THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS WORKS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 330, 17 October 1908, Page 3

THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS WORKS.

"THE DOMINION'S" CRITICISM. A CURIOUS.REPLY.' When The Dominion in its issue ,of October 13 pointed out defects. in tho Agrir cultural Department's annual: report, it quite anticipated that it would bo assailed by the Government journal. Apparently Tire Dominion's offence is not that' its criticism was at fault and its premises wrong, but that, it criticised at all. And after.all, .that is. a very right and proper view for ..tho Government journal to take. The existence of circular 333 is admitted; it;is also, admitted that under'this circular the) Department's specialists-;do not-carry out or even direct the experiments on the State farms, to which the farmers of New Zealand have, in their trust in the Department, ' hitherto looked for guidance; but ■ the Ministerial organ excuses this fact by explaining that the experts are consulted by the director when ho requires their advice. It is a very great 'pity that the curious circular referred' to' cannot be published, in order that' the farmers might see for themselves what a remarkable piece of red-tape machinery it sets 'up. In many of its statements, of course, the Government . journal is inaccurate. The Dominion never objected to the existence of a Director of Experiment Farms, but condemned that part of the system which makes the State specialists intruders when they visit the'.farms unless they have first gone through the formula prescribed by the circular. Nor has The Dominion one word to say against the managers in charge'of the 1 farms. The Government journal seems, helplessly unable to see the absurdity of,setting good farm ,managers to perform the' difficult ; tasks of scientists, while our own scientists stand idle, or at least hardbound and hobbled. The charge that the "attack" upon the Department was inspired by some dissatisfied- official of' the "Department who has an axe'.to'grind; is' not. a very serious matter. That is a favourite old phrase of our Ministerial ' friend, and has seen much service. We are not aware" that criticism of the Department's report will help any man to grind an axe, unless that phrase is held to apply to the "general interests of the farmers and the taxpayers.' 'It-seems to be'too often forgotten that the taxes spent by the Agricultural Department are in- • tended to be used'riot so much' in controlling - and' harassing- the farm ; industry as in helping the'farmers to make money. That, in otir opinion; should be the guiding policy of the' Minister for Agriculture, but, to speak, plainly,'we do not'think he has acted on;'it : very much. MR. OGC'S PREDICTIONS.; A MONTH OF- STORMS. Several references have been - made lately by our various agricultural correspondents; to';the : inclement weather , predictions of .Mr. Ogg,'..the"Brisbane' weather: expert. • We give here the actual prophecies sa'. far as they in- ■' terest New' Zeajanders in regard to October:—' ' • _ "Special warning" (for' Australasia): — "Serious irregularities in the distribution of ' atmosphere are anticipated for .this month. AH concerned might do well to take precaution and. protect their interests. wherever possible from .jffie blighting of frost." ,;VO.etober;l6;to 23.—1n Tasmania and New Zealand c'onditiorisVt^icaT'o^the 'depths .of ■winter obtain. Cold rainj with a cutting gale-throughout, -and . in elevated districts terrific' hailv squalls , and snowing .heavily. Seas,'iun...very. < -high .for a few days in' all southern;.latitudes.":-'». ■■ • ■ " •<i > "October 24'-to'3l.—Continued cold and blizzards in New Zealand." , --' Fijr November and December Mr. Ogg makes'no;' special prediction for New Zealand, "ahdipne may perliaps conclude, : therefore, that the conditions will be normal. , BEST LAMBING RESULTS. The best lambing results so far reported this season (writes our. Wairarapa correspondent) have been recorded on Messrs. Grace Bros.' farm near Gladstone, the managers, of which are Messrs. Willoughby, well' know; in shooting as ■ well as farm circles. The return was 108 per cent, out of a flock of ewes which were 4000 in number when turned out in March. As there is almost certain to have been a mortality a,mong the ewes and lambs, the correct percentage is probably something over 108. Mr. R: Coop'dr, of Gladstone, had a percentage of 116 from his "Blackface" ewes, but the result in the remainder of his-flock was a little under 100. Mr. J. Strang, also of Gladstone, recorded 100 per cent.; Sir. W. -Strang, 95. These are . about the best returns in the district. BUTTER FAT CHAMPIONSHIP. CROSSBRED, ASPIRANTS. ■ The entries for the" championship \ butter fat- competition' in connection with tlie Wairarapa A. and P. Show have closed with twenty-five entries (writes bur Wairarapa correspondent). Following are the names of the' dairy farmers competing:— ■ • P. Ashton, Carterton.' James Crew, Waihakeke, 2. H. Feast, Greytown, 2. ■ L. Herrick,. Carterton, 2. -, C. Morgan, Dalefield, 2. G. Sievers, Taratahi, 2. J. Standen, Dalefield. ' ' E. Matson,.Parkvale, 2. H; R. Renall, Kokotau. F. W. Burling, Parkvale, 2. A.-Osborne, AVaihakeke. C. Fairbrotner,.Dalefield,'2. D- Carey, A. Daysh, and Mrs. Harris, all of Clarevule. The whole of the cows are crossbreds. FEATHERSTON FRESH MILK FACTORY. Tho Featherston Fresh Milk Factory has closed down for the summer (says our correspondent). ;, ' ' ' CHEESE FROM FEATHERSTON. The' Featherston Dairy Factory yesterday railed 65 cases of cheeso to Wellington lor shipment Home. BLENHEIM ECC-LAYINC CONTEST. At the Blenheim egg-laying contest (says a Press Association telegram) the total eggs laid during .tho week numbered '2326; The grand total numbers 38,641.- The highest layers-of the week have been—Small and Hay's White Leghorns, 34; Commercial Hotel's White Leghorns, 33; Silcock's White '» Leghorns, 32; Merritt's White Leghorns, 32; Draper's White Leghorns, 32; llena Dodson's White Leghorns, 32. Tho highest layers to date are—A. ,R. Browne's White Leghorns, 787; Miss Brown's Black Orpingtons, 752; Sturrock's Black Orpingtons, 722; Edelston's White Leghorns, 676; "Poultry Journal's" White Leghorns, 666; Miss Mick Shaw's White Leghorns, 662. CHEESE OUTPUT. Tho Itongokokako Co-operative Cheese Company has sold its season's output (writes our Wairarapa correspondent) partly by consignment and partly by sale through Messrs. J. B. MacEwan and Co., of Wellington.