Click on images to enlarge
1923
Alfred James Dix, Sylvania, registered the stock brand DIX in 19231 .
1933
13 January 1933
Progressive Farmers on the Upper Hunter
Farms Worked by Electricity - Mr. A. J. Dix's
Big Lucerne Crop - A Model Farmer
By OUR SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE,
DAIRYMEN in the district from Singleton to Jerry's Plains are facing a dry spell, and a good deal of money is being spent on artificial feeding.
MR. J. DECENT, of Jerry's Plains, has just purchased an irrigation plant, to pump from the Hunter River on to his land, at a cost of about £700. Around Denman the country is much better and the cattle are in splendid condition owing to a succession of storms following the heavy rain in September last.
Some of the enterprising farmers at Martindale have had the electric power from the Muswellbrook coal mine laid on to their farms for the purpose of irrigation, lighting, and working machinery, and expect to find it a very profitable investment.
DESTRUCTIVE CATERPILLARS.
Most of the first lucerne seed crop in the districts mentioned has been destroyed by caterpillars, but the prospects of the second crop are very promising.
A few farmers have a fair first crop.
Mr. A. J. Dix, of Sylvania, Bylong, started harvesting his seed on Saturday last, and expects about 10 tons.
Mr. Dix informs me that during the 10 years he has been at Bylong he has never missed a seed crop yearly. His best yield was in 1928 when his return for the year from seed alone was over £4000.
WONDERFUL YIELD.
One paddock of 33 acres returned 99 bags from his first cut - just three bags to the acre, which is a wonderful yield (bags average 180lb each). Lucerne seed growing is a side-line with Mr. Dix, as he milks over 80 beautiful cows. His career at Bylong is worth mentioning as an example of what can be done on the land, even under present conditions2
.
1937
21 January 1937
RABBIT HARBOR
Brings Fine to Bylong Man
A charge of having failed to destroy rabbit harbor faced Alfred James Dix, of 'Sylvania,' Bylong, at the Mudgee Police Court on Monday.
The complainant, the Mudgee P.P. Board's rabbit inspector, Herbert D. Wilson, stated in evidence that he inspected defendant's property on August 22 last, when there were a fair number of rabbits, and a good deal of harbor along the boundary fence. He saw defendant's son there. He inspected again on November 11. A few logs had been burnt out, but warrens and burrows had not been touched.
DEFENDANT'S EVIDENCE
The defendant stated in evidence that he saw complainant on November 11. His son began the work the next day. His son had tried digging out, but the ground was too hard, there having been very little rain. The son burned logs.
Questioned by Mr. McPherson (for complainant), defendant said there was still some harbor on November 11.
Ernest Albert Dix. son of the defendant, deposed that all the hollow logs were burned off after a conversation he had had with his brother in August. The ground was very hard and dry. On November 11 he told complainant that he was waiting for rain. He also said that he would fumigate. Fumigation was not effective in very dry conditions. Witness started the work the following day. They fumigated and filled in. He did the work effectively.
Mr. Pickup. P.M. fined defendant £2 with 8/ court costs, and £2/2 professional costs3
.