EDITORIAL FARM NOTES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9305, 4 January 1896, Page 9

EDITORIAL FARM NOTES.

" Weekly Press and Referee." GRADING OURBUTTER. Considerable dissatisfaction is being expressed at the manner in which tins invidious duty is being performed. It is not in the nature of things that any factory owners—no maiter how careless they maybe—should be satisfied on finding their butter marked with a low grade. On the other hand the grounds of the grader's verdict may be open to question, though the best may sometimes be at fault. Still this should not often happen. Factory owner* 3 who think themselves aggrieved have a remedy within their reach. If they find any material quantity of their butter condemned, let them submit such butters to th c inspection of reputed sworn experts, and if the verdict proves to be in their favour they would then have just cause for an appeal to the Department to place matters on a better footing. It is a very serious matter to have the output, or any portion of it, condemned. While sympathising with such cases, we must at the same time assume that the graders appointed by the Department are honest experts, who are prepared to do their duty honestly and impartially. We have made the above suggestions, having heard some dissatisfaction expressed at the results of grading in some districts. We notice that the Perishable Products Committee set up by the Department in Melbourne have amongst other things recommended that inspection in Melbourne should be superseded by inspection at the factories, and the butter sent direct to the ship. The cost of cool storage would thus be saved. The committee referred to are strongly of opinion that the trade is conducted to the detriment of the producers, and urge that factories should take steps to control the produce until it reaches the hands of the consumers. They also recommend the appointment of a Government analyist, who should devote the whole of his attention to the examination of butter.

"THE AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE," TASMANIA. The December number of this magazine is to hand, and contains a mass of useful matter. New Zealand farmers will be interested to learn that a Tasmanian farmer working under the auspices of the Council of Agriculture (Mr F. Maddox) has undertaken the work of an experimentalist. He has this season no less than 960 plots of wheat, oats, barley, and hay. Amongst the wheat are specimens grown from seed obtained from Wagga-Wagga Experimental Station, raised under the direct supervision of Dr. Cobb. These wheats have been carefully selected during a period extending over several years. Mr Maddox has also eighty true wheats selected by the Nomenclature Committee appointed by the Rust in Wheat Conference. He is also making manure experiments, carefully planned and carried out with a view to test the life of the fertilizing elements. Interesting as such experiments are, it is extremely doubtful whether any profit can be made from manures that are not sufficiently soluble to yield up their essence the season in which they are applied. A practical question which requires solving is how much moneys worth of patent manures may be applied to cereal crops, leaving a margin of '.'profit. Some of our most experienced farmers hold that the day is distant when artificial manures can be profitably applied to cereals. They argue that by paying some attention to a suitable rotation of cropping wheat may be grown for an indefinite period without the direct application of any kind of manure to the cereal crops. This is our own impression. However, experiments are being tried in Canterbury, with a view to ascertaining how far patent manures may be profitably applied to cereal crops on light soils, if at all; we shall await the result of the trials referred to with considerable interest. Perhaps there is no class of experiment more dependent on atmospheric influence than that of manures; in unfavourable seasons (dry) the application may show no results whatever. Two or three yeare ago a set of experiments were tried at Lincoln College with various manures; the season was adverse and the results were nil. So that experiments of this nature require to be extended over a series of years to be of much practical utility.

THE SCH.OOL OF AGRICULTURE. We are pleased to note that the Eoard of Governors of Canterbury College have decided, on the recommendation of the Board of Advice, to purchase an additiona, fifty acres of land adjoining the College farm. The farm is too small to give full scope to the course of instruction required to give each student a sufficient time at practical farm work. £1300 is also to be expended in necessary improvements about the buildings, including fowl yards, an apiary and pig paddocks. This is a step in the right direction. New Zealand farmers are lamentably behind hand in such matters as the profitable methods of fowl raising, the keeping of bees, and the most profitable method of raising pigs. On how few farms can be found proper conveniences for conducting the pig industry with profit. And yet there is a large field for improvement in this matter. We know that many of our farming friends will shrug their shoulders asking, Will it pay ? Our answer is, try it. The first cost may be a little heavy, but once done the yearly outlay will be comparatively small. Securely fenced paddocks from threo to five acres in extent are wanted, cropped with alternate crops of mangels, peas, lucerne, clover and grass, &c, This is the kind of farming which should go hand in hand with pig raising. An abund, ance of pure water and shelter are indispensable to success. THE CROPS. Since our last issue the weather has continued fine and warm, consequently hay making has been pushed forward, and now large stacks of this valuable fodder are rising throughout the country. The quality, as well as the quantity, is exceptionally good. The wheat, oats and barley crops are looking magnificent throughout the Canterbury district. Paddocks of oats are assuming a golden colour, indicating the approach of harvest. The birds, as is their want, have commenced their usual ravages on the early ripening grain, and the farmers will now have to submit to damage, much of which might have been averted had they availed themselves of their opportunity last August during the snowstorms. United action on the part of farmers at that time would have so thinned out the pest as to render it incapable of doing serious damage. The opportunity was lost, and the penalty has now to be paid. Tho potato crops have wonderfully improved. We have already seen some fine beards of young turnips. Reports regarding the mangel crops are not favourable, which is much to be regretted, as this crop is indispensable, when dairy cows and pigs are kept in large or small quantities. There is a vigorous after growth of clover or seed purposes. On the whole, there is every prospect of a record year for farmers. Let us hope that it may be so, and that prices may be good enough to crown the record. WEEDS. Wild turnip is rapidly revealing its presence in our com crop 3, by way sides and amongst the root crops. In the latter case,

