FARM and DAIRY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 January 1925, Page 11

FARM and DAIRY

NOTES BY THE WAY. Conditions all over the district are looking particularly well, and although some fanners have suffered through not being able to get in their hay, being caught with it just cut, pastures are rich and plentiful, and all growth is luscious. While the weather is good for grass, it also gives weeds a great start, and farmers will need to watch the noxious pests. , Lucerne stands are showing a wonderful growth, and will provide ample reserves for the farmer. At the Alanaia Demonstration Farm the lucerne is doing very well, and a new area just planted is' coming away well. The extraordinary heavy and continuous ram rather militated against its coming, but it is now doing capitally. Many big stacks of ensilage are being erects ed, and just opposite the Demonstration Farm, a mile away, is one of the biggest stacks of ensilage ever seen in the district. The spirit of co-operation is shown by many farmers, and the other day a remark which we hope is typical of the work of the farmers was made in reply to a query as to what was to be clone that clay.' “Well, Jones was over here giving me a hand yesterday; I must see if he wants any help now.” It shows a mutual help which is very good to see. Co-operation should go right through farming operations. In the course of his interesting recollections of old days in Wellington, Mr William Wallace said he remembered some of the very early consignments of cattle coming over from Australia and being driven over the ranges into the Wairarapa. As a result of the flood at Papawai, Messrs Skeet Bros, have lost over 300 ewes and lambs which had not been shorn (states the Wairarapa Daily Times). They have also suffered severe loss in crons. Mr R. Tilson lost over 100 sheep 'and three or four acres of hay. During one day of the flood his cows were not milked till nearly midday. and then they had to swim to the bails. '

Several complaints were voiced regarding the stray- cattle nuisance at a recent meeting of the Clutha County Council (states the Free Press). According to some members there are People who would sooner depasture their stock in “the long paddock” than anywhere else. It is doubtless due to the common desire to get something for nothing. Cr Mosley (Clydevale) stated that in his riding something would have to he done to keep the cattle off the roads. People were in the haliit of advising each other by telephone when the ranger was in the vicinity, and thus when the ranger appeared there were no stray cattle to be seen. Hie discussion was apropos of a request from the ranger for an increase of 10s a . week in his wage. It was decided to give him 5s of a rise, and to request him to endeavour to do hettei work.

It will he of interest to lovers of horse flesh to know that mt Moore Hunter estate homestead their fine Clydesdale mare Hinemoa dropped twin fillv foals on Christmas Eve to the stallion Bonnie Dene. Both sire and dam are imported and, by a coincidence, both reached New Zealand in utero. Mr. Hunter has a very fine lot of young stock running in his paddocks. Their stock have scored well in tlie sliow-ring and have done a lot towards maintaining the high repute of the Hawera district for quality in Clydesdales. Unfortunately one of the two filly foals died on Tuesday night, and, as SO’ often happens, it was the nicer looking of the two.

MOISTURE! IN BUTTER. Air. R. V. Falkner, manager of the Aluswellbrook Co-operative .Dairy Co., Ltd., writes: —“At a recent meeting of the Hunter and Gloucester Districts’ Butter Factories’ Association a resolution was carried asking the secretary (Air., R. V. Falkner) to write to the Alinister for Customs, through the Federal member (Air. S. L. Gardner), asking him to have the moisture content of each lot oi butter graded by the Federal grader added to the grade certificate. ft was pointed out that this would help the factories very considerably to get the correct percentage of moisture in the butter, which is 13 per cent., as under the existing conditions over 90 per cent, of the butter exported only carries about 14 per cent., which means a huge loss to the producers.

