THE FARM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 439, 23 February 1909, Page 5

THE FARM INDUSTRY.

i';i'||MI^^DE^MATTERS/ 1 y^; Miffe'iSvTH : -i ■::^t'?mife! : c6^s^(Km , svbmc!B'.^v ':;;:: ~man' r .:,'trritiiig.from England,.passes.sonieinnfavour-''' i :'ttblo;;opinions the...woirking i 6f.th6.High. "';' :: ;:',■"■■!; -';'2- : . : .':-y'' . ':"■■ •;- r f"Cli'r^wd.to...^»'. : lton'^''bcW..pK^.'ofmeat : l '■:■. inspeotionj .he f says;:—"This..business, -to my Vmind,'=.has:beeri sadly: mismanaged^'simply ;:-.froin:-they fact..> that''■■ the i.'.-Nwv , .;' Zealand -ofhqe '\ gpmg/on,v HndpyendeavSur.-' to'.'guide '■y'irfakc::,sii'^estijOns , .'',in^r^it'S-: i kij' legislation.' S;. The.; only-: ui'ah} tliiit ,1s .doing; anything Vui; this '•; country: is" Mr.-•'Crabbe;!::who'• 'certainly, has a K.oonsiderable'.'amount 'of 'common" -sense, : aiid, '/fas ffar'as ho is fallowed, to ba'ye- the. direction s^of:"the'.'ailairs"bf. : .his':departraentj is .working «them.^satisfactorily.:. -The :office ;in . th'e .past .;■ has ■ seemed;'- to ."my' mih'd, T to dJrectVits attend ; i;tion-:;fo''matters:' ; vwhicb..:iit ;i; cannoii;: possibly: W:fpll6\r.\up; ; ahd..r.-ain :: ''hot'-''sure.-..th'aVit , .is' not : ! t: etilliliankering'. after'-''the' l idea:of;shops/ : : I' ithe':;newi;High. Commissioner'wjll : V. ; ;a/Socialist, ;..and ; 'more; determined; : onipracticalyines.f ; J;. .■.:';; ;5; What'the Cbvbrriment^Coujld : . Do. '- f>; ;• \ '■;; ■ y y&y 'of.'!Beejng_ that;tho : :'r-?'ineat.'is; shipped in 5 a proper .'condition. ",';■ :'>:;&MOhdlyilby : /seeing;;tha;t ' it; is'.' discharged i::.:m: ; S ; -proper:co^itionvi;.. J^^-^i:;-'; '; i 'v■ii :^Thlfdlji,■l)y;!Beeln■g^.tliat.!■iii.\is■.■markβ^W i ■,ill.a■ 4p'rpper cbnditioh;? , ';tVv^^' : v..;V-.; r ■■; *.-.(Aji(l>tKen, ; ;'instead-iof ;;;er>tertaining ]■' any: : : : Utopian -ideas shops,-the'Produce -' Coinniissiqner should- dp-"as;some-;of' : lhe : Aiisr! >.tealiahfand^C^ :. ; about: ;> advertising ; :pu'r:; wares; arid ■ creating' ■^aKdemand:'fori theni^ffpm"ithe "distributors; !'(aUd;the ,; yst'',i:etailers , ,'s and keep-' the-agents •■■': 'fully;; JniatteisVof vin coiinedtib'n. ..ifitli -the , ,trade.:: -Hv/'-;"'■'. '■' V- The&a"- are , all; and: sujt" :; able for. ;aiiv.up-to^atev.Governmer.t,.{..-while • ; -ithe ; mer^topeliing'■ of vishops;:.' -"whldh''--;ar«i;;.tttfr' i::iiecessa t ry;,^wpuld,vland:!t.liem : 'invend .-.' plicatign'.and;difficulties v 'i;lt:is protection ■./of'ourmarkets'■•thai;,.'is :reguired';tne : question yof-deinani and- supply : willJafljusi itself.;■-,;;' : :.:C. : .rAirustvthat;:.the"'new;.High^ ■-SHientalis'ediahdithat.'he' wijl take a-leaf put of ■;..: the;■ infetlTbda; of- the Canad'ansfand ■Austra-:

