FARM and DAIRY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 June 1924, Page 11

FARM and DAIRY

THE RAINFALL. * In Now Zealand we cannot estimate the true value of a. regular rainfall. \\ riting on the subject, on Australian paper says that rainfall in other parts of the country would immediately cause a rise in stock prices. To enable the primary producers to market their produce to the best advantage they should be supplied with accurate rainfall reports, which would enable them to gauge market values. The development of wireless broad-casting would make weather reports available to farmers as soon observations were completed. One qf the ‘most- important aspects of meteorology in Australia, it is asserted, was its bearing on the conservation of water, and as Australia’s revenue depended almost entirely upon primary products, water ivas its most valuable natural asset. Much had been done in the direction of, conservation, and the value of the water was reflected in the manner in which income from primary products, had been established. At the same time arrangements were far from perfect, and little or nothing had been done to protect the stores of water from evaporation. Wind action was the principal agent which caused evaporation. Records in the possession of the meteorological department showed that evaporation on a hot windy clay was five times as great as on a calm day of the same, temperature. Dams and reservoirs should be protected bv wind breaks of trees; and, to reduce the surfaces, they should be made deep and of small area. Landholders should plant windbreaks at intervals of half a mile over their holdings, running at right angles to the direction of prevailing winds. Thus they would protect. their land from excessive drying by wind action. Trees should be plant, ed also along all roads and railways. If an inch of rain fell in the eastern State of the Commonwealth over an areavof IjOO,COO square miles, unless it soaked into the ground the whole of it, representing 64,000,000,000 tons of water, would he dried up by the sun the next day. To dry up the same quantity'‘of water artificially,, 5,000,000,003 tons of coal, or about 33 times the amount of coal in the Morwell deposits, would be required.

f •. EXPORT OF PIGS. DISCUSSED BY FARMERS. ADJUNCT TO DAIRY INDUSTRY. “It is recognised that the pig business has now reached the stage of becoming a very integral parr of the dairying industry,” stated"a report to the North Auckland Daily Conference. “The increase of revenue will ultimately be almost equal in value to butterfat. It therefore becomes a matter of considerable importance to all dairy farmers to rear as many pigs as possible. The facilities placed at the disposal of the farmers by the Farmers’ Freezing Company should be an encouragement to all to do their utmost in making the necessary arrangements to cultivate the' nig industry,” concluded the report. Mr Elliott (Hikurangi), commenting on this report, said: “We considered the prices for freezing, etc., amounting to about 3d a lb, were prohibitive. We have been, selling locally and are fairly well satisfied. We realise that it would be a good thing to have an export market, but the prices make it a particularly risky business.” Mr Ewington (Masterton) said that his company had given the idea a trial, but so far did not know with what results.

Mr Davis (secretary of Masterton) said that the cost of freezing and getting the meat on to the liner was 2d a lb. A report from Home considered it likely that the second shipment would bring 9d a lb. Mr Davis, in reply to a question, said that the percentage of rejects was about 2d. and they brought 6£d on the iocal market.

Mr Cook ("Waipukurau) considered there was not much 'prospect for shipping pork Home, because of the proximity of Canada to the London market. Occasionally a good market might be found at Home. Russia and countries which had been thrown out of competition by the war, were coining back, and he was not optimistic of the chances of the Dominion, remote from the work! markets. The chairman (Mr A. Morton) expressed pleasure that the executive had taken cite matter up. From his own experience as chairman of a successful curing company, he contended that this year the local price was too high to export. Next year, however, there would be a greater falling off in the number of calves reared, and he anticipated a tremendous increase in the number of pigs. He was satisfied that a lower price would have to be accepted. There was a growing demand each year for bacon, but he was confident there would be an excess of supply next season, and producers would have to look abroad for a market. The prices, this year did not warrant any company exporting. He had not seen any quotation approaching 94d. He thought that if freezing companies combined it would be iiossible to make a paying proposition of exporting. In reply to a question from Mr Sinclair as to bow the company ensured its supply, the chairman said that in 1922 it paid a uniform price of (id and bonus. About 4000 to j-jOOO pigs wore required to run a successful business. His experience was that it was possible to sell the manufactured article at 65 per cent, to 75 per cent, in advance of the raw product, then that was a safe margin. The export should be confined to frozen pork, because there was more certainty of its arriving at its destination in the same condition than there was in the ease of bacon. STATE FARMS. THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY. An indicator of the future policy of the Government in regard to State experimental farms is contained in a letter received by the Southland League from the Minister of Agriculture, in which Mr Nosworthy replies to the representations made to him while in Invercargill recently regarding the establishment of a Red Poll dairy herd at the Win ton exnerirnental area.

