FARM and DAIRY

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 16 May 1925, Page 11

FARM and DAIRY

NOTES BY THE WAY. Farmers way back in districts like Onto alia- (Elthain) lepori the country in fine condition. They say the land there seems to hold better at times when the outside lemniti'y could do with more rain. While the mild weather will be welcomed —and the last day or two have been markedly mild—by the dairy farmers, the cold weather in some respects suits the sheep men. When discussing briefly the question of mammitis ana similar troubles at the anual meeting of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Tokaora, a member said that, "if it is a question of vassinating every cow in your herd annually, it would pay well.”

In a brief mention of the work of the Egmont Box Company, Mr. J. B. Murdoch, the chairman, said that the company was working very hard and consistently to .keep pace with the demand for boxes and crates. He added that they had ample supplies of timber in their properties on the Main Trunk line. Touching o n the question of imported boxes he said nothing, except that these had not, in his opinion, been effectually tried out so far.

It is good to know that the indiscriminate destruction of what is left of the original forests of the Dominion lias been discontinued. The Urewera is the outstanding ease in point. There, about ] 30,000 • acres of virgin bush was to have been thrown open, but this wa.s withdrawn, the Minister stating subsequently that lie is satisfied that the land, even when cleared, would be unsuitable for settlement, and consequently this large area of virgin forest will become (as no doubt it should he) a permanent forest leserve.

The training of a dog intended to be used for working sheep should be started when the animal is about two or three months old. To obtain the best result it .is necessary that the dog should be trained under one master and at the age of five or six months. THE LATE PRIME MINISTER. Extracts from speeches: ‘’The business of a farmer, just like any other business, requires both capita] and' experience. We might as well expect men to be successful in the trades of blacksmiths, tailors, and so on, without having first served an apprenticeship.” "I notice that the people who talk loudest of going on the land and putting people on the land, have not the remotest intention of going on the land themseves. They are too fond to the street-corner, ; the public-house, the morning newspaper, the eight-hour day. and all the other comforts ol civilisation unknown to the previous settler.” When the man on the land is prosperous, all other sections of the community share in that prosperity. Good prices for the country’s products mean not only good wages, but an abundance of employment for those requiring it. A TRIBUTE BY A COLLEAGUE. In the course of a eulogy of the I late Prime Minister, Hon. A. D. McLeod said: ‘T warn my countrymen that the great recent progress made in city life is not a full measure of our civilisation'; for our civilisation rests at bottom oil the wholesomeness, the attractiveness, and the completeness, as well as the prosperity of life in the country. The men and women on the farm stand for what is fundamentally best ancl most needed jn life. Upon, the development of country life rests ultimately our ability by methods of farming requiring the highest intelligence to continue to feed and clothe the hungry nations; to supply the cities with ' fresh blood, clean bodies, and clear brains that can endure the terrific strain of modern fife ; we need the development of men in the open country who will ho in the future, as in the past, the stay and strength of the. nation in the time ol peace. If there is one lesson taught by' history it is that the permanent greatness of any must ultimately depend more upon the character of its country population than upon anything else. No growth of cities, no growth of wealth can make up fo r a loss in either the number or the character ol the farming population.” ‘‘As a farmer myself I join with the thousands upon thousands of farmers throughout the length and breadth ol New Zealand in tendering to Mrs. Massey and family heartfelt sympathy in the great loss that they, with the Dominion and the Empire have sustained.

FARM SCHOOL. The scliool will be held this year from May 2o to 30. The syllabus set out for the week’s course embraces lectures o n pastures establishment and maintenance, crop production on dairy farms, diseases of dairy cows, management of sheen and pigs, farm plantations, and farm equipment. A good feature of the course at Ruakura is that the farm itself demonstrates many of the points touched on by the ' lecturers, and “Farm Strolls” are worked jn with the lectures, so that the farmers can see for themselves the practical utility of the subjects dealt with in the lectures. WINTER DAIRYING. (Contributed). The approach of winter in Taranaki brings to tbe minds of the dairy farmers and those who handle their produce, some thoughts of material and mutual interest. Foremost is one regarding prospects for the dairying interests in the following spring, and the question can well be. asked dairy fanners as to whether they realise the great need for improved, and more liberal feeding of their herds during the hard winter months. Are there not too many cows fed on cold, frosted turnips and straw during these months? Havfe many farmers really even taken the trouble to ascertain the quantity or feeding value represented in such feed? It can be stated as a truism that a big majority of the dairy cows iu New Zealand are both underfed and unsuitably fed. Cows.well fed are just like soils well manured—both respond to th.o respective treatments. It has been conclusively proved that it pays, in 'the long run, to feed concentrates, in addition to pasture, to dairy icows in spring and summer, when of course pasture is at its best. How much greater then must, lie the gain to feed concentrates when winter pastures .are .lacking in such nourishment. With many farmers one has chatted with over the matter, one finds that the old custom of many years ibeing followed, and any suggestion of box feeding in addition to turnips and straw, is Tooted upon as being both