“If the factories on the Hunter lose, say, to> be on the safe side, 1 i per cent, on every 1001 b ol butter produced, and the. estimated total production is 0000 tons per annum, valued at 1/6 per lb, the loss to the producers is enormous, as they lose 2/3 on every 1001 b produced, which works out at £20,078 os Bd. Of course, this is on the presumption that all the butter manufactured is carrying l,c per cent. less moisture than the Act allows. The State Department of Agriculture should, therefore, adopt a similar policy. It might also be. mentioned that New Zealand has had this in vogue for some time, and the butter that was purchased by the New South AA’ales people from there some two years ago was all tested .for moisture by the Customs grader, and found to contain an average of 15 per cent. This spells pounds, shillings, and pence to the New Zealand dairymen. j • “Through the efforts of Mr. Gardner we are able to forward the following letter, from Mr. H. K. Pratten. AI.P., Alinister for Customs:

“ ‘With reference to my letter of October 29, 1924. in regard to the letter received by you from the Muswellbrook, Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., Mn swell brook, on the subject of having the moisture content of each lot of'butter graded by the Federal grader added to the grade certificate, I desire to inform you that this matter has been carefully considered. “ ‘Tt has been found impracticable to show the moisture content on the grade certificate, for the reason that such information is not known at the time the certificate is made out. It usually takes about two days before the analyst’s reports showing moisture content are received, and if your request were to be acted upon, it would mean that the "fade certificate would have to he withheld pending the receipt of the information from the analyst. Such a procedure would he most undesirable. “ ‘Tt has been decided, however, to furnish factories with the desired information hv letter immediately the particulars are received, and it is considered such a course will he most satisfactory to all concerned.’ ” INTERESTING NOTES. M the' conclusion of the last meeting of tlm Feilding A. and P. Association, Mr James Knight, who recently returned from "a trip to the Old Country, talked interestingly of what he had

seen while away from New Zealand. He had attended several stock shows in England, he said, and had been astounded by the quality of many of the exhibits, the beef cattle and the Jerseys being particularly good. The Guernseys also appeared to be coming into favour, and had much to recommend them. He had attended the Down Sheep Fair at Chichester, where some very fine sheep were shown, but manv of them were carrying two years’ wool' and most of them were trimmed and polished in a way that was not customary in New Zealand. Pie .was satisfied, however, that New Zealand had sheen quite as good as those to be found at 'Home. Passing through France he had seen the finest crops of wheat that ever had come under his notice. Turning to a matter of more intimate local interest, Mr Knight said he was satisfied the feeding of cows on turnips and rape was prejudicing New Zealand butter in the London market. The taint might not be very apparent at the time of shipment/ but it wA* very apparent at the other end, and he strongly urged dairy farmers to cut out turnips and rape and grow lucerne and clover.

In moving a vote of thanks to Mr Knight for his interesting talk, Mr J. G. Cobhe supplemented that gentleman’s remark's in regard to the use of turnips and rape. In his homeland, Ireland, he saicl, the butter-makers would no more think of feeding their cows on turnips than they would of shooting them. Air F. Roddy said the question of turnip feeding was a vexed one, ■ and authorities had asserted that turnins did not affect butter, provided the "Animals were judiciously fed immediately after milking. He, however, was quite prepared to accept Air Knight’s statement that the taint was noticeable at Home. The matter certainly needed investigating. Mr Knight stated that his reason for bringing up the subject was that the quality of New Zealand butter was not as good as previously. On the other hand New Zealand lamb was excellent. Mr Lancaster remarked that it was well known that New. Zealand butter was not nil to earlier standards, hut he did not put all the blame oil to the feeding of turnips and rape. In his opinion a great deal of the trouble was due to home separation, which had come to stay. The standing of cream in cans in the hot sun was not conducive to the making of good butter. The vote of thanks to Air Knight was carried by acclamation.

GRADING POINTS. CLEANLINESS STRESSED. At a recent meeting of’ farmers at Palmerston North under the auspices of the New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers’ Association to discuss methods by which the quality of dairy produce could be still further improved in order to accord with the raised minimum grading points which will come into force on January 1 next, Mr D. Hull, the Dominion president of the association, presided, and among those present were: Messrs AY. M. Singleton, director of the Dairy Division; J. O’Dea, chief cheese grader; and J. AA’. Smith and Jr R. Curie, dairy intruetors.. The chairman explained the purpose for which the meeting had been called, and said that •the raising of the grade points meant a raising of the standard of the produce. The matter was important, in view of,the large export of dairy produce from the Dominion. He predicted a glut on the market in the near future, and when that occurred only the best would he bought. Recent prices had shown a drop representing about 2d per lb butter-fat. The factory managers were endeavouring to turn out the very best, but they required the co-operation of the ' producers themselves.