“This,” says the Minister, “really embodies a very much larger question than the mere provision of a dairy herd, seeing that to establish a herd would mean the provision of the necessary farm buildings, and at least one residence, thus- converting the place into a State farm as distinct from an experimental and demonstration area. The Government has been for some time past dealing with the nuestion of State farms, it being considered that with the advance made in farming practice generally and with the establishment of a departmental instruc-

| tional service staffed by well-qualified officers, the value* of State farms to the community will become greatly lessened. With this in view, the farms at Aratake, in Hawke’s Bay, and at Tauranga, devoted principally to fruitgrowing and horticulture, have been dosed, while the great bulk of the agricultural area of Te Kauwhata farm also has been handed over to the Lands Department for settlement. In addition, the Moumahaki State Farm is being, subdivided for settlement, it being proposed that the revenue accruing from the rentals shall be expended in instructional and experimental work in the Wanganui and West Coast area. I shall he glad to carry on as long as necessary the experimental and demonstration work being done at the Winton area. It is felt that from the point of view of expenditure of public funds a greater measure of benefit can be conferred upon the farming community in Southland by the maintenance of the present system of general instruction by means of travelling instructors and the extension of this as financial and staff conditions permit than can be derived by the establishment of a State farm.”

In expressing his preference for this system of instruction, the Minister adds that the members of the Winton A. and P. Association should consider the question of themselves financing and establishing a farm to be subsidised by the Government on, broadly speaking, the same lines that exist* in connection with the present subsidised dairy farms at Stratford and Manaia, in Taranaki. DRY-FEEDING FOR PIGS. (Australasian.) Mr. A. E. Ball, the G.O.S. breeder of Sale (V.),, is a firm advocate of dryfeeding for young pigs, which principle he found successful in England. He has always found that the pigs digest the dry-gristed meals (barley and wheat) much better than fed in a slop, as they take much longer to eat the dry food and masticate it better. In England, fie says, the grain is ground into flour, ’kind not merely gristed or crushed as in Victoria; hut even then he finds that the pigs do better with the dry feed, giving the liquids separately. This can easily be seen by examining the excreta of a pig fed from a dry-feeder, and comparing it with that from a pig fed on slops. Again, in dry feeding the pig only takes the quantity of liquid which he absolutely requires, whereas on slops he may have to consume far more liquid than he requires in order to get sufficient food. There is a considerable saving in labour with a properly constructed dry-feeder, as sufficient meal for several days can be tipped into the feeder at once. Sows with litters and fattening pigs. can he trusted to feed rationally. They do not rush like pies fed at troughs, fighting and squealing, the strongest endeavouring to keep aw r ay the others. The pig’s stomach is very similar to that of human .beings, a sure cure for whose digestive troubles is to eat slowly, and do not drink at - meals. Thus on dry feed the pig eat s slowly and quietly, and goes off grazing again after a few mouthfuls. Mr. Ball believes in carefully rationing in pig sows, but. leaves the others to determine their own quantities. Some pigraisers put the different grain feeds in separate feeds, and allow the pigs to make the correct proportions: but the usual plan is to mix the feeds carefully in the proper proportions, and put the mixture into one or more feeders. One advantage found by other pigbreeders from clry-feodiiv .is that the young pigs begin to pick up the sound grain feed in the drv feeder, whereas with slopfeeding thev get little chance at the trough but more often piek no the droppings round about, it on the ground wliK-li is often unclean and this leads to digestive trouble. The common experience is ithat scouring is minimised by dry-feecl)ng.

