The average farmer in this colony, says the Melbourne Leader, more particularly it he hails from the northern districts, appears to have a fixed idea in his mind that ho is the only man in the community who works. On his own showing he usually labours about 18 hours a day, and keeps up tho average the whole year round, but unfortunately the results ace not always in keeping with the alleged amount of exertion. A long acquaintance with the farming community has led us to form the opinion that the real worker on the majority of farms is the farmer’s wife. She does not bother her brains about Parliamentary matters, neither does she attend race meetings or sales, where she farmer so frequently disports himself, but she pays particular attention to the prioe of butter, eggs and poultry, and it is principally owing to her exertions that the farmer is enabled to live without getting too deeply into debt. Wheat growing, taking one year with another, is a somewhat precarious means of liveli hood, but the small things on the farm, which are generally relegated to the management of the females, provide in a great measure for household expenditure. Where a few cows and a good number of poultry are kept the financial position of tho farmer is almost invariably sound, because the income from these sources is regular and assured. Poultry keeping is one of the most profitable branches of farm economy, and the farmer’s wife knows it. She has a few dozen eggs per week to sell nearly all the year round, as well as milk or butter proportionate to the number of cows that are kept. This is her work, and in addition she has her household duties to attend to, while dur ing harvest time the extra hands employed give her still more to do. In reality the farmer is deserving of only a small share of the credit for success ; it is the hard work and economical management of his wife, and her faculty for turning to profit able account what are called the minor industries of the farm, that has enabled the majority of farmers to achieve an in dependent position. A Sydney gentleman who visited Eng land recently cautions Victoria about the way in which Victorian brands are treated in London by English butter sellers. 