THE FARM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 531, 11 June 1909, Page 10

THE FARM INDUSTRY.

NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW,

« OVER 100 ENTRIES. (j (M TELEORArn—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) ■;•'<. Palmorston North, June. 10. k. * Special details of the entries •re&ivod' for j, the National Dairy Show, to bo held during e tho present month, commencing on Jnno 22, s aro now available. The entries in the dairy 2 produco section total 232, including 100 in ;. dairy factory butter, 104 in factory cheese, a 20 in farmers' butter, ana 1 Bin factory, hams | arid bacon. Tho total received in .this class ; last year was 183. In the agricultural divii, sion, the entries total 830, as compared with 542. last year. In tho fruit classes, entries, aggregate .235, vegetables farm roots, and products' school, competitions, etc., : 67, 1 homo industries and preserves, 170.. There i are also 31; competitors in the-milk-testing - competition, the grand total this year being • 1062, as against 725 last year. . s , As will be seen from tho above figures, tho fruit, classes havo'.' filled remarkably well. [■ There is an exhibit in every class for apples, j some of the classes running up to 26 entries. In tho champion apple, classes, thore are 20 [ collections, and, in tho three classes for fcho best, case'of apples, 47 cases have been entered. ■ Vegetables, and farm products also 'promise to be well contested. In the colI lection for the Eoyal Horticultural Society's modal, three entries have been received, and i also three, more in the-Royal Horticultural Society's, medal clas3 for potatoes. Tho Luxford Shield class, for the best collection of. farm roots,, has attracted , four entries, and every class in tho field root section has drawn competitors. Entries in the school garden and natural history classes total 68, and tho display.this year will be bigger and more comprehensive than ever. In the poultry classes there aro 290 entries from the utility breeds, despite tho fact that the association considerably. reduced the schedule in • prize monej; to suit the accommodation available. As it is, the space available will be more than comfortably filled. '/' Owing to tho large increase- in entries, the whole of No. 3 hall will be required for the competitive classes, and,, consequently, the Department of Agriculture's exhibit will be placed m No. 4 hall. Some idea of the number of the competitive classes mav be ?m?51 d h ?ZJ he faofc *at the huge 'hall, 150 ft. by 160 ft;, will be fully , occupied! : Exhibitorsi wilt bo present from Taranaki,-.-HawliosUay, Wanganui, Maiiawatu, rind ■ nelson.

THE CEREAL FARMS..

: .V, SCOPE FOR MAIZE. : Activity's visible on cereal .farms this year. : Down south the wheat growers are "feeling good" over the present season, with its big yield and- big. prices, and it is considered likely.that the area sown for the next crop will bo equal, to. that .covered by the harvest lairt gathered.-This area amounted to 250,000 acres. ' Special reasons L were. responsible for increased wheat-sowing twelve months ago, the chief being the need of an interTomng crop prior -to the renewal of an unusual arcaof old pastures. .This'year there will not.bo that need to such an extent, but the splendid outlook will be tempting,: and already the' reported increase of. wheat culture in Waira-rapa is an interesting item of news....' Among all this tho good prospects for maize seem forgotten. Maize is now worth as much per bushel as wheat, and when wheat is at ordinary prices it is ,worth more.' Maize yields about 20 bushels ; of grain' per acre more than wheat, and although the'labour .involved in the cultivation and harvesting is greator, the big returns per acre make the crop worth more consideration. Maize thrives in the climates' of Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, and further north.'.' It needs rich soil and considerable cultivation, - The drilling, often done by single drills, is a slower process than-the-drilling of wheat/: Horso cultivation .(till the crop has become ,too umcfc for the cultivator to work between.tho rows) is also necessary for weed destruction. J he harvesting of tho grain is done by hand by machine, and the cribs are stored' til] they are ready for shelling. The whole process requires more labour and more expense than that involved by' wheat, but there, is a balance, of. nearly 20 bushels; or' between £3 and ft per acrc,in the crop to P *T °J '.&'; """eased exhaustion of the soil attributed; to maize, is limited to that rethe 50 bushels of grain removed: Provided the Test of the growth is returned to the soil, "Exhaustion of tho soil" is, after all, a rather, misleading term, There 1 can bo n0... prop .; without; ..exhaustion, ( and m,?=+ a^ r; i? r °P tho.' greater must be the . exhaustion.. Yet no farmer w,U hope or smaller crops on that.accouiil £r ™i,i 0 $ e J eme " t ?. "moved may be cheaply replaced by artificial -manures, -and the mgr J,ents remoTcd by a 50-bnsh'el crop of maize, and a 30-bushel crop of wheat, and the cost of replacing them in fertilisers ma? be readily ascertained. ; meat grain, and mjizo gram contain,.approximately, the followmgjuantities of, the: chief elements .per