Mr W. M. Singleton commended the factory managers for the efforts they were making to produce a first-class article, and strongly urged the farmers in their own interests to co-operate with the managers in everything that made for the welfare of the industry. The best New Zealand butter had won a great reputation in the open market, and it remained with the factory managers and the farmers themselves to see that this reputation was maintained and enjoyed by "‘all the butter sent away from the Dominion. Mr Singleton maintained that there were in operation in the Dominion between 14,000 and 15,000 milking plants, representing about 52,000 sets of teat cups, and that,/ while over half of the cows were milked by machinery, there were 42,000- separators in use. To get the best results—the results that must be got at any pi-ice—every detail of this vast system of delicate machinery had to he kept perfectly clean. That was the price the producer had to pay for his supremacy on the market. The pasteurisation of cream at the factories had assisted in raising the quality of New Zealand dairy products, but pasteurisation and neutralisation did not lessen the need—the urgent need —for good, clean cream for butter, and good, clean milk for cheese. Mr J. O’Dea warmly supported Mr Singleton’s appeal for better raw material in order that New Zealand butter and cheese might win and hold the highest positions in the markets of the world. A feyv weeks ago, he said, a decided improvement had been noticed in the 'produce passing through the store at Wellington, hut since then it had fallen back, particularly in respect to cheese. Discolouration hat! been apparent in cheese, and the remedy for this remained in the hands of the factory managers and the farmers. It was frequently noticeable that the cheese passing through the stores was very roughly finished. This .-c attributed to unsuitable labour being employed in the factories. The young men in the factories were the managers of the future, and it behoyed the managers to see that they obtained, the best possible labour. Very few college lads were going into factories, but if a dairy school were instituted some advancement might be made in this direction. The trouble was that the labour was too casual. Much inconvenience was caused through managers sending cheese to the grading store before it had been 14 days on the shelf. Mr J. K. Curie’s contribution to the discussion was a reiteration of the appeal for care and cleanliness. There was only one means, lie said, by which a permanent improvement in the quality of the product could he effected — care from the feeding of the stock through all the different stages of production to the ship’s hold. The establishment of a laboratory, useful as it might he, was not going to remove all the troubles that beset the farmers’ and the factory managers’ path. The conditions of work, both on the farm and in the factory, were not conducive to best results. It had appeared at the beginning of the season that the cheese was going to eclipse previous seasons in quality, hut during the last month or two there had been a falling

off. This was largely due to carelessness in the preparation oi milk and cream, but some of the blame must fall upon the factory. TESTING OF PUREBRED DAIRY COWS. In the November certifieate-of-record list the following Taranaki animals scored over 3501 bof fat. A number pi excellent' performance's are recorded,' including several 7001 b and 8001 b but-ter-fat yields, but no class leaderships are affected. Jerseys. Junior Two-year-olds. W. J. Freeth, Waitara, Ngahiwi Romance, 6221 b. H. C- Sampson, Hillsborough, Woodlands Countess, 5311 b. H. C. Sampson, Hillsborough, Woodlands Bright Jewel, 5241 b. F. W. Cornwall, Bell Block, paklands Lady Brampton, .478.781 b. W. Pollock, Hawera, Jersey Park Flower, 475.461 b. W. Pollock, Hawera, Jersey Park Little Prim, 475.271 b. P. J. Petersen, JJrixtpn, Ivon dale Baroness, 473.771 b. W. J. Freeth, Waitara, Ngahiwi’s Merry Queen, 467.851 b. E. .O’Sullivan and Sons, Tariki, Meadowvale Refinement, 465.501 b H. C. Sampson, Hillsborough, Woodlands Daphne, 464.281 b. A. J. Hale, Hillsborough, Royal Oak Silvery, 461.991 b. A. N. Haylock, Stratford. Favourita’s Princess, 460.341 b. W. J. Freeth, Waitara, Ngahiwi Miss , Demure, 445.551 b. H. J. Berry, Kaupokonui, Grasmere Wairoa, 4411 b. R. J. W. Hancock, Brixton, Mavfield’s Lady, 4311 b. A. J. Hale, Hillsborough, Royal Oak Rosalie, 4281 b. E. O’Sullivan* and Sons,. Tariki, Meadowvale Peggy O’Neil, 4271 b. H. J. Berry, Kaupokonui, Grasmere

