GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 773, 23 March 1910, Page 10

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

. The Nqison "Colonist" understands that apples for' export to Great Britain havo been offering so freely that it is very-probable that a further shipment will be made next month, but no definite . steps can bo . taken until tho. matter of. a \ steamer is arranged.

The'daily supply of milk to tho Ni. reaha'Factory is 2500 gallons. .

. The Wairarnpa and East Coast Pastoral and .Agricultural Society' has deoided to hold its annual meeting on Thursday, April 28. Tho incoming committee is to be recommended to consider the question of holding a stock sale at -the-next show. It .has .been deoided to ask Mr. W. M'Hardy, of Palmerston North, to represent tho society a,t the conference of the International Sheopbrceders' Association at Liverpool, in Juno next.

: Five- stacks of oats were destroyed by fire during Friday night and Saturday morning on-the farm of Mr. John Smith, .'about two miles from Bulls. The .owner was absent when the fire occurred, and is unable to account for its origin, as the land round tho stacks was ploughed for some distance, and they were well away from tho fence, which was not alight at any time. It is believe'd that tho stacks were insured, as they were purchased by aud Abraham, who intended haying them cut, up for chaff. There has. been a. great deal of competition . amongsfc Blenheim merchants in barley market, and only about the , middle of last week one merchant, announced his willingness , to pay up to ss. Id. per bushel, for barley of good malster quality, ; landed on the trucks at'Seddon. The farmers were jubilant, as a great many of .them held their barley last year and are now being rewarded in consequence.

■ Very few potato crops around.Pahiatua have escaped the blight this year, notwithstanding they havo been well sprayed. Somo farmers have cut off the tops with the result that very small tubers have been dug. Carrots and swedo. turnips.are giving . good returns. Two or threo plots of whito ; Belgian carrots look remarkably good.

There • have 'been a number of new dairy factories'opened in Southland this season (says, pur. ' Invercargill correspondent) arid others will be established; shortly. New factories, are- proposed! at Balfpur, South Hillend, Boggy Burn, and Waipahi. .'■-..

y The Marlbbrough Fruit-gro.wers' Association has decided to establish a fruit.canning factory in Blenheim, and arrangements are, at preseiit being made to obtain'i-lie necessary guarantee of jniit'suppHes before the question of ■machinery, site, etc., is considered.' At. present it is estimated that there are 400-acres under fruit cultivation in. the district, , and 'there are. a further 70 acres to b<; planted "this season. The industry,is being taken up seriously by the farmers', /and there is every, likelihood of its flourishing. , ' \

'Evidence of the early harvest in Southland this season is found in the railway grain returns." To tliis date, in 1909, tho number of sacks of grain carried .on tho Southland section of railways was 16,750,. while , this . year already over 56,000 sacks have ■ been railed.

' Mr. Wm. .Colenian, of Richmond, Nelson,/who was the .sole judge', for tjio stock classes at tho Westlaud A , .' and P. Association Show \ (Hokitika) and Inangahua'A. and P. .Association Show. (Reefton) - was especially struck with the'progress made by the Inangahua Association, the show being the second held at Iteefton. The stock entries j were not numerous, but the greater part' were of really good quality, and very creditable indeed to a district' which is iiot looked upon as a farming one. Mr. Coleinan is of opinion that Reefton will be the most important farming centre on tho West Coast. Reefton has the advantage of being in a central position with regard to both the Grey and Inangahua Valleys, and also tho lands towards Maruia. ' \ '

■; .Yesterday there appeared in The DoMTNioN a paragraph condensed from an' article in a faranaki paper iu which comparisons were made between the- size of the buildings to be erected for the ■ Hawcra winter show and those of the National Dairy Show. Mr. J. C. Lane, secretary to the National Dairy Show, has written pointing out that tho measurements given for- the Palmerston buildings are sadly inaccurate. We reprint as corrected by Mr. Lane: —The machinery hall which the South Taranaki Winter Show Company is building .will be 214 ft. bv 46ft, ,as against. 200 ft; by_ 60ft. at Palmerston North, and tho dimensions of the produce section will be 110 ft. by 46ft, Tho produce hall at Palmerston North is 150 ft. by 60ft.-, and a second hall SOft. by 60ft. Tho poultry hall in the Hawcra building will he 85 by 46ft., Palmerston having a poultry department of B.oft. by 60ft. The total area of covered space utilised for the National, Dairy Show, Palmerston North, covers over 35,000 square feet. The available cov-crod-in.-space, of tho Hawera Show will b'©'- 19,700 ft.- so that intending exhibitors will bo sure of being provided with ample accommodation. At the monthly meeting of the Raurnati Co-operative Dairy Company, Dannevirke, the directors passed accounts for milk supplied during February representing M) 5 12s. 4d. The following are details of the milk received for tho period named as compared with tho intake for tho corresponding mouth of last year (tho figures relating to February ,1909,- beins shown in parentheses) :— Milk supplied, 287,3781b. (179.9801b.); butter-fat, 11,252.381b. (6,740.201b.); average test, 3.91 (3.74). A mild land boom has set in at Kiritaki, Dannevirke. The /'Evening News'' correspondent reports exchanges and sales for the present month as f0110w.—162 10w.—162 acres, dairy farm, from Mr. J. Whiblcy to Mr; J. Lawson (exchange) ; 30 acres dairy and frujt farm, from Mr. J. Ebbett to Mrs. Urosnan (sale); 142 acres dairy farm from Mr. P. Ilonberg' (late- Mr. W. G. Graham) to Mr. J. Logan (sale); 110 acres, dairy farm, frvm Mr. Price (lute Mr. Leggott) to Mrs. Parnell, lato of Hastings, at £25 per acre (exchange).