WHAT “SUNDOWNER” HEARS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 220, 4 September 1929, Page 8

WHAT “SUNDOWNER” HEARS

Before the introduction of herdtesting, it was usual for heifers to average much higher prices than the bulls, but now the reverse is very much the case.

The necessity for taking steps to see that their milk stands are protected from the rain, so as to prevent the possibility of added water reaching the milk, was stressed by Mr J. L. Taylor manager of the Lowgarth factory, at the annual meeting of suppliers, “After one very wet night,” he said, ‘ ‘ a check had boon taken, and though the milk supply was up nearly 30001 b., between three and four fewer cheeses were made that day.”

The farmer’s holiday—or rather his annual brief break from the daily routine of milking—is now almost over, as the cows are beginning to come into profit very freely and the sound of the “bobby” calf is being heard on every farm, remarks the Taranaki News. The season, despite the rough weather, appears to be opening very satisfactorily from the viewpoint of production, and already a number of factories have commenced to operate daily—somewhat earlier in the season than has been customary in the past.

J. E. Leeson, and the manager, Mr. A. M. Sterling. The latter strongly urged suppliers to the company to prepare ensilage, which, he said, did not affect the quality of the cream. Ensilage seemed to be an eminently suitable summer feed in the Morrinsville district, especially if a prolonged spell of dry weather was experienced.

If it were not for the sheep, large tracts of country would be waste; especially is this true of the hilly parts of the North, says the “Farmer and Stock-breeder.” It is here that the value of the flock is most convincingly shown. Of course, the breed must be suited to the conditions, and a strong favourite with North Country floefcmasters is the Cheviot, whose range extends from the borders of England to the extreme North of Scotland. The breed scores high for both mutton and wool, and at the Hawick ram sales three-figure common.

Whitewash has a wide application to farm use. and deserves a much greater popularity than it at present enjoys. Its ingredients are inexpensive and readily obtained; it is not difficult to make, and it is easy to apply. In addition to these advantages, it protects the surfaces to which jt is applied, brightens up dark interiors and is sanitary. Whitewash may be coloured provided that light tints and shades are used, »nd that the pigments are not affected by lime. Among such are yellow ochre, raw and burnt amber and raw and burnt sienna. The surface to be whitewashed should be just as clean as one that is to be painted, and it is a first essential to good results that all • dirt, dust, grease and scaly material be removed before there is any attempt to apply the wash. This implies a liberal use of scrapers and stiff brushes. When the cleaning is finished and the surface dusted, it is well to dampen it slightly just before applying the wash.

* * * Unclean dairy utensils are the chief source of high bacterial counts in milk and cream. They cause more milk and cream to spoil than any other factor in the production of milk or cream, with the exception of possibly lack of proper cooling.

Warnings that the current dairying season would probably be a dry one were given to shareholders of the Morrinsville Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., by the chairman, Mr.