EOOT-GROWING COMPETITIONS. MATAPU. MANGOLDS. The flolowing further results in the root-growing competitions have been supplied by Mr J. W. Deem: F. Hoskin, Matapu—l acre after swedes, ploughed Sept. 13, disced three times, chain harrowed twice, rolled once, hand hoed twice; seed, Prizewinner, 51b., 21in. drills, sown Oct. 20; manure, Hinemoa, 4ewt.; weight 96 tons 19cwt.; points, weight 193-1, cultivation B,.quality 8; total points 2094. Wm. McL’Doivie, Matapu—s acres, after swede turnips, ploughed first week Sept.; disced and rolled soon after ploughing, cultivated and harrowed every fortnight • until sown, cleaned with Planet Jr. twice, thinned and hand weeded, top-dressed with lcvvt. salt per acre in Dec-.; Prizewinner, (541 b, 21in. drills, Nov. - 12; Gillanders’ special, 24cwt.; 94 tons 2cwt.; weight 188, cultivation 9, quality 8; total points, 205.

J. O’Sullivan, Matapu—2 acres, after swedes, ploughed middle of Aug., double disced and harrowed Aug. 29, disced and harrowed again Oct. 15, hand hoed, thinned witli hoe and hand hoed again; Tui Prizewinner, 51b., 21 in. drills, - Oct. .19; Tui mangold manure 4cwt., lime s<-wf., Sept. 1; 92 tons IScwt.; weight 1854, cultivation 8, quality 8; total points, 2014. Leslie Price, Matapu —2 acres, after grass, ploughed beginning Oct., disced three times, harrowed twice, rolled once, hoed twice 1 ; Sutton’s Prizewinner, 71b., 21in. drills, Oct 29; super 2cwt.; 80 tons 19 cwt.; weight 1614, cultivation 8, quality S; total points, 1774. J. O ’Sullivan, Matapu—l 1-5 acres, ploughed Oct. 5, double disced and harrowed Oct. 9, double disced on angle, harrowd and rolled Oct. 17, hand hoed, thinned, hand hoed again; Tui Prizewinner, 51b., 18in. drills, Oct. 19; Tui mangold manure, 4cwt.; 70 tons ilewt.; weight! 141, cultivation 7, quality 8; total points 156. X. G. Luxton, Matapu—2 acres, after swedes, ploughed first week in Aug., rolled, disced four times, harrowed well and rolled, hand hoed twice; Prizewinner, about 61b., 14in. drills; Irnlay fertiliser, 3c wf,; 69 tons 2cwt.; weight 138, cultivation 7, quality 7; total points, 152,

H. Sharp, Matapu —1 acre, after mangolds, ploughed Aug,, disced four times, and tine harrowed at intervals till sown, hand hoed three times and thinned; Prizewinner, 61b., ISin. drills, Oct. 3; 2cwt,-super, 2ewt. green bone, ifewt. potash; 66 tons 7c-wt.; weight 1324, cultivation 6, quality 7; total points, 1454. E. F. Tree, Matapu —3 acres, after grass, ploughed Sept. 24, double disced several times, harrowed and rolled, hand hoed and thinned; Sutton’s Prize-winner, 51bs., Nov. 2,21 in. drills; C. A. Wilkinson’s mangold manure, 3 cwt.; 61 tons 12cwt.; weight 123, cultivation 7, quality 7; total points, 137. Thos. York, Lower Duthie Read- —1

acre, after grass, ploughed Oct., rolled after ploughing, disced four times and harrowed and rolled, hand hoed, thinned and hand hoed; Jersey Queen and Prizewinner, tilb., 14in. driils, Oct.; Rodder and Tolley’s mangold, 3cwt.: 59 tons 2cwt.; weight 118, cultivation 5, quality 8; total points, 131. W. T. Seed, Matapu—2 acres, after 1 swedes, ploughed Oct. 12, double disced, spring tined twice, chain harrowed, rolled, weeded with Planet Jr., thinned and hand weeded; Prizewinner, Yellow Globe, fjlb., 20in. drills, Oct. 25; Hodder and Tolley’s mangold mixture, 4-4-cwt; 57 tons lcwt,; weight 114, cultivation (i, quality 7; total points, 127. Remarks: (1) Even ..crop, roots well] grown; (2) cultivation good, excellent crop for large area, very even; (3) a few with heart rot; (4) roots small but close ; (5) rows a bit small,, wanted more attention; (6) some heart rot, particularly on ground that has been cropped a good deal, rows very patchy; (7) cTop very patchy; (8) nice roots, but'not large; (9) erop wanted more cultivation, very patchy; (10) exposed situation. 'swedes. T. York, Lower Duthie Road—2 acres, afer grass, ploughed Oct., rolled after ploughing, disced four times, harrowed and rolled; Grandmaster, Boz., Dec. 6,7 in. drills; Hodder and Tollev’s turnip manure, 3ewt.; 36 tons lGcwt.; weight. 734, cultivation 8, qualitv 8; total points, 89-4.

