DAIRYING IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 6 October 1928, Page 16

DAIRYING IN SOUTH AFRICA.

A VISITING FARMER’S COMMENTS A South African farmer visiting New Zealand gave some interesting information to a pressman in Palmertson North concerning conditions in farming in his country and the assistance given in- a scientific way by the Government. HIT said the farmers were greatly assisted by the Government, who had established experimental farms to- investigate soils, manures and crops. The Government had also established farmcolonies some two and n-'half years ago; in which the men .first proved themselves-, being later given an opportunity to go on the land. So far the scheme had proved very successful. Jersey

Friesian dairy cattle were largely imported in addition to. a number of cattle from Tamaki. Of great assistance to the farmer was the Government Land Bank, through which the farmers were lent money at interest rates ranging from 3J te 4 per cent. Although the Government was losing money in that direction, the progress of farming was marked and benefit obtained in this manner.’ DAIRY INDUSTRY. Butter was not up to the standard of that produced in. New but it was improving. There were numbers of butter and cheese factories operating, as well, as condensed milk plants. A good class of bacon was also being produced, supplying local requirements. Sheep wore also doing well, but tliere was little English grass, most of the pastures being coarse grass. So far, little or qo meat had been sent to the- ‘Smithfield markets, South Africa, chiefly supplying t ire Mediterranean ports.

He. added that the recent heavy drought had caused huge losses and had necessitated the Government coming to the assistance of the farmers, many of whom had been crippled financially. In this direction- the sum spent by the Government had been a very heavy outlay. As an instance of the paucity of the rainfall, the Sunday’s River district, in the Cape Province, had been .two and. o-lialf years without rain. However, conditions of late had been good throughout South Africa and the farmers were optimistic regarding the future.