NOTES BY THE WAY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 June 1928, Page 16

NOTES BY THE WAY.

A farmer hear Matapu has 'Ms paddocks' in. line eondtion, green and luscious in grass and in a lino, si tote to meet the winter. Lime in spring with slag and Mien 2ewt of super after <t.ho liaiv iha.il 'been t'aken —that is his 'explanation. It pays him to ftop-dTess. * * * * *

The Government paid fully £I6OO last year to destroy deer and goats, which have become a pest in some parks and forest area's which aTe Government reserves. * * ■» * w

“It cost me £4O for labour in. weeding, 'cleaning and looking after my three acres of root crops,” said a district farmer. This (was very solid, and unless a tremendously good crop results one could almost estimate so. much ‘ ‘per square foot of root, ” ho says. * * * * *

Fifty boys from public schools of England have returned to London, after a very interesting and educative tour of South Africa, organised and arranged by the Empire School Tour Committee in England. No less than twenty-seven schools, all over England, were represented. and the boys had an insight into, all branches of industry, especially those carried on by the men on the land, which covered, besides dairying and sheep farming, fruit, tobacco, and sugar cultivation. They were all much Impressed .with everything they saw and heard, and there is no 1 doubt this will operate to the good of the l trade of the Empire in the future. , * w ■* ' *

A feature of the season in North Canterbury has been the remarkably prolific growth of the root and pasture ©Tops, both on light and heavy land, and the unusual abundance of green winter feed. This 1 is evident right throughout the district. * * * * *

The virtues of a family milk goat- on half of a quarter-acre section are told in the Now Zealand Smallholder by B. G. L. WalkeT, of Remuera. It browsed on its little field, and had bread crusts, fruit peelings and porridge scrapings. “It gave three pints of milk for a start (says Mr Walker). At three months it was giving two, and in another three months a little over a pint a day*. The milk is very rich. The goat is practically disease-free, and immune from tuberculosis. There is a Swiss breed in England called the Toggemberg giving results' wMch compare favourably with those of the cow. I understand 'that some of the breed two years ago, exMbited at the Auckland Show, could not find a buyer at 30s each. Personally, I would like to have that chance now. ’ ’ **•*«*

When reviewed in the light Of past experience, and having regard to the normal annual trend of the world’s dairy production ,the relatively lower prices for New Zealand dairy produce which have ruled for some weeks past give no cause for concern (says an exchange). There is every indication that they <wdll at least be maintained until after mid-winter. The 1927-192 S New Zealand dairying season is now closing with the approach of winter, but a mild autumn has sustained production better than was hoped for after the dry summer. The balance of the season’s butter and cheese will have to face competition with that of the Northern Hemisphere. **«*■•*• IT

Many farmers in Hawke’s Bay attempted to grow lucerne on land that was not suitable, declared Dr Freeman, of the Department of Agriculture, in conversation with a ‘ 1 Herald ’ ’ reporter. Lucerne exacted special soil conditions, said the doctor, and if they were not. existent the plant would not flourish or endure. Areas of Hawke’s Bay that are unsuitable for lucerne culture -were admirably suited to growing eowgrass—a plant belonging to the clover family. Wherever lucerne did not succeed eowgrass might prove the best crop of its kind that the farmer could substitute in itsi stead. On certain land's that are unsuitable for lucerne, eowgra'.ss would yield abundantly for a number of seasons consecutively. * * * n *

The West Counties of England and the Sciilly Isles are at this time of tiro year ablaze with spring flowers, and thousands of bunches are picked by the farming people and sent to Lond'on, making an appreciable addition to the income of the farmers 1 .

EXPORT OP BRITISH CATTLE. LONDON QUARANTINE DEPOT. Speaking last month In London at the opening of an animal quarantine station at the East India Docks, Mr Amery dwelt at length 'o*n the important part British pedigree stock should play in developing .the agricultural industry of the Empire and the set-back experienced since the outbreaks of infectious disease in England. The new Station is intended to encourage the export of stock, which is fostered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Empire Marketing Board and Royal Agricultural Society. All stock passed through the station will be absolutely .guaranteed by the supervision exercised by highly qualified men in charge, and the success of the scheme wlill depend on the extent to which the Dominions, take, advantage of the facilities offered. The quality of British stock is recognised as the best in the world. The Dominions can, by increasing their purchases, do n great deal to prevent any further decline in what should be the most valuable branch of British agriculture. The chairman of the quarantine station coin.miittoe, in commending the scheme to the farmers overseas, said that the Royal Agricultural Society, who were undertaking the administrative work, would not have anything to do. with it unless' itibcy were .perfectly sure the scheme was sound, and therefore the Dominion's could have perfect confidence in accepting stock through the station. He appealed for the Cooperation of the Dominions’ Governments, the shipping companies and the exporters and owners of cattle and the breed sod ot i os.

The scheme is one of five- utmost importance and shows where one form of mutual effort on behalf of the Empire lies open to the pedigree femurs of the whole of it'hc nations of the British Empire.

The Empire Marketing Board ha.ve provided the money; the veterinary requirements will be undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture; and the. Royal Agricultural Society will be responsible for the 'administrative work. The Board also announced that (they would eo-operatc financially with any overseas. Government, to the extent of half the expense, which laid before them n.' scheme, for cheapening the transport of animals.

M.r Amcry, before declaring the station open, said that in the cycle of the Empire 's (development nothing could be

more beneficial or fruitful than the breeding of the best stock here and sending out and .multiplying that stock all over the Empire, including Great Britain as pant of the Empire, -and thereby bringing a. return to the satisfaction of the consuming needs of our people. Export from this country had. suffered by the prevalence of disease in this country. They were convinced that the one way of dealing with the difficulty was the creation of an absolutely efficient disease-proof quarantine station in this country which would enable the farmer oversea to order the stock needed without his order being held up indefinitely by the outbreak of disease. They had been able to establish that quarantine station which marked a memorable departure in the history of Empire 'agriculture. EverytM-ug that science could do to make it certain that no disease could be communicated through that building had been done.