A NUMBER OF TOPICS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 295, 26 September 1935, Page 10

A NUMBER OF TOPICS.

AMENDED BUTTER-BOXES. WOOL RESEARCH IN ENGLAND. Four amending clauses to the Dairy Industry Act relate to the specifications in respect of export butter-boxes. With a view to eliminating mould growth on butter boxes it is proposed to prohibit the use of rotary-cut timber for the manufacture of butter boxes. The timber to be used must be sawn timber and the ends of all boxes must be planed smooth on both sides. The thickness of boards for the standard box, the sub-standard metalhound box and the saranac box are to be of the dimensions at present prescribed in “dry finished thickness.”

A report published by the Imperial Economic Committee shows that in 1934 the United Kingdom was again the world’s best customer for dairy produce. In the case of butter British imports represented 85 per cent, of the total butter entering into world trade. This is reflected in the home consumption of butter, which was 25.2 lb per head last year, representing an increased average consumption of 6}lh. per head since 1930. New Zealand for the first time supplanted Denmark as the principal source of-imported butter.

“The yield of citrus fruits in the Dominion is gradually increasing, and in this connection it may be noted that the Poorman orange is increasing in popularity and coming into use as a good substitute for imported grapefruit. The production of lemons is excellent as regards quantity, hut the marketable quality of many of these home-grown lemons is greatly depreciated through failure to subject them to a proper grading and curing process. If all our lemons were properly graded and cured there would he little need for importations of this fruit,” states the annual report of the Director-Gen-eral of the Department of Agriculture.

The Prime Minister (Mr Forbes) himself a sheep farmer, is a strong advocate for wool research. Borne years ago lie introduced a Private Bill in the House, proposing a wool levy for research work funds. The measure failed; to pass the House, however. During his recent visit to Britain, Mr Forbes spent some time at the Tonridon Wool Reseai-ch Station. He states that “the results which were being obtained were most gratifying. In view of the keen competition from other fabrics we must do everything we can to safeguard the future of our wool, and it is of the utmost importance that research should be continued in order that wool may be able to maintain its position in the world markets.”

At all auctions of Guernsey cattle in America during 1934, the remarkably high average of £57 per head was paid. While the £2OOO paid for one animal did much to raise the breed' average, there were others which sold at low rates, and the average of £57 per head is a true indication of the keen demand for this great breed. Without any spectacular figures, prices are still rising, and sales last year increased by 25 per cent., which, is the truest indication of a breed’s popularity.

Stocks of wool in Victoria on June 30 totalled 32,354,7081 b. according to the Government statist, compared with 28,905,7501 b .on the corresponding date in 1934. Selling brokers held 8,154,558 lb. shorn wool, 34,7601 b. of fellmongered wool and 458,9261 b. of wool on skins. Woollen and hat mills held 9,055,9581 b. of shorn wool and 12,669 lb. of fellmougered wool, and, wool scourers and fellmongers held 9,037,588 lb. shorn wool, 1,567,5081 b. of fellmongered wool and 4,032,7421 b. of wool on skins.

“Whether from choice or of' necessity, the fact remains that more and 1 more women are taking up farming, and it seems to me that it is high time that a word was coined to represent this class of agriculturist,” writes a correspondent in the “Farmer and Stockbreeder.” “I have come across the terms ‘farmeress,’ but, candidly, I do not like it. It sounds more subservient than managerial. Neither do 1 think that either male or female fanners would favour the idea that they should all be called by the same name —farmers. The terms ‘woman farmer’ is cumbersome, unpoetjc, and not particularly complimentary, and I write this with apologies to the editor. Surely, someone can invent just the word that is required?” Perhaps the word “fairmer” would suit.

In almost every leport of annual meetings of dairy factory suppliers we find the term “bonus” applied to the final payment made for butterfat and this is wrong. A bonus is a gift or premium whereas the payment to dairymen is due to them as the final results of the sale of their produce for which* they had previously only had an advance payment. The system of holding back a percentage of what is likely to he available is sound business as some years ago after directors had been accustomed to paying out Is 6d per lb on butterfat it took a hard 1 knock or two to reconcile suppliers to accepting under Is as first payment. The wisdom of keeping the first payment on the safe side was recognised when suppliers had to face a debit against them at the beginning of a. new season owing to being overpaidi .the preyiaqs OUO<