where the plants are not 'too numerous, they should be carefully hand pulled before the seeds form in the pods. Fathen should also be seen to as threshing will soon commence. Farmers will do well to insist on the whole of the plant being thoroughly cleaned in every part before permitting it on to their lands. This is a most necessary precaution, and was one of the clauses sought to he inserted in the Noxious Weed Bill, which we trust will, ere long, in a modified and workable form, become one of the laws of the land. In any case we strongly urge upon farmers, iv self defence, to have a thorough cleaning of the soil. KKCEST IMPOKTATIOXS OF LIVE STOCK. The s.s. Duke of Sutherland, on her last trip brought out some excellent specimens of Berkshire pigs and Cheviot sheep, all of which have been safely landed at Quail Island. These importations, especially the pigs, should be an acquisition to the colony, as owing to restrictive measures the colony has been closed against swine. We hardly expect to see anything very superior to wiiat we already possess in the colony, still fresh blood must do good. The pigs are to the order of Mr John Boag, Mr G. E. Rhodes, Mr A. E. G. Rhodes and Mr James Rowe, so that we may in future shows expect to find some keeen competition ; this will be a good thing as the running in the past has chiefly been confined to two or three breeds.

THE SHOW SEASOX OF 1895. This may now be said to be over, and with it let us hope will be quenched much of the heartburning, suffered, for the most part, by disappointed competitors, some of whom stoutly affirm that justice was not done them by the judges, though whether from want of will or skill in the task they had undertaken to perform is not always stated. Be this as it may, the day is far distant, if ever it will arrive, when the judging will suit all parties. One thing is certain, and that is that judging, at best, is an invidious task, in most cases gratuitous, and whatever their judgment may be the committees are bound to uphold it; were they not to do so gentlemen would not be found to accept the office. Another point worthy of being considered is the great difficulty of procuring competent men to judge—not because they cannot be found, but for the reason that the best judges are often exhibitors themselves ; or they are interested in some way or other in the exhibits which would come before them. There cannot, however, be two opinions a s to the beneficial effects of shows of stock, &c. They create, a healthy rivalry between breeders, and the improvement of stock would be slow but for competition in the

show rings. Breeders are there brought face to face with each other, and each other's stock, the defeated ones mentally resolving to mend their ways, and to have their revenge at the next recurring show. The triumph of a first prize ticket and a champion medal, is a prize cdveted by all. The animal receiving such a distinction rises in value quite 25 to 100 per cent in its owner's eyes. If the shows have tended to improve the stock of the country, the same may be said of implements in a greater degree if possible. The display of agricultural implements and machinery at the Christchurch Metropolitan is the admiration of all who have the good fortune to see it. A big effort is made by our manufacturers, each and all, to be second to none, with varying success. And we are informed that usually there is a large amount of business done on those occasions. Another great benefit resulting from the show is the bringing together of breeders from all parts of the colony, who discuss matters affecting their particular interests. We would, however, point out that much inconvenience is caused to judges and exhibitors by the want of some concerted arrangement on the part of committees (of Associations), whereby they might hold their shows in some sort of rotation, allowing sufficient time for stock to be taken to the next show if desired. Judges are frequently prevented from acting at as many shows as they otherwise could were the dates so arranged as to meet their convenience. The time at the disposal of the judges is frequently insufficient for the purpose, hence the work is performed too hurridly. Take the Christchurch Metropolitan Show for example. The judging of sheep is all done on the first day, and a big day's work it is, but owing to the race fixtures, the judging has to be done on a racing day, where the judges as a rule are desirous of being present and have to hurry through their work. We can see no reason why the two show days should not be off days with the races, in which case the dicffiulty of having light horses on the ground on both days would be overcome, and moreover the great bulk, if not all, of the judging could be completed on the first day, to which a sufficient number of events to attract the public in large numbers could be allotted. More time would be available on the second day for the parade of stock and the various events, which are now too hurriedly gone through. In conclusion, the association throughout the colony may fairly be congratulated on the success which has, with few exceptions, rewarded their efforts.