STATE DAIRY FARMING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 22 July 1909, Page 4

STATE DAIRY FARMING.

PURCHASE OF VALUABLE STOCK.

TO ADVANCE THE INDUSTRY.

EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS. To be trucked from Hawera during this week for one of the Government's experimental farms are five splendid pedigree Jersey cows. These have been- , purchasd during the past few weeks in '\ the Hawera district by Mr J. W. Deem J (Departmental Inspector) on behalf of the Government. The dispersal sales of* Messrs T. R. Exley and T. Linn, wellknown Jersey fanciers, presented an exceptional opportunity for securing firstclass dairy stock, and this Mr Deem kas taken full advantage of, as is evidenced by the animals purchased. Of all the Government Departments it may safely be claimed that amongst the most valuable work in the interests of the people and the development of the country has been that of the Department of Agriculture. In conversation with a Star reporter Mr Deem explained that it was proposed to advance the interests of tTie dairying community by establishing experimental stations similar to those operative in other countries. The Government are purchasing dairy stock, purely for utility, and not for show purposes. It is intended to prove what can be done in the way of dairy farming on scientific lines, and the plan the Department "have in view will be of considerable benefit to the industry. All the details in reference to each" animal will be placed on record, and the '* amount of milk yield, butter-fat, etc., shown.

Tlie cows Eureka and Uhlan were purchased from Mr Exley. Eureka is described as a splendid cow, good constitution, was one of the best dairy cows on Mr Exley's farm, and gave over 3001bs of butter-fat to the end of April. ' After spirited bidding she went -" to Mr Deem's bid at 51 guineas. Uhlan was said to have given 3501bs of butterfat this year ; she cost the Government 35 guineas. Purchased at Mr T. Linn's sale were Little Fancy and Little Rose. The former was described as the pick of Mr Jennings' herd (Waitara) when Mr Linn bought her. In the show ring between New Plymouth and Palmers'ton she was A shown five timer, and secured five soc- f ond prizes. Knocked down at 35. r guineas. Little Rose, bred by Mrs Jennings, was said to be another topnotcher. She tests 5.3, and was secured for the Government at 40 guineas. Another fine pedigree cow Mr Deem

purchased privately in the Okaiawa district, and this animal also comes from the best of milking strains.

They were by no means high-priced animals that Mr Deem purchased* for at Mr Exley's sale 65 guineas was paid for a cow (Duchess Elma), and at Mr Linn's sale a cow (Fury's Fury) sold for 86 guineas and a cow (Golden Glory) for 52 guineas.

"Against the Government, it's no good going any further," remarked a would-be purchaser of one of the pedigree animals knocked down to Mr Deem at the Manga told sale. And after an increase of 5 guineas as the result of a disputed bid, the animal went to the Government. Mr Deem certainly secured the animals he had selected as beimg desirable for the Government te purchase. He did not want animals for the show ring; it was the milking strains that he was after. A full sister to the high-priced animal (Fury's Fairy) he had purchased previously. Some dairy farmens express alarm at the Government's action in purchasing the pick of Taranaki dairying herds, and say that the Government should import fresh blood and leave the farmers in possession of these splendid animals. But, says an expert, as the very best strains of dairy cows procurable are in New Zealand, the Government would be ill-advised to go further afield for animals for their experimental stations.