Taints in Cream

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 185, 4 May 1936, Page 13

Taints in Cream

Sir, —I see from “The Dominion” that the Hon. W. Lee Martin, speaking, of his department’s researches in the Waikato into feed taints in cream, has said; “The results of last season tend to support the department’s previous conclusions , that pastures which contain suckling clover, subterranean clover or white clover, as dominant constituents, generally give rise to relatively high feed flavours when grazed during periods of rapid growth. ’ Now, sir, I was at Morrinsvillc and saw the department’s agricultural fields officer, and he told me that they had definitely proved that white clover gave the taint to’ the cream. I was so amused that I could not help a good laugh, and said: ‘Have you tried out while clover on its own, free from perennial ryegrass?” He said “No.” I said: "Have you tried out white clover with meadow fescue, meadow foxtail, timothy, aud cocksfoot?” Again he said “No.” I then said: “Your experiments are not worth anything,” and we parted the he'd of friends. Now we are told in the Minister’s statement that these feed flavours are noticeable in the spring and early summer, and when in rapid growth. To those who have studied ergot and its peculiarities, it is a well-known fact that the spores are thrown off by the ergot in the spring aud early summer and carried by the wind hither and thither, poisoning all that they come in contact with, even my dear and valued friend of more than 50 years’ standing, Miss White Clover. Is there any need for me to say more than that? Ryegrass should be given a decent funeraj, ovation and have finished. —I am, etc., A. KENT. Remuera, Auckland.