■Kt.- '■ -'•.'.'• .Maize. . .Wheat. . Nitrogen ..,;.... -../x 7 ' Ino ■ Phosphoric acid '... : 63 s Potaßh ... ; §j< gg K r);S t ° tal ! Tp ies <>f these three•ingro- ; Maize, 50- ;, Wheat, 30 '. •„;.' '.:"■■!■:■■: bushels.". :. bushels. Nitrogen. , .... 571b.,, ', 331b : lhos. acid. ~„v2llb:- !-. ,'.'■ 14.21b? : Potash ...... 1231b.; :..;-'■ g, 31b _ , ingredients can' bo' restored by the application of ,the following quantities of manures:— ' . . ' .'i'or.wheat: . '-,"'. : . . ; ..Manure. Nitrogen. iPhos. Potash. Cost. - : -.■■'•■: .. ■';.'•..■..•'. .;■•",acid.' ' ' ''■• .■: r, • , ~ ■' ;„ : lb. '; lb. ■ lb. £ s.d.: Dried blood, 3cwt. 36 , — — 140 Super,- lowt. ...— 16 ■ ■_- S6 bulph. potash, 1-oth- -.■.-., '-.owt.: ~.;:... ■_ : : -+ -g. 7 : 2 9J' ,'; Totals.;.;.: ...36 16 9.7 11231 For maize.;- - .- ; .•'■■■ Manure. Nitrogen. Phps. Potash. Cost. ■.:'-. ':'•'".'■ ' acid; ':■'."■ ; m■ I -_V . lb. ,Ib. ,Ib. £s.d. Blood, sowt. ...;- 60 — —2 0 0 Super, ljcwt. •'.' ■■•'..'. — .. .121.3 —74Sulph. potash, }cwt. . — ''-~. — ' 12-3 6 Totals';: '• ... 60: : 21.3 :. 12 21010 The minimum manure' bill on maize-, therefore, is' • about 18s. 6d. per. acre greater than'" that for : wheat, reckoned on Wellington prices. If, .however, the nitrogen be restored by- a rotation system with clover, the blood manure may be dispensed: with, for an average clover crop, after being'harvested, leaves 1001b.'of nitrogen-in the soil in it 3 roots—nitrogen whiph was gained almost entirely from the air. In this case, tho cost of, manuring maize would be only 2s; 6W- per acre greater than tho cost of .manuring wheat."

KAKARAMEA DAIRY CO,

DISPOSAL OF ASSETS. About fifty shareholders attended an extraordinary general meeting of the Kakaramea Dairy Company, on Saturday. Mr. T. Foreman presided. .The previous meeting (May 22) had affirmed the desirability ol winding up tho company, and since then shareholders at the various centres served by tho.company have taken steps for tho formation of local companies (Alton, Manutahi, and Kakaranica), as tho outcomo of the desire for cheese manufacture instead of butter. ■ Saturday's meeting (says tho <'Hawora Star") was chiefly,concerned with tho. matter of disposal of tho Kakaranica Company's assets, and tho fixing of an-cquitablo basis for their disposal. - As the greater part of tho company s plant is at Kakaramea, the suppliers at that placo havo been placed in a peculiar position, in that it was.assumed tho plant at .that placo would bo secured by tho now oompiuiy, Knteftmea mfipliorsj

however,-did not approve-of their local preparations for tho working of a now company being delayed, as tbo present factory must .bo kept working until the new factories are ready, and Saturday's meeting discussed, the question of overcoming that difacuity.-. It seems that tho Kakaramea suppliers.are content to keep the present factory running for a reasonable time, provided Jr y , ar ® enabled to secure such a title to the' land, whereon it stands as will permit them.to proceed with such additions and improvements as they" think necessary. After discussion, it 'was decided that the directors be instructed to invite separate Condors for tho company's dairy factory at Kakaramea. and for the Alton, Petoh Road, Monutahi Road, and Gontlo Annie creameries. ■

WOOL PACK INQUIRY.