Hoskin, Matapu—3 acres, ploughed early Nov., disced three times and rolled once; Garton’s Superlative, lib., Nov. 28, 14in. drills; Hinemoa special, 3cwt.; 37 tons Bcwt.; weight 74-4, cultivation 8, quality 6; total points, 88-4.

P. Henry, Matapu—3 acres, ploughed end Nov., ploughed in Oct., rolled, disced twice, harrowed and rolled again; Cooper’s Sweet White Flesh, lib., end Nov., 7in. drills; Tepapa, 2 cwt.; 34 tons lcwt.; weight 68, cultivation 7, quality 7; total points, 82. F. R. Nicholas, Matapu—2-4 acres, after grass, ploughed Nov. 28j rolled, double disced, harrowed once, rolled again; Magnum Bonum, 120 z., Dec. 11, 7in. drills; Wilkinson’s turnip manure’ 24cwt.; 23 tons 12cwt.; weight 47, cultivation 6, quality 6; total points. 59. Remarks: (1) very little rot, roots nicely grown, but a bit thin; (2) very necky, fair amount of rot in low patches; (3) very deep in ground, sound roots, not large; (4) a big lot of rot breaking at necks. CARROTS. H. Hoskin, Matapu—J-aere, after swedes, ploughed Sept, 13, ploughed after swedes, harrowed twice, chain harrowed twice, then rolled, thinned, hoed twice; Barriball, 11b., Oct, 20, 44in. drills; Hinemoa, 3cwt.; 57 tons 7c-Avt. ; weight 114-4, cultivation 8, quality 8; total points, 130-4. Charles Willis, Matapu—4-acre after mangolds, ploughed June, "disced and harrowed, hand hoe'd twice; Matchless White, lib., Nov. 1,21 in. drills; Farmers’ fertiliser, 3cwt.; 43 tons 15cwt,; weight 874, cultivation 9, quality 9; total points, 1054. H. 11. Matapu—4-acre new ground, ploughed Oct. 10, 6in., rolled, six disc harrowings, chain harrowed and rolled, push hoed between rotvs, flat hoed and thinned; Barriball and Orange Yellow, lib., Nov. 8,14 in. drills; Newton King’s carrot mixture, scwt.; 44 tons 6cwt.; weight 88-4, cultivation 9, quality 7; total points, 1044.

H. Sharp, Matapu—l acre, after swedes, ploughed Sept,, disced four times and harrowed at intervals until sown, hand hoed twiced and thinned; Matchless White, lib., Nov. 3,18 in. drills; Super, 3cwt,; 41 tons 13cwt.; weight 83, cultivation 7, quality 8; total points, 98. Wm. MeL’Dowie, Matapu—3 acres, after mangolds, ploughed first week in Sept., rolled, disced and harrowed in Sept,, and worked at intervals with cultivator until sown; Matchless White, lib., Nov. 14; 21in. drills; Gillnnders’ special, 24cwt; 37 tons; weight 74, cultivation 8, quality 8; total points 90.

P. Henry, Matapu— f-acre after turnips, ploughed in Oct., rolled, disced twice and rolled again, hand hoed once and thinned; Sinclair’s Champion, lllp., first week in Nov., Min. drills; mangold manure, Farmers’ Co-op., 2cwt.; 35 tons 15c-wt.; weight 714, cultivation 6, quality 7; total points, 844. R. 11. Tree, Matapu—lf a eves, after grass, ploughed Oct. 16, disced and harrowed, hand hoed, thinned and horse hoed; Matchless White, lib., Nov. 12, 21in. drills; C. A. Wilkinson’s mangold manure, 3cwt.; 31 tons 9ewt.; weight 62-4, cultivation 9, quality 7; total points 784. R. 11. Tree, Matapu—l acre, after carrots, ploughed Oct. 1, double disced and several times harrowed, push hoed, thinned and hand hoed; Matchless White, 141 b., Nov. 14, 21in. drills; C. A. Wilkinson’s mangold manure, 3cwt.; 29 tons 19cwt.; weight 594, cultivation 8, quality 7; total points 744. A. G. Edlin, Lower Duthie Road, Mangatoki—l acre, after soft - turnips off bush ground, ploughed Sept. 29, green oats ploughed in and rolled down, disced and harrowed once a week till sown; Matchless White, lib., Nov. 10, Min. drills; Newton King’s mangold, 3cwt.; 26 tons 18cwt.; weight, 534, cultivation 6, quality 9: total points, 684. Remarks: (1) Beautiful carrots, but a lot of rot; (2) a few rotten, Magnum Bonum not in competition, rather rough and a god bit of rot; (3) excellent shape, but rotting badly from top, quality reduced through rot; (4) carrots not thinned enough, sound but

