FARMING NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1978, 21 November 1921, Page 2

FARMING NOTES.

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS. LIST OP DATES. The following are the dates of the remaining Agricultural and Pastoral Shows in the Dominion this season;— Stratford.—November 23 and 24. Nelson. —November 23 and 24. Otago.—At Dunedin, November 30, December 1. Auckland. —December 2 and 3. Southland.—At Invercargill, December 13 and 14. 1922. Horowhenua. —At Levin, January 18 and 19. Woodville. —January 24 and 25. Feildlng.—February 7 and 8. Dannevirke. —February 8 and 9. Masterton.—February 15 and IG. Marton. —March 1.

(By Agricola.) The Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company expects to start, summer killing about the middle of December.

The travelling reporter of the Masterton "Age” says;—Advice was received on Thursday that there is likely to be another heavy fall in the price of butter on the London market, which will be reflected on local prices. Factories with dual plants have taeeJn advised to make nothing but cheese.

When inspecting the experimental plots at Clareville this week, farmers commented upon the exceptional growth at a particular spot on land that had not been treated with manures. It was ascertained that the spot was the bed of an old straw stack, and this caused the farmers to comment that fodder manure proved its superiority over any other class of fertiliser.

In view of representation being made by woolgrowers in the United States for a duty of 33 per cent., a clear pound content on wool, statistics of the United States Department of Commerce in respect to wool imports furnish Interesting Information of the countries from which the wool was shipped. For the eleven months ended May 31, the total imports of wool were 312,284,1181 b. The largest supplier was Argentina with 103,836,9071 b., and Australia was second with 58,388,5041 b. Uruguay supplied 35,971,8851 b., British South Africa 25,497,5871 b., China 22,353,2G31b., Chile 14,220,3341 b., Scotland 10,737,9161 b., and New Zealand 10,269,8031 b.

If the high prices that prevailed for dairy produce last year are maintained this season, dairymen in Eltham district should enjoy a particularly good season, for so far production has constituted a record. The milk received by the Eltham Company during the month of October totalled 8,804,9091b5., or an Increase of 4,032,587 lbs. over the supply for the corresponding period of last year. This season the company also received 7,8011 b. of home-separated cream. The butter-fat contents of this year’s supply for the month of October was 522,3531b5., as against 164,6341 b. for the same period last season. It will be noticed that in each instance this year’s figures are almost double those of last season. The butter made by the company during last month was 168 tons, or over 6 tons per day.— “Argus.”

The report that export houses in New Zealand were reducing: butter-fat advances to factories for October outputs has led many dairy factory direc. tors to re-consider the whole position Afresh. The Hukanui Co-operative Dairy Company, Wairarapa, which up to the present has been manufacturing for consignment, has decided to stop manufactui’lng for the time being. Arrangements have been made for the disposal of the dally supply of cream at a satisfactory price. This means that the staff will be reduced, and the works converted into a creamery until the English prices show a tendency to advance. Encouraging news has been received from London by Mr. George H. Buckeridge, of New Plymouth, stating that the cheese market was generally better, with a slightly better demand, which shows that confidence was again returning. The above is a very reassuring statement, but it is generally understood by butter and cheese men that the markets are usually weak in October and November, owing chiefly to the Canadian, English, and Danish produce, which does not leave the English market much before Christmas.

The Minister for Agriculture of Tas. mania, in his annual statement in the House of Assembly, stated that the best evidence of the state of the dairying industry of Tasmania was the fact that the export of butter for the year 1920-21 amounted to £233,137, the highest yield recorded, and was £65,000 above the previous highest year of 1917-18. For the first time on record Tasmanian figures are top in the percentage of "choicest” butter of all the States. The wheat crop this year had exceeded the original estimates by 40 per cent., the yield being over 600,000 bushels, against 420,000 bushels forecasted. This had led to difficulties in disposal of surplus hold, ings, but they had been overcome. The Minister pointed out that it was of interest to note that this year more than twice as much Tasmanian wheat had been converted into flour for local consumption, and the prejudice against flour made from such wheat had largely broken down. The fruitgrowing industry had been affected adversely owing to the shortage of oversea vessels, and it was possible to ship only a portion of the available fruit to England. Good prices realised, however, made up in a large measure for lack of space. The prospects for next year were considered to be good by the Minister, especially for small fruits.

