JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12827, 11 June 1907, Page 10

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Tho sharpest frost- experienced so far this winter at Springfield occurred on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. They wore followed by beautiful sunny days. So far tihe winter (writes our Springfield correspondent) has been very mild, but no doubt severer weather will bo experienced in July and August. The case of a young man, of Ohiaruhe, Carterton, attacked by actinomycosis (states <i Wairarapa correspondent of the "Taranaki Herald"), is said by veterinarians to be the first in which a man has contracted the -disease in Xew Zealand. The man is a farm labourer, and it is supposed ho became .nfected from cattle. 80 far there are only two ousos on record in which a man has contracted tho disease by direct infection from cattle. Those cases ore recorded by the scientists Steliner and Hooker, and in each of them tho subject was a man in charge of cattle suffering from actinomycosis, the tumors of which were suppurating. TJie disease is of a fungoid nature, and probably gains entrance to the system through the medium of wounds or abrasions. In tho case of this man, the growth is perceptible in tho neck, and he has been conveyed to Carterton, where he is being attended to. An operation will be necessary to remove the growth, and the wound will then be treated by iodide of potassium, which is much used in these cases by -•terinarkma.

The statements of Mr J. D. Anderson, that farmers were not receiving fair payment for their piga from North Island companies, as compared with Canterbury prices, is exciting much comment in the Wairarapa, Manawatu, and Bush districts. It appears, writes the Wairarapa representative of tho "New Zealand Times," that Mr Anderson's remarks on tho question wflukl possibly have applied with some effect to the position of things nine years ago, when it should bo remembered there was no North Island bacon company, and neither was thero any bacon company in tho Wairarapa. In those days pigs were at a discount in the B_sh and Wairarapa districts, and farmers could hardly dispose of them at even beggarly prices. A 1401b pig in the Wairarapa would bring about 23a, which works out at 1 l-9d per lb. In Canterbury during the same period pigs were practically as dear as they are now, and there was a big margin between the two prices, so much so that a buyer sent through the Wairarapa and the Bush districts from Canterbury swept the farms.clean of pigs during a short season, and made several thousands of pounds profit. The buyer himself netted about £80 in commission in a few weeks. . The reason why there was then no profitable sale for pigs in this district was because there was practically only one firm interested, and the farmera had to take whatever prices they were offered. With the advent of two bacon factories in the two districts, the whole position was changed, and in this way the farmers have reaped the benefit. Prices have gone up and up until now, instead of receiving I 1-Od per lb, tho farmers receive 4 2-3 d and od. The fact that business has not boon satisfactory in the Wairarapa, and Woodville factories is another matter, but enough has been shown to prove that by keeping the two factories going farmers are in a much better position regarding the industry than they wero nine years ngo. The dairy farmers (.says tho "Poverty Bay Herald") are beginning to feel the effects of the shortage of feed for the stock, although it is only what may bo expected at this time of the year. The Kia Ora Company's returns show a failing off of 264,C301b in tho comparison between the past, two mojiths. The suppliers aro supporting tho Company well, the difference in tho returns bcine duo to the early winter'weather. The nppreciation of land in Southland is slow but sure, and whilo there is no boom the various agents report an nctivo demand for fnrm properties. Tho "Mstaura Ensign" learns of the snle of thnt choice property between Gore nnd Charlton, consisting of 131 acres, with substantial improvements, known as "Campbell's," at tho rooor 1 price for farms in that district of £16 10s per acre.