The Farmer

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2077, 18 March 1922, Page 2

The Farmer

NOTES. (By "Agricola,." Under the auspices of the Farmers' Union, at Huntervillc hist week, Captain E. C. Howard, M.K.C.V.S.. Government Vet. delivered a lecture on the subject of "Diseases in Stock: Causes and Prevention Method Used." In introducing' the subject the lecturer stated that the aim of the Department was the prevention of the disease, which would save the. people and the country a great deal of expense and loss of stock. As an officer of the Department he desired to get in touch with the fanners, through their unions, and render what advice and assistance lay in his power. He urged his hearers to promptly report any signs of disease of •abnormalty; threw out some useful hints in dealing with abnormal onditions; impressed on the farmers the desirability of the cleanliness of bails and utensils and careful attention to drainage and general sanitation; and dealt with various diseases in cattle and sheep. At the conclusion of the lecture, Capt. Howard was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The American Department of Agriculture estimates that the world's wool stocks are adequate for the present and the immediate future. The probable wool requirements of 1921 -L'3 are estimated at 725 million pounds, against the known supply in sight of 1740 million pounds, of which Australia. South Africa and the United Kingdom are credited with ]1oi) million pounds. Argentina with 425 million pounds, and the United States with 215 million pounds. On the Government area of terrace land at Moana, in a five acre area sown in live different, grass seed mixtuhes in the Autumn of 1919 on a bush burn, Brown Top has proved the best for forming a good sole of pasture and checking the inroads of weed growth and at the same time providing a pasture which stock show a preference for. A Kokatahi farmer who has had good experience in the use of lime on his land is firmly convinced that it cannot be done without on Coast lands. On his farm, certain fields have. had lime applied while others have not. Apart from the preference shown by stock to the limed fields, an increased yield of butter-fat is noticeable. As much milk may be produced off the no lime fields, but never in any one instance is there as much butter-fat.

The list of subjects for the demonstrations at the school farm at Wcraroa next month includes Friesians and Red Polls, Jerseys. Pigs, wood-classing, horses, diseases of cattle, laying down and management of pastures, summer forage crops for dairy cows, lucerne growing, proper feeding of dairy cows, hay and ensilage making, manuring of farm and top-dressing, lime and liming, insect foes of live stock, milking machines and their management, care of dairy aparatus, the. production of clean milk, farmers' compel itions and agricultural clubs, the. purchase of manures, farm implements etc. A number of farmers along the coast, between Wanganui and Patea are making provision for green feed for late winter and early spring. The young crops are showing good growth. There is also a plentiful supply a$ feed available on most, of the grass lands. There is not much business doingin the grain line in Wanganui, and only small parcels are being asked for. Some of the oats coming forward from the south are discoloured. It is also staled that the grass seed crops in the South are much lighter this year, and it is difficult to get more than a 271 b or 281 b seed this season. The demand for grass seed in Wanganui is limited 1 his year, as there has not been the quantity of bush felled. The worlds' total production of frozen and chilled meat last year was 1,056,0(10 tuns, o;' which SIO.OOO or 77 per cent was imported into the United Kingdom. Some 1,600 acres of Crown land in the Hawke's Bay district and 64 in Auckland district, were gazetted on Thursday night for discharged soldier settlement. Exception is being taken by farmers to an increase of Id per lb in the price of phosphorised pollard, supplied by the Department of Agriculture for poisoning rabbits (says the "N.Z. Herald"). The matter was discussed by the provincial executive of the farmers' Union, when several members asserted that the increase was unwarranted, as the price of pollard had not been increased. It was decided to write to the Department of Agriculture protesting against, the increase. The director of the Parkville Cheese Factory met and decided to advance 6d per lb for butter-fat for the February suppliers and an additional 3d per lb back pay. The "Express" states that a good deal of chaff is already being carted

into Blenheim from the chaff-grow-ing districts. The sample, generally speaking is bright and clean, and well up to the standard set by Marlborough. A very good plot of lucerne, is at present showing on the Central Development Kami at Weraroa. The lucerne was sown broadcast. New 'Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Limited, Palmerston North, have received the following cablegram from their London House under date I.sth inst: t — Tallow: Better market; quotations unchanged. (Last quotation 8/3/22.) Pine mutton 4 2.'] per cwt; good beef 41/:; per cwt; mixed beef 35/9 per cwt. New Zealand Frozen Meat:- No change in market. (Last, quotation 8/3/22): —Lamb IOJd per lb; New Zealand Hid per lb: wether and maiden ewe. light. 7Jd per lb; heavy 6}d per lb; ewe light, sgd per lb; heavy 53d per lb; beef, (1/3/22) ox: hinds. 4?,d per lb, fores 2£d per lb. cow, hinds: 3M per lb; fores, 2d per lb. PRODUCE PRICES. The producers arc receiving the un. dermentioned prices for their farm produce from the wholesalers of Palmerston North: — Dairy Butter, lOd per lb; cheese 10d per lb; eggs (circle price) 2/2. retailers' price 1/9 per dozen; oaten sheaf chaff Hawke's Bay grown, £5/5/, Rangitikei grown £5/5/; new potatoes, local grown, are realising £6/5, TAXATION OF LAND The question of taxation and its effects on the farmer were brought up at the provincial executive meeting of the Farmers' Union at Auckland this week. Mr. L. McAlpine said that the position of the farmer in respect to the renewal of mortgages, at present held up by the moratorium was very serious. All the money in the country was being absorbed by the commercial people, and when the mortgages on land became, due, there, would be no money available for renewal. The manner in which companies were taxed was described by Mr. F. Colbeck as the great trouble in the matter. A company in order to realise 6 per cen! nett on the mortgage money had to charge 12 per cent. If the Government would forego the tax on money lent on land, there would be a flood of money available, for renewal of mortgages on broad acres.-He suggested that the Government be approached with a view to getting the income tax on mortgage money remitted. It was decided that a remit on the subject be framed for discussion at tlie next provincial conference of the union.