GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1195, 2 August 1911, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Those interested in buying and receiving butter lot- consignment are now touring the country districts safeguarding their interests, iiuyers and others will lie at the Greytown factory to-day to secure the outputs. The Kail'una iactory will meet prospective buyers on August 17. A letter from Mr. C. J. Kcnkes, of the Government Live .Stock Department, with reference to "scald" in lambs while feeding on rape, was read at the last' meeting of the Asliuurton Farmers' Union. Alter describing, the causes,. Mr. Heakcs said that a change of feed from rape on to grass, not' too rich or too plentilul would soon put the lambs right. \ The producer is about to begin to take in tho main profits of the year's labour. Cows arc coming into profit, the butter factories are beginning to invite bids lor their outputs, and shearing is coming within measurable distance. The various wool broking firms at present have their representatives out taking stock of the country and canvassing for business. The "Live Stock Journal" is responsible for Ihe statement that, some few weeks ago a cat of tho tort'oiscshell colour, belonging to Mrs. Gerard, of Fnrnworth, actually hatched nine chickens,! When in the course of incubation tho old hen 'died, and the cat, taking its nest, brought, liiem out. Eight of the Hock died, and the solitary one became the object of tjie care and protection of puss, who never forsook it. They are constant companions and she accompanies her feathered friend through the holds, and in returning at night induces if to go into the house. Suppliers to the Opotiki Dairy Association are receiving Is. Id. per lb. for butter-fat, 3d. more than was paid at the height of the season. An Argentine farmer who passed through Xew Zealand recently after a tour of tho world expressed a distinct leaning towards Xew Zealand stock for stud purposes in the Argentine, but, he added, the shipping charges which face the man who feels inclined to import to tho Argentine from New Zealand nre so high as to be almost prohibitive. As far as he was concerned they wore prohibitive. Observant and experienced men compute that eight to ten rabbits cat or destroy as much grass as one sheep. Considering the millions of rabbits there are in Australasia 'the loss in Ihe carrying capacity of the country must b» exceedingly heavy.