small; (5) carrots showing some rot, fairly well /grown; (6) not thinned, roots small, very sound; (7) good tops, roots small; (8) fair amount of rot exposed; (9) rather patchy. MANGATOKI. ■ SWEDES. T. 11. Fever—s acres, ploughed Nov. 20, 7in., disced twice, chain harrowed and rolled; Magnum Bonum, 130 z., Nov. 27; 7in. drills; Farmers.’' Co-op. special, 2001 b. per acre; 37 tons 15 cwt.; weight 754, cultivation 8, quality 7; total points, 904. A. T. Sulzberger, Lowgarth—2 acres virgin land, ploughed Dee. 15, rolled on furrow, two double discings, harrowed and rolled before sowing; Garton’s Grandmaster, lib., Dec. 21, Min. drills; basic super, 3cwt.; 24 tons 18c-wt.; weight 494, cultivation 7, quality 7; total points, 634.

A. J. Prestidge, Hunter Road, Eltliam —5 acres, ploughed Dee. 10, rolled, disced twice and rolled; Magnum Bonum, ISoz., Dec. 20, and resowed weak patches Jan. 22, 7in. drills; Wilkinson’s turnip manure, 3ewt.; 23 tons 17c wt.; weight 474, cultivation 7, quality 7; total points, 614. C. Brock, Hunter Road, Eltham—3 acres, half new, half lea land, ploughed Dec. 10, lolled on furrow, disced and tine harrowed twice, rolled before sowing; Superlative and Hn-to-Date, lib., Jan. 12, 7in. drills; bone and super 3ewt., lime lewt.; 21 tons 14 cwt.; weight 43, cultivation 5, quality 5; total points, 53. MoGuinness Bros., Hastings Road, Mangatoki— 2 acres, lea land, ploughed

first week in Nov., rolled, disced four times, chain harrowed four times, rolled and drilled, cross drilled three weeks later; Grandmaster, 10oz., Dec. 15 and Jan. 6,14 in. drills; Wilkinson’s turnip and Newton King’s turnip, Ist drilling 34cwt., 2nd drilling 21cwt.; 20 tons scwt.; weight 404, cultivation 5, quality 5; total points, 504. Remarks: (1) Fairly even crop, a few rotten, but not so bad as most fields, one of the best crops seen this year; (2) poor crop, considerable soft rot, crop thin; (3) roots fairly well devloped, just getting rot, a bit patchy; (4) a lot of rot in Superlative, which were fairly well grown, Up-to-Date very poor; .(5) bad, with soft rot, also patchy. MANGOLDS. J. P. Marx, Mangatoki—lp f acres, after swedes, ploughed first week in Sept., disced about , five times, chain harrowed, rolled twice, j»ush hoed in first place, thinning then done, after which crop Avas hand hoed at intervals; Prizewinner and Sutton’s Sugar, 61bs., Nov. 7, 21iu. drills; bonedust, super and blod and bone, scwt. per acre; 84 tons lOcwt.; weight 169, cultivation 9, quality 8; total points 186. W. C. Carter, Hunter Road, Eltham—--2 acres, after swedes, ploughed Oct. 1, laid for three weeks after plough - ing, rolled, disced four times, chain harrowed and drilled, push hoed, thinned and push hoed; Sutton’s Prizewinner and Sugai- Mangold, 61bs., Oct. 24, 21in. drills; Challenge, 4cwt.;. 71 tons 14cwt.; weight 143, cultivation 8, quality 9; total points, 160. —. McGuinness, Hastings Road, Mangatoki—l acre, lea land, ploughed first week Oct., disced six times, harrowed until time for sowing and rolled, hoed twice and thinned; Sutton’s Prizewinner, 51b., Nov. 7, Min. drills; 2cwt. bone, 2cwt. super, 4e\vt. kainit; 70 tons 9cwt.; weight 1404, cultivation 7, quality 8; total points, 1554.

