FARM and DAIRY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 July 1924, Page 9

FARM and DAIRY

NOTES BY THE WAY. The well-known milking Shorthorn Melba 15th, of Darbalara (N.S.W.), on •June 1.0 completed a 365 days’ test under official auspices, and during that time gave 32,4221 b of milk and 16141 b of butter-fat. She thus surpasses all previous records made in any part of the world, and by any breed, by not less than 2761 bof fat. The previous greatest officially recognised butter-fat record was made by this cow last year with 13191 b. This was shortly afterwards beaten by the Canadian Friesian cow Agassiz Legis -May Echo, with J3381b, given in 365 clays, counting production from the date of the last calf. On the last day of the test of Melba 15th she yielded in three milkings; 46-i-lb of milk, with an average test 1 of 5.95 per cent, equal to 2.771 b of butter-fat for the 24 hours. At a conference in Launceston of dairy factory managers on June 13 the following motion was agreed to: “In view of the unsatisfactory condition of affairs in the London butter market so far as Australian .butter is concerned, and the need for linking together Australian interests and organising, as disclosed by the report of the Federal butter expert, 'this conference of Tasmanian butter and cheese factory managers strongly urges the State advisory board to approach the Federal authorities with a view to a suitable mm, preferably Mr. O’Callaghan, being employed in England to organise the distribution and control of Australian blitter, and that the representative so sent return to Australia between seasons with a view to placing the prospects and requirements before the recognised associations interested in the production of butter.”

BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS. ROOT-GROWING COMPETITIONS. Very great .success has attended the' various competitions, though the weather in many cases was not good and the judges and party had a wet time going through the crops. This was no damper to the enthusiasm of all, and the work was carried on as though the.sun was always shining. At a few. centres arrangements were made to take the Children round the plots, and this procedure increases the value of the work very much indeed. At Rawhitiroa this was done, and also at the conclusion of the work a very nice spread was given at the school bv the ladies. Special mention should be made of the cultivation seen. This in most cases was very good, and in some was perfect, the judges being unable to see a flaw. Special praise was given to Master Major’s crop of mangolds, and also F. McNeill’s carrots. This latter was the best weighed in South Taranaki. Seven crops of mangolds averaged 76 tons 9 ewt., a most satisfactory figure. There were three crops over 90 tons, and one just short of 100 tons. Mr. Glasson. in his remarks, said there was a‘ distinct improvement in cultivation generally. He was much impressed with the care in this respect. One mangold weighed turned the scale at 421 b, and anotliej; at 301 b. A carrot pulled tipped the scale at 141 b. .Talking'of the charts Mr. Syme said they taught children to be observant of the facts and conditions of nature.

Okniawa was a very interesting day and many good results were found. The teachers and children all take a keen interest in the work, good results are bound to follow. In the school are to be seen the shield presented by the Farmers’ Coop. (Elthani branch) to Taranaki State schools for potato growing. The names thereon are: 1920, Eltham; 1921-2-3, Ngaere; 1924, Okaiawa. There is also the Dominion Dairy Show challenge shield for the school scoring most points’Tn farm and garden. Okaiawa have secured this each year since 1918. APPRECIATION.

Mr John Finlay, Tokaora, writes:—■ In your agrieiiiu.mil supplement of June 14 you .reprint'' from the New Zealand Free Lance an article headed “A Sound Practical Farmer.” 1 do not know exactly who the writer is, hut would attribute it to a well-known Wellington author and journalist who has stayed with me on some of his visits to Taranaki. There is one very important item he has omitted to state, ami that is the seientmo part is carried out under supervision of the Agricultural and Fields Department, under charge of Air J. W. Deem (.chief) and Mr A. J. Glasson, Haweia. At the lastinspection and judging of lucerne crops 1 explained to the assembled farmers that the lucerne and other crops were put in under instruction of the Fields Department, they (.Messrs Deem and Glasson) giving quantities and manure mixtures, which were done up by Mr F. Giltandeis. i have often written about the splendid sole of grass still existing at Tokaora, which was sown down in the mid sixties of. last century after the tutu, fern, flax and toi-toi had been burnt off, the ryegrass seed being imported from Devon, England.