?' ; H|H-6redi : SH^|)?^;i^.v^K £;"&■ concerning, New■;-.'. Zealand. ; meat) ;':-»itexsaiho ".correspondent'; says':—'.'There ?are ■^■?Vj^M^mmplai?ti ; -flf : v i , "iwant > iof;|br«d'; , iii;itlie' S-.i/^ew^ealandjSheepi^espedialiy/ih'the..Canter-. : : ; i.ljury- district,' , aridlionljtf.this'i-.week.ouratteh-. ;;#.Th^.'tradehbs:l)eeiv\all6 ; irad? to 'consider .these V;^'ebout:-'ihem;Y^ThfryVir6V\te'':my,.fflind; , -;badlyr; :i:' , ; ; -bie4 , :l&mii^a47iiaCT<)w!/iii'.''the^hesti'!\liigli' : in .^::the. ; shonlder, : '■ jind .■ With'a 'tallow,• oily streak; :'■".': down SThey^lpok;very.'■bad; when :^y : iiiawmg-6}iti:^ ] ■;;■: - "■'.■' :;.:::,;.-■'''Then : Tery;-largely=:to H; fat,:^ >.::(£reight :s ands;'freezmg W: are■ a added-* yi»:VJthefl'3>rice';V of •■;/ freezing i "■"? -{ineat,;- Ji .the ?■■' ; v itpy€rfc>wante. ?';>Ji6methirig Sf : ; ■that"ia::not 'too'6kcessively'-.wasteful. .fiThese 'seriously.'in: ':,'.' the.oolonyft.!The 'vast■ improvement { in .River ;- : : it;is ?■ :■ inequality."and ; invprice , '- .Tinless ';the , 'grower f ::^in"tne'PcJpny '■:. .v\-y;.:;"THere. is considefable^inferes'tfeing.taken rejections; on' tSisj .certainly, ■;;Aa^yer6-;Upw:^:tKe';'G6yernmerit ; V'''; policy ■■that;;Mr. ; :M'Nab 7 not./'elected.. fi";CkmsMe^b]^yn^3t l 4sj;beirigV:takj3n •:■■ -iwhojis'thfeyjiossilile , ;MiriisterJ: for,',^gfi^nltnre ••%; is; felt,',thattie;niay?haye: considerv: •:';>■; able ■.inflnenceVm , ;.di^^g"-:tne , .;]jpndon:;bffii\e; ':>[,: in:jregard^to;.'itsVduties ;■ in•'reference. to.pur' '. ■;' i^ariousiproducts/" .^"v'^i/^ '^l-.- :^: i'-<' : '^■ ■'..:■ v

< ( THE AMERICAN GRIP. •'< • . i "The'meat trade for sorno time back has _ot been satisfactory for either "the retailer , gr wholesale merchant," writes a well-known New Zealander now in England. " They all complain of bad'trade, bad prices, and bad debts., Tho frozen meat trade has received. a very) severe shock from Scotch and Dutch, and they are not prepared in tbe meantime to pay very high prices for JCew Zealand meat.. i "You will have noticed that a commission has been appointed to inquire into the American .Meat -Trust 'operations on this, market. Do'not.be at all surprised if nothing at all comes of this. - ■ .

" But it is known, that something like 50 per cent, of the meat brought to tbe Smithfield market is either owned or under the control of the American ring, and that they 'are represented in every town in the United Kingdom"of any size; in fact, in all Great Britain... In addition to the large interest which they-hold in South America, it is now reported that they have acquired the La Blanca Meat Co. for the sum of '£300,000, and, in'addition to this, there are, in tbe same building with'the La Blanca, tho La Plata! Smithneld,,and Argentine Companies, the Hammond Beef the Morris Beef Co., Messrs. Armour and Co., and the El Befrigrifico Argentina.

