FARM AND DAIRY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LX, Issue LX, 1 November 1910, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

NOTES BY "FARMER." Although we hay© now entered upon a mon£h with which good weather is generally associated, there is as yet no indication of the conditions that have prevailed for some time past giving place to settled, seasonable, summery weather. We are already in the Show season (two such carnivals, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa being over,) and Palmerston North, Wanganui, and Haweira follow each other very closely. Good weather is essential to a successful Show, and we are fondly hoping that its vagaries in Taranaki district will be quite played out before the Egmont Show dates come round. Apart from the general sickness caused by the rapidity of change in weather there have also been other disagreeable results, the most prominent of which are losses of stock, also smaller dairying returns than should otherwise have been registered. Despite the profusion of feed in the paddocks dairy stock are by no means returning the profit they snould be at this period. There has been no lack of rainfall in the district, and this has also been the experience in Wanganui, Rangitikei and. Manawatu districts. In the eastern territory, however, moisture is badly »wanted. From Dannevirke on to Hastings the flat country pastures look fresh enough, but the hilly lands have a very dried-up appearance. There will not be a deal of haymaking dpne in HaAvke's Bay province this summer. I must confess that a trip to the Hawke's Bay district has quite realised all my expectations in regard to that province, and the descriptions of its climatic conditions, fertile soil, and general picturesqueness (generally by land agents) seem in no way exaggerated. True the fruit-growing industry recently met with a bitter experience by a visitation of frost at an unwelcome' period, and the hilly pas-ture-lands are not very useful at present by reason of the grass being dried up for want of rain, but the immense resources of the district are in no wise endangered or its prosperity threatened, nor would this be the case unless a prolonged drought eventuated. In many parts of the province there are not lacking signs of an awakening as regards the importance of the dairy industry, and ere long Hawke's Bay should have a far more prominent place in the dairy produce export list. A portion of the district which I consider as yet undeveloped is that around Dannevirke, where I stayed several days., and I regard that place as having a very promising future. Situated at the southern end of the province between the Ruahine and Puketoi ranges, the town and district enjoy many advantages. From the hilly country, of course, great things can never be expected, but the rich flat lands along the railway route are a valuable asset; and Dannevirke is the market town for the farming people for a considerable distance from its environs. The district is already profitably producing, but as the land for the most part carries a good deal of timber, it is capable of far greater development and productiveness. The rapidity with which the town has grown may be gathered from the fact that it is only 38 years ago since the first settlers (Danish) arrived in the district. Dannevirke has not at all been a town of mushroom growth, as it has -rogressed consistently at all periods of its brief history. The timber industry (in 1886 there wer» about 25 mills in operation in the district) did much to promote municipal and commercial enterprise generally, but even when this industry declined the district showed no re,lapse, as some people expected. Settlement of the land and the consequent productiveness fully made up for the absence of supjrort the town received from the milling business, and the wheels of progress thus revolved continuously. There are now^ several dairying concerns in the district, and more attention to that aspect of farming is certain. The newly-settled Piri Piri block where Mr Blacky formerly of Okaiawa, has established a cheese factory, is not far distant from town. The various stages of the evolution of Dannevirke to its present stage are reflected by such public buildings as its courthouses, of which there are no fewer than three to bear witness to the continuous growth that has -characterised its existence. Each in turn has shown the necessary improvement to harmonise with the dignity of the place at the particular period of its erection, and the two former are now used for other mirposes by the Crown. The new district high school is a mnrkpd evidence of the former facilities for educative purposes being inadequate to meet the requirements of a growing community. when we traverse the many municipal enterprises such as water, drainage and lighting schemes, and make mention of the handsome Carnegie public library, we get some idea of the proud position the town occupies and the advantages the people enjoy. The latest project the townspeople have undertaken is the erection of an up-to-date and commodious town hall. Dannevirke has a population of about 3,500 people, 'rogress has been the motto of its leading citizens throughout, and they are to be commended on their policy. The Auroa correspondent to the Stab recently had some notes published in which it was stated that a much lighter death roll among dairy cattle on our district farms would result if the animals were better cared for. I do not for one moment purpose to oppose that fact; but I do not at all consider that the lack of care exercised by some dairy farmers relieves the farming community of their responsibility^ in regard to arranging for a veterinary _ surgeon. Neglect to provide sufficient fodder, however, is happily not very rampantj as there are not many dairy farms where making provision for winter feeding is neglected. The reason why many of the calves die when bad weather comes along in their young days was fully explained in my last notes. As the writer referred to states the young animals are not properly fed. But among > the dairy stock, except in isolated instances, a lack of feed is not the experience. Some people keep certain animals until they are a ripe old age in the belief that they give the best returns of the herd, and eventually these animals pass out by stress of. the weather, etc. Many other causes have been decimating our dairy herds ,however, and on farms where the question of lack of feed could not be considered. Numerous farmers kuow this to their sorrow. But there are no prospects of any action being taken to secure a veterinary for any of # Hawera's adjacent dairying districts ; now that the calvmg season is practically over the question^has again been shelved, though the project has undoubtedly been advanced by the publicity given it at the annual meetings of shareholders. A very comprehensive schedule is to hand for the first annual Show of the Stratford A. and P. Association, which is held on December 7 and 8. The Society shows an enterprise that should prove a tonic to societies of many years standing, a« within its schedule are incorporated practically all the features that other organisations have only added after long ex.perience of exhibitors and the public. Horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs, poultry, etc., figure on the list. Those interested in the exhibiting line are advised to procure a copy of the schedule. . <ri