Vestey’s meat works at Port Darwin which the “Sydney Sun” says are generally believed to have been shut down for good involved the firm in the expenditure of a vast amount of money. The cost of erecting the works reached such an immense figure that Sir William Vestey is credited with having said “They must, have used gold nails.” The last boat loaded with meat must have provided the last straw. Sixty wharf labourers were employed loading 1100 tons of meat, which occupied about 13 days. The wharfles’ wages averaged about £(,‘/10/ per man per day. Hundreds of other men were employed in and around the works and the wages paid were on a similar scale. Thousands of tons of coal were used at about £7 per ton. Add to this interest on about a million (original cost of works) and about 25 per cent, per annum for depreciation (owing to the use of salt water in the works the corrosion of

machinery and roofing iron is most serious) and most men would come to the conclusion that unless they sold the meat for its weight in sovereigns they would show a loss. These works are said to be the largest of the kind in Australia and there they stand in the centre of a large number of empty cottages, and every conceivable kind of humpy, like a groat monument in the middle of a cemetery.

During a visit to the freezing works at Picton last week, a representative of the “Marlborough Express” learned that it had been arranged to open the works for the season on 7th December, and that the necessary steps had been taken to commence the killing operations on that date. In the meantime the information has come to hand that this arrangement has had to bo cancelled On account of the dispute with the freezing works employees as to wages and conditions.

Fat steers realised only £5 at the Dannevirke sale last week. Store cows sold at from 20s. to 255.

Tho Levin Dairy Company made a payment at the rate of Is. 2d. per lb. on Saturday, which represents a sum of between £12,000 and £13,000 for tho month.

The Masterton dairy factory is at preser.t manufacturing over two tons of butter per day.

A consignment of 8,000 bales of wool belonging to the Imperial Government will be despatched from Auckland this week.

At the Wellington hide and skin sale on Friday last, sheepskins were unchanged, and hides maintained last sale’s prices, with the exception of calfskins, which showed a decline of Id. per lb.

At the Hamilton sale on Thursday last best fat steers made to £7 Bs., and plain steers from £4 19s. to £5 17s.

The Te Awamutu dried milk factory (says the "Waipa Post”) is to commence drying operations next Monday, starting with a small milk supply, which will be gradually increased as tie equipment is tested out.

Up to October 31 the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company made one-third more butter than during the same period last year, the cheese output showing a similar increase. The grading averages, particularly in but ter, have been very good throughout.

While nothing definite has been decided regarding the opening of the freezing season in the Auckland district, it is probable that at least one concern, the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Co., Ltd., will commence op. erations about the middle of December as in the past. This wifi depend, however, upon the stock available, the company having notified intending clients that they will re-open tho works when sufficient stock comes to hand.

A letter from the Board of Agriculture commending the formation of boys’ and girls’ agricultural clubs was received at a meeting of the general committee of the Taranaki Agricultural Society on Friday. The president (Mr. W. B. Grant) said members were no doubt aware that the movement was in full swing in the district, and about 200 entries had been received in connection with the competitions. Most of the sowing had been com* pleted.

The dried milk factory at Waitoa is nearing completion. Although only two-thirds of the plant in working (the remainder being under construction) 17,000 gallons of milk is being received and dealt with. When in full swing, about Christmas, it will be capable of drying 30,000 gallons of milk per diem.

Speaking on tho agricultural work in the primary schools, Mr. O. A. Banner stated at Fellding on Friday night that an interested company had suggested experiments in growing lin_ seed in this district. There was an impression that the best linseed in New Zealand was grown in Canterbury, but Mr. Banner said tho Manawatu had claims in that respect. With tho subsidy for agricultural work ask ed of the Association, it would be possible to carry out experiments with linseed, as with other crops.

It was a year ago that the 'fireblight was discovered in the commer. cial orchard area in tho Auckland district, and thanks to the vigorous measures that -vvere taken there is ground for reasonable optimism. Mr. J. W. Collurd, tho orchard instructor of the Department of Agriculture, is optimistic, but says they would know definitely at the end of 'he first week of December whether the scourge has been definitely checkd. At the same time he pointed out that though the position was satisfactory it did not mean that it would remain so unless the greatest vigilance were maintained.

