested in 1953, at time of writing, only the first advance of Bs. net to growers (very much below the cost of production) has been paid; the same applies to the 1954 harvest.

KevlrNn

is disastrous.

is unique among wheat-growing nations in

Despite the protests of farmers there was little relief from this imposition until 1953, when a home price of 14s. was agreed to. This however is not much in excess ofthe actual present cost ofproduction; farmers have never agreed that the formula employed by the

run of exceptionally good

it

20

Sr.ernnnln,

1955

the surplus will be substantially increased. There is good reason to assume that sales will be down, hecause India has been stock-piling Australian wheat as an insurance against famine, and that type of purchase cannot be expected to continue to any great extent.

regarded as a reserve to be paid hack to tire contributing gri*..t should there be a drop in rvheat^prices helovr

Alarming questions immediately suggest themselves.

How will the surplus be stored? And at whose expense?

What is going to happen to wheat already in insecure storage for too long a period?

The old-time reassluance that all that is needed to rectif.v the position is a bad wheat-season in one of the major exporting countries is no longer valid' Stock-

So far nuisance

ih" .ost of production. It is a rotating fund; that

is,

a new tax was to be collected every year and the surplus

over an agreed amount returned to the growers'

has been nothing but an expense and a to growers, and in the crisis norv looming

it

it will be completell' futile as the shock-absorber it was intended to be. The funcl, at present, contains to meet the kind d5,500,000, an insignificant amotlnt

of crisis to be exPected. fu1l-amount during Just rvhy it r'r'asn't built up to the teii here; political to a story long is too thI better years opportunism enters into it, and the resistance of gio*.r, to being taxed for a scheme which promised no benefits except a minor price-eclualisation' To attempt to build the fund up now by making the maximum livy of ls. 6d. on the last year's crop would have the effect of reducing the net return to growers of that crop to a level below the cost ofproduction; thus reaching the condition under rvhich money u'as to he paid out of the Stabilisation Fund'

piling of wheat has assumed fantastic proportions. In tfre U.S. it has been rising at the rate of 200 million bushels a year until it has reached 1,210 million bushels. Besides this, the U.S. has stored tuice that quantity of rnaize, as well as 600 million bushels of oats and 100 million bushels of barley. Canada also has vast amounts. The world is unlikely to become hungry enough to eat all the stored grain for some considerable time.

In the face of this position it seems surprising that the Australian farmer may still expect a price of 14s. for the 1953 harvest, at ports; that is, a net 11s' 7d' to growers. It is, in fact, quite a feat on the part of the

In other wheat-exporting countries the growers

being helped over tlee fal1

are

in volume and price of

."po"rt-*h.ut by a high price f9r lo.c^altf consumed wheat. In Australia it might be asked if the consumers

Australian Wheat Board, and only achieved by the close

selling co-operation of the three major exporting nations. But only a starry-eyed optimist would expect a similar return for the 1954 harvest. As for the 1955 harvest . " . I don't like to think about it.

At this point the intelligent daily-newspaper reader will exclaim: "But isn't there a Wheat Stabilisation Scheme, sponsored by the Federal and State Governments, designed to meet the needs of just the sort of crisis now anticipated?"

are going to do something similar in view of the benefits

theli have received over the past 10 years' But the

The answer to that question is, there is such a scheme, and it has beenjustifiably described by an enlightened Federal parliamentarian as the most ludicrous arrange-

ment ever entered into by rational people.

Under this scheme a fund was to have been built up by imposing a tax on wheat of Is. to ls. 6d. per bushel, to reach a maximum of d20 million, to be

Wheot srlos ond sub-terminol bulkheod at Temoro (N.S.W.)

Ks

vr-rrr

'21

5llrr,lrer.n,

1955

less favourably situated will attempt to grow wheat more economically. That is, they will try to make up for low returns by making greater demands on their soil's fertility, thus returning to the ravaging of the land

question is not being asked with any confidence by the growers. They know the answer,

Australian Governments have always tended to oppose official reduction of wheat acreages. Understandably, because the country would lose exportincome needed to balance the Budget, and because

which took place in the 'thirties. This will be

unemplognent would speedily result. It has been calculated that each wheatgrower keeps l0 men employed

The lesson from all this for the people and the Governments of Australia is surely that the wheat in-

in allied industries. Wheatgrowers are great

dustry should cease to be the plaything of politicians.

Left to itself it would manage to survive its periodic

spenders : on machinery; on tractor fuel; on transport

(particularly railway freight) ; on fertilisers; and, in good seasons, on income-tax.

in the good times. why the industry wheat should be the victim Just ol the public is difficult to explain, in view of the immunity from this form of punishment which is enjoyed by other industries. It seems that a cry of "cheap bread for the masses!" is enough to make our Iegislators forget all the usual concepts ofjustice and fair play.

The wheat industri, has never been as secure or as firmly established as the vr,ool industry, for example, yet there has nevel been a successful attempt to discriminate against the woolgrowers in a similar manner. Only the peak-year levy of 20 per cent. of returns, rvhich amounted to taxation paid in advance, and corstituted no permanent loss to woolgrowers.

(Under exceptional conditions the steel industry was crises, by building up reserves

When they give up wheatgrowing there is generally may slightly increase the number of sheep or cattle carried, but the usual procedure is to dismiss hands or put off sharefarmers, and cut down on expenditure to fit a

no adequate compensating production. They

smaller gross income.

This policy, practised on a large scale, would have immediate economic repercussions throughout the counhy. It should be remembered that the full impact of the 1930's depression hit Australia when wheatprices feil below the cost of production.

But the prospects of the farmer being able to reduce his costs are regarded as quite hopeless since all of the increase has been due to factors off the farm. A small indication of the trends is given by the recent marginal rise in clerical salaries; this will cost the wheatgrowers

obliged to supply a fixed-price home market when there was a lucrative export market to be exploited, but the case is not analagous to the wheat position for a number

a direct {60,000 annuaily for the additionai costs of

the Wheat Board staff. A small amount, relatively, yet one of the hundreds of irrevocable minor increases in

of

thinl<able.

The future of wheatgrowing, viewed from the producers' angle, holds two possibilities : one is that those growers in areas adaptable to grazing will switch their production to stock and curtaii their spending; others

HE NA'I'IOI{AL

part fully employed.

It

B

UDGE,T

Continued from page 18

important industries their importance is partly illustrated by charts -I and 2 to an expanding - are to contribute economy must be facilitated if they fully to, and share equitably in, economic growth.

No Government can of itself create real and lasting prosperity. A thriving industry depends fundamentally upon the efficiency, skill, imagination, and enterprise of those engaged in it. Pastoralists and farmers tliemselves must keep abreast of the latest developments relating to herd and crop improvements, and use modern eguipment and techniques designed to enrich pastures and enhance the volume and quality of production, and at the same time reduce costs.

means that we are slipping too

far into the zone of inflation, thus preventing maintenance of a reasonably stable level of consumer prices.

With things as they are, those in the export industries are thus being called upon to pay su-ccessively increasing prices for the things they buy, while at the same time

prices for the things they sell are receding.

The export industries "terms of trade" fluctuate

widely with the rest of the economy. Prices and incomes are particularly sensitive

nature; plant and animal

diseases

to the vagaries of and droughts and

in the size and quality of crops and herds. The adjustment of these basic and

floods cause costly changes

Krvlrne

reasons.)

The wool-men will have their crises, too, but becau.se they have been free from victimisation of the kind inflicted on wheatgrowers, they will be able to survive them. The wheat industry could do the same, given similar treatment. If nothing is done for it now, as nothing appears likely to be done, at least the troubles which will spring from the resulting economic recession should be a iesson to Governments to leave the wheatgrowers alone in the future.

costs which have accumulated to double the cost of producing wheat in the last l0 years, The likelihood of this process being put into reverse is quite un-

.f

ac-

companied by a lowering of living standards on farms, which will accelerate the drift to the cities.

22

Srie'rruern,

1955

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23

Sre rrrraera, 1955

!

J

ARTIF'ICIAL INSE,MI}TATIOI\T An interview with Mr. Graham Edgar, head of the Veterinary Research Station at Glenfield (N.S.W.)

"\,ZES," Mr. Edgar said, "we were the first people I in Australia to hear anything of a.i. That was in Max Henry's time. It came about by us seeing a reference to it in a Russian publication in

Q. : "What has been the history here?"

A.

1932. We had a Pole on the staff who read Russian.

As a result of that we got interested in this business."

The technique has been in the news lately, with a centre in operation at Berry, on the N.S.W. South

Coast, an independent set-up

in the Hunter

River

Valley, and similar projects in train or in blueprint in other States. And, we suspect, a certain amount of nonsense has been talked about it.

"We knew Denmark was developing it all through

"It has not been quite the same here. This centre

The Research Station at Glenfield is a part of the New South Wales Agricultural Department. Referring to Glenfield, Mr. Edgar remarked that an a.i. centre was

the War," Mr. Edgar continued, "and in 1943 r've started with our first equipment from the Dunlop

in 1944. what stock?"

"With Q.:

Ruhber Company. There were the war-time restrictions business, of course. In the U.K. they were stepping up

established there

breeding. In fact by 1946 they had 29 centres and now have over 100 I am speaking ofEngland. It started off with the ministry then it was taken over by the - Joseph Edwards is the man Milk Marketing Board. appointed as technicai advisor to the U.K. Board."

Question : "What is the present U.K. set-up?"

