MODERN METHODS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 9, 10 July 1912, Page 3

MODERN METHODS

MAINSTAY OF COUNTRY'S PROSPERITY PRODUCTS OF THE LAND. Before resigning his position •in the Government, the Hon. T. Mackenzie presented lo Parliament his annual report of the Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourislts. " Realising as I do," he says, 1' the i enormous possibilities hi the fertile soils of our country when their natural re- ; serves of plant food, are properly conserved and are utilised to the best advantape, it ha* been very gratifying to me to know that solid advance is being made in the methods of farming in vogue. This 16 a. particular source of pleasure, when it is remembered that the increasing appreciation of scientific methods is largely the result of the work of the officers of my department. " The absence of harassing methods of inspection, combined with the rapid development of co-operative experiment* and herd-testing work, is bringing the farmer to realise, ac never before, that the department is solely concerned in advancing an industry of which he is a component part, and which is the mainstay of the country's prosperity. "The most notable achievement in the past year's work," the Minister adds, " has been the expansion of the activities of the experimental farms to include the practical training of the eons of farmers in the most modern methods of farming. The need of such a service has specially appealed to me, and as soon as the necessary provision and arrangements could be made, I initiated the scheme of farms of instruction. When, these are well established I am convinced they will not only prove popular, but will have a farreaching influence on our primary industries." ..NEW. MARKETS. "" The Minister goes on to say that the trade being developed with the markets on .the western seaboard of Canada and the United States, by reason of granting of special subsidies by the Government to the steamship company which has established services between New Zealand ports and Vancouver in the one case, and San Francisco in the other, is developing at a /very satisfactory pace. Excellent opportunities have thus been presented of catering to a keen and expanding demand for some of our leading products. . . . Some 'difficulty has arisen as to the refrigerated space available .for New Zealand butter for the Vancouver market. Thin is largely in the hands of New Zealand shippers, who have failed to secure the necessary space owing to inability to book it well ahead. "The matter,!' 'adds the Minister, "is receiving my attention, and I have no doubt the Union Steam Ship Company' will be able to give better facilities to New Zealand shippers for booking space during .tho coming season." THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. " The weakness of the dairy industry," the Minister remarks, "continues to be the want of a clean and uniform milk supply. While many of our dairy farmers are .delivering their milk in a satisfactory state,, others are not taking the care of it they should, and ,are thus lowering the milk* of their more careful neighbours to the unsatisfactory level of their dwn. Educational work is the only means of bringing about the desired change, and this I 'am determined to foster and amend." i FRUIT-GROWING. j ■ On, this subject the Minister remarked that some, idea of the expansion of the industry may bo gained from the fact that 200,000 trees were planted out last season in one district alone. In the same district arrangements are being made to plant out at least another 200,000 trees during the coming season. "This development,, he adds, "is being brought about with a view to establish-, ing an extensive and 'regular export trade in the beet commercial varieties of apples — a trade which owes its initiation largely to the assistance given by my Government in the shape, of subsidies and bonuses. It is a mistake to think that the English markets offer the only profitable outlet for our exportable surplus. It has been proved this season that profitable returns .can be assured from both South and North American markets. Enquiries were received from South America for, 80,000 , cases, while a shipment carried in cool storage to Vancouver was landed in excellent condition, and sold at good prices. " The yield of the orchards during the season was excellent. In many 'cases local markets were glutted, and low prices "were in" consequence returned to producers. This unsatisfactory state of C" irs would have been largely obviated growers some extensive system of combination for marketing their fruit. A weakness of the local marketing has been the rushing of large quantities of apples, often immature, on to already well-supplied markets, instead of spreading the supplies over a longer period. In this connection the question of • cool storage, should receivs the serious con- ' sidemtiou of our .growers." PIG INDUSTRY. "For the first .time," remarks the Minister, "the prodr-tion of pigs ha* proved the most profitable enterprise of the. farmers' year. ... It is gratifying, to me to know that thepasteurieation of skim milk and whey, in order to check the spread of bovine tuberculosis among pigs — a. movement which 1 have endeavoured to foster in several ways — is steadily gaining ground."