A FARMERS’ BANK, TRUE CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM. VARIOUS POINTS EXPLAINED. In an address to farmers on the evening of the first day of the Wanganui Show, Mr. W. J. Poison, Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union, stressed the advantages of farmers’ banks, which had proved such a success in other countries, and emphasised the following twelve points: 1. That they arc banks to which 1,600,000 farmers belong, out of a total population engaged in farming (including labourers) of six millions. 2. That they are managed by farmers for farmers. 3. That they advance from 50 to 60 per cent, on land values. 4. That these advances are compulsory: they are compelled to lend to every applicant who has the security, i 5. That they actively assist in the closer settlement of land. 6. That they protect and assist the tenant as well as tho landlord. 7. That they lend in sums of from £5 to £500,000. 8. That they foster co-operation, some of them acting as the farmers’ merchant as well. 9. That their bonds are recognised as first-class security with the great Continental banks. 10. That having advanced over £500,000,000 their insolvency losses are one-flfty-iifth those of other institutions. 11. That they lend money at the lowest possible rates. 12. That they do not aim at making any profit, v "Those are twelve very startling points if we compare them with the methods of institutions wo are more familiar with,” said Mr. Poison.

“When I add that they give depositors market rates of interest on current account, in many cases J per cent, less than they charge for overdrafts, and that their bonds are not subject to recall, it may be realised that hero is a banking system whose methods will stand scrutiny." THE PIG HERD. Pig-keeping is somewhat under a cloud at the present time. Fortunately there is every reason to believe that it will soon pass away. Further, It is as a rule the best time to begin when others are dropping out. This very certainly applies to the business of the pedigree breeding of the domestic animals of the farm. It is at such times that stock of a high class can be purchased at reasonable prices. The boar and the sow should be fairly mature before they are permitted to breed. Very young parents often have litters of small weedy pigs, and to go on breeding from them may result in tho lessening of the size of the individual members of the herd. The early pregnancy of the sow is obviously a strain, but the early lactation is a still greater demand, and it is for this latter reason that sows that farrow at an unduly early ago seldom become large vigorous specimens of their breed. Of course, liberal feeding overcomes the effect of breeding from the immature animal, but it is far better to avoid the chief cause, namely, that of mating at an unduly early age. It will bo remembered that tho treatment of the boar and sow, as with all animals, strongly affects the actual fitness for breeding; tho treatment is posVibly even the greater factor than the age in determining the time to mate them. With the pig more possibly than with other domestic animals, opportunity for all the all-necessary exercise is not provided. Tho sty and the small enclosure are not enough; the pig wants room. There should be the field and the pasture. The animal that is deprived of freedom and exercise is of low vitality, and is but poorly developed. DANNEVIRKE SALE. The Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Co-op. Association, Ltd., report on their usual weekly stock sale, held on Friday, 18th inst., as follows: —We offered a good yarding of cattle, which were very mixed, chiefly rough sorts, and disposed of a fair proportion under the hammer. No sheep came forward. The following prices were obtained: —Springing heifers from £5 10/- to £l2, heifer in profit £2, springing cows £2 to £5, fat steers £5, store cows 20/- to 25/-, yearling heifers from 30/- to £5 7/6, 2-year empty heifers £4 1/- to £5 10/-, Holstein bull £5, Shorthorn do. £5, 10 potter bulls from 10/- to £2 5/-; 31 pigs 13/- to £2 1/-. APITI SALE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report;—At Aplti on Tuesday no sheep were yarded. Cattle sold at recent rates. S.H. yearling heifers 21/-, 22/6, heifers r.w.b. £3 3/-, £3 5/-, extra good S.H. 18-mth heifers £5 5/-, young Jersey cows r.w.b. £4 12/6, 2-yr steers 38/-, ylg. Jersey bulls £2, £2 10/-, £3 10/-, £5, 2-yr Jersey bull £lO, heifers in milk £7, springing heifers £lO 10/-, good cows in milk £l3 10/-; pigs, weaners 13/6 to 17/-, good stores £2; child’s pony £4 10/-.