A. : "Illawarras, Guernseys and Ayrshires. A meeting was convened at Camden, and it rvas decided that we must investigate it. We had two veterinary officers working on it. We would open up here every morning.

A clerk came in at eight a.m. to take cails for the number of cows in seasoh. Before nine-thirty a.m. the vehicle went out to the farms. \Are had a service for the farmers lvere not interested !

Sundays but they

Ansrver: "There are 18 members of the Milk Marketing Board and there are eleven regions. Eighty per cent. of cows are artificially inseminated."

Ksvr,rNe

:

and Hunter Vailey have not developed so quickly.

Finance enters into the question, and the more limited powers of a Government Department compared, for instance, with the U.K. Milk Marketing Board in regard to trading. We have 240 herds all very -good producers coming in all the time.

- Getting operators is a problem. Best to find someone who is interested and train him."

It became plain that Mr. Edgar was discussing the centre at Berry, which is administered from Glenfield.

- with nothing to do Our fellows would- stay half a day

2+

Sre'rr,usr,a,

1955

t

{

left: (1) Collecting semen from the ortificiol vogino.

(2) Extending the semen. (3) Semen is extended by being odded to d mixture of egg yolk ond sodium citrote in equal parts with proportions of sulphanilimide, streptomycin ond penicillin. (4) Semen is token ta the form in o sterilised vocuum contoiner, Here the operotor is withdrowing the semen into the sterilised g/oss tube Above, from

Below: (1) Preporing to inseminote. The operotor holds in his left hond the gloss tube containing the semen. (2) Records ore importont, ond every dairy former should hove o record of his herd, indicating motings ond progeny.

used in the inseminotion.

on Sundays. We had to close down the Sunday service and then, gradually the whole thing tapered off. We do get a bit of local work but, mainly, we get the backyard cows."

Q.: "Not much scientific information from that

sort of service?"

A.

: "Nothing of scientific

interest."

Q. : "What about Berry?"

A. : "In 1948 Berry was selected as a suitable centre and_it is now suffering from 'growing pains., At Berry we have part of the Weifare Farm. We have twenty acres under a Memorandum Agreement from the Department of Education. The Minister went to the Agricultural Council and got a grant from them to have a dairy building converted into a laboratory, and an

additional grant to run

it,

and the whole thing

has

gone ahead by leaps and bounds. We are supervising it by having an officer from here go down two days i week. We have three technicians going flat out all the time, and they have three vehicles down there. Last week they recorded 1,000 in the one week."

Q.: "How many bulls?"

A. : "Eight or nine. All breeds except Hunter River have the.ferseys.'.'

Kr vlrlrr

Jerseys.

Seeronor,n, 1955

ice around

it, bringing it to a temperature of about

0 degrees Centigrade, or about thirty-six to thirty-eight

You have to keep it cool and you it on foam-rubber, because the movement

degrees Fahrenheit.

have to keep

of the vehicle disturbs it."

Q. : "Is itbrought to blood-temperature

before being

used?"

A.

: "No, it is used al that temperature. Injected It livens up immediately."

lU

straight into the cervix.

Q. : "What is the conception rate?"

A.: "Generally about sixty-eight to seventy per cent. Pick up another fifteen or so in some herds, and a fewclaim ahundred per cent. At Berry the first twentyeight conceived immediately that was a good herd.

- into the question But a good many factors come diseases in cows, general fertility of the herd. We have herd recording sheets out but not much information has come back. If we only had some data on some of the factors causing infertility. Some farmers just hang the recording sheets on the walls to gather dust. Or they write vital information on cigarette-papers or match-boxes. Or they date something from some local or family happening like the day Andy went to town and got drunk."

Q.: "Is much special knowledge needed for the

"l

claim they get 75 per cent. We have had 58 per cent. at Trangie. Artificial insemination, under Australian conditions, has a limited application for sheep. You do not get the same conception rate as with bovine

technique ?"

A. : "Yes, you have to develop a certain amount of dexterity, and also learn how to appraise quality.

Examination with the naked eye can tell a great deal, and there is also microscopic examination. Dilution

semen. The highest conception rate has been achieved

with cattle poor,"

about one in twenty for some purposes, instead of one in five with a specially prepared egg phosphate that is, -a phosphate ofsalts and egg-yolk the experienced fellow knows how much to dilute.- Yes, there's quite a bit to it.

"Sometimes you may collect from a bull and have enough for a hundred, and only have calls for fifty or sixty. You see, here, how turnover can reduce costs?

You have to discard on the fourth or fifth day unless you have low-temperature storage, You must have it in an ampoule and in deep-freeze. Then there is no loss; you can use it nine months a{ter you have collected it, or even longer. It is a matter of the cells, and there is a limit to what you can do with suspended animation, of course. Cells become exhausted and die. That point has not been determined with bovine semen but there does seem to be a limit.

A lot of nonsense -has been talked about it. AII sorts of ridiculous reports have come from Russia, particularly.

-

with pigs, for instance, results are very

Q. , "I understand artificial insemination of sheep is common in South America?"

A. : "Conditions are very different there. Labour costs are low, and good rams are at a premium. A concern with plenty of finance and a few good rams can up-grade a flock by artificial insemination more

quickly than by natural service and, because of the special conditions, it is worth doing. On the other hand, consider the recent lambing at Trangie ll8 per - births. cent. and twenty-six per cent. were multiple And that in spite of the flood ! Imagine that with - and Merinos I Amazing for Merinos. A hundred eighteen per cent. mothered, that is, ninety-eight per cent. marked, There is always a natural loss between lambing and marking. Even in Montana, I see, they Iose five per cent. lambing inside!"

Q. : "What are the possibilities for beef-cattle?"

A.: "The beef cow is a different animal -- a lot wilder than a miiking cow, which is used to being handled. To handle beef cows and heifers special facilities would have to be put in. That sort of thing would be very costly."

Q.: "What is the collection technique?"

A. : "There is a standard technique, involving the use of a plastic tube kept at body temperature. The bull doesn't need much encouragement and eventually becomes conditioned to the process."

"Some people don't seem to realise that it is simply a biological process, subject to the usual vagaries. A bull that looks perfectly all right for two or three weeks will sometimes refuse to do anything. You cannot work a bull fifty-two weeks in a year. You always have to have a reserye of bulls on hand."

Q. : "What about sheep?"

A. : "We have done quite a few sheep. The Russians Kn vr"rNr,

knew lonesey when he hod nothing."

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Ifrsromcar,

My first memories of drenching were about 1918 when there was little else than "arsenic", a witches' brew boiling and frothing over a fire and administered in a tumbeldown race from a galvanised iron funnel in a kind of all-in wrestle with the sheep. My job was carrying water from a nearby creek and keeping the

WORMS

By HUGH McL. GORDON,

fire stoked, with an occasional bit of penning B.V.Sc"

Mustard was added and the reason for doing so has yet to be discovered!

It added to the cost and trouble but not the efficiency of the drench. Then about 1926 came the miracle of carbon tetrachloride and hundreds ofthousands ofacres of"rotten" country became "sound" for sheep as the Liver Fluke was brought under a measure of control.

In 1935 it was found almost simultaneously in England, South Africa and Australia that a mixture of copper sulphate (bluestone) and nicotine was capable of controlling the Black Scour Worm (Trichostrongllus) which in 1933-3+ had ravaged the weaners in the eastern Riverina and many other regions of New

Lecturer in Veterinary Parasitology, University of Sydney

J N I

L1'cidas,

Milton tells of a worm parasite

"As killing as lhe cuttl,er tu the rose, Or taint-uorm to the u-teanling herds that

-

9fd2e..,."

The identity of the taint-worm is lost among that vast vocabulary of good old English words for common

South Wales.

things, but there is little doubt that it was one of the common worms which still ravage our flocks and herds.

Killing worms worm parasites of cattle and sheep is to many stockowners just one- more job to be done and all too often is just a matter of drenching

Tetrachlorethylene had been used intermittently, commonly mixed with carbon tetrachloride, but its true efficiency was not known until work at the McMaster Animal Health Laboratoryin 1935 showed that it was effective only when swallowed into the fourth stomach and that the doses commonly used were too

without much thought whether the particular drup; used is tire right one for the parasite concerned, the

small.

time of the year or the pocket of the stockowner himself.

Then

Drenching is still the common mode ol attacking the parasitic worms, If it is applied in a preventive way it plays an essential part in control. If it is used curatively, as it is only too often, it is in the nature of "economic salvage in emergencies due to parasite attacks rather than strategic plans for preventing the

in

l93B came the "wonder drug" among

anthelmintics, phenothiazine. llere at last was something to replace the tedious and dangerous arsenical enema against Nodule Worm (Ouophagostomum columbianum), something to kill enough Barber's Pole Worm (Haemonchus contortus), young and old, to put a stop to an outbreak quickly, and something to kill Black Scour Worms at more than the 50-60 per cent. rate which was all one could expect from bluestonenicotine mixture.

The development and application of these drugs makes a fascinating story and I count myself lucky to have played a part in it. How ironical it was to uncover the weaknesses and shortcomings of the old arsenical mixtures in which we used to have so much faith. It was no longer a mystery why outbreaks of Barber's Pole Worrn infestation used to beat us time and time again, and why some sheep never seemed to respond to drenching. As it became clear that starvation before drenching was quite unnecessary, one's thoughts went back to the infinite troubles and worries of having the sheep mustered in good time, yarded overnight and kept away from feed and water for four hours after drenching. These unnecessary tasks did not influence the efficiency of drenching in the least, but were quite efiicient in provoking hypocalcaemia and pregnancy toxaemial

development of destructive parasite populations."