Heroine, 4161 b. E. O’S.ullivan and Sons, Tariki, Meadowvale La Sultane, 4111 b. E. O’Sullivan and Sons, Tariki, Meadowvale Melody, 4051 b. R. C. Jury, Tikorangi, Hawkesburv Golden Lily, 4031 b. S. J. Hollard, Rowan, Burnside Duchess, 4001 b. S. J. Hollard, Rowan, Burnside Primula, 3661 b. • Senior Two-year-old. E. O’Sullivan and Sons; Tariki, Meadowvale Perfect Day, 6111 b. Tliree-year-olds. T. H. Broomfield, Kaponga, Erindale Beauty’s Trix, 5171 b. E. L. Mason, New Plymouth, Maisonette, 4811 b. J. A. Pettigrew, Pih.ama, ‘Belvedere Olga. 4291 b. R. C. jury, Tikorangi, Jersey Bank .Clematis, 3591 b. E. T. Burke, Otakeho, Twilight’s Milkmaid, 3521 b. Mature. G. H. Bell, Oakura, Stella of O.K-, 7501 b. A. J. Smith, Cardiff, Lady Prim, 7111 b. W. J. Freeth,' Waitara, Fern .Grove Irene, 6591 b. W. Oxenham, Uruti, Facey, 6261 b. A. N. Haylock, Stratford, .General’s Eavoiirita, 6041 b, R. C. J.urv, Tikorangi, Beauty’s Pet, 5801 b. * 'G. H. Bell, Oakura', Elsa of 0.K., 5521 b. W. J. Freeth, Waitara, Bopny Jess of OK., 5021 b. R. C. Jurv. Tikorangi, Takapu Lassie, 5021 b. W. Pollock, Hawera, Jersey’s Park Jean, 5021 b. H. B. Lepper, Lepperton, Maori Dusky, 4781 b, FRIESIANS. Junior Two-year-olds. G. A. Marchant and ' Sons, Cardiff, Coldstream Pontiac Piebe, 6351 b. Senior Two-year-old. G. A. Marchant and Sons, Cardiff, Wfistmere Pietje Rozine,. 7031 b. Senior Three-year-old. R. H. Hammond, Ohakune, Tokaora Queen (bred by H. E. Johnson, Tokaora), 5811 b. AYRSHIRES.

Mature. W. Hall, Lepperton, Pearl 11. of Edendale, 4901 b. W. Hall. Lepperton, Kate of Edepdale, 4291 b.

AYRSHIRES. A group of Aryshire champions at the London Dairy Show, is given in tlje North British Agriculturist .of October 30. It includes,' Ayrshire cows and heifers which won the Bledisloe Trophy for the Breed Society, and adjudged to have been the best exhibit of good, all-round dairy cows at the London Dairy Show. One of the .cows is Major C. R. Dudgeon’s Cargenholm Sally 3rd, winner of. the Barham Cup and B.D.F, A. Gold Medal for the cow gaining the greatest number of points in the Milking Trials; the. Spencer Cup for greatest number of points by inspection, milking trial, and butter test: and reserve for the Shirely Cup for the greatest weight of milk in the trials. AYRSHIRE SALE, t FIRST liTeNGLAND. What .is noted as the first sale of Ayrshire * cattle in England is reported by, the North British Agriculturist of October 30. The offering was considered by English farmers as fine a lot of heifers as had ever been seen together at on© sale. The type was very uniform throughout, with grand teats and beautiful tops, while those in milk showed fine udders and well-planted teats. The top price reached was 150 gns. each for two .stylish heifers of grand substance, with level top and splendid udder and teats. At ‘the Dairy Show they both scored well in inspection, milking trials, and butter tests.

