DAIRYING PROSPECTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1908, Page 9

DAIRYING PROSPECTS.

SHRINKAGE IN OUTPUT. ' THE ATHENIC'S CARGti. Mr. J. G. HarknVss, secretary of the National Dairy Association, Limited, who has just returned from aya v visit to ■ Taranaki, states that tho district is looking well, despite the continued dry weather. Grass is abundant and stock ' are doipg well. Farmers complain, however, that wluie the grass is good for fattening purposes, it has not the same qualities ior producing a good supply of milk. Since' his return to Wellington, Mr. Harkness has '"eceived a letter from a> gentleman, 1 who occupies a prominent position in the dairying world. "The niilk supply in this district," tho writer says, "is falling at I an alarming rate, and it will be, quite impossible to realise early anticipations iof a very large 'make' if, the drtraght should continue for another /month' or." six weeks. ' The year ■ will be a cad one for dairymen, if it does." ' ! Farmers are feeling the need for rain, chiefly in connection with the root crops. ! Late-sown turnips are being attacked Dy the , fly, wliich .is apparently 'very destructive just now. Otherwise, Mr. Haikness says, the district as a whole is prosperous. The Athenic, which left 'this^ week for London, took 37,400 boxes" of butter, while the previous steamer, the 'Paparoa, look away 44,200. In cheeso. too, there was a big falling off. - The total export by the Athenic was 16,300 cases, as^ against 18,700 by the Paparoa. The exports from practically every port showed a falling off. In some cases, _ however, -stocks > are probably being held ! in anticipation or continued dry weather.