Drenching is a positive action, backed by tradition and supported by vigorous advertising. Other control measures, such as better nutrition, rotational grazing ar-rd spelling, are more difficult to apply because the1. are essentiaily preventive in nature and may not appear to be such positive actions as drenching. They depend on carrelui management and the integration of measures to control other diseases as well as the parasitic ones.

There is thus still a great dependence on drenching.

Ifit is carried out strategically and tactically it acquires an ollbnsive role in the attack on the parasites instead of retaining its usual defensive role when it is used curatively.

"The right drench at the right time in the righr way", mav rvell be the slogan of all who use the funnel, "teapot", t'pistol", syringe or "gun", and if one precedes it u,ith the admonition to "keep the sheep well fed all the time" it completes a useful summary of

control of lvorm parasites.

Ksvr,rr.rE

up.

Sometirnes tobacco was added to the arsenical mixture, Then came bluestone and many curious experiences until we learned that it quickly made holes in the old drenching buckets and eroded the old "tin" funnels"

30

Snerarvrarn,

I 9 55

How Dnucs enB Trsreo The drugs which are used to kill worms are called anthelmintics. There are a great many drugs which have some toxic effects on worms, but relatively few

which combine really high efficiency against the parasite with safety for the host animal.

Ultimately a drug must be tested against the parasite which one hopes to destroy, but in the early stages of the search for new anthelmintics, tests may be carried out against different parasites in order to economise.

It

is seldom satisfactory to test a drug on less than about ten animals. If one is working with sheep or cattle the

problems of keeping enough infested animals under and it is controlled conditions are considerable expensive. Perhaps it is just as well we -do not have to work with elephants. Incidentally, elephants do suffer from worm parasites, and they have their own special Liver Fluke, the largest in the world !

There are risks associated with testing a drug against only one kind of worm because some drugs have very specific actions. For example, piperazine will kill all of the Nodule Worms in a sheep, but has little effect on Barber's Pole Worm and practically no effect at all on Black Scour Worm. A little worm known as Slphacia found in mice has been a useful test parasite, and one can use hundreds of mice quickly and cheaply.

However, one must always come back to the particular host and parasite relationship which one desires to control by killing the parasite without killing the host. Sheep may harbour over thirty different species of worm parasites" Many of them respond differently to the same drug. Thus, even within the sheep-worm parasite system there is scope for great variations.

There are a number of techniques for testing anthelmintics in sheep. The stockowner commonly applies the test of whether the sheep respond by "doing" better after treatment. This is a most unreliable test.

If, in fact,

one sees an immediate improvement

it

assess the value ofany drench unless there is very carefu1 control of all the possible variable factors.

The parasitologist applies three kinds of tests. The first and best is the Critical Test in which the worms passed by the drenched sheep are collected and counted,

and about a week later the sheep is killed and the number of worms remaining is counted. One can then state precisely what proportion of the worms was removed. IJnfortunately, this test can be used only for parasites of the large bowel, i.e., Nodule Worm, Large Mouthed Bowel Worm, Large Bowel Worm and

Whipworm, all of which can be recovered from the droppings almost intact. Worms which live higher up in the digestive tract, especially the smailer worms such as Black Scour Worm, and even Barber's Pole Worm, are partially broken up and digested before they are

in the droppings. It is almost impossible to collect and count them.

For the small worms the Egg Count Method is used' Ideally the sheep are raised worm-free, or if naturally infested they are freed from most of the worms by drenching with phenothiazine, and then artificially infested by dosing with the larvae of one particular species of worm. Beginning 2-3 weeks later, worm egg counts are carried out daily on the droppings for 10-20 days, and when the counts are reasonably "steady" the sheep is treated and counts continued for 20-30 days. The reduction in the number of eggs is usually a fairly accurate measure of the reduction in worm passed

burden.

There are a number ol possible complications in this method. If a sheep does not eat for 12 hours or more the egg count will rise because the amount of droppings will be decreased. The worms lay eggs fairly Gordon injecting onthelmintic drugs directly into the fourth of a sheep. This method of testing is more occurote than dosing by mouth. McMaster Animol Health Loborotory, Sydney.

Mr.

stomoch

certainly indicates that the drug may have killed the worms, but at the same time it indicates poor management the sheep should have been drenched sooner before- they suffered enough damage to cause loss of condition ! Sheep which have suffered infestation with Black Scour Worm usually do not show much response for some weeks, even a month or more, after the worms have been destroyed. Thus it is very easy for the stockowner to misjudge the drug he has used. an How often does one hear this kind of story - no outkireak of worm infbstation, drench A is used, response; then drench B, still no response; then drench C, no response; and finally drench D, and hey presto ! a miraculous response, If the drenches had been used in the reverse order, the result would probably have been the same and drench A would have been hailed as the drench. Even when no drenching is carried out

atall a high proportion ofsheep recover and outbreaks do come to an end. The drench which happens to be used last is aiways the one which appears to have controlled the outbreak. Thus it is very difficult ttt KE vr,rNa

Serrunerr-,

1955

steadily most of the time. If the droppings become soft or diarrhoeic the egg count may decline because the eggs

will be diluted by the watery

hexachlorethane, lead arsenate and other insoluble

arsenical compounds, and two recently discovered compounds, piperazine and I :8 dihydroxyanthraquinone. Drugs in the group which are effective only

droppings. Some

drugs cause a depression in egg laying even though the worms are not destroyed. Phenothiazine in small doses has this effect, and the worms may not return to full egg laying for as long as a month after treatment, Finally, the different species of worms lay eggs at very different rates. The Barber's Pole Worm lays 5000- 1 0,000 eggs per 24 hours, but the Black Scour Worm lays only 200 eggs in the same period.

Due allorvance must be made for all of these variations in worm egg counts. \\rhen this has been done the egg count method is a very useful technique and has enabled extensive tests of drugs against the smaller worms in sheep and other animals.

A third method is known as the Controlled Test.

Ideally, it should be carried out by producing an infestation by dosing a group of rvorm-free sheep u,ith infective larvae of the parasite concerned, waiting for the worms to mature (usually 3-4 weeks) and then treating half the group, waiting about a week and then killing all of the sheep and counting the remaining worms. A comparison of the residual worms in treated sheep can then be made with the number in the control sheep. The chief disadvantage of the method is the

when swallowed into the fourth stomach include copper sulphate, nicotine, soluble arsenicals (e.g. arsenite of soda) and tetrachlorethylene.

When a drench is swallowed by a sheep it has an equal chance of passing into the paunch or into the fourth stomach. The swallowing mechanism can be controlled by copper sulphate which has a stimulating effect on the oesophageal groove reflex. If the mouth of the sheep is swabbed with a solution of copper sulphate or if a small amount of the drug is squirted into the mouth, the groove which connects the lower end of the oesophagus or gullet with the paunch and the fourth stomach closes. It is then possible for a drench given within a few seconds to pass directly into the fourth stomach, The discovery that copper sulphate has this special effect was made almost simultaneously at the McMaster

Laboratory and at the Veterinary Research Laboratory at Onderstepoort in South Africa. The first pub-

lished information on this discovery was in a paper by Dr., now Sir, Ian Clunies Ross in 1934. Since then a great deal of work has been carried out on the problems associated with this special effect of copper sulphate.

enormous variation in the number of worms which develop in individual sheep from the same dose of

The discovery enabled research workers to have drugs, mixed with or administered immediateiy after a dose of copper sulphate, swallowed into the fourth stomach, thereby avoiding dilution in rhe rurnen. The

larvae, a fact which stresses the necessity for using enough sheep in each group. There should be at least 10-15 sheep for each drug and a similar number of controls.

These, then, are the ways

value ol' copper sulphate

in which drugs may be tested for their killing effects on worms. When an effective drug has been found there is still much to be done before it can be applied safely in the control of parasitic diseases. Most of the anthelmintics have some toxic effects on the host animal. The occurrence of such effects is very often very variable and the predisposing causes are obscure. The occasional losses from carbon

sulphate-

was emphasised.

At first, as was natural enough, the positive aspect of the discovery was uppermost in the thoughts of

those who were working on the problem. With further experiments and experience it became obvious that the negative aspects were more significant in the control of lvorm infestation. The earlv experiments showed that the oesophageal reflex rvas stimulated in about 80-90 per cent. ofsheep. It rvas thought that a second dose rvould probably be effective in the remaining 10-20 per cent. lfotvever, it soon became clear that the reflex may fail repeatedly in certain sheep. Such sheep were likely to die from their infestation, or if they survived they continued to contaminate the pastures and so prolonged outbreaks. It was obvious that, if drugs rvhich depended on copper sulphate ro carry them into the fourth stomach were used, it was essential to use some other drench which did not depend on being swallou,ed into the fourtl'r stomach as an alter-

tetrachloride poisoning and photosensitisation alter phenothiazine are examples. It is necessary to work out dose rates which are effective in destroying the worms but safe for the host. One must be very careful with dose rates ofcopper sulphate, nicotine and arsenic.

These drugs are likely to be fatal if the usuai doses are exceeded. Other drugs such as carbon tetrachloride and phenothiazine can be given in doses considerably exceeding those generally used without influencing toxic effects to any great extent,

Tna Coupr-Ex SToMACH oF THE RuurNeNr The peculiar arrangement of the stomach system of ruminants presents some special difficulties in the development of anthelmintics for these animals. Some drugs are effective only when swallowed into the fourth stomach (abomasum), others are effective even when swallowed into the paunch (rumen or first stomach) .