i\o land caii retain its early vigour whet; heavily stocked, moss and lichen taking a big hold, as it did on part of this farm, but under directions of the Fields Department tested manure mixtures were applied, anti the once moss-covei ed Batches are now clover, trefoil, rye, and cocks-foot-covered green pasture, and this, too, oil places not desirable to plough, or perhaps impossible to plough. These officers come along, and, as a brother farmer remarked to me, iust chat to us like one of ourselves. We carry out their instructions and our holdings thus become a local experimental farm on a limited and paying scale. Hence, one reason why the Moumahaki State Farm has lost its general utility, for what Messrs Deem and Glasson are doing well guarantees the State outlay for the Fields Department in this .locality. And here I must say a good word for the assistance and help given in the hour of need amongst our herds by Mr George Ford, who is ever ready and courteous with his advice and assistance at any hour when called upon. Ever since I started seeding and pasture manuring under the direction of the' Fields Department m.v butterfat returns have increased by nearly one-third, in the first case 1 receive the returns', but it goes for the upkeep and manuring and improvement of the fairm. tints increasing the value of the asset, for mine, as well as many thousands of farms in New Zealand, is pledged to the overseas money lender for the repayment of the principal and interest on our two hundred and eighteen millions debt. In conclusion. T sincerely wish to accord a vote of thanks to the Fields Department (Messrs .Deem and Glasson) and Mr F. Gillanders, for during my recent lengthy stay in hospital a coiv-

siderable area has been successfully grassed down on my farm under their supervision, and now shows signs of a bountiful supply of feed for the dairy herd in Plaiting off for the coming milking season. CHOU MOELLIER. A week or two ago, while, the judges and party were doing the.rounds in one centre, the failure of so many of the turnip crops was commented' upon, and a question was asked Mr Deem as to the value of chon moeJlHM\ It- will be iemembered that at Mnumahaki this valuable fodder has been grown for some years, and naturally Air Deem’s jeply was favourable, but he added that it had not the lead value of the viop whose place it was to take. An enthusiast- in the growing of fodder is Mr C. R. Beetham, of the Duthie Bond. 11 atanu.. who has grown three acres each, year fop' four years, and has had excellent results. This year he has a crop which, though not quite up to his best record, shows a very line growth, and is providing a great amount of useful feed. Its advantages, lie claims, are that it gives no feed flavour to tiie milk, is easily grown, and lias no club root or other disease. It is on an average live feet high, is grown in 14in drills and: with 3cwt of super. The cattle like it so- much that they leave nothing but the roots when they have had a feeding. He sows from l 'i to Ilbs per acre, but- this year put in 2ibs. being not certain of its germinating, and as it struck well the growth is too. thick, and would probably have done better if less had been sown. The cows milk well on it, and his herd of about 68 cows have been feeding since February 15 on 'lg acres, leaving him 11 acres still to go on with. It is interesting to note that last year’s crop went about 120 tons to the acre, but this year’s is somewhat less. His experience shows that farmers generally could grow this useful fodder with advantage to themselves and to their herds.

TEST FOR PHOSPHATES. PROPOSED MODIFICATION. At a meeting of the London Section of the Society of Chemical Industry, a paper on a proposed modified test for basic slags and similar phosphates by Dr. G. Scott Robertson and Mr .F. Dickinson was read by Dr. Robertson. The main object of the authors was to describe a simple laboratory test, whereby results could be obtained with all classes of sl«lis and rock phosphates more in accordance with those found in practice and actual field and plot tests than the figures obtainable with the “official” Wagner test that has been employed both, on the Continent and at Home for many years.

Briefly the Wagner test consists in shaking, under more or less specified conditions, 5 grams of the phosphate with 500 c.c. of 2 per cent, citric acid solution anti estimating the amount of phosphate dissolved. It has been found that under these conditions, modern sings and rock phosphates give figures .very interior to those obtained with pre-war basic slags from the Bessemer furnace, whereas the results obtained in practice tend to show that such inferiority does not exist. The modification of the test . suggested consists in using 1 gram in place of 5 grams of slag or phosphate. The paper is not yet available for abstraction. but from the figures quoted at the, meeting it was shown that results more in accordance with field tests were obtained in most cases.