unpayable and impractical The reverse is the case. Cows soon get used to going to a certain box or tin placed in a fixed position (presuming bails are not used for the purpose) and they will be there twice a day. once they realise there is the “little bit” there for them. Farmers could profitably have some crushed ground oats feed, about 1 to 2 lbs., with about a pound of linseed nuts twice a day to each animal. The time taken to carry out this suggestion would not be long, and any farmer can be assured it woukr pay him handsomely —cows would come in in much better condition, much healthier, rear stronger calves, and, instead of having to wait a couple of months to get a decent milk test after the cows come in, the farmer would find, to his profit, that they tested well from the start and that the season’s reurns would be considerably above those of the previous year. Cows well tended in winter, carry their condition much better in the following summer and consequently milk longer. These remarks are from one who has been right through New Zealand during the past eighteen months or so — the definite statements can be made that the feeding of concentrates as indicated above undoubtedly pays, quel that this is the most pressing and general alteration needed this season in connection with •dairying. Control of marketing of dairy -produce falls into comparative insignificance alongside the need for the more sqientiiie and liberal feeding of the dairy cow in New Zealand generally

NEW ZEALAND DAIRY CATTLE BREEDERS. ANNUAL MEETING . - TESTING OF COWS. Jn the report to he presented to the annual general meeting on June 10, at Hamilton, the president is very outspoken on the value of testing. Inter alia, the report says: C.O.R-. Test.—During the year ended 31st December, 1924, certificates have been gained by 674 animals under S.O. Test. Of these, 521 exceeded the minimum qualification by at least 106 lbs. fat. The high standard set by the Gold Medal winners the previous year, made it difficult to earn the special prize of £lO, for exceeding the previous highest record in any class, so that breeders had a big task before them’ to establish fresh records. In spite ol this, two records were broken, “Loo’s Queen,” in the class for cow.s 3 years and up to 4 years; produced 797.32 lbs. fat, tlri's amount being 56.12 lbs. in excess of the previous highest record. “Vivandiere,” in the class for cows, 5 years and over, produced 1036.09 lbs. fat, which is 25.6 lbs. jn excess previous highest record. Both these vows are owned by Mr. A. Christie, and the Council extend to him their ■ougratulations on these excellent perormances.

That the value of S.O. Testing is being more widely lecognised is evidenced by the fact that the number of certificates issued during the year show an increase of 105 over any previous year. At the close of 1923, the average butter-fat production for cows that had gained certificates, since v the inception of S.O. Testing, was 128.81 lbs. TJie results of last year’s testing Inis raised this average to 437.51 Ills., an increase of 8.7 lbs. It is worthy of note that the average for 67 cows in the year 1913 was 376.24 lbs. fat, and the average for 574 cows in 1924 was 468.37 lbs, a difference of 92.13 lbs. These figures give some indication of the great improvement. that lias been made during the past twelve years. To assist members in placing their cows under S.O. Test, the Dairy Division, Department of Agriculture, has now reduced the testing fee for tfie first cow from ten guineas to eight guineas, which should still increase the number of cows placed under test. Owing to the ever-increasing number of records of cows -under S.O. Test published in the N. Z. Farmer, it has been found necessary to curtail the list by raising the qualification as under: — Cows up to 3 years must preduce 45 lbs. or over of butter-fat in the month. - Cows between 3 and 4 must produce 50 lbs. or over of butter-fat in the month. Cows 4 years or over must produce 55 lbs. or over of butter-fat in the month. A tribute is paid to the Dairy Division of the Agricultural Department by the annual report of the New Zealand Jersey Breeders’ Association. The report states, that assistance rendered by this department, under the nbl? supervision of Mr. \Y'. M. Singleton, calls for the highest praise, and the Council have the greatest pleasure in again recording their appreciation of the services of the staff of the Dairy Division in carrying out their duties so caoablv and well.

BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS. CONTINUED .PROGRESS. The work of the .Boys’ and Girls’ clubs promises to be very good this year, and to show that the young agriculturists are profiting by their experience and the hints and suggestions they have from the officers of the Department. Mr. Glasson has been working in North Taranaki, and reports excellent ji* districts where at one time .it was considered root crops could not be grown to advantage. In one centre north of New Plymouth, farmers used to be content to grow crops of carrots which aveiaged out at about 18 tons to the acre. This year the young people have produced plots some of which will run up to over three times that figure, lie has also nersuaded ' them to try mangolds, a crop which had previously been very little, tried, and these are also doing well. An old experienced and successful farmer expressed himself as enthusiastic over the work done. He said the older generation were being taught better methods through {the work of the young, and being shown how to grow better crops. This same opinion lias been expressed by others and this nrove.s the value .of the. work of the clubs and their ever growing viable. ROY AT, SHOW LAMBS. ON SMITH FT ELD MARKET. BEST DISPLAY OF N.Z. LAMBS EVER SEEN. At, the first Royal Agricultural Show if Palmerston North last year the New Zealand .Meat Producers’ Board donated the sum of £BO prize-money in the following classes: —(1) Fat lambs, most mi table for Dominion export trade, and the tyoe most desired to keep up New Zealand’s reputation on the London market. Each pen to consist of three iainbs, each individual iathb in pen net