The drugs in the second group are particularly useful.

Among them are carbon tetrachloride, phenothiazine,

Krvr-rxr

in the copper

nicotine and copper sulphate-arsenic mixtures became clear and the necessity for giving a "stimulating" dose of copper sulphate before a dose of tetrachlorethylene

nating treatment, if not for the r,vhole flock then certainly for the "rail".

When copper sulphate and its mixtures are used it is essential to drench slowly. A few seconds are required for the oesophageal groove to close when the 32

Srerauern.,1955

reflex has been stimulated. lf the'dose is squirted into the mouth rapidly, as is usual irr fast drenching, there is not enough time for the groove to close and much of the drench is wasted because it is swallowed into the paunch. In some experiments carried out to discover the difference between fast and slow drenching, the following figures were obtained : . In _12 sheep drenched fast, that is, by squirting the drench into the mouth with a single squeeze of the plinger

Iburth stomach. A technique rvas developed for the direct injection of drugs into this part of the stomach system. A long hypodermic needle was used and lvas thmst through skin and rnuscle and into the fourth stomach just behind the point where the curve of the ribs join in the mid-line of the abdomen (see illustration) . This was a useiul experimental technique but

not a practical method for the administration of anthel-

mintic drugs. In other cases, it was necessary to have a dmg begin its action in the paunch. Direct injection into the pa.unch throrrgh the lcli flank is a simple pro,

of the drenching gun, the drench rvai swaliowed into ihe

fourth stomach in 5 or 41.6 per cent.

Irr. 1,1 slrecp slowly, thar is, by squirting a -drcnclred rrnall amounr (2-3 cc.si inro rhe mouth and then u.aiiing .irrst a few seconds belore complerine the squeczc on thi piunger, the drench u'as swallou'ed into the fourtir stornach

in

ced [rr,e.

Belore Ieaving the sulrject of the oesophageal groove it is necessary to cornment on the McMaster Tube, a short oesophageal tube which delivers the drench some inches dou,n the oesophagus. When drugs are siven in this way they are srvallowed into the palrnch in almost everv sheep. If it is desired to use the l\4cMaster Tube ibr drugs other than those which

13 or 92.8 per cent.

reflex

It is better to swab the sheep's mouth with a l0 per cent. solution of copper sulphate about 5-10 seconds before the administration of other drugs, but this is It is simple enough if two men are available. One man works one or two sheep ahead

seldom done in practice.

are effective when swallowed into the paunch, it is essential to swab the mouth with copper sulphate solution before the tube is passed.

of the drencher and swabs the mouth. If this is done then the full value of the effect of bluestone is obtained.

If fast drenching is practised then it is hardly rvorthw'hilc using bluestone in the mixture. I'ast drenching

Iixperiments Jr.ave slrorvn clearly ivhich clrugs are effective against whicir parasites, knowledge u,hich is essential in selecting a drench for application in the control of parasitic diseases. A discussion of the individual drugs and their special effects will have to await another occasion.

is ineffi cient drerrchins.

-fhe effect of copper suiphate on the swallowirrg

mechanism of the sheep was not consistent enough for

it was essential that the drug under test should begin its activity in the some experimentai rvork in which

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SLplrrrBeR.1955

RAM

Ii\

THE, FE,}tCE,

By MAC FALKINER

f T has been said of my father, Otway Falkiner, ,f that he sold sufficient rams in his lifetime to have sired half of the entire sheep population of Australia that is, about 60 million sheep. O{'all the Merino studmasters of this century and the latter part

finally established beyond question that we had a true poll sheep, as over 85 per cent. of all maie lambs are polls.

The poll sheep have been a success lrom the start; they sold well at Sydney sales when they u'ere first offered, and they have been selling lvell since. At this year's sales, the world record price of 2800 gLrirreas was paid for a poll rarn, and the average was 460 guineas the highest average for this breed of sheep to date. Some of the first poll rams sold went on very scrubby country in the Hillston (N.S.W.) district.

There was no mortality among these rams when thev were joined to the en'es something quite unusual in this type of country-. and the owners rvere

of last centurv, he has contributed most to the wool industry, He is the only one who has founded a rrelv type of sheep -.-. the first commercial poll fine-woolproducing sheep to be accepted by the woolgrowers of Australia and New Zealand.. Incidentally, there's some difference of opinion concerning the use of the words "poll" and "polled". It seems logical to use the first for an animal born without horns, the latter for a dehorned animal.

In'1933, after seeing a normal tr{erino ram caught in a woven wire fence, Otway Falkiner realised the tremendous advantage of removing the horns from the rams; the beginning of the stud. At classing that year we had eight poll sports out of a lamb drop of 9,000 at Boonoke stud. These were mated with 450 pure Boonoke ewes, selected on account of the depression in their heads where horns would nor"rnally grnw. The resnlt lvas, with the first lambing, over 60 per cerrt. ol male lambs were polls.

For the next {bw years we had various ups and clowns

in our percentagc of poll

males,

but it

suitably impressed.

-

Now, we have some 8000 breeding ewes in the stud and the number of poll rams sold annually is about 2,000. When you consider the comparatively short history of the stud this is cluite rernarkable.

But the breeder has insisted on a rigid standard of quality, and has not attempted to increase the output of lambs beyond the present level.

From the point of view of mortality and injury to ram.s, the advantages ol'the polls seem obvious, Con-

rvas

Poll Boonoke rams

KByr,rNn

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Serreunzn,

1.q55

ryr *'*:fu",, eq#1 *;:l:.:

tr

Mr. Otwoy Folkiner with the polt rom which took o world record price of 2800 guineos ot the Sydney Sheep Show. On Mr. Falkiner's left ore Mr. Basil Clophom ond

Mr. T.

of F. S. lalkiner ond

'tu":f,ry

ffi ffiffi

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Folkiner, Sons

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Photryrtph tv fuurrerr liirrrirrr 5IorA l:/,ls Pt\. Lttt.

sider, 1br instance, the numbers olt rams throughout

strain on the ram's back compare the - breeds with beautifui straight backs of the poll British the back of the average Merino ram.

Australia that die, each year, because their horns are caught in fences or bushes; add to these the rams that die from flvstrike around the horns, and then take into account the losses through impaired efficienc1,.

Even when rams don't die from flystrike, thev become sterile for a certain period after they have been attacked by the flies, something not generally known

Our experience is that the poll rams are more vigorous than the others. It is not unusual in the poll stud to have over 100 per cent. lamb drop, which is far above the usual Merino percentage.

and, when knou'n, not alwa1.s eiven due weight when causc.s of'a drop in the lambing pcr-

For some years the poll stud was run on Moombria station, near Jerilderie (N.S.W.). When Moombria was sold, the stud was moved to Zara, near \{anganella, in that famous sheep-breeding area of the

looking fr:rr the centage.

tr have no dorrbt that tlre polls -,.r,r,lrether sheep or cattle are the arrimals o1'the future. 'Iihe advantages - recognised lor rnany years overseas, partiir_rl-rave been larly in North and Sriuth America. In al1 my travels I did not see a hercl of irorned cattle irr either continent, and irr the feed-lots the beasts rvere all polls or dehomed. At thc present tjrne tlre dehorned cattle are ntore (jolnmon, whiclr is urr<lerstandable, considcring the long history of breeding behind hornecl cattle, But the tendencl', to mv mind, scems very plain,

Peppin flocks. The property is 60,000 acres and carries a sheep to 3* acres. The northern part ofthe propertir

is beautiful saltbush country, the southern part

Horns, after all, are a slrperfluous grolvth, But ltull is only a fraction of his bod,v-r,veight, the unfortunate ram carts around from 6 ib. to 7 lb. all his life. Seven pounds of horn is approximately a 30th of the total live-u,eight of a Merino ranr. And the horns, besides needing nourishment to grclwJ are a rnenacte to the ruhereas the rveight.ol' horn carried b,v a

And now, of course, there are flocks of the poli

sheep

all over the country; all springing from the lrupp.u

idea one man had one morning when he sar,r a farn

sheep. Also, the weight of horns irnpose a considerable

Ket'r-rxr

is

good grassland with, now, a reserve of irrig-atid pasture. Those paddocks with no creek frontage are u'atered by large excavated dams and sub-artesian bores. No timber open plains . . .

Otway Falkiner sold his first rams in 1886 to - of Hugh Armstrong of Milroy during the absence my grandfather in lrTew Zealand.

As mentioned earlier, he's sold a good many since. His nicknarne -- "The Daddy of Them All" indicates his spet iai status in the Merirro world,

car-rght 35

in a fence,

Srpra,uusn,

1955

A LII\E, on BOOKS OUIS BROMFIELD, as he admits hirnself'irr a forervord to his latest book, Frorn M1 Experience (Harper Brothers, New York), is a provocative writer: "If at times the tone ol writine appears to be unduly controversial

I attribute this to long

corr-

tact with many of the closed mir.rds and unimaeina-

tive mentalities with which agriculture, Iike an,v other science, is affiicted. The r.vriter is lty nature an amiable and kindlv person, ,,.r y g..eu.io.,, and fcrnd of peopie and of cc-rnversatiou, of argurnent. and even c-rf contro\rersy, and th.e erplolatiori o{'c.rther minds '"vhere tirere is anything to explore.