: fe'|;i rvi(tee;*ci.\the'priricipar.themes':in;the; ele(V .iipn j fight;;'of^la'sV'.year:/in 'falmerston :(sayß. - the-'.'ilariawatu';Sfandar.d'. ! ); was i the'\alleged ;yisit.;ofstwo-Government 'officials.to:a';'farm, : :.was' 'denied with; great: ■;Teheme^ , jby;-;'Uie';-^'pi^nitataL:bfficials: and '"»|jiniain^'^thi ; :ner:. of. "the; f arni.'.-..; A/somewhat'; similar. case .has, ' ; it: : ;seems,,vn6w .'occurred^'in : i' : the,'-Horo-. wh«nua : 'diistriofc'';'i;:;;;i" : i^. : :^-;;v;VV^ : t!' : '"-- ''.-.•' ,; ; .It appears ;that',some time ; befpre-'the 'jb'e..ceniber.'meeting:'of. Couiicil Counr. "claiming to be an inspector of iiioxious. weeds,' and! as '■■. a- result '. of. the' interviow;?a:', (liEtussipn . took' : plabe iirthecounoilmeeting and was. reported :in ■:'the'.press.t i ":The r .result-was .tiiat'-!at" Satur;day's meeting, of -the 'council' the; following .; letters was: read.fromVMr.': -Ih■,'spectbr. of -Noxious : Weeds:—' i" - ; /:'. ■ .f.■; ::.x:_.■;.■ :;V. fol- / lbwing~.stat<!ment. :made*.by / Copncillor.: Venn •'■at;ij ; .■'Jβ} 'inspector■'called pri;inea; "short time -ago. 'and'l asked .him-why.-he.didn't''go-.np in the :.blorrri frorn; .he replied that it was.: top rbijgh. :Then: l ; i aisked-; him.:;;why.i.hei.didn't:-goS,over ; . Bomo:;of.'the-cpuntrjv putrtowards;the.-beach, ; and to tbat-he rgplied that ; it was; put of his. ;way;. and that is hdwithey:'.earn^bcir.money. , . I-saw>:the, : above:;.in;;P.rint I could not ; ;;it "as" .true V.that.' any .pfficer ; '-'of-.';the !': Agricultural, -Department made use'.'of ;-tho statements feither^ vVenh „ or'ftnyV-other'. councillor.::;!:: therefore :,made ■cai'ijrui.'inquiriesi'.from .;the.,officers .-.who,'have ; ;boc» in the district :during: the. last. 18 months, '.'and '■fiTid:.th'at'-;.thcj- :, .'nave.tnever---'had'-'a';Con-.' ;-: ; :Woe(]s:vor ;any : othot. sul)ject.", ; 'l would like'. :it::tp:be;'cWrl.v understood .that.it-was- not 'an.: bfficfir; of ..the Department;' a»d we , would ■■ Venn: p^, ; any: cbuhcillor or>parson iriterbsted, could^ give any infprrnation.^tnat-.mightjloadtb, the identifica'; ■twit- of ;-thb : .'supp'oscd inspector..; In ; .carry ing ■ v.oiit; tho prpyiMonSib^theNokioas.Weeds Act • our l onic_ers.;always. i ,endoavoiir.-'to work irihar- , .(Tnpnvayßh- and. have'- tho. support;of all; local ;.' ■l)i!!)joa:,.:and,the.':officers concerned feel: much

hui-t">;.thatjsuch". of.:tb.is .nature slimild .have-been : niade at:your council and allorend: to, get::into,! tlie'prees without'»'ieai : semable; opportunity being given them'to con-; : ;trH<lict "it.jSl'.thorefore; triist.-that you will' givis. .full publicity.to .any..explanation,;and should ;any v t similar'.statements, -be., made., in : futni;e.you' will give the officer an opportunity ;6f;;bp.ing hoard before allowing them;'to be ; "''xv-."'V; -■'■■?: '' ■■;■■

