Fram & Station

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11404, 3 January 1931, Page 11

Fram & Station

WOOL' RESEARCH

PROGRESS OF THE'WORK

Last year wool investigatory work was apportioned between tlie Alarsey and Canterbury Agricultural Colleges by the Wool Advisory Committee of the Scientific and Industrial Research Council. The progress' of tlie work is summarised in the annual report-, of the Research Department for 1929-80 as follows:

(1) In breeding experiments a. beginning has been made in tbe study of the. inheritance of wool characters in the New Zealand ."Romney. These experiments have reference especially to thickened tip, including hairy tip, and to harshness. i (2) One convenient method has been found for obtaining a numerical measure of thickened 'tip and work various, facts about the. wool hairiness. In the course of this samples studied were brought out that could hardly have been discovered without counts and measurements. (3) Experiments with differential shearing have provided a definite case of modullation being influenced by environmental conditions. (4) A. detailed study is in progress of the fibre-types and their development. This is the most fundamental part of the biological work, arid should provide the basis for many breeding .and other expeririionts. During the year, practical liaison was effected with the British Research Association for the Woollen, and Worsted Industries, and results of all the investigations conducted by the staff of the association at Torridon and elsewhere will henceforth .be available to the Committee. In view of the considerable extent arid marked progress of tho investigation;; conducted, by this association, this connection is one of much value to local research workers. Advantage was taken of this arrangement to secure representative samples of Romney fleeces grown throughout New Zealand, and after selection and retention of duplicates these have been forwarded to Torridon for examination and report. The defects in the. character of New Zealand Eohiney wool, as alleged by English manufacturers, have so far proved somewhat elusive and ill defined, and this means of ascertaining the full nature of the defects, and possibly rcfnedinl measures, is being resorted to. It will bo to the ultimate advantage of the New Zealand wool industry to supply material of the particular quality required hv manufacturers. The facilities offered by the Research Association for the Woollen and Worsted Industries are being availed, of, to give indications a 5 to possible improvements desirable in our wool in order to better fit it for spinning purposes. In order that the investigations at Torridon may be. followed closely, , and tho maxiirium advantages derived from them, and in order to ..ascertain to what rises Romney wool is being put by English manufacturers, Mr D. ,T. Sidey, B.Ag., of the staff of Canterbury Agricultural College, has been sent to England. ,The committee, being fully aware of the complexity and of the importance of the wool problem as affecting the Dominion, has decided to follow a cautious policy and to acquire the fullest information on the whole subject before launching a comprehensive sebom'e of research. The work undertaken so far has therefore necessarily been largely of an exploratory nature. PERENNIAL RYECRASS. ESSENTIAL. IDEAL PASTURE. fn his report upon this season’s pasture competitions in Taranaki, Mr ,J. M. Smith,’ of the Fields Department of Agriculture, stated that to get down .to a basis of judging one must have an ideal pasture to aim at. It is the-considered opinion of tho department’s grassland . experts that the pasture carrying as its foundation .. species perennial rye -and white clover is the pasture par excellence for butterfat production. Of course,, it is necessary to. have other grasses and clovers present to suit local conditions, 1 for seasonal growth, etc., but where perennial rye grass arid white, clover are .holding their own it is an indication that conditions generally—i.e., fertility, moisture, shading, grazing, etc.—, ate correct for the establishment of a high production, sward. In Taranaki, generally speaking, they have little or no trouble in getting white clover well established; in fact, there are tiines when there is an Inclination for this clover to dominate the sward, which is not a good thing, as a balance between grasses - and clovers should be kept. "With perennial rye, however, it is a different story, and one of the greatest weak-, nesses of*-Taranaki grasslands is ;thc smn.il amount of fyo that is present. Occasionally," perhaps; ft. may be due to laeje of fertility, but in tho majority of cases the trouble has been tlmt -a poor temporary strain of rye lias been sown, which has:,gone out despite host care and attention. Tho value-of sowing nothing but tho best of rye ; qfc ■■ a truly permanent strain, and the • department’s . work, in connection '.with certification,- has boon offcbh stressed during -the past' twelve months,’ but no apology is offered .for again referringthe subject, it is of, that.- much importance;. Bye Vis" one of the best butterfat

'grasses,. is often poor- in. fat production. Unfortunately,' ■ says Air Smith, the bulk of tbe ryegrass sown ?n Taranaki, dri the past" appears to have been of a temporary nature, although bought in good faith as perennial rye. With the system of certification, whereby nothing hut ryes of a permanent. nature are certified, the position should gradually right itself, but it will mean expensive seed for a year or so. ..One point requires watching in connection with certified seed, and that is the ger- , urination. Because a. line of seed has been certified it is taken by 'some to mean that the seed is all right in every direction, but the certification is only in connection with the permanence, . and as farmers are paying a fair price for the seed they should make sure that the germination, is fight.