But he has had some startling experiences with the

closed mind which

will not accept what it

sees

.-- a rec:o,r'c[ ol rrps and clowrrs, rvhich rntrslbe laken, i[ at all, as thev come," l;erok

and

The difference being, ol course, that the reader has more choice than the farmer ordinarilv has; he can skip the downs ancl read the ups; or he can refuse to take the

knows but takes refuge sometimes in wild and fantastic speculation and sometimes feeble diversions to find reasons to deny or discredit a fact that may prove unr,rrelcome or embarrassing.

"In

lrook at all.

But the lirct remains thzrt a -^ood manv people in rvorld do take N,fr. Bronrfield's books; otlrerwise his publishers rvoLrld hardly continrrc to plint a steacly procession o1- therr. The r.e:rsons [ir' this seem to reclriire examination. In Australia, for inst:rnce, Bromfield's books on farming, although they deal u,-ith U.S.A. conditions, are read bv a sur-

no sense is this tnre olsuch men as William

v"arious parts o1' the

Albreclit., Firrnan Bear, Sir Albert Howard, ti-re late Ed Babcock ard the late Washineton Carver and countless others r,vho have rnacle gr.eat contributions to the vast and complex fieid ol agriculture.

"I

might also add that the usuaily good-natured

prising number of people.

and easy-going author of this book has a trigger temper which can, like some explosives, be put into action only by certain elements in certain combinations and under certain conditions. The trigger factor in the case of this book is lack of imagination and the closed mincl which believes, sometimes with sincerity, sometimes out of mere laziness, that everything has been discovered and that nothing more can be learned about the uni-

In a characteristic sentence Bromfield gives part, at least, of the explanation for his popularity : "I have long been aware that much reading on the subject of agriculture is extremely heavy and stuffy and that in manv cases it consists largely of papers r,vritten by some scientist al another and set forth in language so pompous and heavy ttrat the effect becomes lethal."

Iteallv, Ntlr. Bromfield? Lethal? An anxiety to

doing violence to the meaning of rvords. And, in

"It

is possible that to some this book may seem lacking in organization, but this is not so. In the mind of the author at least, the material has been

passing, one is obliged to note that l,ouis Bromfield isn't innocent of pompositr. himself. Ilut one sees what he means : indeed, one does. It is doulrtless a r,r.idespread

put together with cunning, much as the use ol'bait leads an animal into a trap. Some of the chapters require hard concentration on the techniques of

farming, some are concerned

nith

reaction

reader know what he is really up to

a public appetite for readable "vith books about agricuiture, that largelv explains the popularitr,' of his later bc-,oks in Australia.

T'his popularity, rvhen one thinks about it, is rathel

philosophical

extraordinary. Agr:iculture is a regional business rvith,

thc

in Australia, r,ast differences betu,een States and

:

dis-

tricts. Yet Australians eagerlr. read about the routine

"In any case dail1, life on a living farm r,vith its countless facets, its daiiy crises, its seasonal changes resembles \rer), closely the generai pattern of this Ksvr.rnri

to the sort of scientific barrage he over-

describes, together

reflection and others mav seem ligirt to the point of tr'\'lalrt\'- '

In the concluding paragraph the author lets

be

untechnical and bright should not lead a writer jnto

on a farm in the United States of America because, rvhatevcr his laults as a writer and philosopher, Louis Bromfield warms these details r,r,ith a human touch, llt

5r l, t'l:rrrltlt,

I

li55

The faults are not hard to find. They are plain in the long quoted passage, which is rhetorical : not one sentence giving birth to another in a logical sequencer but a lbw points repeated several times in different wa,vs. And this is characteristic of Bromfield's writing: as thor-rgh l-re dictated it at tremendous speed. Perhaps he did.

It is obvious, too, from the quote, that Louis Bromfield rather enjoys writing about Louis Bromfield. This is not necessarily a fault in a

writer

are all

absorbing subjects ofspeculation to ourselves, and such an interest can often give writing a gusto which is passed on to the reader as enjoyment --_ but purely autobiographical writing usually imposes some constraint on the reader. Even in novels, the use of the first-person singular is very difficult, because the reader feels that the narrator is putting the best complexion on things, and resents it. The exceptions are among the great

figures of literature. Pip, the narrator in Great Expectations, 1br instance, because Dickens put down his weaknesses and pettiness with ruthless clarity and, Pepys, rvho wrote for his eye alone.

This is an application of literary standards to Bromfield's book about farming. But there is no escaping the test. Bromfield was a successful novelist before he took to farming and he is a professional writer who uses his literary skill to make his books interesting. And, even when he professes something very like contempt for the calling, there is reason to believe he is conscious of his status as a writer.

Modern man is over-specialised : if he were nothing more than a symbol of revolt against this specialisation, Louis Bromfield, as a contemporary figure, would have some importance.

Bromfield glances himself

at the question of his position

:

a great writer, had from contact rvith the soil" But Tolstoy, besides being a writer, was a great landowner, And the comparison rvith Turgenier', rvh,t \vr'ore s. charmingly of Russian peasants, is not altogether huPpy.

Ancl "the shallow rvorlcl of the rvriter", surely, exists orily {br shallow rvriters? As most popular writers are; as, to be frank, Mr. Bromfield's popular

novels were shallow. It is not pleasant to read an attack on the arts in the guise of praise of the soil. Nor is such

an attack

necessary.

"The complele man is a rarity, Leonardo was one and Michelangelo and Shakespeare and Balzac. They lived; they brawled; they had roots;

they were immoral; they had vices as well as virtues; they were totally lacking in preciosity and the pale, mouldy qualities of the poseur or the seeker after publicity or sensation. The complete rnan is a happy man, even in rnisery and tragedy, because he has always an inner awareness that he has lived a complete existence, in success and failure, in satisfaction and disappointment, in distinction and vulgarity. Not only is he compiete; he is much more, he ls a man."

True, in the main. But too many words, too much enrphasis.

But, rvrites Bromfield, the man who sets out deliberately to be a complete man defeats himself; because he is self-conscious. He becomes "the f,ake, the poseur, the phon1,. Some attempt to turn their ou,n inadequacies into a defence by affecting a sense of snobbery or superiority. In this sense a writer like Henry James is pathetic. So are many writers of our own time with their Iacy preciosities, their affectations, their pomp and pretensions, their fundamental shallowness and decadence."

Thump, thump, thump.

Again, explaining how he returned to the countryside of his youth "sick, even, of writing novels and stories, although they had brought me fortune and

it will turn out that I have left behind some contributions not only to the science of agriculture, which is the only profession in the world which encompasses rzl/ sciences and all the laws of the universe, but to the realm of human

fame in nearly every country in the world," Bromfield

or any conceit, I am sure that Tolstoy

a story to divert a tired world or provide relaxation for it, came presently to appear silly. It still does,

'oPerhaps

philosophy as well. None of this could I have done within the shallow world of a writer living as most writers did. Without implying in any way a com-

parison

understood all this on his estate at Yasna Polyana,

Voltaire at Ferney, Virgil on his Tuscan farm; indeed most writers since the time of Hesiod who

felt sooner or later the illusion and the futility of fancy words and sought some sturdier and earthier satisfaction. Flaubert was neither a happy man nor a complete one, nor was Turgeniev or Henry James. One has only to read their letters or their diaries and sometimes their stories and poems to discover a shadowy sense of impotence and

inadequacy."

Maybe; again, one knows what Bromfield is getting at. The deep sense of satisfaction a man like Tolstoy; Kn vr"rNp

gives writers and critics a passing lambasting:

"The writing of fiction, unless it were merely no matter how pompous, how pretentious, how cult-ridden the writer or the product. In this age fiction writing is simply a way of making a living and for my money not a very satisfactory or even self-respecting one. There are better and more satisfying things to do. One degree sillier are the writings of those who write importantly about novels. Once when a person said to me, 'Oh, I never read novelsl' I was inclined to regard him snobbish condescension as a Philistine. Now ' with I am not so sure," No doubt there is a lot of snobbery and pretension in the literary world. But rvhat Bromfield describes is Snerounrin,

1955

1.

the half-world of the artistic failure and the literarv Debunking of pretension is all very rvell. But. in such examples as these, and in his earlier book, ,4 New Pattern For A Tired World, one detects a note of anti-intellectualism which is distinctly unpleasant. Bromfield was a popular and successful novelist; but he wasn't a good

one. So his disgust with writing novels can hardly be [aken seriously.

No doubt he has found a better life. But, one is entitled to ask, in that case, rt'hy doesn't he cultivate his garden? Why shake an angry fist in the face of the world he has rejected? And why does he turn out such an indrrstrious stream of books?

But when he u,rites of the ]ilb on rhe {br"m, a verv

by the pleasant 'oink! oink!' noises of a contented small pig."

There is a good deal of this sort of obserwation in the book pleasant, leisurel,v, u'ith the charm of the

- with, here and there, a sharp comment or lamiliar: reproof. The tale of the psychopathic pig, {br instance, lias an aside on the rnerits of self-feeders :

"The

seif-feeder, however unnecessary, has

been forced into the consciousness of the average farmer, like many another dubious and expensive

agricultural equipment product, by high-pressure advertising and the generai pressure in coileges,

industrial plants and other places where new gadgets :rre constantlv being thought up forfarmers to bur'."

Ilrrt a great manv o1'these r.oinmenr.s and asides arc r lrlulrlllt. For' itrstarrr'c "I lrave alsi; hearcl it strrt-ed bv oome 'rttrthorities' that ihe rnirrer':rl .content, tl-re vitamin (:orlterlt :

"Whoever has really looked into the eye of n shrewd old sorv should feel humility. It is a bright clear eye, more like .the eye of a human than the eye of any other animal. It looks at you quite directly, even with what might be described as a piercing gaze."