TARANAKI UTILITY JERSEY CLUB

At the annual meeting much enthusiasm was shown. Speaking of the objects of the association, the president said that a writer in the Journal of Agriculture had pointed out that New Zealand lent itself well to the establishment of new; types of cattle which would possibly prove of great value to those concerned. Taking the nondescript breeds of the average herds in dairying districts, and assuming the increased production of milk was the ideal aimed at, it should be possible to evolve a type better suited to local con. ditions and with a higher milk yield. \\>ith regard to testing, the same principle had been adopted a.s was followed by a similar association in Illawarra, New South* Wales. There the .association’s herd book" had been, established under rules which defined that animals entitled to a place in the herd hook should be (1) cows that had produced at least 121 bof butter of 3501 bof milk in one week; (2) the progeny, male or female, of all cows qualified as above; and (3) any bull four of whose progeny had passed the required test. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Hr. J. H. Thomas proposed that the association’s test certificates should be endorsed C.O.P. (certificate of performance), to distinguish them from the Government certificates endorsed C.O.R (certificate of record). —The motion was'carried unanimously.

Tn this connection the association owes a debt of gratitude to the judges, Messrs F. Ranford and R. J. Linn, who are pedigree Jersey breeders, and who gave their services gratuitously. Mr. A. Hedgmnn moved that steps be taken to have a separate class for utility cattle established at the Stratford A. and P. Show.—The matter was left to the council to decide. The chairman reported that interest in the association was very strong in the Tikorangi district, and a separate branch might with advantage be formed there.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Mr. Joseph Thomas: vice-president Mr J. W. Pratt; secretary, Mr. A. W. Hedgman; treasurer, Mr. J. H. Thomas; council, the president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, ex-officio ami Messrs A. D. Walker. J. Pennington, and F. Tecofskv. JERSEY BREEDERS’ CLUB. A FORWARD MOVEMENT. The Auckland Metropolitan Jersey' Breeders’ Club has decided to make a 'forward movement hv inaugurating an Auckland Jersey Oaks Stakes. This progressive step should be a popular one with breeders who have been raising high production stock. This class of competition has been most popular in the Taranaki district, as it aims at the retention of type and the addition <>l high production. The necessary regulations will soon be drafted. The club has also decided to hold its fourth sale of pedigrep Jer.sevs in October.

NORTHERN DAIRY FARMS. Tn North Auckland, said the Government grader, when talking of grading and instruction at the N. D.A. '"annual meeting, there are a large proportion

of women running the dairy farms, and the instruction given by the experts was always welcomed. Instructors were alwav s keen to assist suppliers, and were at all times willing to stay until any suggestions made by them were carried into effect. He remarked later that in the case of a native supplier away up North he had never come across a better or cleaner supplier.

THE STUD STOCK INDUSTRY. Writing of the recent Jersey sales, the Farmers’ Weekly says that some 600 stud Jersey cattle have been sold at auction in the Waikato and Taranaki provinces. The total amount realised was over £40,000, showing what a wonderful and profitable industry the breeding of live stock in this country has become Good animals l'i.ght throughout the sales commanded big money, and new Dominion records were made for the Jersey breed for cows, heifers, and bulls. Several Australian buyers were operating but New Zealand Jersey breeders are to be congratulated in that all the leading animals were purchased for New Zealand studs, only one Australian buyer being successful. STERILITY IN COWS. ‘ The Tatuanui branch of the' Farmers’ Union recently drew attention to the serious state of sterility in dairy cows in that district. As a result of representations made by the executive an officer of the Agricultural Department was sent to the locality to make investigations. His report to the union was characteristically brief. In it he says, “I have to advise von that sterility may be due to various causes. The form seen at Tatuanui i s due to contagious vaginitis. This disease is due to an organism. As the name indicates, it is contagious. ' The bull, when once affected, is the main factor in spreading the disease.”

FARMYARD MANURE. In the course of a lecture Dr. Hilgendorf, an acknowledged authority, has something of value to say on this valuable by-product of the dairy shed. He dealt with the use of farmyard manure, and the possibilities of creating synthetic. farmyard manure. The keeping of the cattle indoors all the winter, tho sneaker said, caused great accumu. lotions of farmyard manure, which was a very important factor indeed iii English agriculture. The manure war, put on at the rate of about 15 tons to the acre, and it .was this enrichment of the land for root crops in the first place and subsequent leaf or cereal crops that really paid the farmer to keep and house tile cattle.