' VTHAT MERCHANTS RECOMMEND. , ..A committee, which recently met in London,, at :Dalgcty's offices, to consider- the question.of vegetablo fibres in wool, has issued .its report.,.'..'. . Tho increasing quantity of vegetable matter appearing in worsted and woollen goods otter -they, have been dyed, duo to looso mires jute from bagging or string, was the chief point considered. Burns are rc- . moved from wool by special machinery, and they are detected in the wool before dying, bnt.thejute fibres escape, even'tie keenest eye, and can only bo removed after: tho piece has been dyed. The committee found t\mt there had been a marked deterioration !" ,* D ° nagging material for wool, but that if bad been so gradual as not to be readily noticed. Comparison'with a pack made ten years ago, however, showed the difference •in a most striking manner. - Tho committee came to the conclusion that wool linings for packs furnished a' real remedy, provided wool-growers could find an easy and convenl cn » method of manipulating theso linings' in the process of packing. Paper-lined packs of a special character are also strongly re.commendccT. J '■ '

With regard to wool linings, the committee was confronted by the fact that the duty on such packs entering Australasia was 2o per cent., or Is. 7d. each when landed: The hopo was.expressed that the Government of tho Commonwealth would seo its way to cancel this duty on-woollen pack linings, and negotiations are in progress to that end. .-'•-.■ _ The committee was presided over by Mr. '■a awc ® tt > ex-Lord Mayor of Bradford, ami there were represented wool-growers (including Mr. Acton Adams, of Canterbury, rsow Zealand), London selling brokers, colonial, wool merchants, top-makors ' and spinners, wool buyers and representatives of l'renchand German spinning ■ mills.

PERSONAL NOTE.

Mr,, J. 6.- Clayton, M.R.C.V.S., who for the past two or three, years has. been attached to the Stock Department in Christchurch (says the "Canterbury-Tiriics"), proceeded to Wellington last week for tho purpose- of-taking, up duty -at the head office under the ' Agricultural Department's reorganisation .scheme.- Mr. Clayton is ono of tho most competent and. popular officers in the . Government veterinary sen-ice" of tho Dominion, and whilst- a large circlo - of frionds .regret the loss of his genial presence, his transference, which 1 is regarded m the light of. promotion, has caused widespread' satisfaction. During bis sojourn amongst us, Mr. Clayton has rendered valuablo.servico to the public, particularly in tho application of the tuberculin • test - as a diagnostic, agent and in the suppression of tuberculosis. .-•■■. .-.T .

SOUNDNESS IN HORSES.

Tho Victorian system of inspection is often quoted in New Zealand'as worth copying as a successful mode of eliminating unsoundness in entire horses. But apparently even tho Victorian system is .not uprooting tho wholo evil. The -Victorian Minister for Agriculture (Mr. Graham) - is said to be by no -means satisfied with the scheme of stallion inspection, brought into operation by Sir Tliomas-Bent's Ministry. While not prepared to say whether tho Ministry proposed .to take any immediate action to remodel the present regulations, Mr. Graham has expressed the opinion that they wore absolutely useless to the State as they stood at present. "The existing schemo," he added, "does not go far enough. It presents certificates, but it does nothing to prevent unsound animals from being used, and it makes no attempt to encourage'the'seloc•i'° n ?l s ?? nd mares - A stallion may obtain tho Government certificate because it has.no particular blemishes, and yet it may be a mere weed of an animal. Moreover, ono examination now entitles a stallion to axortmcate of-soundness for life, whereas each horse should be tested at least every second year. The present system is, ■ in fact, a farce and a humbug, in my opinion."

QUALITY AND BORAX.

': A feature, in connection with the season's exports of butter from Victoria was that in conjunction with a deterioration in quality, there was also a falling-off of boric acid contents ..The avefafjo was only 0.17 per cent.,' as'compared with 0.23, per .'cent, for the season before. Only ono consignment of 38 boxes, or 0.01 per cent., was intercepted for containing more than 0.5 per cent, boric acid, as compared with 180 boxes, or ,0.03 per cent, for .the year, before..- •

MEAT FOR PORTUOAL,

- The Lisbon, municipality has begun..to import, foreign meat, and sell it at cost price to the citizens. ...This-is-dono in order to circumvent handful of speculators who had hitherto controlled tho meat market in the Portuguese capital.■",> There should be room for a little, New Zealand lamb in Lisbon. Indeed, it is known that representatives, of two large-Lisbon firms were recently in the North Island. They came chiefly to -; Bee land, but local herds and flocks, 'no doubt, interested „them also.