And the lambs which, raised with the clogs, came to believe they lvere dogs, too: "They even began to chase cars ancl prcvided

the

astonishing occasional spectacle

of

what

appeared to be a sheep taking part in a dog fight.

And when, at a suitable age, an effort was nricle to send them off to live with their feliow sheep, they would not believe they were sheep and wanticl no part of their kind, returning home to be with the dogs. All of which led us to the speculation

as to what the lamb's mental image of himself might be quite possibly the image of a large - boxer dog with fawn-colored a black face and a protruding jaw."

T_n9 f!1 have personalities the escaping pig who - psychopathic ate himself out of freedom, the pi[ who couldn't manage the self-feeder, and others. Biomfield

enjoys watching his pigs:

"Waste your time as I do, leaning on the fence, and you will see among the pigs everything from a directors' meeting to a ladies, discussion of the attraction of a visiting boar. There are the sounds which a solv makes when she feels it is time to feed her young, and there are the frightful squeals of discontent from her pigs when she will not give in to their demands and lie on her side to let them feed. And there is distinctly the most ferocious name-calling that can occur during the equivalent

of a hair-pulling match between two sows. pick up a small pig and he will let out the most hair_ raising shrieks for help that will bring running not only his own mother but all the sorvs in the niighbourhood. He is the most blatant of small fraids for the minute you put him down again on the

ground the shrieks stop instantly and are replacecl

I{r yrrrn

and the general trutritional qualities of given plants are the same, regardless of r,vhether they are gro\,vn

on rich, living, l;alanced soils or on poor, unbalanced, deficier-rt ones. If the evidence of the eye and taste u,ere not enough, tests have shown this is not tnre. Oltserve the euormous diflbrence in taste, consistencv and qualitl, <.lf a carrot that has been grorvn rapicllv in a good soil in six or se\rerl r.r'eeks to tlrat of a carot rthich has grorvn pain{irlly and slou4y, in poor soil over a period of two

or three months. The one is a

delicious, sweet,

tender crisp and nutritious vegetable; the other woody, knotty, tasteiess and hard. The poor color of the carrot from poor soil and the cellulose-carbon content alone tell the story."

Or, simply, in footnotes. After a reference to t,"vo or three steers being left r,r,-ith sorvs "to make sure that the son,s alr,r'ays have an ample supplv of Vitamin 8,r,,, the following note appears: "Cattle are the greatest producers of'B,, in the lvorld. It is manufactured ir-r their stomachs, provided there is no deficiency of cobalt rrecessarv to the molecular structure of the vitamin.', Another footnote, follolving a reference to pigs eating cattle droppings and fungus and moulds, for which they have an appetite "exactly as humans haye for mushrooms and the morrlds created on or inside certain cheeses" : "\owada,vs it has become the lashion to put varic.rus antibiotics into the prepared feed for hogs, a concession to the fact that hogs actuallr, like and even crave these things and that, ifgiven the opportunity, the1, r,vill find them lor themselves.

The antibiotics are prrt into the ibeds to promote

rapid growth and to some extent health, but we are still in ignorance of the ex.act amounts which are necessary and harmless, and it is quite probable that these amounts vary according to the metabolism of the individual hog. ln manv cases the use Continued on page 43 S n t,

r'r:u

tr t.;

n.

I 95 5

F'E,MININE,

By THEA

A}TGLE,S

You may have a predominantly red floor covering.

Try, with it either celedon or olive green, and make some red cushions to emphasise the red note. The new wall colours allow for endless combinations and it is lun organising a new colour scheme from the old.

Curtains, loose-cover and cushions should all be washed or sent off to the dry-cleaners. Carpets too should go to the cleaners, or if this is impossible, be shampooed on the floor with a carpet soap and one of the new sponge rubber mops, u,hich are ideal for the purpose.

I-grv f I

After the pictures are cleaned

S.q,r'

lJ the lulrritule looks boled. the pictures inane

in new frames.

There are two young men in Sydney r'vho make individual frames and mounts to suit the subject. It

or'

positiveli' \'acuous, cushions and lampshades exciting as limp Iettuce, bookcase srillen, and

might pay to buy a new picture people so seldom do. but hardly ever New curtains, carpets and what-nots, a new picture, Tailored lampshades can be washed successfully in a mild soap powder suds. If faded, they can be recovered and made with the new bias fold top and bottom instead ofthe dust catching frills ofyesteryear.

Torn and sordid looking dust jackets inthe bookcase can be replaced with plain covers of some brightly coloured paper, the titles pasted on the back. Half a dozen different, brilliant coloured papers cut to fit the books like ordinary dust .jackets with a single turn in on each side o{'the covbr, cau give cpite a lively interest to the bookcase.

Finally, when the furniture is put back it should be arranged differently. Organise it for space and summer living, with comf,ortable chairs grouped round windows and French doors, flowering pot plants in the fireplace,

curtains and floor coverings have lost tireir personalitv so completely at to be schizophrenic; these things, as well as the time olthe year, indicate that spring cleaning is vitall,v necessar\/. Rooms like people seem to die o{'

inanition, developing an exhausted atmosphere enervating to those u,ho use them.

To stop this dr,v-rot in the place intended for our

comfort and shelter, ever_vthing in the room should be critically examined for usefulness and/or charm. Il it cannot be truthfully said that any object fulfills either furrction it shorrld be promptly disposed c,f and thc ternptation to regard it ser.rtirnentally resisted. Thc useless bits being eliminated, the r,rther things should aiso i:e examined without bias. Is there enough colour in them? If so, is there sufficient variety of tone in the room as a whole? Monotony of tone is just as devitalising as lack of colour. Finally, would the carpets, drapes and loose covers look better against a different

magazine holders handy to the most comfortable chairs, and fat bowls offlowers in convenient places. The room will then come alive again.

Those who think to enliven the scene with a new picture will be interested to know that countrv towns

background, and the ceiling be more interesting with a wash of colour on it? If loose-covers and curtains are a bit tepid in design or colour, and it is not convenient to replace them, the whole scene may be improved with a cheerful new colour on the wails. It pays to be enterprising r'vith colour, and the new interior paints are easily applied. After this heart-searching remove everything from the room that can be moved

are beginning to hold art competitions and buy pictures to form the nucleus of permanent collection.

Lismore has an Art Trust and rooms devoted to the permanent exhibition of pictures by Australian artists, and the Albury prize attracts entries from all parts of Australia. It went last year toJohn Eldershaw.

Bathurst held a competition last year, the rvinning picture by.|ean Beilette becoming the propert,v of the

and attend to the walls and ceiling. Consider terra-cotta pink: it makes the room look warm and inviting and combines r,vell with even,thing except red and some vellor'r,s.

Irr.r r r:r

it might appear that

some of them would be more interesting

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STIF'F LTICK

By CECIL MANN

for the COLONE,L C)L)I) nrolrrirrg, ulcl <rira.p," said rlic Llolorrcl, f do 1'c.,u fi:el this mtrrnirrgl Not so LJ ''ancl hou' '['or, Jrr.rt, t-h ?

,-(('--'"

Kt, yr-rNr

bad, old lbllow. Deepcst svmpathy",

old boy. lYell nor,r', u,hat d'\'orr sav to a. mor.rthfi-rl o1' hair?"

"No. uol Irrdeed nol I positiveh thirrk not." saicl the Colorrel. "I"ar too earlv in the rnolnine.." ".Far too earlr. in thc rnonrinq for tr; u':rker) nlc," sang the Colonel. "Nelson's three ancl Sallr' ,\,Iartin to that, olcl llo1'. \Vhat's come ovcr votr.' llctu'een vou and me, <-rld chzrp, I'li tell r-or-r rr,hat it is. Yr_ru're Iosing your punch. Let me prescribe tbr you. A mouthful of hair. Come nor,r,!' .,..,. "\Vell, h'm, perhaps one." conceclecl the Colonel.

"Yort hirr.e rrtadc ()rrl a mC)st urttrclusit"e Casr,. Arerr-

K('.'''

++

Srrrri,.rrllH.

19-i5

ment unanswerable. Great help in your future work.

You leave for the Bush, of'course, tomorrow morning." l

Steadied, he shaved and dressed. For company he had those boon companions, the Colonel and the Past. Identical rvith him, they made a short, fat trinity, perched on the side of a seedyJooking bed

"Right, right," said the Colonel. "All the more Am I right

reason fnr knocking over that mouthfui.

or am

"I

I right?"

holding a giass of rvhisky. The Past was the dominant mernber; had been, in fact, since the toueh, utteriy learless, incredibly lucky infantrymarl became the Clolonel only to himself and to any of the old cro'*'d rvho clidn't happen to first see him coming.

Not at all one of those morose, unfriendly Pasts that hans like a dead albatross dripping remorse. As Pasts go, not a bad boss by any means. By Headlone orrt of Carefree.

Neither country and duty nor honor and glorv led R. Z. Ror.r,'deli to war. FIe lvent for the fun of it. And he enjol,ed it. He still did, old Past conjuring it up.

thir-rk on second thouqht," ag.reecl the Colonel,

,,you are rieht.,,

"Splendidl" cried the Colonel, thro'"ving oif

the

bedclothes ancl getting a bit vaguely on to the floor.