SHEEP v. CATTLE. (Ghr istdnrrch Press.) Judging by reports there will be a very considerable amount of ousting of dairy cattle this season for sheep. There is no doubt that there i s a definite movement in this direction, and the optimism exhibited by some of our politicians regarding the increase in the dairy output has not a great deal of sound thought behind it. There may be an increase due to better feeding and breeding, bqt not., it is to be feared, from increased herds. The comment, of course, refers only to farmers who arc in the happy position of being able to change—the bulk are on. land too high priced to permit it carrying sheep. However, the tenor of the reports is that dairy cows are. exceedingly hal'd to sell, and this within two or three months of the season commencing may be taken a, s an indication of how the wind is blowing. Evientually perhaps, when better dairy feeds are adopted, than are now in use, and when the wisdom of liberal winter feeding is more adequately realised, the dairy output per acre will increase and in time' will more than compensate for the diminution through the present change over from cattle to sheep. The future is not very sanguine as to the course of prices. The 2 S a lb days for butter-fat are gone—they were little better than a disaster to the industry in any case, as they bolstered im land values inordinately—and even the reduced figure of Is 6d does not seem certain of retention. Siberia and the Argentine are almost limitless in their dairying potentialities, particularly the former, and their outputs may depress prices another 6d per lb. Dairying in this country on our high land values will not pay at less than Is 4d a lb. Our climatic advantages and up-to-date methods of manufacture may offset the cheaper labour costs of the countries mentioned, and improvement in the direction of feeding and breeding would probably enable the Dominion to hold its own against the cheaper produced, but lower grade, article of our competitors, _but, it is to be feared, at a lower price. Unfortunately few in the dairy trade seem to realise the absolute need of ; better winter feeding. They are fighting in the limelight for different systems of marketing instead of urging and helping the dairyman to evolve improved methods of keeping his herd in condition before entering the milking season. This essential is the main one towards putting the Dominion in a less vulnerable position in the fight with its competitors. There are dairymen around Christchurch who are taking more off 20 or 3Q acres of land than neighbours on the same class of soil are taking off 50 or 60 acres. The one reason of this is feed. It is a sorry thought that in the kindly climate of Canterbury hundreds of dairycows around Christchurch last winter had to subsist practically on wheat straw, and that hundreds more had to lie sent to the butchers throughout the autumn because of prematurely drying off. This next season’s milk drop may influence directors of companies to realise in which direction it would pay them better to direct their energies— towards inajrkefcifng .schemes of doubtful utility or towards devisino- and developing methods for increasing' feed and thereby dairy outputs.

AGRI CULTURAL STATISTICS FOR 1923. The Ministty or Agriculture have issued part two of the report upon agricultural production of England and \\ ales in 1923. ft shows that the total production of wheat amounted to 1.522,000 tons (6,859,000 qr.), which, as a result of tho largely reduced area, was 152,000 tons less than in 1922. The total production of barley amounted to 965,000 tons, or 9.000 tons more than in 1922. The average yield per acre of oats was 13.7 cwt.. or two-fifths of a cwt. above the ten years’ average, and the highest yield since 1918. Of potatoes the total production, includ'ng the yield in Scotland, was 3,579.000 tons, or about 600,000 tons less than the ten years’ average. The cron ofhav was 7,707,000 tons, or 1.900.000 tons greater than in the previous year. DAIRYING IN BRITAIN. (By a Noted Bveedor.) There was undoubtedly a vogue today to increase the yield of milk at the cost of type and constitution, and he urged on all herd owners that whatever their predominant type of cattle was, to breed from pure-bred sires of undoubted milk parentage, that class of

animal which would in four generations be eligible for full registration in their respective herd-books. Manage the Bull.

The bull at all times should be managed in a common-sense manner, and owners would find if they made it a practice to tie up the bull for some hours each day that he would be more tractable and more easily managed than if merely left loose in a box and treated as if he were a wild animal. Bulls which were in close confinement required great care in feeding and watering. Many bulls were made in some instances ineffective' by having a heavy ration fed to them early in the day. The . p.m. feed of roots, chaff and concentrates should he given • at 3 p.m., and again at the last time of foddering up. Exercise is necessary to stock hulls, and where it was found difficult to do this they should have the run of a large yard for a few hours with the cows. It is a bad policy to under-bull the herd. ' Bull’s Effectiveness.

Herds of twenty-five cows iwith heifers coining on should have at least two bulls. Much could he said of a sire. It is important that great care should be taken in selecting a hull from a great cow—an animal of substance, deep, thick and short-legged, carrying as near a perfect udder as possible. The udders to avoid like the plague were those heavy, fleshy, splitup and bell-teated. The prospective hull buyer would be well advised to pay special attention to the butter-fat qualities of the bull’s dam and his side’s dam. Next in importance to the milk capacity of the herd in general was the feeding. Importance of Feeding.