DROVERS: THEIR. RIGHTS AND DITTIES.

In a case heard in the Magistrate’s Court at New Plymouth, recently iii which a drover named John Wood was charged with obstructing traffic, by not taking to clear the road of a mob of cattle to allow a lorry to pass, the Magistrate, Mr Pv. W. Tate, S.M., has given a reserved judgment. The Magistrate stated there was some contradiction regarding the facts and be accepted the version of the complainant, W. A. Thomas. With a motor lorry he had endeavoured to get through a herd of 100 cattle being driven by Wood. He failed and then became annoyed and spoke to the drover, wlm eventually seemed to have, moved his loading dog and allowed the cattle to spread out, thus letting the motorist through. The incident must have taken an appreciable time, and the motorist was accordingly delayed. The Magistrate pointed out that the obligations of drovers and motorists were mutual. Both bad a right to the highway, and each must reasonably assist the other. Motorists .would find their duties set out in [Regulation 1.1 (0), due observance of which would avoid the occasional killing of valuable dogs belonging to drovers. As soon as a drover saw that a motorist attempted to, pass through a herd of cattle and failed, it became bis duty to assist. Nothing short of absolute necessity Justified a person in obstructing the highway. In this case there were no circumstances exacting unusual difficulties for the drover; all that was required was prom ply to take such action as would enable the vehicle to continue on its way. That action the magistrate said he understood to be the sending on of the leading dog, allowing the herd to open out and make a passage for the motorist. At the request ,of counsel for the defendant the fixing of the penalty was postponed so that his client might have an opportunity of considering whether the matter should he carried further. in which case a. request for a fine of appealable amount would he asked for. HORSE-BREEDING. IN NEW ZEALAND. PROBABLE SHORTAGE OF DRAUGHTS. Tn his annual report for 1929-30 the Director o'f the Livestock Division, [Mr J. Lyons, refers to this subject as follows: Prices for horses ha.ve been good—in. fact, finite up to the average of recent seasons; nevertheless, the breeding of all classes of : horses, with the exception of thoroughbreds, seems to be in abeyance and more or less neglected. There are. still a few enthusiasts amongst Clydesdale breeders who take an interest in this class of stock. It is doubtful, however, whether enough are being bred to meet even tbfi present demands, and if the present indifference continues, it is a question whether, sufficient will be reared to meet the demand for farm work. On account of the limited number of mares being put to breeding pm’poses, the keeping of an entire horse has become an unprofitable proposition in many districts. Thus, because of no satisfactory sire being available, many farmers who would otherwise rear a ford or two each, season are debarred from doing so. Should this condition extend, it will mean that there will not he enough horses to meet the demand for farming, purposes, and, as a certain number will still be required, those available may reach prohibitive prices. ....

BUDGETING THE FARMER

The strained economic position lias forced responsible , firms associated with the producing industry to insist witli greater emphasis on their clients carrying out a ■ budgetary system. This is . a wise; precaution for all farmers, whether they have to satisfy creditors or not. The method recommended is for the farmer to set doivii at / the beginning of his 1 active year—not necessarily January I—his definite recurring • liabilities such as rates and taxes, interest, wages to farm workers, cost of stores for the year,.-probable cost of, •maintenance and repairs, manures,, seeds, replacement of rams/ etc.- Ail allowance fbr;living expenses should, not bo overlooked (states the “New Zealand Farmer.”) Agaiiist the total is set a conservative estimate of revenue for the- yher._ The contrast between the two totals is informative

By “RUSTICUS.”

and enables the farmer to plan ahead with- greater confidence than under the hand-to-mouth method, . eliding sometimes with realisation that ho has got further into debt.

• Budgeting .has been adopted very generally during the last few years and is usually received with a. certain amount of indignation by some of : those .to whom it is recommended. But, after experience, it is nearly always found that the client is appreciative, and that he will continue to budget for his own sake long after the necessity has ceased to do so as a safeguard.insisted by the hank or other financial institution. Properly qualified accountants, who are trained well beyond the point of mere capacity to audit sots of books and prepare balance sheets, are valuable advisers in the institution of sound bud gotary m eth od s. THE FERTILISER. TRINITY. • “—* Nitrogen as nitrate develops leaf and stem, Its use is ii necessity and not a stratagem. Omit it, and you’ll find a stunted, sickly weed, •Apply it, and the plant’s response will indicate its need.

Phosphorus as phosphate develops flower and seed, Imparting vigour to the shoots and giving them a lead. Its functions, to facilitate employ with nitrate, too— Such fertilising value will bring success to you.

Potash, is the element which helps to make- the store Of starch and sugars in the roots ahd fruits a useful chore. So, if you. would he certain that, your plants have food to eat, Add potash, with your super, to vour nitrate, that’s complete. —By D.C., in an exchange