C. Brock, Hunter Road, Eltham—4acre, after mangolds, ploughed first week Sept., rolled on furrow, cultivated and tine harrowed four times at intervals, rolled before drilling, thinned, hand hoed and weeded twice; Sutton’s White Sugar, 61b., Nov. 3,14 in .; drills; 2001 b. bone, 1501 b. super, 141 b. potash; 69 tons 14ewt.; weight 139, cultivation 8, quality 8; total points, 155. C. T. Nicholas, Hastings Road, Ma-ngatoki—-1 acre, after turnips, ploughed Sept., twice rolled, disced and harrowed after each ploughing, three hoeings; Prizewinner, 31b., Oet. 22, 14in. drills; dodder and Tolley’s mangold manure, 6c\vt.j 67 tons 9ewt.; weight 1344, cultivation 7 } quality 7; total points," 1484. C. Brock, Hunter Road, Eltham—4acre, lea ground, ploughed second week Aug,, rolled on furrow, disced and tine harrowed five times at intervals, rolled, disced, _ harrowed and rolled before sowing,' thinned, hoed, and weeded once; Prizewinner, 61b., Nov. 4,14 in. chills; , bone, super, 34cwt,; 66 tons lcwt.; weight 132, cultivation 7, quality 7; total points, 146. A. E. Baker, Duthie Road, Mangatoki —1 acre, lea land, ploughed Sept. 20, rolled, double disced four times, harrowed, rolled, hoed three times; Sugar Prizewinner, 61b., Nov. 10, 21iu. drills; 63 tons 19cwt.; weight 1274, cultivation 9, quality 8; total points, 1444. A. O. Marx, Mangatoki—lf acres, after pasture, ploughed end Seph, disced eight times, chain harrowed twice, rolled twice, hoed three weeks after sown, thinned, hoed once more; Sutton’s Prizewinner, 51b., 21in. drills, Nov. 9; Wilkinson’s mangold manure, 44cwfe.; 63 tons; Aveight 126, cultivation 6, quality 8; total points, 140. A. L, Baker, Duthie - Road, Maiiga-toki—4-acre, lea land, ploughed Sept. 17, rolled, double disced four times, harrowed, rolled, hand lioed three times; Prizewinner, 31b., Nov. 10, 21in. drills; bone, super, guano, scwt.; 59 tons 9cwt.; weight 1184, cultivation 8, quality 8; total points, 1344. W. Carter, Mangatoki l acre, ploughed Sept. 28, rolled once, disced three times, chain harrowed and drilled Oct. 20, push hoed once and thinned; Hodder and Tolley’s Yellow Globe, 41b., 14iii. cliills; 4cwt. Wright, Stephenson’s mangold manure; 1 59 tons 12cwt.; weight 119, cultivation 7, quality 8; total points, 134.

A. J. Prestidge, Hunter Road, Eltham —2 acres, after swedes, ploughed Oct. 25, disced, twice harrowed with spring tooth cultivator, four times at intervals, tine harroAved and rolled, push lioed once and tlipmed; Prizewinner and Sugar mixed, 61b., Nov. 22, 18in. drills; 59 tons 2ewt.; weight. 118, cultivation 7, quality 7; total points, 132. C. C. Carlson, Hunter' Road, Eltham —24 acres, after turnips, ploughed early in Sept., disced twice, rolled twice, tine harroAved at intervals until seed sown; Prizewinner, 71bs., Dec. 10, 14iu. drills; Wilkinson’s mangold manure, 4ew’t.; 51 tons .18cwt.; weight 1034, cultivation 7, quality 7; total points, 117-4.

C. Brock, Hunter Road, Eltham—l acre, lea ground, ploughed second week in Aug., rolled on furrow, disced and tine harrowod five times at intervals, rolled, disced and. harrowed, rolled before sowing, thinned, hoed ana Aveeded once; Sutton’s Long Red, 41b., Nov. 4, Min. drills; bone and super 3$ CAvt., 101 b. potash; 53 tons 16cAvt.; Aveight 107-4, cultivation 7; quality 6; total points, 1204.