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH. This most important subject is as live at Home as here. It was discussed at some length by the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture recently. The North British Agriculturist reports it as follows : “Mr. Charles Grieve. Branxholme, moved that from the £SOOO additional grant for agricultural education and research an endeavour should be made to get 'an .additional grant for the Plant-Breeding Station and the Diseases of Animals Research Association. They were two most worthy and deserving institutions, and had iustified their existence. Unfortunately their activities were restricted by want of funds, and he thought the Chambe’ 1 should urge that an additional grant of substantial amount should be given to these two Associations, and that r copy of the resolution be sent to thesp Associations, and the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. Mr. N A. Constable. Bute Estate Office. Rothesay, ashed whether the motion meant to include a grant for the Veterinary Cellege in Glasgow. There was a strong feeling in the West for retaining it. * The Chairman said that since Lord Constable’s Committee had recommended that there., should be but one Veterinary College in Scotland, there

was not much good for recommending against' a committee whicn mm Deeu appointed to report on education. Mr. John Henderson, Annandale Estates unice, said that mere wits everything to pe said in favour of the retention of the Glasgow Veterinary College. The West or Scotland was primarily a stock-raising area, fie did not see why it should not be kept up and more associated with the West or Scotland College of Agriculture A 1 the witnesses oefore the Agricultural Education Committee impiessed the necessity for extension of research, and he thought the retention of the Glasgow Veterinary College would be an important element in it.” At tlio seventeenth Dairy Show at Kilmarnock, one of the main features was the butter making competition and the exhibit of butter and cheese. Commenting on the cheese, the In. D. Agriculturist said: — •‘The quality of the cheese classes generally reflected great credit on the exhibitors. There was ample evidence of the good, JTuit being Ixuvne by the years of expert teaching which have been criven n,t Kilmarnock. School, 'tinder the' indefatigable and enthusiastic worker, Professor Drummond, who is now closing a long period ot 40 years’ distinguished service there. The classes for the coloured deep cheese unci white deep cheese made accoidmg to any method, were exceptionally good. The former class produced the championship'exhibit of the show. The championship test was started at two o’clock in the afternoon, the Jeicrht finalists being a most capable group of experts. As in bygone years, the butter-making plant had been kindly lent by Messrs. Walkef and Templeton, Kilmarnock. The following were the plaeings by Mr. Lennox: —-L (and Sir Thos. Clement’s silver cup), Miss Helen M.- Parries, with 95 points; 2, Miss Chrissie M. Campbell, 94 points; 3, Miss Janet L. Stewart. ’ Mr. James Middleton, Braehead House, Kilmarnock, convener of the Auction and Sale Committee, in presenting the prizes to the successful competitors, paid a high tribute to Professor Drummond, who had completed forty years of work at the Dairy School, and had done an incalculable amount of good as instructor in the making of cheese and butter. Miss Elizabeth H. M. Fairies, who took the championship in the buttermaking competition, in one of the four Scottish-trained students with the N.D. A. '(Honours). Other prize winners in the competition with honours in tlie N.D.A. examination were Miss Janet L. Stewart, Southfield, Kirkmuirliill, and Mr. Alex. S. M'Kinnon, Tigh-na-Lynn, Lamash.

M ODEIIN FARMING. AMERICAN METHODS. MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL AIDS. (Melbourne Age Correspondent.) Those "who are acquainted with the k vast spaces of undeveloped land in the "United States will doubtless be surprised to find that there are 1,000,000 farms which should be turned back to grazing lands, for, as farms, they are unprofitable units. Altogether there ate about 6,500,000 farms in the country, and, according to a foremost .agricultural and banking authority, at least 1,000,000 of them, apd possibly 25 per cent, “God never intended a plough to be put into.” Moreover, it is claimed that the abandonment of this quarter of the total farms would solve some of the United States’ biggest problems.. This is an astounding statement. It is an unassailable fact, however, that year after year the men who are engaged in tilling that class of land now advocated to be turned back to grazing land toil and scratch for a living, spend •their money on expensive fertilisers, and break their hearts each year because their annual settling ends with nothing whatever to show for their lai; - bour. All tlie talk we hear in the r United States regarding the hard lot of the farmer does not, it is true, emanate from this class, but undoubtedly a very large part of it does. If this million farms were suddenly shut down as farms, there would result no effect on the food supply of the nation, for nothing on earth, not even the most scientific methods, can make the land produce what a modern farm should. Unless a man lias been over ii farm which claims to be fitted out in the •i modern American way, he hardly

