NOTES BY THE WAY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 1 September 1928, Page 16

NOTES BY THE WAY.

A fine tribute is paid to tbe Patea Freezing Company by a correspondent in the “Dairyman” for their enterprise in forming “pools” for bobby calves. The writer adds a word ot caution when he says that “farmei.s should not go headlong into the scheme, however, and sell all thenyoung calves, but should keep hack all the best, since good prices for dairylines seem assured for some time to come, with the tendency to a shortage' of young dairy linos l in tiio province and the annual demand from the Waikato and other outside district® for good heifers. Every farmer should always endeavour to rear some calves with which to replace his herd, and should not depend on buying cows for this -purpose. The wisdom of this was never moTe evident than at present, when dairy cows are fetching hig prices owing to the good prospects for the season, the lack of any feed shortage. and the comparative scarcity of good dairy lines, as compared with other years.”

A Scottish fanner recently hazarded the opinion that the prevalence of mammitis in Now Zealand could ho attributed partly to the* lack of offoctive shelter.

Mr. H. Crosbie, manager of the Belvedere cheese factory, Carterton, has received advice that he has been awarded the inter-State championship for a crate of cheese that he sent to tiie Melbourne Show. The event was open to Australian and New Zealand makers, and it is very creditable to Mr. Crosbie and, the Belvedere district that the championship award has been won by focal produco (says the *\ mrarapa Daily News”).

Although present prices on the London market remain very firm, a slight easing off in baying offers for the coming season is apparent (says the “Southland Times”). Whereas offers of 9Jd per lb for cheese to the end of December were prevalent a- few weeks ago, 9-id is about all that is forthcomirTg for the same period, now. However, it is quite reasonable to assume that with the commencement of the shipping of the Dominion’® produce more interest will he taken in the f.o.b. market. It is considered in some circles, however, to be doubtful if better prices than those that have been offering will materialise for the first few months’ make, and it is the general opinion t-hat it would be- in the interests of the industry as n whole if prices did not rise to anv extent above their present level. They are now on a good basis, and consumers are in a good position to pay ruling prices. If retail prices increased it would he inevitable that consumetion would drop, and there would quicklv follow a drop in prices which would' he to the detriment of producers. A pleasing fact to he noted which demonstrates the economic position at Home is that, although present prices for cheese are maintaining a level of Ills to 112®, the deliveries from store in London continue to hold up.

Dairying lias been increasing slowly bub steadily around Tolaga Bay of recent years (says the “Herald”). In the early stages the factory was kept going with the supplies of a few sheep farmers, but of recent years greater interest has been evinced, and last season’s manufacture was the greatest the company has recorded. It is estimated that, if all of the flats near Tolaga Bay were subdivided and turned over to dairying, there would be little difficulty in running a factory of IfiOO tons capacity. The new season ba» started well, and it is reported that the early supplies are greater than thev were at this time last year. The quality of the cream supplied has been improving each year, and last season the company was able to head the grading figures for the port of Gisborne with the average of 94.092 points, which is a very good performance. The cows are in good condition after a good winter, and another prosperous season is looked forward to.

A co-operative effort was made recently in tree planting in Canterbury, when between 400 and 500 trees and shrubs were planted on Mr. A. Holland’s property, Lakeside, Avon Plains. A number of people motored long distances to be' present at and to assist in the planting.

In an interesting article on early dairying, the “Dairyman” says the ■actual pioneer was a. Maori. The writer says: “Rawhiri was a. staunch friend of the missionaries, and realised the benefits of labour and civilisation. Some time in 1845, or before _ that date, Rawhiri was running a. dairy of 40 milking cows. Over eighty years ago an intelligent Maori was milking 40 cows at Kaikohe. He was the first dairyman in the Dominion.”

In the “Australasian” of August 18 is included a very interesting “Power on the Farm” supplement, giving details of many big farms in Australia on. which petrol driven machinery and imnlements are used. One striking illustration is that of Longerenong Agricultural College, where were used recently for demonstrations to student farmers close on 50 of such implements. The function attracted about 2500 men. anxious to see demonstrations in up-to-date farm work.