THE AGRIGULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8101, 3 October 1904, Page 3

THE AGRIGULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

ITS ANNUAL REPORT.

The report of the Agricultural Depart- 1 ment was presented on Saturday. On the subject of tho Stud Bill, the report states that 66 of the 90 replies about the Stud Bill woro favorable, and claims that this shows tho bill to bo required. There aro 2291 entires in tho colony. Deducting, say, one-fourth for young stallions not fit for service, leaves 1718, ono for every fourteen mares kept for breeding purposes. The number could easily be reduced by a fourth, and still leave more than sufficient for all requirements. That a considerable proportion is unsound goes without saying. Indeed, it is no uncommon occurrence to sco prir.es awarded at some of our shows to palpably unsound horses. That such a state of matters should exist merits severe condemnation, and conclusively proves tho necessity for an Act to prevent unsound animals reproducing their species. The demand for dairy cows has been very keen, and good ones are difficult to get. Much loss has been occasioned through the introduction into their herds of cowa affected with contagious abortion. This disease is becoming very prevalent, and some et^arymen Jo not. 'hesitate to selt either privately or through the saloyard any animal that has aborted, and consequently the disease is being spread far and wide. Tho ono thing wanting to place the industry on a firm footing and to ensure that nothing but tho highest class of produce will be made is tho proper inspection of tho milking uords, sheds, etc. The registration of every supplier complying with reasonablo sanitary conditions in connection with his milking premises is strongly urged. Regarding phormium, an increase of 2461 tons is shown for the year, tho quantity exported being 24,761 tons, valued at £659,064. The price has kept fairly steady throughout the year, and all fibre "fair* or higher grades is eagerly sought after. Considerable improvements might be effected in the "get up" of the bales. The baling is often done carelessly, the band used being too thick and badly spun. In tho matter of rabbits, the number of frozen rabbits exported is 4,316,082, or a decrease of 590,893, and of skins 5,871,760, a decrease of rabbits and skins for the year of 941,049. It is anticipated that there will be a steady decrease from this onwards. , While on the subject of noxious weeds it might not be out of place to mention that on several properties in tho Otago district the Californian thistlo is being cut and stacked for silage with splendid results, a sample submitted being all that could be desired. Cattle take to it * greedily. , A sum of £500 was voted by Parliament last season for a method of destroying noxious weeds. It was, however, too late in the season to enable tho necessary arrangements to be made. It is, however, proposed to place the amount Again on tho Estimates. Much has already been written with rogaftf to tho need of a properly equipped jstatfon (or experimental purposes, and I wouM ffivo my quota of evidence in support <rf ««ch an institution. Valuable timo is being lost through the delay in placing . atr.' tho disposal ot this division suitable , premises for the purposes of investigation work. Many serieus defects aro constantly being met with in tVe flavor and keeping qualities of our dairy products, and, although some of theso defects *ro prevented by various means of treating tho milk and cream at the factories, yet ttio cause of much of the deterioration Mill remains a mystery, the ■dlution of which must bo found before a permanent remedy can be prescribed. During the last few months of tho seanon several serious defects in tho Havor of both butter and chceso woro reported j to me from various parts of tho colony, but | owing to the absence of facilities tor investigation no action could be tak«m. If wet possessed a properly • appointed station, many , valuable experiments could ,be undortaken, the result of which would no doubt prove of immense valuo to the industry. At the present time .considerable quantities, of commercial .cultures »'«■ being imported from other <<*«ntries for use in the making of startfters Jor ripening cream and milk, and tautfeovffh somo of these give good retiulti, ofchera are found to be unreliable. If we had an experimental station the necessity for the importation of these cultures woold be obviated, as the production of these could be carried on and the supply delivered to tho factories as required. By this means our produce i would attain a higher standard of urn- ■ formtty, and would command a better * price. The countries against which we have to compete have spent large sums of ' money on institutions of this kind, and look upon them as a very profitable investment, and there is no reason why w« should not be ptaced on equal footing, *nd »cap just m much benefit « they do. So far as the cost of establishing one of these institutions is conoerned, I . bare gone somewhat fully into the matter, ■ «nd find that the amount would probably . bT about £6500, including th» price of tho land, but this sum Is not an unnMonable one wheft tne gwsi advantages Which would accrue r to the dairy industry ' we taken into consideration.