TUBERCULOSIS IN DAIRY HERDS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 216, 5 June 1908, Page 3

TUBERCULOSIS IN DAIRY HERDS.

WHAT A FARMER SAYS. BLAMES THE INSPECTORS. A Manawatu farmer, after reading the article on . tuberculosis in Wednesday's Dominion, remarked to our representative " too true." He was afraid that the disease was treated altogether too lightly. Our representative asked tho reason why, and the farmer replied that he had known cases where farmers had great difficulty in getting an inspector to destroy a cow which to the ordinary dairyman appeared to be.' suffering from tuberculosis, and tho destroying of the animal was postponed until it became ■ a more shadow. The conscquenco was that probably othors in the herd had in th'e meantime contracted- tho disease. On the other hand, ho added, a farmer, seeing, a cow becoming reduced in condition, often did not tako prompt measures t9 advise the inspector, hoping that the animal would recover, as she might be a valuable cow with which he did not wish to part. This farmer considers that it would pay, the Government indirectly if they would about double the compensation given, to farmers whose cows had to bo destroyed. . v RECORD GATE AT DUNEDIN. A Press Association message states that there was a record gato at the Dunedin Winter Show on Wednesday, tho takings amounting to £390. • NIREAHA NOTES. The weather, experienced in this locality has been favourable to farmers, and stock are in wonderfully good order. After a most successful: season, considering tho drought and bush 'fires, the Nireaha Cheese Factory has closed down. Hie aggregate output' was 150 tons,\ which is 15 tolls moro than last season. • i, Mr. Ockerstrom, of Kakariki, has disposed of his farm'there to Messrs. Vette. Mr. Brady, of Hukanui, has also disposed of his farm, and intends to settle in Rakanui. THE PRICE OF DAIRYING LANDS. ' .5

The price of land is an, important feature in dairying. Twenty-fivo years ago'dairying land in Denmark realised up to £60 per acre. When competition began from other countries the dairyman found that h'e could securo suitable farms elsewhere at a much taore reasonable figure, with the result that the i values in Denmark have receded to about £30 per acre, and this figure can'be assumed a payable price for dairying lands. In. New Zealand and Victoria and parts of Now South Wales £30 per aero is recognised as an average price for good dairying property. In Queensland tho average is about £10 to £15 per acre. A recent writer in tho "Livo Stock Journal" says that it may be assumed- that dairying in Queensland'will advance nntil .the general value of properties reaches £30 per acre. But doubtless some allowance must be 'made for the trying climate.

WHERE BUTTER ORICINHTED. Butter is one of the oldest articles of human diet. Four thousand years ago the Hindu cattle breeders of India valued their cows according to the quantity of butter obtained from them, and the butter was used as food. There is some reason to. believe that in Europe butter-making was first practised in Norway and Sweden.' In the twelfth century German'merchants used to send cargoes of wine to Bergen, and receive dried fish and butter, in 'exchange; a hundred years later, among thirty T f6ur'..articles of commerce imported into Belgium from'various countries, butter 'was included, and it came only from Norway; again in 1300-1400 butter was regularly exported from Sweden to othor lands.

BUTTER IN STORE. The quantities of butter in store in the various' ports of New Zealand on the last day of May, as reported by the staff of the Dairy Commissioner, were as. follow:— . End ,of May, 1908: —Auckland, 20,781 boxes; New Plymouth, 20,367 boxes; Patea, 13,408 boxes; Wellington/ 15,138 boxes; Lyttelton, 228 boxes; Dunedin, 1557-boxes; tota.l, .71,479 boxes.' End of May, 1907— 77,519 boxes. .

OUR DIARY. ' shows. ; June 12, 13. —Ashburton A. and P. Winter Show.. ■ . ' ' I' ' ■ . June 16, 17—Southland A. and P. Winter Show (Invercargill). Juno.23 to 26—National Dairy Show, Palmerston North. , . July 8, 11.—Waikato Winter Show (Hamilton).; Oct. 21, 22.—Hawke's Bay A. and P. (Hastings). ■ - October 28, 29 —Wairarapa A. and Pi (Carterton). Nov. 4, 5, 6— Manawatu. Nov. 11, 12, 13.—Christchnrch. ■ Nov. 13. 14. —Wancanni.-' Feb. 26—Bush Districts (Woodville).