GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1196, 3 August 1911, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

A resident of Ashburton, who lost a valuable cow by death a few days ago, held a post-mortem examination, which revealed the fact that, the animal's stomach contained a number of 2iu. nails, two hairpins, several, iron rivets, and a, piece of tin, while a rusty 3in. nail was embedded in its heart. The cow went off its feed for ten days prior to its death. ■ Dual butter and cheese plants are, it is stated, being fitted in several factories this,season to enable the manufacturers to'"take advantage of the best that offers in either the butter or cheese markets. Farming is not all joy in the south. Following the'recent'snowfall,'sharp frosts have been experienced at Geraldine, and the snow at the back of the' town is disappearing slowly. In Beautiful Valley it Jay a foot deep on .Sunday, and the farmers were busy getting their sheep and cattle out and doing their best to supply them with feed. Turnips where the snow lies were covered, and some farmers were almost at their wit's end. One farmer •carted out bran, and carts laden with mangels were also going out. In the high country where snow lies deep, men wereworking • hard to get the sheep ovtt. Hares aro very plentiful in some parts of Taranaki, and are making inroads into the carrot, mangold, and other crops. In the llidhirst district a few days ago 32 hares were bagged in' 'one paddock with three guns in one hour. ■'.'. Farmers complain of a scarcity of feed in many parts of the Levin district. There is a general shortage in Mannkau, especially near the hills, though the rains of Sunday evening have proved beneficial. Grass is beginning to show signs of growth, but another month must elapse before there is any decided improvement. Mr. 3. M". Harding, who is well known in New Zealand as an exporter of frozen sheep and cattle to English markets, has been in Brisbane for some weeks (says the "Australasian"). In the course of interviews with the Premier--(.Mr; JJenman) Mr. Harding made the request that the Government should erect abattoirs in connection with cold storage works which it is proposed to establish, 'pointing out as an inducement that ho and others would guarantee to keep such works fully employed and occupied. Experience in Auckland and the Waikatn, says the Hon. AV. W.' M'C'ardle, M.L.C:, has shown that no matter how poor the land may be, if properly treated by fertilisers, it could be brought into cultivation ~ fjo far tho season has been almost an ideal one, and unless something out of the ordinary occurs" 'future prospects should be all that can be desired (says a Southland paper). Holders of potatoes, however, are considerably perturbed reI garding tho low prices 'obtainable, and I they are earnestly hoping for a return of 1 more favourable circumstances.

During the first, six months of the cur- | rent year the Commonwealth exported ■£ , 57,.t12,23T1b. of butter, valued at | ,t2,:i!l!l.b'sS, as compared with SS.WW.flflTlb. i valued at -£1,570,181 for the corresponding I half of 191(1. The supply of-milk to the Tawnha (Alar(inborougli) dairy factory shows an increase of 39,011(1 gallons over la-t season's supply, and (he output of ehee-o an i increase of <H tons. The following are the details of the working: Jlilk received 1.81)2.2101b.; average lest, t!.7fl: butter fat, 1i5,2331b.; cheese made, lSLrwllb.; pound of cheese to pound of butter-fat, 2.7; pounds of milk to pound of cheese, n.7(i; the average grade of cheese was S!).B. Cheese sold on consignment realised from sas. to (ids. per cwt. for white cheese, and from .'ids. to fi's. (Id. for coloured. Cheeso sold in the Dominion realised from fid. to (!Jd. per lb. A Dannevirke gentleman has offered the Department of Agriculture an acre of land for use as an experimenting ground for fruit culture. There is every probability (says the local paper) that the offer will be accepted. Tho potalo slump has caused somethiii" akin (o consternation among holders, savs the "Southland Times," but otherwise prospects nro considered distinctly gooif and farmers, generally, are looking forward to the future with equanimity. Dairy farmers must have strong serviceable and easily-cleaned cans. Victor is the name of tho can thai suits every requirement, and it pays handsomely to use these cans and no others. Every lid will fit every can. bend for a catalogue (o Albert J. l'arton, Carterton. *