knows what up-to-date ness in farming mean. The modern American Farmer id no. longer a' man with a team of |i .horse* —lie is ap mechanician who knows as much about ignition troubles and engine knocks as he does about crop rotation and fertilisation. Remarkable strides have been made during the fast two. decades in the use of mechanical assistance, equally as that period has been increasingly productive of remarkable invention and manufacture of farm machinery. So marked are the changes as to have completely upset] the old method of fanning with two hands and a team, and to-day he is a i veritable pessimist who. refuses to equip his Jarjn to keep pace with the times. Up to the year 1910 the number of persons engaged in agriculture in the United States showed a steady increase : —it had been so far forty years until the 12,600,000 persons working on farms at the e nd 'of 1910 represented about twice the number so employed four decades earlier. , During this period, while the total population had grown from 38 to 91 millions, the production of farm .produce was steadily increasing too. In 1870, ior example, one farm worker ..produced, enough to feed 651 people ; in 1910, the sarrio worker fed 7.97 people. IJy dividing the total value n.f farm products, including all crops, live stock and dairy products, by the number of persons enoacred, a figure is obtained which represents the average production per capita of the workers.

ABERDEEN ANGUS DEVELOPMENTS. CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL SHOW. (By J. J. Cridlan, Maisemore Park.) Aberdeen-Angus breeders in the United States have entered the last lap of feeding their animals for the International Show at Chicago on November 29th, the same date as the Birmingham Fat . .Cattle Show. Mr. John Clay, the great commission agent, a born Scot, is president this year, and he is doing all that lies in his power to make it the most successful .show ever held in that country He has always been a staunch supporter of the International, and continues to give 1000 dollars annually in prizes to the Agricultural Colleges upon tlieir exhibits of fat cattle, etc. The big show will be more noticeable than ever this year. It is its silver anniversary, and President Coolidge has promised to be present, which will add to its interest materially, it being the first occasion on which this great cattle show has been honoured with the presence of the President of the United States.

Mr. Walter Biggar, The Grange, Dalbeattie, will be judge of the fat stock. One hundred thousand dollars in cash premiums are offered, as well as many valuable trophies and medals to be awarded in nearly 900 competitive classes. That great and unique feature of the cattle shows- of the universe, the car-load lots grand championship, has been reinstated, much to the gratification of the Aberdeen-Angus world, which has carried off the chief prizes for many years. As a! matter of fact the “Doddies” have won on 17 occasions in tlie last 22 years, the Herefoi'ds on three.

The trustees of the estate of the late Clarence W. Eekardt are offering for immediate sale, and as a whole, the herd of about forty Aberdeen-Angus cattle, including the bull Evest, Grand Champion at the 1923 Eastern States Exposition. The herd is chiefly composed of Ericas, with a few Prides, Blackbirds, Queen Mothers, and Jilts,

. - f „ THE PROCEDURE EXPLAINED. • Among the handiest things on a farm is a pig net. The above design fellows a simple method of making one.; First take a piece of strong rope (the desired length and stretching it tightly between two posts According to 4he size of the mesh desired mark the spaces and fasten, witli a clove hitch btout rope the width of the vehicle hanging down on the inside of cacli post. Commence making the net by taking the outside left-hand piece of fine rope at each marked Spot, a double length of the rope. Have a similar piece of and knot it to the piece hanging down. Then take the first right and second left-hand pieces and at the proper space fasten them with a plain round » knot and form (he angle. This should be done from side to side until the ;|V desired-width is worked up, then finish by fastening to a stout piece of rope similar* to that on whicli the net was begun. When one gets into the way of loing it one will fin the process easy, but it takes time and some quantity of rope. 9

