Farming Notes.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 315, 16 May 1894, Page 2

Farming Notes.

(By " Agkicola.") THE DAIRY REPORT. In the address given by Mr Valentine at Wanganui and printed in the Star, there are some valuable hints given, and I trust all who aro inter- j ested in the dairying industry will read, learn, and mark. Mr Valentine considers that we have the finest climate in the world for dairying, so say all of us. CREAMERIES. The Waitunaites seem to be very indifferent about having a creamery established in their midst. It is a pity that such little interest should be manifested in this district as there is not better land anywhere for dairying purposes. Some of the settlers would willingly provide the cows if some one would start a factory or'creamery, but when the question of forming a company is mooted apparent indifference is manifested. I had an interview with Mr Corpe about the matter of starting a creamery in the district but lie does not feel inclined. He informs me that he intends, next season, to make cheese as well as butter. It is intended, however, to call a public meeting at Waituna West on the 30th instant to be held immediately after Messrs Gorton and Son's stock sale. STOCK AND THE PRICES. Colonel Gorton, the well known stock salesmen, informs me that he never experienced such dullness in the sale of stock since he has been in business. The Colonel is not in any way a pessiraest, but he appeares to be rather discouraged, as the stock sales held lately throughout the district have not paid expenses. We must be petting somewhere near low water mark in the prices when lambs were sold, at the last Feilding stock sile held by Messrs Gorton and Son, at 9d per head. Of course they were somewhat inferior. One settler in forms me " rather than sell them for that price he would take them home and cut their throats." He also informed me that he told the settler who purchased them that "he ought to be ashamed of himself to offer such a price." BREEDING STOCK FOB FREEZING PURPOSES During a conversation I had with Mr Spenser, of Kiwitea, one day, I casually remarked " why is it that the prices of sheep are always higher in Canterbury than here ?" Mr Spencer was at one time a settler in Canterbury. He said that in the early days the settlers there all studied to grow wool. At the agricultural and pastoral shows you would see nothing exhibited but long wool sheep. Now it is different. Breeders study to grow mutton as well as wool. He (Mr Spencer) has been crossing his sheep so as to get good " freezers " as well as wool. He finds that the cross with the Shropshire Down ram and the Lincoln ewe gets a good strong healthy larao. Such when grown as a " two tooth " makes a splendid sheep for freezing purposes. He has sent Home a lot this season and expects to get good returns for the same. As Mr Valentine say?, there is a great deal in a brand. If a certain brand ot butter gets a good name then it fetches the top price in the market. The Canterbury people have got a name in the Home market for good, mutton hence the highest prices. Mr Spencer says the North Island breeders will have to study the breed of their sheep and then they will get a name in the Home market and consequently the highest prices will be obtained here for their sheep, as in Canterbury. LAND FOR CROPPING. < Mr Spencer, like his neighbour Mr Mills, is preparing more land for the plough. Mr Henry Burrell is also preparing some land for cropping. There will be considerable area under crop in the Kiwicea district shortly. Wonderful strides in farming have been made in this district within the last ten years.

PORKERS " The gintleman as pays the rint " is becoming as valuable in New Zealand as in the " Ould Country." Considerable income is now derived by a number of settlers from the rearing and fattening of pigs. Rival dealers are springing up and the latest quotation for green pork is 4|d per Ib. Considerable quantities of pork are sent to the Wellington market from Catnpbelltown. Settlers difler in their opinions as to the best breeds. Mr Jas. A 'Court, of Awahuri, has some splendid Yorkshires. Mr Spencer, of Kiwitea, has a fine lot of Berkshire^, for which he has a good demand. PROPERTIES It was not Mr Jensen's homestead that has been sold to Mr Fennel, but a section opposite Mr Towers property on which there are no buildings. I understood that the price paid was JE9 10s per acre. Mr "Benson, of Waituna, informs me that he almost completed the sale of hi 3 property the other day to Mr Hitchins, of Longburu. Mr Hitch ins has sold his property lately ; at £16 per acre. \ MR CARR'S SALK There were some splendid lines of stock in the yards on Friday lost, but the bidding was very slow, not many pens were sold under the hammer. I noticed several veudors trying to do a " deal " after the sale. Numbers of settlers are over-stocked and they must sell. ____