LIVE ST.OCK SALES,

Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report-.-At our Palmerstoa sale yesterday, we had a small entry of sheep and cattle, but all met a ready sale. Quotations:—Cull lambs, to Ss.; aged empty ewes, to ss. 6d.; empty ewes, to 7s. 2d ; empty coics, 385., £2, to .£2 17s. Gd.; 15-months heifers, to 412,23. Cd.; bulls, to £2 17s. 6d. Messrs..Abraham and Williams, Ltd.,-report their stock sale, held yesterday at Palmcrston Worth, as follows:—We offered a good yarding of. both sheep and cattle. The attendance was largo,, and bidding was very spirited for all olasses of stock. Good breeding ewes and good lambs were very keenly competed for, and we have to report a total clearance, of sheep and cattle at. advance rates. We quote:—Sheep— Four-tooth -to; s.m. .'owes, in- lamb,--12s: Id.; six-tooth to full-mouth ewes, in lamb, 10s. IDs ii., to 10s. 6d;j lambs (fair), 7s. Id. io 7s. lOd ; medium, Gs. 7d.; small, ss. 3d.; fat ewes, lis. 6d. to 125.;• forward wethers, lis. Cd.; forward owes and v;ethors, <10s. Gd. to ils. : Gd. Speyed heifers, -£2-16s. (small); fat and fi-miird-heifers, £4 Ids.; fat cows, £i to £5 55.; forward cows, £2 Is. to £3 35.; 18-months -steers, £2 os. Cd. to iE2.2s. Cd.; :eiiipty cows, J. 2 to .{3 is.; wcaners; 20s. to 255. 6d.; sninil wewcrs, Bs. G6\ to 10».; springing heifers, £3 10s.; yearling heifers, 255. .' -.. .'

Messrs. Dalgsty and Company, Ltd., report haying held a very successful clea'rinj sale on account of' Mr. Win. of Porewa. There was a very larje attendant of buyers, and the dairy stock, which was the principal' feature of the sale, met with very keen demand. Prices: Backward sprinjers, £i to .£5; August and September calrers, X 8 25..' 6d. to 2s. Gil.; backward springing, heifers, £3 7s. Cd. to 155.; yearling heifers, to 325. Gd.;-Jersey-bull, £i. The whole herd averiged £t «s. Gd. Sows in pig, -£3 2s. Gd. jto £3 10?.; poultry, 2s. 6d. to 7s. Cd. per pair. A very large quantity of dairy utensils sold at full market prices. ,The, New Zealand' Loan nndS Mercantile Agency Company furnish reports of stock sales as follow;—At Himitangi, on - Monday, a medium entry of both sheep and cattle came forward, and a'good sale resulted, all lines being quitted at auction at prices in favour of the. vendor. At Palmerston yesterday; there was a good attendance of buyers, and all classes of stock met with good competition, practically everything being sold under tho hammor. We quote :—niinitangi—Ewes in lamb, 12s. 2d.; furwwd wotbera, Ut, 74 j cull woUwa, Co.

9d. Cattlc-Weaners (small), 15s. to 165.; store cows, 205.; forward cows, £2 10s.; two-year-old steers, £2 Us. Gd. to £3; forward heifers, JC2 18s.; cows in calf, £2 2s. Gd. to £.2 12s. 6d.; springing cows, £t 15s. to JIG. Palmcrstou Ivorth: Sheep-Aged ewes in lamb, '10s.- 7d.; forward ewes, 9s. Gd. to Os. Ud.; good lambs, is. Bd. to 8s: Gd. Cattle-Leaner heifers (good), 2as.; weancr steers, 255. Gd.; fat cows, £h; light fat cows, £3 15s. to £i; store cows, 30s. to 375.; forward cows, £2 10s. to £2 17s. Cd.; cows in calf, £2 10s. to £i.

Dunedin, June 9. At Burnmde stock market about 200 bead of cattle wero yarded, chiefly mixed quality steers and heifers,. and only a few pens of really good bullocks. The salo was fairly brisk, and prime steers and heifers showed a slight advance compared with last week. Best bullocks, ■ .€9 • to £10 10s.; extra heavy, to £13; medium, £6 10s. to .£8; best heifers and eowa, £6 10s. to £8 10s. Sheep: 2800 yarded. 'Prices were a shade easier. The bulk of the entry .consisted-of poor qnality ewes. Best .wethers,' 17s. to' 18s. 9d.; medium, 15s. to 16s. 6d.j stores, from 125.; best ewes, 13s. Gd. to-lis. 6d.; medium, lis. to 12s. 6d.; old and inferior, ss. to Gs. Gd. .-Lambs: 3020 yarded, a heavy yarding, the bulk being average quality. ■ Prices were about equal to last week's quotations. Best lambs, 149. to 155.;. medium, 12s. Gd. to 13s. 6d.; unfinished sorts, from 10s. Gd. . Pigs: 105 yarded, a moderate yarding. There was fair inquiry for suckers of good quality, which sold well up to last week's rates. «The demand for poorer classes -was not so keen. ■Prices for porkers and baconers showed a falling off. Suckers, Vs. to 125.; slips, Us/ to 16s • stores, 20s. to 255.; porkers, 335. to 3Ss.;- light baconers, 435. to 505.; heavy, 555. to 565.