Remarks: (1) Nice even crop, PrizeAvinner rather the best; (2) a nice crop, Avell groAvn, feAv gaps in parts; (3) a little patchy in toavs, feAv rotten; (4) very even crop, i-oavs rather close to alloAv good development; (6) fair crop, roots could have been better groAvn; (8) some heart rot in places; (9) more Sugar than PrizeAvinner; (10) A’arieties A-ory mixed, Jersey Queen and Yellow Globe mostly; (11) a good strike, but drills too close to alloAv crop to deA’elop; (12) late soayii, roots a bit small, but very sound; (13) roAvs too close, tops heavy, roots not well developed. CARROTS. J. McGuinness, Hastings Road, Mangatoki—l acre, lea land, ploughed first Aveek in Oet., rolled, disced five times, harroAA'ed until time for soAA’ing and rolled, hoed tAA r ice and thinned; Sutton’s Matchless White, lib., Min. drills, Noa\ 7; 2cAA’t. bone, 2cvt. super, 4ewt. kainit; 38 tons IScAvt.: Aveight 774, cultivation 9, quality 7; total points, 934.

C. Brock, Hunter Road, Eltham—-1 acre, lea ground, ploughed Aug., rolled on furrow, disced and harrowed live times at intervals, rolled, disced, harrowed and rolled before sowing, thinned, hoed and weeded once; Cooper’s White Belgian, ljlh., Nov. a, J4in. drills; 1901 b. super, 1401 b. bone, 391 b. potash; 37 tons lOewt.; weight 7a, cultivation 8, quality S; total points, 91. C. T. Nicholas, Hastings Road, Ma-ngatoki—3-acre, after turnips, ploughed Sept, twice, rolled, disced and harrowed after each ploughing, three hoeings: Champion and Matchless White tßin clair’s), 14in. drills. 21b., Oct. 22; Had der and Tolley’s manure, 5c wt.; 37 tons 18cwt.; weight 751, cultivation 8; quality 7; total points, 90-1. C. Brock, Hunter Road, Eltham —1 acre, after carrots, ploughed first week .Sept., rolled on furrow, cultivated and tine harrowed four times at intervals.

; oiled before sowing, thinned and ■•• ceded, hoed tw ; ce; Sutton’s Matchless White, l£lb., Nov. 3,14 in. drills;

bone 961 b., super 2521 b., potash 171 b.; 36 tons 7c\vt.; weight 724, cultivation 9, .quality 7; total points, 884. C. W. Carlson, Hunter Road, Eltham —•lj acres, after turnips, ploughed early Sept., disced twice, rolled twice, tine harrowed at intervals till seed sown; Matchless White, 141 b., Oct. 10, 14in. drills; Wilkinson’s root manure, 3cwt.; 35 tons 7cwt.; weight 704, cultivation 8, quality 7; total points, 851. A. E. Baker,'Duthie Road, Mangatoki —4-aere, lea land, ploughed Sept. 22, rolled, double disced three times, harrowed, rolled, hand hoed twice; Matchless White, lib., Nov. 10, 14in. drills; super and bone, scwt.; 35 tons 4cwt.; weight 70, ,cultivation 8, quality 7; total points, 85. W. C. Carter, Hunter Road, Eltham —1 acre, after swedes, ploughed Oct. 8, rolled, disced five times, chain harrowed and drilled, push hoed once and thinned; Matchless White, 141 b., Oet. 26, 21in. drills; Challenge, 3e\vt,; 34 tons 4ewt.; weight 08, cultivation 7, qualitv 7; total points, 82. Jacob Marx, Mangatoki, 4-acre, after pasture, ploughed end Sept., disced eight times, chain harrowed twice, rolled twice, hoed three weeks after sowing, thinned, hoed once more; Belgian White, 21b., Nov. 9,21 in. drills; Wilkinson’s mangold manure, 44cwt.; 32 tons 15cwt.; weight. 654, cultivation 8, qualitv 7, total points, 804. Remarks: (1) A few rotten; (2) mostlv Matchless White and other varieties, very little White Belgian, some rot; (3) fair crop, some rot; (4) very even clean crop, but roots rather 1 small, some rot; (5) fair crop, some rot; (7) fairly even crop, roots medium, some rot; (S) a fair amount of rot, which spoiled a good crop.