I irst importance was the necessity of feeding the dry in-calf cow or heifer in calf. It was not sufficient to bri»;g a cow or helper straight off grass or from the yard unless she had been fed, and fed well, on flesh-pro-ducing foods for some eight or ten weeks before calving. Cows which calved down in poor condition seldom gave of their best for many weeks, and unless they were very highly fed the yield of milk was disappointing, and more often than not the quality of the milk was exceedingly low. After the cow had calved ancl settled down her ration should be changed to foods which helped to give the most milk, such as oats, maize gluten feed, dried grains, rice meal, bean meal, grouTfcT put cake or linseed cake, coconut cake (best), cotton cake or cotton seed meal, treacle, etc., etc., avoiding compound [cakes and meals, which were often pur. chased at very high prices. The important matter of feeding commences with the heifer calf. On no account should young stock be allowed to lose their calf flesh. A generous 'diet throughout their early. life must be given to grow them big, strong and full of constitution.

ROOT GROWING COMPETITIONS. AT AUROA. The judge (Mr J. W. Deem) has completed the statistics of the recent judging of the mangold and ' carrot crops at Auroa as follows: MANGOLDS.

H. H. Buxton, Auroa —1 acre, summer fallowed and sown in oats in autumn, ploughed end Sept., ploughed in green oats, disced, harrowed and rolled, hoed twice, haiid.weeded when thinned; seed, Sutton’s Prizewinner, 81b., 21in. drills, sown Oct. 2; manure 2 parts basic super, 1 part kainit, scwt. per acre, 3ewt. salt; weight 72 ‘tons, llcwt.; points, weight 143, cultivation 8, quality 7; total points, 158. J. C. Duff, Auroa —1 acre, after oats, ploughed Oct, 12, 1923, disc harrowed, 4 cuts chain harrows, 2 strokes and rolled; Sutton’s Prizewinner and White Sugar, Gib., 14in. drills, Nov. 6; special mangold, 34-cwt.; 65-tons fiewt.; weight 1304, cultivation G,. quality 8; total points, 1444. G. Kirk, Auroa —ij-acre, after swedes, ploughed Sept. 22, left one month, then disced three times, harrowed twice, cultivated four times, harrowed once, then rolled, hoed twice and thinned; Sugar and Prizewinner, Gib., 14in. drills, Nov. 3; mangold and carrot, sewt.; 61 tons 2ewt.; weight. 122, cultivation 7, qualit. 8; total points, 137. H. Hartley, Taikati Road, Auroa—1$ acres after swedes, ploughed Aug., double disced, harrowed twice, fined, rolled, hand hoed and thinned; Jersey Queen, 14in. drills, Nov. 20; super, 3 cwt.; 56 tons Gcwt.; weight 112, cultivation 6, quality 7; total points, 125. W. B. Stone, Tnikatu Road, Auroa — 2 acres, after grass, ploughed second week Sept., left to fallow', disced well and harrowed, cultivated once; -mixed Prizewinner/ Jersey Queen and Sugar, 61b., 27in. drills, first week in Nov.; 3) super, L] slag, 1-j potash, lj blood and bone, I’} lime, and ?alt, 44cwt. per acre; 50 tons Bewt.; weight 101, cultivation 4, quality G; total points, 111. B. Ogle—rl acre, after grass, ploughed Nov. 1, disced three times, harrowed and rolled; Long Red, Yellow Globe, mixed, Gib., 14in. drills, Nov. 11.; mangold manure, 4ewt.; 44 tons Gcwt.; weight 884, cultivation 5, quality 5; total points, 984. Peter Cameron, Auroa —4-acre, after mangolds, ploughed Oct. 10, cultivated six times, hoed once; Long Red, Gib., 14in'. drills, Nov. 8; special mangold manure, 3ewt.; 42 tons 18ewt.; weight 854, cultivation G, quality 5; total points, 964. Remaiks: (1) Nice even crop, well eared for, a little heart rot; (2) sound, nic-e crop, mixed varieties; (3) fair crop, some rot in Prizewinner, Sugar very sound; (4) mixed Prizewinner and Jersey Queen, a little rot in both varieties, but most in Prizewinner; (5) mangold? not properly thinned or cultivated, patches of roots very small; (6) mangolds poor, and small, cultivation poor, laud not very suitable; (7) roots small, tops heavy; Long Bed does not do well in this distriet. Average crop 56 tons 2ewt., against 38 tons 3ewt. last vear. • CARROTS.

