GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1118, 4 May 1911, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

It was stated in Wellington recently that the wholesale price of patted butter in Auckland was Is. lsd., aud the retail prico Is. 3d. Some Wellington merchants regard this as a-mistake in tho figures, and say, that Auckland is at about • the same as Wellington.The sixteenth annual meeting of the East Coast Sheep-dog trials was held at Porangahau. The results weroi—Heading, bringing back, and yarding (open competition)—W. Whyte's Boy, 30 points, 1; A. Beatson's Smut, 28, 2. Same class (not onen competition)— Miss Morrison's Smut, 28, 1; Mrs. Glenny's Rob, 20, i. Heading, bringing back, and holding in ring— J. G. Sutherland's Fan, 29,-1; W. AVhyto's Boy, 28, 2. Eunt-away— J. G. Sutherland's Help, 30/ 1; R. Grant's Scott, 29, 2. Mr. J. Banks, supervisor of the Waverley Technical School, waited upon the annual meeting | of the Waver ley branch of the Farmers'' Union in connection with a proposal to hold a course in veterinaryscience'in connection with the Technical School during the winter months. He stated that the Wanganui Education Board had secured the services-of Mr. W. C. Quinnell, who would'be prepared to hold the classes, provided 20 pupils joined. He solicited the union's support in endeavouring to induce men to take the. course. The general feeling was that there would be no difficulty in obtaining the'2o pupils necessary to ensure the class being formed.—Patea "Press." The-plentiful rainfall at'Halcombo has had the effect of giving a great impetus to the-grass-and, root crops. -The country now presents a great contrast to that of a -month ago. ■ Vivid green is now the prevailing colour. Unfortunately ' (says the "Advocate") within the last day or two the temperature has been very cold, and slight frosts have set in, which it is. feared will nip the growth. ' The annual report of the Waverley branch of tho Farmers' Union stated that the branch was <£8 15s. sd. in credit, which ■ was a similar position to last year. At. the annual meeting, the following officers were elected:—Chairman, Mr. A. Howie; vice-chairman, Mr. H. Middloton; conference delegate, Mr. A. Howie; committee, Messrs. A. Eiddell, G. Johnston, W. B. Cave; James AVnlker, W. Brewer, James Kennedy, M. H. Wybourne; C. Dickie, Alf.vSymes, P. Elmslic, and G. Hunter. . ■ ; The milk supply at the \Yarea factory is still decreasing, and another hand is to be dispensed with It has been decided to continue cheese-making for another two months yet, a; a good price has been received for the cheese for that period.—Tiraniki "News." .. A cow-testing association is being formed in connection with the Belvedere Dairy Factory to commence operations next season (states a Wairarapa paper). It is understood that most of the suppliers are joining. A meeting of the suppliers of the Opunake dairy.' factory was called by the suppliers of the' Opua Koad creamery to discuss the question of removing tho creamery a mile and a half further up the road (says the "Star"). These settlers made the other shareholders an offer to assist in the expense of the work of removing the building, plant, etc. As the majority considered the expenditure unnecessary it was decided to leave the matter in aheyance; A report from Beaconsfield says that although ■Wβ must expect cold weather and- frost now, those of the last three nights have not been very, acceptable, as they will serve to check the growth or the grass, which has been very apparent since tlie recent rain. Most classes of stock are in very fair condition at tho proseut time. Canning operations at the Waingawa meat freezing works were commenced on Monday (says the "Ago"). These will seven or eight ■ men emoloyed throughout Hid winter. About 100,000 slwep's tongues are ready for canning, aud.a considerable number of bullocks' tongues are in the freezing chamber. Tho whole of the tin's and other apparatus refjuired for canning art- manufactured'at the works. Addressing a farmers' meeting at Oknto, Captain Young, Government Veterinarian, said the Sbc'.c Depirtaiont deserved credit for thp way they had tackled blackleg in calves. Altogether in Tnranaki about 01,000 calves had been inoculated this year, aud only about -10 deaths had been reported, which was not as many as died on one farm in Okato when thp difcnse first made its appearance in Tnranaki.— Exchange. Tho Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture, spent last Friday at the Moumahaki State- Farm. The Minister says that tho'department has secured a number of Ayshires of a very good strain from the south. The herd is now at the farm. He was well pleased with tho look of the farm generally, ne remarked that Mr. Dunlop, the Scottish Commissioner, had stated that the Moumahaki Farm was the best managed farm he had seen outside Scotland-