Volume 01: Production and resources of the northern and western districts of New South Wales, 1854 [ca. 1850-1857] - Page 86
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DISTRICT OF NEW ENGLAND.
on a Cattle Station, are a Small Cultivation paddock, a Stockyard, & a hut fot the Stock Keeper, beyond these no other improvements are effected on either Sheep or Cattle stations, no other improvements are Considered necessary, & many Consider other improvements would be useless and an absolute waste of Money ------ This as far as Sheep farming is Concerned is a Mistake, improvements in drainage are much wanted, by opening out the Creeks in dry Seasons, & by running a plough furrow in the Swamp flats between the rioges, would Materially improve the run, by Cleaning out & Clearing the obstructions in the Shape of fallen & dead timber from the Creeks during the proper Seasons when the timber is dry & burning it off, by running plough furrows in the flats, this would Create a run for the water which would in time become more decided and deeper, and would form a Creek into the larger branches
During wet Seasons & in rains of long Continuance, Many of the Creeks look formed having the appearance of rivers, & the flats between the ridges frequently appear a Sheet of water producing during Most Seasons grass & herbage unfit for Sheep. The flocks are driven across these from the hurdling grounds to the ridges daily ------ Careless & unexperienced Shepherds are frequently found feeding their Sheep on these pernicious Swamps in order to Shew their Sheep in Condition at the hurdles as having been properly Shepherded during the day, or as they pass it off as having got a bellyful ------ These improvements if they were judiciously Made Might be done st Small expense, would pay the Stock Holder by improving his flocks & Herds. In Sheep by removing the foot rot & others diseases to which Sheep are liable to by feeding on poisoned grass & herbage produced on these cold Sour Soils, these distroy the flocks & then increase. By this means the Country would get warmer during winter, Catarrh would diminish Smaller runs would answer the Sheep farmer, for this reason, the whole of his run would be made available for Sheep farming ------ If this subject were properly looked into, it will be found that Many of the Sheep runs at present noted for being lucky runs to the lessees will be found to possess those qualities from natural Causes, & that the Country is high and dry producing wholesome herbage & grass for the flocks, & that if the run is without limestone that the proprietor pays every attention in giving Salt in proper quantities Several times during the year ------Sheep farmers are well aware of the fattening runs in the low Country for their wethers, they fatten on the Myall Shrub, without a blade of grass, & with a a Scanty Supply of water ------ Yet it seems Strange that the Subject of draining their runs, & shifting their flocks from a Cold to a warm Station during winter, particularly those Suffering under Catarrh does not occupy More of their attention.