G. Kirk, Auroa —4-acre, after swedes, ploughed Sept. 22, left for one month, then disced three times, harrowed twice, cultivated four times, harrowed once, then rolled, hoed twice and thinned; / Sinclair’s Champion, 31b., 3 4in. drills, Nov. 3; mangold and carrot, 4c-wt.; 34 tons 19cwt.; weight 694, cultivation 7, quality 8; total points, 544-.

W. F. Lyndon, Auroa —11 acres, after grass (new ground), ploughed beginning Oct., rolled after ploughing and disced four times, left lie till Nov. 1, then disced four times and tine harrowed and rolled, hand hoed once and thinned; Matchless White and Yellow Intermediate, If lb., I4in., Nov. 13; lewt. bone, 2c-wt. super, lewt. potash; 32 tons lewt.; weight 64, cultivation 6, quality 7; total points, 77. •T. M. Duggan, Auroa —1 acre, first crop, ploughed Nov. 16, disced six times and rolled; fib. Sinclair’s Champion, -11 b. Matchless White, 14in. drills. Nov. 26; superphosphate, 2c-wt.; 30 tons 16 cwt.; weight 611, cultivation 6, qilalitv 7; total points, 731. R. Dunn, Auroa —1 acre, after grass, disced three times on turf, then plough-

od June 29, and disced three times again, then harrowed, kept giving one stroke of disc every four weeks till sown, hand hoed twice and thinned; Matchless White, 141 b., 14in. drills, Oc-t. 21; super, 3ewt.; 27 tons lOc-wt,; weight 00, cultivation 8, qualitv 6; total points 69.

Remarks: (1) Crop fairly sound, not much rot, land a bit patchy; (2) crop uneven, not much rot; (3) carrots well grown but patchy and a fair amount of rot; (4) carrots very even, but poorlv grown. Average crop,. 31 tons 64cwt’., against 33 ions 4ewt. last year. MAXWELLTOWN.

The results of the Maxwell town competitions are very interesting. Mill. G. Birch, who heads the list for both mangolds and carrots, has now won the Sptton Cup outright, having been at the top of the list for three years in suceession.

MANGOLDS. 11. G. Birch, Maxwelltown; A plot—-4-acre, after soft turnips, ploughed Sept. 2, disced, harrowed and rolled, hand hoed twice, carbonate of lime 4-ton Sept. 15; Sutton’s Prizewinner 101 b., 22in. drills, Oct. 1; bonedust and super Bcwt., top-dressed 4c-wt. nitrate of soda; 116 tons loewt.; weight 2334 cultivation 10; qualitv S; total points! 2514. 1