to exceed 70!b. live .woigiit, -and to bo weighed ’on the show ground by stewards before judging; purebred lambs not allowed to compete. Prizes for the best pens to be awarded as follow: First, £ls; second, £10; third, £5. (2) All the lambs entered in the above class to be killed and shipped Home to the board’s London manager, to arrange a special display of them on the Smithfield market, the quality of the carcases to be judged by thiee judges to be appointed by the British Incorporated Society of Meat Importers, prizes for the best lot of three carcases to be awarded as follow: First, £ls; second, £10; third, £s'. The lambs will afterwards be sold by I the board's London manager on account of the respective owners. At the Royal Show the awards were: AY. Howard Booth (Carterton) 1. L. B. AYall (Kairanga), 2. P. B. Mildon (Kairanga), 3 and h.c. AY. A. Thompson (Kairanga), v.h.e. On arrival of'the carcases in London they were judged bv Messrs F. G. Burtion, AY. T. Johnson and Major M. Kirigwell. The chief . results were cabled a few days ago, but the report of the judges, which is now to hand, is as follows: “AA’e inspected the various lots, 22 in all, each comprising three carcases, and after careful consideration awarded as follows: First prize, lot No. 640 (P. Q. Mildon); second prize, lot .Vo. 625 (T. J. Thompson and Sons, Hastings); third prize, lot No. 622 (AA. Perry and Sons, Masterton); fourth prize, lot No. 646 (J. Collie, Kairanga. All the rest ol the exhibits were highly commended. The whole consignment being a very fine shipment, made it a difficult matter to judge, as the difference between the various lots was very slight. In most cases, two out of the three lambs were equal to the prize winners, but we considered each Jot -‘en bloc,’ andnot as individual carcases.

AIADE A REAUTIF UL SHOW'. The London manager, I\Jr. R. S. Forsyth, makes the following interesting report cii the exhibition oc show lambs; “1 have to advise that the sixty-six lambs ex the Royal Agricultural Show were exhibited on Smithfield market on Monday, February 16th, on the stall of Messrs Hayes, Paine and Knowklen, in the central avenue. “These lambs arrived in first-class order, as they were double bagged. and were specially stowed by themselves, and they reached Smithfield without showing the least sign of handling. The dressing and general quality of the lambs was excellent, and they made a beautiful show on the lnarxet. J have never seen any meat attract so much attention from all the butchers and the meat trade generally. “The judging was done by three of the biggest men handling New Zealand lambs on the market, and they had the greatest difficulty in making the awards, and they considered that this display was the best all round of New Zealand lambs that they had ever seen. You will notice from their* report, which 1 enclose herewith, that there was very little to pick and choose from any of the lots, but in some cases one lamb out or the three was a little inferior, as they had to judge the thiee lambs as a whole. “You will notice from the account sales that they brought a very good price, and the first thiee prize winners were purchased by Messrs AA hitlers Stores, Loudon, who made a further exhibition in their stores. In fact, the whole of the lambs were sold in small lots ' to several of the larger butchers around London, and i supplied advertising cards, so that these could be used in their window displays, thus obtaining further advertisements. 1 am hopeful of sending you a photo of the exhibit befoie Hie 'mail closes. .Sir T. Mackenzie, Director, and Mr. Ryder, manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Co., are in the group, as they were very interested in the exhibit, ‘seeing that the lambs had been killed and frozen at their T.ongbnrn works.”

j jCLYDESDALES. At the sale ol pedigree Clydesdales held on behalf of Mr. L. T. McLean of Feilding, two of the highest priced mares were secured by Martin and Murray of South Canterbury. These were the successful breeders of Jerseys, who bought Petty’s Flirt, at Hamilton, for 806 guineas. The purchases showed that these breeders were going in for some good Clydesdale stock. In the monthly news circular for April, of the Commonwealth Clydesdale Society, (N.S.AAC), the committee refer enthusiastically to the marked interest in the horse worm, and add that the Sydney Royal Show was a “wonderful tribute to the powerful hold which the horse has on our people, and a most gratifying feature of the exhibition was the high standard of the Clydesdale stallions and mares.’’ They say also, that “no liner sight could be wished than that which met the eye when the class fo r mares 4yrs. old and ever lined up before the judge.” Experienced men said that the display would compare very favourably with those shown iii many of the show rings of Scotland. Aij optimistic feeling in regard to the future of the Clydesdale was very general amongst breeders ! and farmers. Recently a yearling colt r “AATdgieyva Leader,” was purchased for 500 guineas and a yearling filly for 450 guineas, while a 12-vear-oJo champion was sold at auction for £725 At the sale of the Nether Hal] stud in Scotland recently, 3t stallions were submitted at a gathering of 5000 people from all parts of the British Isles, and top price, 4400 guineas, was secnr-' ed by Benefactor, a 3-year-old so n of Fyvie Sensation. The whole lot ■ submitted averaged £413.

-At.’■'recent:' gales in 'TJ.'S:A;,’"the’ New York Herald reports '“aggressive bidding for seasoned horses,” and “eager buying for both city and country use.” Statistics fo r 1923 in the States estimate the number of horses on the farms at 18,501),C00 A huge increase of horses in Canada is also reported.