E"EWS AITD NOTES TOE THE MAN ON THE LAN&

; EXPERIiyiENTS WITH MANURES. V ; y ; SOMBSIMPLE RULES. . :. : 'V; V ; ; ' - HOW-TO MAKE THEM VALUABLE. '■ : The" manuring season is now' approaohing, 'and with it the best time for carrying out experiments with fertilisers.;- Manure tests are 'becoming sp .popular .in New- , Zealand that a few sample, rules to guide;? experimenters. 'Will?be well -placed.. Many ;of tao'se. who are' espe'rimenting with are: iriexperienced—some of- : them are school-boysv-and very : often all, their labour is'mstei because -in selection of; their fer-■tilisera-for the : test they displayed a lack;of.. 'skill:-;.,;;• "-'■;'.;■ v ;:■:■•:■;; ~ ■: ,:y:';--\ '"'" fvioneyValue,as a;Basls. ;' ; • .- :L ~'• ;. -'lu.tiHe selection of i series of fertilisers for. comparisoiti 'it is , of• the ■ first impbrtaiice;to .'select, themall on a'common basis. y'llie : best basis is money value. : lt is ,the money value that the ; farmer considers.- Let us see/ for .example,, how ■ the various; fertilisers range themselves.on-a .value basis. We,will'take,: "first, the. potash- fertilisers, 1 of 'which these , are/die values per toil to-day Sulphate of ...potash,' £14;. muriate-of potash,: jfclo'jikaini.t, M'ss.: If. the object of'the experiment be: to determine which * form of

is most effective- we ■- must :{ compare them in'.tho folloAying relative.quantities'.:—:- :'. Kainit,Mcwt.,..cost 4s. 3d. ■ ■-:'.''-,-".. ; ,' •Sulphate of potash-,- 341bi, opst 4s. 3d.:'■•• .; Muriate;of potash, cost is. 3d.. ■-'' '■These quantities, on :ono ; ; acre of; land ,;Would: bo a .very -light- dressing. The amounts.obuld: be ,: trebledj-;- quadrupledj but the proportions must 7 reinain unchanged. .We want ,'to-avoid. settling. £1 -worth" of kainit into'an , ..unequal contest, with; £5-worth of sulphate of potash..; ■- -.;.- '..-.. '-:-.-> -'-• -.'-. .-pn.the money,basis,: the phosphates-''.would ''range.themselves.as.iollows,.the Wellington prices"-.per .ton ■•beingi-rSuperph.osphate,. £5 ss.;.slag, .£4.155.; Maiden, Island guano] £4 15s. ;"iinported bonedust,.£7; local bonedust, £5 15s.':'.-.-,v •-..;;■ -. ■.;■..■;.-.;■■ -J-.*- ■■■■':■ -■-.■; USlag^icwt.,;|cost4s'. < 9d/"' V': v '^ ! .'.'.'' V;-;Guano,,lcwt., cost 45.:9 d '— : ■-.:-... ; ■' )'■'" 1011b., cost 4si';9d ;/' ' ' : " !; ; '; :'i-:Bpne (imp.), -761b:, cost 45. ; od;'-" -. : '■'■ ,; ' '■■'"■■ 4s; 9d.. ; ' i ' ': ■ ■•^The:nitrogenous ; nianuresiare': quoted. in< '■Wellington'.at:the following rates per ton :— Nitrate, of soda, £16; sulphate of ammonia, £18;-blood manure, No.'-l,- £8; Blood 'manure', -No., 2, £5..,105.. Tho money,', basis ■would-be jas follows:— ; '■'■:'- '-■'■■.•' ■-' -'■':-. "■•■ ■■■:■"