H. G. Birch, Maxwelltown; 1A plot—-4-acre, after soft turnips, ploughed Sept. 2, disced, harrowed and rolled, hand hoed twice and singled, carbonate of lime -Arfbii Sept. 15; Sutton’s Prizewinner, 101 b., Oct. 1,22 in. drills; bonedust and super Bewt., top-dressed 4cwt. sulphate of ammonia; 110 tons 7 cwt.; weight 2204, cultivation 10, quality S; total points, 2384. ' / R. O. White, Maxwelltown—4-acre, after rape, ploughed Oct. 1, disced and harrowed, hand and horse hoed; Hurst’s Prizewinner, 101 b., 27in. drills, Oct. 2S; super 3cwt., salt 3cwt.; 8G tons scwt.; weight 1724, cultivation 8, quality 8; total points, 1884. Stanley Billinghurst, Maxwelltown—-4-acre, after rape, ploughed Sept. 13, disced, harrowed and rolled, hand hoed and thinned; Sutton’s Prizewiner, 81b., Oet. 22, 27in. drills; half bone, half super, 4cwt., 3cwt. carbonate of lime; 80 tons; weight 160, cultivation 9, quality 9; total points, 178. E. Ireland, Maxwelltown 4-acre, after grass, ploughed first week in" June, cross ploughed beginning Oet., disced three times, tine harrowed once, chain harrowed once; Prizewinner, 71b., Nov. 6,22 in. drills; 4ewt. super, 14-cwt. ammonia top-dressing; 77 tons loewt.; weight 1554, cultivation 9, quality 8; total points, 1724. T. and G. Alexander, Maxwelltown—-4-aere, after rape, ploughed June 3, disced, harrowed and rolled, hand and horse hoed, 3ewt. carbonate of lime 2 years previously; Garton’s Prizewinner, 61b., Oet. 10, 26in. drillsj_ onethird eac-h super, bone and Eplios, 4 cwt.; 77 tons loewt.; w'eight 1554, cultivation 8, quality 8; total points, 1714. E. Morrison, Maxwelltown —4-acre, after potatoes,: ploughed May, disced, harrowed and rolled, horse and hand hoed; Sutton’s Prizewinner, 61b., Oet. 25, 26in. drills; bone, super and Ephos, 4cwt.; 77 tons 13ewt.; weight 155, cultivation 8, quality 8; total points, 171. Hughes Bros., Maxweiltown-r-4-acre, after soft turnips, scarified, disced, harrowed all winter, hand thinned and horse hoed; Sutton’s Prizewinner, 12 to 141 b., Nov. 14, 26in. drills; superphosphate, sewt.; 74 tons 13cwt.; weight 149, cultivation. 8, qualitt' 8; total points, IGS. C. E. Billinghurst, Maxwelltown — About 1 acre, after grass, ploughed first time July 23, disced, harrowed and rolled, hand hoed and thinned; Sutton’s Prizewinner, 81b., Oet. 22, 27in. drills, 3ewt. vmburnt lime about end Sept.; 2ewt.'super, 2cwt. bone; 73 tons 15ewt.; weight 1474, cultivation 8, quality 7; total points, 1624. W. J. Darbysliire —J-acre, after grass, ploughed Sept., disced, harrowed, hand hoed twice; Hurst’s Prizewinner and Yellow Globe, 101 b., Oet. 22, 27i'n. drills; super and bone, 4ewt.; 73 tons 3e,wt.; weight 146, cultivation B,\ quality 8; total points, 162. R. O. White, Maxwelltown —4-acre, after rape, ploughed Oct. 1, disced and harrowed, hand- and horse hoed; Garton’s Prizewinner, 101 b., 27in. drills, Oet. 28; super 3ewt., salt 3cwt.; 69 tons 4cwt.; weight 138, cultivation 8, quality 8; total points. 154.

A. Reardon, Maxwelltown—After grass, ploughed Sept., dised and harrowed six or seven times, hoed and thinned out when 4 to Gin. and then hoed at intervals; Long Red, Oet. 22; 61 tons 9ewt.; weight. 3.224, cultivation 7, quality 7; total points, 1364. P. Handley, Maxwelltown —4-acre, after grass, ploughed July, disced and liarrowed, hand and horse hoed; Cooper’s Prizewinner, 61b., Nov. 3,2 Gin. drills; mangold manure, 3ewt.; 59 tons 3 3ewt.; v'e.ight. 119, cultivation 6, quality 7; total points, 132. t . : . E. E. Collins, Maxwelltown —4-aere, after mangolds, ploughed Oct. 1, disced and harrowed, horse and hand hoed; Sutton’s Prizewinner, 61b., Oet. 18, 26in. drills; bone and super, 4c-wt.; 52 tons 14cwt.; weight 105, cultivation 6, quality 8; total points, 119. Lutz Bros., Maxwelltown 4-acre after potatoes, ploughed Oet. 3, disced and harrowed, hand and horse hoed; Hurst’s Long Red, 71b., Nov. 14, 25in. drills; super and basic, 3cwt.; 50 tons llcwt.; weight 101, cultivation 7; quality 7; total points, 115. Remarks: (1) A very fine even crop, roots not extra large, but very close in drills,-a few rotten; (la) not in competition, weighed for comparison between nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia top-dressing; (2) roots well grown, land bit better than his other entry; - (3) nice even crop, well cultivated, some rot; (4) a nice even crop well cared for; (5) roots very nice quality, but fair amount of rot; (6) rather nice crop, some rot; (7) nice c-rop, tops a bit heavy for variety; (8) roots a bit rough, some rot; (9) part crop very good, portion rather spoilt through drill being blocked when sowing; (10) nice crop, land not so good as where No. 3 entry was grown; (11) tops very heavy, roots fair; (12) roots small, but very even in drills; (13) crop rather uneven; (14) roots small, wanted more light. Average crop, 73 tons 13cwt., against 70 tons IScwt. last year. CARROTS. IT. C. Birch, Maxwelltown—-]-aere, after rape, ploughed Oct. 20, disced, harrowed and rolled, hand hoed once and horse hoed, carbonate of lime, 4ton, ct. 15; Sutton’s Matchless White and White Belgian, lib., 27in. drills, Nov. 3; bonedust and super, 4cwt.; 67 tons 4cwt.; weight. 134, cultivation 7, quality 8; total points, 149. C. E. Billinghurst, Maxwelltown—4ncre, after grass, ploughed first time July 23, disced, harrowed and roiled,