"I knerv you rvould. I)o you good, old lbllor,r,. I think rve '11 find it over here."

"But, really, should I?" said the Colonel, stopping halfivav across the room. "Out there on that screw we'1l be as good as dead. 'Sobrietl' essential,'

"

quoted

the Colonei, recalling the advertisement. "Your last day in this delightlul city, old chap. I ask vou," said the Colonel unctuously, "shciuld rve begin a dav

White clothes and black lbces and burnboats at Ciolomlto. Dirt and frowsy secretiveness o1" Port Said.

'I'hings there, sals old f'ast guffawing, that you lvouldn't tc-ruch rvith :r baree-poie not lo\y, yort rvouldrr't.

Yorir lrrck rvas in; so vou-l,veren't in the ltarlLted-wire cornpr;rrtrcl r.r,ith vour r,t,or"ks srvollen arrd trussed up in ccittorr rvool. Ilrev ctrle it clrricker no!!.) s:lvs ltragg-art Present ; S-reat stull, penicillirr.

Stirrking Arabs squatting ort slalts ol pulp ttrat

destinecl to live lonq in our deepest n-remories r,vith irnpious tippling? I repeat, NIr. Speaker, shonld lvel"'

"NIy ansr,r,er to the galiarrt ancl honorable member lbl Grenville," repliecl the Coiorrel, "is rnv oath rve

shoulcl I

\\rhltt reasorr:rltle

groru:rcls h:rs the

gallant

ancl

honorable memlrer for srrpposing that in that hell to r.vhich he's goirrg lre rvil] har.e either the cash or tire

opportunitl. fol

Lippiir

rg

, impious or

otherlvise

rvould be tumed iuto jam lbr the troops.

A man or trvo irr the artillery lines spreadeagled to gr-rnrvheels on the blazing sand, rvrists tied to the spokes. Not Auslralians, they say, old Past comments drily, lar"rghinu hr-rgelv at the joke. Oh, no, rever Australians.

Iiolorrel,, sa1,'s oid Past, in iris toothless rl'av.

Lemnos, drunk as Chloe on the potent cognac of that green and pleasant isle. Gallipoli, a lieutenancy; France, Captain; the Somme in 'sixteen, M.C. ; Passchendale, D.S.O.; a chestfui of gas there, and so to bed and home again.

Black Ress the Colonel's men called him. IIe was black then, as to bullet-head thatch and the whiskers that curled close to his face and stuck thick there r.vith mud after a bit in the line. It'd be a damn untruth, and you knou, it, says old Past, to claim that they liked you there, Colonel. 'I'hey reckoned 1'or-r a

?

From tomorrow, nlv liiend, you'll be sober. 'fhink of it. Ma,v I ask 1,ot.r, r'r'l.rat at'e rve u'aitin*^ for?"

Ileaching the mantelpiece, the Colonel noted the mirror's lat ancl florid comment on his countenance.

His hand rubbed the gre,v bristies down his jar,v, brushed over the thinning short-cut grel' thatcli.

Sulollen eyelids, short, vein-traced nose, tuhby'round Iace, thick red ear lobes like pendants.

From a half-empty bottle he poured out a stiff nip, held it up and through it had a distorted view of the Domain. He lorvered the giass and looked over the top of it at the Ntloreton Rav figs and the grass greencarpeting between.

"Winter in another month," he said, stili taiking aloud. "Doss down there? Good night, sweet prince, u'orrld vou like another fig leaf?"

He raised the glass abruptly and gulped. It started him coughing, and his face became redder rvith the rack ol it.

murderer, remember? They got over it, thougJh, didn't thev, Colonel, once they'd been through a few stunts lyith vou? Great cror.vd of chaps. Too bad the_v dodge us now, isn't it?

Back in Australia. Why not a shot for Parliament?

Wry not? The gallant and honorable member. .|o111,

"And now," said the Colonel, recovered, "what about another? You won't? Will you stop arguing the point? I'Ii tick you off in a minute. You're nothing llrt a lump of rotten gas-eaten guts. Look at yourself - 1-ou'r:e a bright bloody specirnen, aren't you?"

"Nolv then, non then," said the Colonel. "Eas1, on tire language, old fellorv. 'llhis isn't a parade.

What's come over you? This is Flaster Monday in Sydney, a bear.rtiful autumn morning and the sun is

good, while

lasted.

Anrl lrom u"hat? Chasins co\4rs bare-legged through rvet and h'osted bracken be{bre daybreak. Schoolleaving age, twelve. At sixteen cutting susar-cane Ii'om daylight to dark. At seventeen felling .lrrngle scrub. At eighteen. with about as many pounds, to the city. At twenty-two, the gJreat chance of enlisting and seeing the u,orld; passing, too, Ibr one of the educated. At thirtl,the galiant and honorable member.

Uncharitably, the decline and fall of the Colonel began at home. Fav Beresford (nee Jenkins) blessed

shining."

"Quite right, quite right," agreed the Colonel, half-filling the tumbler and looking defiantlv into the mirror. "Weil, chin-chin."

Kl vrr.nri

it

45

Slrlnurnr,1955

after tlr.eh.'e. \\'e'll have one to go on rvith. lVhat d'v' fancy Colonel? Give her a name. Still like the

him with a daughter that neither of them particularll, rvanted. Then there was the charming actor laddie with magnificent legs and a weak tenor voice. After that there was another; indeed, a procession, For art's sake.

There was not much of art, stage or any other,

it two whiskies, miss.

Grolvingi hananas, eh, thought the Colonel. There's corn irr Eg-vpt -yet. He paid lbr the next drinks.

It u.as a shame to take the tenner, but the Colonel took it. He'd gone and left his confounded wallet on the mantelpiece. He had to get to Randwick in time Ibr the first. It might l:e the second; he rvasn't too sure. \'Yould hear u'hen he got there. Ivleet you here, afterlvards, Blake. Betrveen five and half past' old gav an' frisk? Make

about the Colonel. So, old Past cheerfully recalls, vou put your head dorvn betrveen your hands and wept copiously .- or did you, Colonel? Like hell ;-ou did. You *'ent and did a lot of likervise, didn't you, you old plagiarist? Like the fiddler's rocrster, vou found it a hearty thing to do.

The Judge in Divorce spoke like more than a father to the lovely lady. He agreed; the demoralising effects of ryar. Custody.of the child.

It cost him his parliament seat. Also, there u,as

"An' rvhack this on f' me!"

The Colonel took the extra fiver. Folded it with steady fingers and put it in his inside coat pocket.

He had no doubt whatever now. His old luck was back rvith him. The fillv would donkey lick them in

n<t

comeback to it. You just can't go around having a succession of divorces as a counter-attack. Darned expensive, an):way.

In this impasse, the first he'd encountered so far,

the second, Six of the old crolvd came irr in a bunch as Blake lvas shouting. 'fhey shook hands lvith the Colonel.

There rvas a casual del'erence in it. His creditors, his bumbed-on victims. But lbr the old Pasts ol all of them, his old mob, A few rnore came in, greeting him and Blake; some deference for the double D.C.M. and double N{.M., but not enough to isolate him, like the Colonel. Something else, too, in the feeling for the Colc.rnel. You rvouldn't say prudes -- not old Diggers. Well, haldl,v. Still, that feeling about the that he had let the old Battalion dou'n.

Colonel 6f 66s156 not. But the Colonel just a Not wowsers drunk. Not right. Not at all right. You couldn't be proud of a drunk. They lvanted to be proud of him.

Wanted him to stand on his pedestal; above them, and had put where the military rank had put him

the Colonel made a somewhat hazy discoverv. The haze was bottled; the discovery rvas Randwick. He did better than well at it. You always u'ere lucky, or nearly always, old Past likes to remind him, sitting there on the edge of the frou'sy bed with his fifth whisky. Remember that German that nearly got in hrst from behind you at Bullecourt? Squealed a hit, didn't he?

A

game and hence a good gambler, the Clolonel. wasn't the horses that broke him. He lbll into a ditch flamboyantly misnamed New Guinea Oil. The gas may have helped; anyhorv, the pieces weren't worth picking up, In a month or two it was being passed from one to another of the old crowd that Black Bess was on the bum. Most of them went to a quid, some to a fiver, one to a tenner, He divided it between hair of the mythical dog and Randwick.

But now he bet weakly, like a bank clerk.

"But come nowr" said the Colonel, "Shake out of it, old chap. On with the old lid, and we'll take a look over the village."

"I'm with your" said the Colonel. "No, no more.

There's only a couple left. We might need it later.

Am I right or am I right?"

"You're right," said the Colonel. "But just one mouthful. Just that size. There you are. f)own the hatch. Where did we leave our hat?"

Getting close on midday when the Colonel, a solitary note in his pocket, walked tentatively into the bar. A hectic "Strike a light, if it isn't the Colonel!"

He hadn't heard that for quite a time. As he shook hands he tried to place the smiling lriendlv enthusiast.

"Y' remember me, don't y', Colonel?" the enthu-

It

them.

More came in. They packed the corner of the bar.

The Colonel accepted the deference of these, too, as a matter of course. You're still their leader. eh? old Past assured him.

The voices rose in a medley of past and present.

Smoke hanging thick over the group. One of them urging the Colonel aside : "We're going to start some two-bob-ins. Might cost you a bit. Thought y' might be short, Colonel."

The Colonel took the ten-shilling note, crumbling

it in his hand. "Thank yott, Collins." He made a

rvord of command of it.