During the twenty-year period from 18(9 to. Ifeuu, tins average per capita, production reinaiueu iaiity constant, uudugn snowing a ' align l liu-iease au tne tune, a tanner could produce just iioout so mucli ioo.u during Liiat period ; meciianicai aids, tnougn oegininiig to be. used, were tne exception lamer man tile ruie. i>in, during tne last decade or tne last century tne relation vaiue per capita ot production of food almost doubted. \v liere tne average tanner hatl been producing au tne rate ot 378d0l tor eacli Hand employed on the tarm, oy the end or tne century he was raising ÜB9doi per capita. This increase was uue to tne sudden increase in demand for food, or any sudden improvement in sou fertility, or a series ot exceptional crops, it was due entirely to the increased annual production of the agricultural implements, tor during that period the increase in output of tarm machinery paralleled almost exactly the increase in relative value per capita production. The first ten years of this century saw the farm-working population or the United States at the peak—--12,600,000 men and women were tilling the fields and meadows to give America food. Per capita production had shown a moderate improvement, but since farm hands were so plentiful it was not considered necessary to employ machinery to help out, and productivity increased slowly. The war came. Hundreds of thousands of men left the farms. There was a need for food increase. Mechanical methods were everywhere harnessed to assist the farmer, and so we find that by the end of 1920 the annual production of farm implements had risen to more than 5U0,000.000d0 1. This money was spent to aid in producing over 10,000,Uoo,oooclol of food products. Men employed to produce this harvest in the old' days can be figured out by tne figures quoted above, out, working the machinery, the number of men required in 1920 was only 10,900,000- —nearly 2,000,000 less than were required ten years previously to grow considerably less. One farm in this country produced then no less than enough to feed 9.66 people. The volume of crops has grown in similar proportion. The per capita production has grown to 940d0l a year, and, though comparable figures are not yet available, the per capita production may reasonably be supposed) to have reached IGOOdol instead of the 337ct0l some fifty years ago. There is no question that agriculture has not made such progress in any other country, but the reason is to be found in the abandonment of ma.n and liis horses, and the introduction of machinery and gasoline. Man has been able to' so increase his productivity during the last half-century that, with his machinery, he can produce as much as three men without mechanical assistance. 'There are few farms in th© United States to-day that ar© not electrically lighted—that is of course, the farmer’s home and his outhouses. Particularly is this true of the Pacific Coast States, with emphasis on California; these States are further advanced in farm electrification than any other agricultural section of the country by reason, first, of the need of proper irrigation in a large part of tlie farming territory, and, secondLy, the many sources available for water power plant development. In California alone it is estimated that on ranches ther© are 35.000' electric motors in operation. These motors total approximately 483,955 horse-power, 80 per cent of them being used for driving irrigation pumps. It would be hard to find a farm not ©quipped with electricity for ! lighting and barn power operations. In j the interior, where wood, coal and oil I are ’ not readily available, cooking on farms is done to a large extent by electricity, and there will be at least 10,000 electric ranges in use on Californian farms. ' •