hand hoed several times; Matchless White, 11b., 27in. drills, Oct. 22; bone and super 4cwt., 3ewt, unburnt lime Sept.; 6f> tons 13cwt.; weight. 131. cultivation 8, quality 8; total points, 147. W. Stevenson, Maxwelltown —1-aere, after carrots, ploughed Oct., weeding and thinning; Sutton’s Matchless White, 21b., 18in. drills, Nov. 1; cowyard manure; 60 tons Ccwt.; weight 1201, cultivation 10, quality 9; total points, 1391,

A. Reardon, Mnxweiitown —After grass, ploughed Oct. 1, disced and harrowed six or seven times each, hoed and thinned when about one to two inches, then hoed at intervals; White Belgian, Bib., 22in. drills, Oct. 30; Bc-wt.; 5o tons 12cvvt.; weight 111, cultivation S, quality 8; total points, 127. C. E. Billinghurst, Maxwelltown—4acre, after mangolds and carrots pmughed end Sept., disced, harrowed and rolled, hand hoed several times; Matchless White, lib., 27in. drills,'Oct. 23; bone and super 4ewt., Bcwt. unburnt lime end of Sept.; 50 tom? Bcwt.: weight .100, cultivation S, quaiitv 7; total points, 115.

E. Morrisson, Maxwelltown—l -acre after potatoes, ploughed in April, diseed, harrowed and rolled, hand and horse hoed; Matchless White, 11b., 2(nn. drills, Oct. 25; bone, super and Eplios, 4cwt.; -11 tons -7cwt.; weight 824, cub tivation 8, quality 7; total points, 974. Stanley Billinghurst, Maxwelltown—-4-acie, after rape, ploughed Aug. 6, disced, harrowed and rolled, hand hoed twice and horse hoed once; Gart.oil’s White Belgian, lib., 27in. drills, Oc-t. 23; super and bone 3cwt., 2cwt.- carb. of lime Sept. 15; 41 tons lCc-wt.; weight 834, cultivation 7, quaiitv 7; total points, 974.

W. J. Darbyshire, Maxwelltown—{acre, after grass, ploughed, Aug., disced and harrowed; Matchless White, White Belgian, 26in. drills, lib.; white carrot manure; 3S tons; 3ewt.; weight. 76, cultivation 7, quality 7; total points,

Hughes Bios., Maxwelltown—{-acre, after soft turnips, scarified, disced, harrowed all winter, hand hoed; Sutton’s Matchless White, ]{lb., 14in. drills, Nov. _2S; superphosphate, 3cwt.; 37 tons newt.; weight 744, cultivation 7, quality 5; total points, 864. H. G. Alexander, Maxwelltown—acre, after rape, ploughed .Tune 3. disced, harrowed and rolled, .hand and' hoise hoed, 3cwt. carb. of lime 2 years previously; Cooper’s Matchless White, 26in. drills, lib., Nov. 15; one-third each super,-bone and Ephos, 4ewt.; 32 tons lOewt.; weight 53, cultivation 8, quality 7; total points, 72. R. Billihghurst, Maxwelltown—{acre, after rape, ploughed Sept. 14, disced and harrowed, hand hoed twice’ 2cwt. lime per acre Sept,; Johnston’s Matchless White, 41b., 27in. drills, Oct. 28; bone and super, Sewt.; 31 tons 16 cwt.; weight 634, cultivation 7, quaiitv 5;: total points, 754.

Remarks: (1) Carrots very sound, but had uot been thinned and some were on the small side; (2) very large roots, some overgrown, a few rotten; (3) nice even clean crop, a. little rot; (4) heavy tops, few rotten; (5) roots very forky and not nice shape; (6) a fair number, rotten, big lot gone to seed; (7) seed very mixed, not true to type; (8) particulars not all supplied, some rot, carrots mixed; (9) carrots small, not properly thinned, poor quality; (10) fair amount of rot and a good many gone to seed; (11) carrots very short and badly grown, the poorest specimen of white carrots seen. Average crop, 47 tons Bcwt,, against 50 tons 11 cwt. last vear.