"She's fixed," Collins said to ex-corporal Paterson,

back at the bar. "You start 'em going.

course

"You're

I

remember

you," said the

quid, anyholv?

Most of them sitting on the drinks they had, the Colonel won three in a rolr', lost one, won several more. They kept the joke goilrg. OId Pasts sat'ing to them all, including the Colonel: Always was lucky.

Rememberu,hen helvouldn't let the machine- gunners

Colonel.

oh, let me see nolv

Sgt. Blake of the old Batt. Gror,vin'

bananas. Been

roundin' up a few of the old mob. Ran into a whole mob of them vesterday. They'll be comin' in a bit K.r:r'r.rxl

I'll rig th'

numbers."

They mumbled to the next ones to them. The rvord passed. Riggin' a Gw f'r th' Colorrel. Pass it on.

Sgt, Blake, banana grolr,er, thought, what's filteen

siast said.

"Of

-

,1f

i

Saeruuntn, l955

rnarble-top tal:le in the bar, rvaiting. T'he roal and tumuit came down to him there from anotller rvorld' Old Past, if he hadn't handed over the guard to waiting Present, could have reminded him that it was

loose on the mob comin' over that mornin' at Bullecourt. IIe was right, too. Our own blokes. It'd have been just a massacre. If he'd have been wrong, we'd have been on the massacre end of it. Remember when ==.Deference and the other feeling somewhat retired,

but still hovering near about, unadmitted,

like the barrage of,guns, standing along the rear ridge rvheel to wheel, belching' their thunder over Pozieres.

Just a mass of sound that was going on, while you kept,vour e,ve and ear on the ticking clock. Ycxr didn't that question, Colonel -. old Past would have said fou'd be alive when three-quarters of the chaps along the trench lvould be dead or mangled.

even

unrecognised by any of them, by the time they surged him out to the door.

The Colonel took a taxi to Randwick. Great lot of boys, old Past said to him. Damn handsome of Blake,

The roaring above rose to crescendo as the second of the trvo races ended. The Colonel wasn't listening. \Vaiting. Steady and cold as iron.

He got up and u'ent back to the ring. His hearing

don't you think? Fancy forgetting him. Must have rvon that double D.C.M. after we lelt for home and mother.

The Colonel went into the Randwick

paddock

It broke down the confusion; separ-. pieces rvith meaning. it into atecl

sifted the sounds.

enclosure. Not seeing as clearly as he might, perhaps, but hands steady. Everything under control. For all allyone could tell to the contrary, cold sober.

He went straight to the betting ring. His ears tuned to the bellowed confusion. Sevens, quick Present said to the Colonel; what the hell are they backing? Get in while th' going's good.

The Colonel shouldered his way a bit further in through the crowd. They were taking odds about the Queensland coit. Couldn't beat her with me on her thought the Colonel. Barging through to the bookie calling sevens; dragging out his twenty pounds as

The Colonel made his cash bets. He walked out of the ring broke but for a few lnose pounds. He had no

doul:t whatever. He went into ttrt llar again antl braced liimself with a double rvhisky. For any effect it had on his outlvard showing or insitle his bullet head, it rnight have been lemonacle.

He went through on to the lawn slope and spread out there, ieaning on au elbou', lvatching thern come out for the last. His thought worked out the total at eights. F{e was as certain of it as of the Btrs}r being completely off. Neither Present or Old Pasl --- tliat sa,ving an1'thing ol damned pair of humbug quacks Instead backing together. the tensions holding him up his complete confidence. Waiting on the slope with him, letting the crowd mill around, listening to the loud-speaker. Getting him then on his feet.

The tensions giving just a little. The Present saying: Steady, steady now, Colonel. That \'vas solnething like a stumble.

The loud-speaker voice sending them off; sorting out the leading lot; follorving them arottnd the )ong su,eep to the turn.

As they're rushing up the straight, old toothless Past: He's a mr:ntvl We allvays l'ere luckv. He's home on the pig's ear. Am I right or am I right?

"You're rightl" shouts the Colonel. "You're r'ight.

You're right! Six thousancl lovelv smackers! You little snifterl" with a neck to spare.

And he certainly "vas; Stiff luck for the Colonel. Verv hard luck indeed.

Six thousand, r,vhen the iensions give way' takes going through, and he couldn't clrite make it" He did .fhe r,lld crtlwd, since he paid liis best, but there it is' ]:ack tireir quids and fivers, think beiter ol ilirn" No, perhaps you're right. Perhaps it isn't orr that 2lccoorit it all. Perhaps it's a mixture o{' reiief that he's finished letting down the old Battalion and of it's being easier to think well of a memorY. He didn't die in his bed. if that's disgraceful in a hero' I-Ie tripped over his {bet on a wet day in Wiiliam Street and cracked his skr-rll on the pavement.

he went.

Free of the crowd the Colonel made for the bar.

He took his time over the whisky and sauntered out in front of the stand. There was still room up in the seat rows behind him but he spread his tubby bulk down on the slope. He saw the Queensland colt go out on the track and measured him quickly. Damn good colt thought the Colonel. He'll win races when he's knocked the Albion sand out of his hoofs. Nothing surer.

The field came out, breaking into their trotting

and cantering prelims. He looked closely at the filly,

r,r'ith the black and white colours up. The books, surging along and around him with the crowd, had her now at fives. Confidence rose higher.

The Colonel stood up from force of habit' At his ievel there was nothing to see' The loud-speaker gave him all he wanted.

As he expected, it wasn't a race. The filly passed the post four lengths clear, with her mouth open and her ears pricked. And the Colonel collected.

They gave him fours to his hundred and sixty in the weight-for-age. The old entire, twitching his tail, looked sour on the job, but he was still better than that lot.

The Colonel let the next race pass, and the next' A month ago, in ten-shilling bets, he'd have been niggling at both. This was to-day. It was most literallv Sydney or the Bush; and he was heading lbr thousands.

Four whiskies, quietly, while they were running two races, did their bit. He sat at the l:eer-flooded [ilvlrNr:

I

I

ti

St,;

p'lr,:rrRl,n,

1

955

KNOW your PASTIIRES T NTRODUCING

\Vhite Clover, the first of a series otillustrations, each of which, in consecutive issues of Keyline, will depict and describe an "improvedpasture" plant. Follow this feature and learn to recognise the legumes and grasses lvhich comprise the green feed from which comes primary produce and profit.

White Clover (Trifolium repens'1 : Prefered species, N.Z. Certified Pedigree White.

I

Moisture Requirements: 25 inches and above.

Fertilit2 Requirements:

'

I{igh to medium. fertility

demands.

Light

Needs (photos2nthuis)

:Ivledium to open shade.

Growth Form: Crown at or above surface. Creeping

runners which root at intervals. ,\easonal Growth:

Full growth, spring and early

autumn. Moderate gror,vth early spring, summer

and late autumn. '

Best Soil Conditions: \ryet, fertile average lst class and heavy 2nd class friable loams and sravels.

lVet hill country. pH Factor: Slightly acid to slightly alkaline. (pH 6 to 7.5)

White Clover has heart-shaped leaves, is hairless on leaf and stem. Its runners creep overground, sending down roots at intervals. It forms a rnat of palatable stock food. Flowers stand erect and are white. White Clover is unequalled as a permanent, high producing legume and will stand hard grazing. Its associate grass is Perennial Rye, Hl. Rye and Paspalum, for a generai purpose pasture. ln addition to its palatability, its function as host plant to the Rhizobium bacteria, by

H. I{. SARII\A

-

A Tribute

r,r''hicli atrnospheric nirlc,gen is fixed

it a

response,

system that has yet been devised.

to

It

is one

ofthe greatest

things that have been thought of in our time."

He congratulated the president and the

in the district.

assembly

on the manner in which the lunction had becn con-

lylr. Sarina expressed his appreciation

ducted and expressed his pleasure at seeing the vonnser element coming forward.

of the kindiy remarks and the presentation.

He said, "AII my Iife I have tried to do the job. You have stated that I have been forthright, but I assure you that I have always been speaking to receptive audiences. You summed up m1, remarks and made vour o\\rn decisions.

"You have done well but vou have to do better and hrlLrxt

it

in my new position I rvill be able to help you. I will be around among yolr at a later stage r,vith ideas of development by the most progressive and amazing

rer and president and he had ahvavs received wonderful advice and assistance from him.

N4r, Dudgeon then made a presentation of a mantle radio to Mr. and Nlrs. Sarina as a token of the esteem

In

rnakes

continued from page 35

I'ederal President, ldr. Shirley, said he had been with NIr. Sarina since 1933 as federal treasu-

61s held

in the soil,

essitr rrherr r'linraric c onclilion-r ..rllou

llourish.

associated

in rvhich the1,

nec

"I am very proud of the success of the amaig^amation of 1930. I did not do the work on my own as I have had a very good staff, speciall,v mentioning John Hanley and john Hou'iett. Whatever success I ma,v have had in this field I attribute to the fact that I r,r,as raised on the land", he concluded. ,ltl

S

t,:t,r'l:rt

rt

r.n.

I

1)

55

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A herd of 50 corrs deposit or.er bOU ol' these droppings everv 2,l, hours.

-A,nd iI'left each will produce over the months simiiar clumps of u_qele-.s gro$ th.

Ilut" i{ each is mrear-spreatl rrith a Dillon Ira.tu.e }I,r..uru" .l : tltinls,antl er.enlr. a, .,n1.. the Dillon can, *r..-;i;';-; ur rrc,tr errars-producing fertilizer I,ill be returned to the r

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