BUTTER AND CHEESE. OUTPUT FROM TARANAKI. Although, there have been some- disappointing falls in the market quotations and prospects have not a*ways been bright, the 11)23-24 dairying season in Taranaki has tieen better ■.’nan its predecessors in the production ol butter-fat. An analysis of the returns of Hie grading stores in North and south Taranaki shows that this season’s production from July 1, 1923, to the end of May of this year has leen greater bv' approximately 929,90ULbs of hut ter fat, the equivalent of, roughly, 19,785 boxes of butter or 15,500 crates of cheese, the. calculation being made on the basis of 471bs of butter-fat to one box of butter and 601bs of fat to one crate of cheese.

The total production of butter-fat in the province this season has amounted to, approximately, 36,424,3281bs as compared with 35,494,4281bs in the tprevious season. Of the total North Taranaki was responsible for 20,980,466 lbs and South Taranaki for 15,443,862 ibs. Last vear the North produced 20,159,3381b5, so that this season has been better to the extent of 821,128 lbs. South Taranaki’s production from J uly to May last season amounted to 15,330,0901b5, the increase for this season being 108,7721b5. While the northern end of the province shows a greater increase in production over the southern end, it must be remembered, that in November and December of the current season South Taranaki was greatly penalised by a drought which burnt up the pastures and curtailed production to an a.aiming extent. Conditions improved a little in January and February, when warm rains fell. It is a striking tribute to the recuperative powers or South Taranaki’s dairying country that, despite these adverse circumstances, an increase in production can be shown over what was admittedly an extiemely good season: North Taranaki, on the other hand, was receiving an abundance of rain while its neighbour' was becoming parched, and the increase in the production rrom that end of the province is but a reflex of a favourable season coupled with judicious farming. , , .. , Another feature of the opera..ions ot the dairying industry in. Taranaki driving the present season has been the increase i’n the manufacture of cheese and the decrease in the manufacture of butter compared with the previous sealion. Last "year 18,426,6601bs of butterrat were converted into cheese, but this' year the Quantity jumped by 6,644,re0ibs to 20,071, 4201 bs._ the manufacture of butter 17,067,7681bs of butter-fat were used last season as against 11,352,9181bs in the current year, a. decrease of 5,714 ; 8501b5. In terms of boxes and crates the output of butter .from the province this year has amounted to 241,734 boxes (north 195,798 and south. 45,966), compared with 363,144 boxes (north 256,934; south 106,210) last year, a decrease ot 121,380 boxes. The cheese output last season was 307,111 crates (north 134,724; south 172,387), while this season it has been 417,857 crates (north 196,466; south 221,391), an increase ot 110,746 crates. . ' Had the prices for his butter ana cheese remained anywhere near the level of those obtained when the first of the new season’s production was placed on the London market, the Taranaki dairy farmer would have been in an enviable position tmday. At the beginning of November, when the Westmoreland landed the first shipment of the new r season’s butter on the market, the quotation was 185 s to 188 s. The following week the quotation rose to 190 s to 1945. and a week later the 200 s mark was topped, the prices then being 202 sto 2045. From then on until* February 9, the quotation was always above 200 s, the highest prices being realised during the week which ended on December 8, when New Zealand best Quality was being sold at 220 s to 222 s per cw’t. From February till about the middle of April prices fell rapidly to 150 sto 1525. A slight improvement was noticeable early in May.

Cheese also opened favourably, but while it, too, decreased in value as the- season advanced, the market bad been more stable than in the ease of butter. At the beginning of the season a number of sales were reported at high prices, some being equal to a return to suppliers of Is 9d to Is Hid per lb buttev-fat. What the actual payouts for the-season for both butter and cheese making factories will lie ys a matter for the individual factory. There will be some factories that will equal and possibly improve on the pay-out of last season; others, which hit the market with large stocks of butter when prices were tumbling, will not be able to show such a good return. It was reported that one Taraanki factory was unfortunate enough to find itself placing about the best part of its season’s output on the London market just when the rapid fall in prices set in. For this season there will possibly be some vreat differences in the.various factory pa v-ont-s. How far the increased production will make up the difference to i!:<■ individual supplier cannot be stated. !.;m that it will make some difference i:- consolation.