rich in the blood of the imported and International Grand Champion liveliest of Bleaton. Breeding cows are from the best English and Scotch families; amongst them being Eve of Maisemore, the dam of Eve. 3rd of Maisemore, recently champion at the “Royal.” The herd, which has passed the tuberculin test has been under the personal care of Mr. Alick Cron, well known in Aberdeenshire. Since the death of Mr. Clarence W. Eckardt, the herd has been carried on by his widow. Mr. Eckardt was one of the staunchest supporters of the breed in the United g JX"tG s BREED SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA. The latest mail lias brought the particulars of the Brisbane Royal National Show, and Vacy —a leading reporter on live stock in Australia —gives a faithful account of the success of this'important show. ITo states that in the Aberdeen-Angus section Mr. G. C. Clark, of East Talgai, showed the champion bull, Manfred, a rising four, year-old, bred by Mr. Clark, and got by a son of Proud Peer of Tolarno, out of Miss Cridlan, a daughter of Estro of Maisemore. Proud Peer of Tolarno was a son of Proud Peer of Maisemore imported tq Tasmania by the late Mr. W. Grubb, and on his death at the dispersal sale was purchased by Mr. Clark. Australia. Miss Cridlan was bred in New Zealand by Mr. H. B. W illiams of Turihuz, who imported Estro of Maisemore ■to that country. Vacy states: “The champion was a bull of commanding appearance, with a nipe style, well sprung in the rib, deep set, and well let down in the twist, and handled well. The champion cow Scottish Peeress, was also sired by Proud Peer of Tolarno, but out of Scottish Queen, a daughter of the Duke of Argyle, one of the best cows in Mr. Clark’s herd. Scottish Peeress, although ou the small side, due to being calved and reared in a drought, showed nice even quality, handled well, and had the beef evenly placed in the right parts.” ... .. ' The writer states that it is hard to understand why the Aberdeen-Angus has not become more popular in Queensland, so suitable are they for Australian conditions. They are wonderful drought resisters, and being polled more can be placed in trucks. . A TRANSPORTING GRIEVANCE. The packers of Australia are very much concerned at the methods of the State-owned railways. A very large percentage of damaged fat bullocks enter the packing houses. A writer on the subject states: “Our producers have a lot to put up with. They are heavily handicapped by high protective tariffs on all tlieir . plant; they are heavily hit by the land and income taxes; and they are, above all, harassed by. our foolish system of Stateowned railways. Their live stock are depreciated enormously on their journey down to the meat works. Decade after decade passes and no improvements are made. Railway Commissioners and politicians go abroad, and return stating that they have seen nothing during their trips over the countries. Of course they do; they are not going to cry ‘stinking fish.’ However, others who travel know full well that our railways are over a quater of a century behind the times. As an instance of how the cattle are ruined : from 31st May to 19th August in one year, on the North Queensland line, which is practically in the hands of the employes, 16,654 cattle were sent down to one meat export company; and out of these 3026 quarters were rejected as too badly bruised for export, while more than that number were passed slightly bruised to Hang up in Smithfield alongside unbruised quarters from Argentina.” The writer continues: “If we want to get better prices for our beef, our cattle must, where practicable, he dehorned before being trucked.- With our present antediluvian methods, not ail the meat councils in the world would secure a better reputation abroad for our meat.” Since that was written, the general manager of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has paid a visit to Argentine, and was much struck with the beneficial i-esults of

dehorning cattle as he saw it during his tour, and suggests that the operation should be made compulsory in Australia. Last year the Council of Agriculture, at its annual conference, decided to press for legislation, and the Board of Agriculture has now resolved to take up the matter with the Minister, being satisfied that a great deal of suffering and damage is occasioned to cattle by their horning one another when in railway trucks and yards. A BETTER ALTERNATIVE.

Why do not the breeders in Australia adopt as their motto Experiments docet instead of dehorning, *a method which causes pain? Why do they not breed in larger numbers the famous “Doddies,” which under any and all circumstances bring the highest price on that great market mentioned— Sinithfield Mr. L. F. Swift, the head of the big firm of Chicago packers, who has such a large holding in Smithfield market, and who has had practical experience of the trade in all parts of the world, after a visit to New Zealand stated that “as a result of inspection of several of New Zealand’s meat works, found them thoroughly up to date, but he also found that- cattle were badly bruised. All cattle intended foi meat should be dehorned. In Chicago in one day’s killing—63 millon cattle were killed last year in its yards—they did not find enough.horns to fill a barrel. I would,” said Mr. Swift, “recommend our graziers to fatten as quickly as possible, and market animals as young as possible.” Facts speak louder than words. Horns are not only valueless, hut are dangerous, both to bovine and human race. A NEW BREEDER’S SUCCESSES. Recent announcements have been in the press of the purchases made by Mr.. W. H. Marsh, of Barcombe, Sussex, who is establishing a select Aberdeen-Angus herd in that country. Mr. Marsh is taking up the breed con aniore. He has had experience of them on the block, and tlieir merits as beef producers has made a deep impression upon him. He is now launching out, and I am sure that everyone will wish him success in bis undertaking. Two years ago he purchased a number of steers from a “Black” spot in the West, fed them, and brought them out in a manner which excelled at the fat stock shows in Sussex last winter. He sent these bullocks to four shows, and won twenty-seven prizes, three silver e”ps. and three pieces of silver plate. UA fairlv swept the board at Lewes, Hayward’s Health. Stevning, etc., and T understand he has some nice steers and a heifer of similar breeding coming on for this year’s shows.