-;Bl6pd,:No. IJ'-lbwtij-.cost Bs. ■ ■:,' ; ,'.'.•' >■■: '■--. ;■: 1 5-llcwt;, cost Bs.' '."-V-•'"'' :; ' , : Nitrate.of.sodaj. Jcwt., cost Bs. V Vv : v:.vH ,; ; .: Sulphate'ol'..ammoniaj-^Olb.,. cost;Bsf -] '"- : > i< if one experiments' iliesis 'line's 1 Mfcere,;to get ■cofrect.results', one--will'-.thon .be'.yable'-to; answer with, corindeiipo :the question-.;" which manure pays'-best?" ; andvto'.give:figures'-in. proof.'.'.But if one applies:;indiscrimiuate:;quantities and (as-' is often- done) ;in indiscriminate mixtures,' the J reßults,.can ; answers that : are reli-' ;able. "/■■'-'■;■■;■ '■'•■ :':':>■■:■'; -■.-' '< ■ -;; ':■}:■ "";'■ ■/■-.'■"■'■ ' ,- r v; : ; Time' to ApplyV^'; ::l '/ :; -;.^ i ; .;■:';(': V'.' [;;:£ven ;mpre.important.is;it to"-'apply;-fche-varwus'manuresvat-their-Aright;: seasonV Some soluble .ones—spread in the-;soil■ and.-beco'rae available' , to the. plant vrootesoon after, they.ara: applied." VOthers— v the lnsoluble: ones—nec;d:,to be -ploughed or harrowed into th'e';soil, and ..only- slowly' be--■-^^a^.niposed'or .','digesied/V and-avail- , ablate ; the;:plant. roote.': i If. must ibe obvious; :therefpre,-;that.-if,;soluble-.,and.- insoluble; .alike are;-all-; top-'dressed/in : : ' the '; spring,:theTesults.are likely :i to : do.'a Beriousiinjustico to the:.insoluble ones.> -It Jaeems to .^. 0n ?,. : . of v% :l^^ n s.that.,the farmers learn the most: slowly that-bonedust and; other-in-> : soluble, marfures oannot ha,ve ; their -best.effect• : if/tep^resseor:.:, . It.) ls-'-not '■■:■ the ■:leaves of -the •;p.lanus ) :.;b.ut; : the - : roots under, the soil that , .want; to "feed on : One label ;,the.; , various/.,,fertilisers; -■ according te : ■tJieir ; best iseasons-of/applicationv-rouchlv! aa' ;,.";.:-.'■ ;%:,x : ;; : ,■ -.■,; ,,■-}■: '■ 'v.. , -/■;...'" - 1

vvßonednstj—Hough .-under •'early : - i :in i VtHe autama;ifeconvenient.:>May-be; : harrowed in ,later,;with probably-.less benefit.-; 'Never 'topdress.-.: ! - 'i.'-.-" , .!.'""'' , ,,-'. , . , :"-' -v. , - , . ■> ■'.■■:■,■:■;',■■

: ,:Blood-.and .bone.'—This is.made/from meat scraps,.etc.: .It may-be ploughed, under 'or harrowed.-in.. Doesvnot have' its full effectas a ; top-dressing. "■?>-■ ;. :.; ;. >: ; .,'y..Sv::-.V: •■;;.- v Basic;. slag.i-Plpugn.or. drill in.: Does:not!have its .lull .effect as a:top-dress- ' nig,,as 'the '.phosphate : is; not : soluble ■ in ; rain; : and: remains; idle on tbe, ; surface. ": Any good.following 'a top-dressing : iEj'pfobably due: to other constituents-of.-the?klag;-!/.:..: : ; •.-• -:. Guano'.—Contains? ':' phosphate;' which ; : like jthatvpf: bone ; and slag, requires -***■-;; »e'.=buried ihj .-■ ploughing,- .{harrowing,; or drilling..:i;,-;.- 1 '., : .V-,:v'::./,-■ ;•.,'■■.•:... ,-';.. ■•',>.: .•-Superphosphate.—The. : only ' : manure- con-> taming -soluble' phosphate'..which. :the: rain can 1 carry down.through the soil. The lime of; the soil, however,' fixes the phosphate and! prevents it sinking beyond .th« reach' of the' roots. :■ It may,;therefore, be either harrowed j or drilled 1 in:--during;,'autumn : qr''.wiriter|.-,'6r'-be top-dressed at .any'.time. ; .Good rains are needed .to.carry .it to, the roots. after top-, dressing or no ; benefit .will, be obtained. ■ • ■'. : Sulpnate ■' of.. ammbhia:—Harrow■ or ; drill in at seed time, or top-dress. •'.■■ Rain, needed', ri r .Nitrate: of vsoda.'r-Alay be" harrowed ; in or drilled; .but:preferably -top-dressed. ' 'Rain needed.: .•■.-.'',.-'.'. •;.' ; .;-:f-'-- ■ '■'.'.' ■ - l •':.'•![,

