A COLUMN FOR FARMERS

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 136, 11 June 1927, Page 17

A COLUMN FOR FARMERS

Agricultural research PROBLEMS. A JHTAL PURPOSE CATTLE. ' EFFECT OF SULPHUR o>7 SOIL. (Specially Written for the ,; Star"j. Everr farmer knows something ui jiat science can accomplish for kin. aad most progressive producers are keen to see a start made with agricultural reae arch in the Dominion. The home separator, the Babcock test and curd and jennet tests in cheese-making, are but a few of the contributions of science to tke farming industry. Careful study of production problems —and in New Z<aj, n< i we have more than a few—must inevitably benefit the producer. The difficultv" however, lies iu harmonising the work of several different types of investigational work, and getting the full benefit from research undertaken. It is an open secret that in connection with the establishment of the agricultural college at Falmerston North so many different factions had to be considered, that the scheme at one stage looked like being wrecked. The jealousies existing between certain rival institutions in New Zealand have in the past hampered our progress, and unless different tactics are adopted in future, the full benefit of research work will 10 t be achieved. The Department of Agriculture has been responsible for most research work in- the past, but the work has got beyond its capacity. It is to be hoped that real co-operation will be given the new scheme by the Department, and that old time jealousies will be laid aside in the interests of }»~ew Zealand as a whole.

Dual Purpose Cattle. Uecent seasons have shown the pastorftist that no naonev is to be made from kef cattle, and until such time as we tre able to put chilled beef on the English market, we can hope for little improvement. The result of the lessened demand for frozen beef, and the lower prices, have materially affected our pastures, for farmers have kept the absolute minimum in cattle. New Zealand pasture? require constant grazing *ith cattle in orcler to keep them in •Igood heart, and any scheme which can jbe devised to allow farmers to keep • cattle with profit, should make a strong 'appeal. Several breeds have at times ; been quoted as "dual purpose," giving both milk and a carcase suitable for export. A lengthy experience of Red cattle has led the Department of Agriculture in Victoria to pronounce them to be the best dual purpose breed, and experts declare that they are eminently suited to the prodnction of good quality milk. That this is the case is shown by the returns, for records of up . to 8001b fat in a season have been put 3up in Victoria. I'astoralists there are facing the same problems that New Zea-

land farmers face, and state are the Bed Polls a solution of their difficul-

ties. There •will be many farmers vrh© , will contend that it is impossible to keep 1 dual purpose cattle on New Zealand hill pastures. That is only partly true. On i the large station, where cattle are mustered "but few times during the year, it would be practically impossible to utilise this breed, but on the small hill country farm, the project becomes more feasible. In Victoria averages of 300 to 400 lb of butterfat are numerous, but it must be recognised that these would be put up under the best conditions. Fanners could not expect to get these returns under hill country conditions, but they could expect to get a revenue that mill materially increase their annual profits. With hill country top-dressing, and the keeping of dual purpose cattle, farmers could look to the future with a greater degree of confidence.

Sulphur On Soils. There is little recognition as yet of the advantages of applying sulphur to the soil, and in comparison with phosphates, sulphur is at present playing a very minor part. Recent experiments conducted in the United States go to show that sulphur plays a very valuable part in production, and it may therefore be anticipated that there will be an increased use of thin during the next few years. Sulphur is especially useful as a •fertiliser in the growing of lucerne and other leguminous crops, and experiments iat Utah (U.-SA.) show increases up to {600 per cent when this is used. A t scientist there, after conducting a series of experiments has come to the conclusion that sulphur assists extensively in the nitrification of the soil and in the liberation of potash. Certain experiments are now being conducted in the Dominion, and when the results of these are made available, it may be expected that they will show that there is & very definite place for sulphur amongst our manures. At Ruakura farm in experiments conducted some time ago, sulphur and superphosphate in combination yielded the best returns. We may yet see the day when farmers will know that a cheaper fertiliser than superphosphate alone, is super and sulphur. A very valuable source of sulphur exists in the Dominion, so that an inexhaustible supply will be at hand.

New Zealand Butter. Whatever the opinions held throughout the country regarding the control of our dairy produce, there will be no dissension regarding the importance of the quality improvement registered by our produce during the present season. In a recent address the assistant-director of the Dairy Division referred to the marked, improvement in the make of both butter and cheese. This improvement has drawn forth favourable comment from various firms at the London end, and if we can once conquer the fault of openness in our cheese, a splendid demaiid and a better price should exist. In the work of improvement, the farm dairy instructors have played an important part. These men, who are under the control of the Agricultural Department (except in the case of one big concern in the Waikato, which runs its own instructors) visit the farms of suppliers whose cream or milk is not of good quality, and show the farmer how the defects can be remedied. They are practical men, and they have secured practical results. Cream gradiag has of course helped them in their work, #nd the fact that the dirty fanner is penalise to the extent of Id a lb, makes him oniy too readv to accept the proffered advice. The development of pasteurised cheese has greatly improved the quality of the New Zealand article, but there is ample room for further progress in future seasons.