NOTES BY THE WAY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22370, 6 April 1938, Page 13

NOTES BY THE WAY

THE POTATO CROP A number of farmers throughout Canterbury have begun to lift their potato crops about a month earlier than usual, and before the spell of cold weather that is generally considered to be necessary. The blight which attacked the crop earlier in the season kiied off the tops, but appears to have left the tubers little affected, and farmers in many instance are becoming anxious about leaving the potatoes in the ground any longer. A number of complaints about the quality of the potatoes dug from the new main crop have already come in, and so far no new season’s have been passed at Lyttelton as f.a.q. tables, though shipments have been going on for about six weeks. In South Canterbury the Government graders have refused to certify potatoes dug recently and offered for certification, and the warning was given there that l until the crop has been exposed to a cold snap, certification is highly unlikely. The market at present is dead, with the value of both prompt and forward at about £3 5s a ton on trucks, with nobody anxious to trade. CHEVIOT SHEEP ARRIVE A shipment of Cheviot sheep has just been imported from leading breeders in Canada for Mr A. E. Bryant, of Manakau. The shipment comprises five ewes, representing different strains of blood, and a stud ram. The ewes include several prominent prize-winners, and the ram, after a very careful examination of leading flocks, was selected from the famous stud flock maintained by the Macdonald Agricultural College. In addition to being an excellent type of his breed, this ram has a particularly uniform fleece. These sheep were shipped at Vancouver in November and had to undergo a particularly protracted voyage to New Zealand. They have just been released from a 28 days’ quarantine. In spite of the many changes of climate through which they have passed, these sheep came out of quarantine in wonderful order. They are an exceptionally impressive lot, showing the true aristocratic appearance and type for which this breed is famous. The shipment was arranged through Wright, Stephenson and Company, Ltd. 1 MONEY IN PIGS “That story about a Te Awamutu district farmer, with a herd of 80 cows, turning off £240 worth of pigs for the season leaves me cold,” commented another dairyman in the same locality, says a northern paper. He went on to claim far better returns. With a dairy herd not exceeding 120 cows, he has so far this season sold . £3OO worth of pigs, apd confidently that -figure to be increased to between £550 and £6OO by the end of the dairying season; He produced records to show the turnover to date, and invited inspection of the pigs that he is getting ready for marketing in the next two months. The bulk of the pigs are Large Blacks and Tamworths, and special attention is paid to systematic division of the paddocks by easily removeable fences designed to expedite changes of feeding ground that enable the pastures to be kept clean and to be regularly freshened up by harrowing and lime dressing. As an example of the quality maintained it may be mentioned that last week the farmer turned down an offer of 32s a head for a line of 12-week-old pigs. MEAT BOARD CAMPAIGN ANNUAL PUBLICITY DRIVE IN ENGLAND craou ova own correspondent.) LONDON, March 16. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has started its annual jpublicity campaign in Britain. In addition to the very effective advertising carried out throughout the year a number of centres Is chosen annually lor a special effort. The campaign has begun this year in Leeds, and after six weeks will move to Hull, and later to Grimsby. Extensive newspaper and other advertising is in progress in Leeds, and

several competitions are arousing considerable interest in the city. A contest for retailers' windows dressed with New Zealand meat drew 80 entries, and a great deal of originality and enterprise was shown. Other competitions are for retailers’ decorated trade cycles, children’s painting and poster designing. There is every indication of large attendances when the prizes are presented shortly.