. Blood.—May. be,.ploughed: : in. -! Better.--if harrowed just ;bofore s'eeaing,: or drillod.- May .be;. torMlressed, ;bu.t full ' beneiit .'is -not -6btained not/even .after good rains.. ':. .'.'- ; -.' j .'Kainit-r—This: "contains■ ■ the-, elements of coininon table salt in. a. large. and as. this ■is injurious to 'most plants, v .it is best; to apply it early, so' that the injurious salt may be .leached-" away before the crop grows;- It.may. be. ploughed or harrowed, :or! less; wisely drilled or It is: a badj raw. sort of manure at the best. ■'.-,' v .-Muriate of.po'tash.-r-This'also contains a lot of- common; salt/ 'but as ,it is more than, four times as'rich in potash .as. kainitjs it can boused in one-quarter! the quantity, and then is 'less: dangerous.. Shpuld; be harrowed -or drillecl or top-dressed. V.. ;'-/,.;.. ■ ; '.■;..'y . of. potash.-pThe. best of all • pot- r ash-manures. Free fr.om common .'salt.'- Harrowt or. .drill; or top-dress.: . Does not injure any.crop.-■:.•:■■'.-.■ '■.-•!■:■".';■:'.- : •■ - ■■; ■;■■;.- ■■. ■ Tlnie for Digestion. ; '. '"< -•' -.; : ; ; ?

'; If-now; oiid; wants to experiment with the series of ■phosphatic: manures on. the value basis and give every; manure, a fair chance to do its : best, one '.'would need to plough in or , harrow or drill the boiedust or sfag or'guan'o 1 .: The.superphosphate could'either be harrowedor.:drilled.at the same time or,be' top-dressed later.; To', make" the"; tests of greater.' value brie would need to amplify these applications. One could set out;!td;show:—;;; .■'.;>■ / ' .;! /.Whether;.bonedust alone was .as profitable: as 'half bone'dust"and half'super.', '■;: , ' '; .' .': .Whether ■ bonedust or. supr. or slag or guano was. as effective plbugned as harrowed ,or drilled. :.. v : : -.-.■ : : ,:; .; .' ■:: ■ .Whether either of these'did any good as a ;tpp-dressiiig. .;'■ : ; , ; ''■', .... : . ! ." ; ? Whether, if. slag top-dressed did good, !the sanie'. benefit could be obtained from applications.'of lime and iron, and other materials ; Such as .the slag, contains. : . ■■• ■':. . ; ■ ' -Whether , top-dressing• 'encouraged ■:■ surface rooting and ..consequent •-■. -suscepLibility.'tb: drought.; '-;■:.,.;. •"•:.. ■', •'.'. ■.-;..-'.- :■' ,-.-'•,' .:;Tests with combinations of-phosphates.and the- nitrogenous and. potasnic manures, and other phases of the'sciencej must be dealt with.in'a future-issue: '■::- ■ :; .■'.': ■'■

;■ During-the match between Tottenham Hot. ispur and Oldham Athletic Club, "at Tottenham, which was attended .by 40,000.-people;! the barriers woro rushed; 'anil'in the scramble which followed a man' about forty years, fell dead/ - The game was • temporarilv stopped, but was -resumed when the disorderly invaders were got undor'control. During the'match between Swindoh land-." BristbL Rovers . at Swindbn, -Edward' Bullock,. a prominent, football; supporter/, expired .suddenly.'./. Hissons Tare well-known;.local footballers. • '.: ;: : For the ailments we all. know and fear ■'-.' - Tlio, pill, so: long; wanted: is here;; .... '..•. . Laxo-Touicits name, ';.:.; ' . ;.,'. . : Its merits can claim ..;' ;... .'' ;. ;'; Naught but praise from us all far and near.. ,iLAXO-TONlCPlliLS,loid.,ttnd'lfl. 6d. / .21