Farmer

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2775, 17 October 1923, Page 8

Farmer

The referendum on the Dairy Control Bill closes delinitely at noon today at the office of the chief electoral olhcier, Wellington.

Plans for suggested improvements to the A. and P. Showgrounds were placed before a meeting of the .Association yesterday by Mr J. M. Johnston, who explained that he had in mind another plan which he considered would fill the requirements of the committee. It was desirable that the best use of the space available be made. The meeting decided to defer the matter till next meeting, when the new plans, will, it is hoped, be available.

Dr. Thomas Milburn, principal of the Midland Agricultural and Dairy College, says: "In my opinion, all sons of farmers should have at least one year at an agricultural college or farm institute, and at least one year on a farm other than his father's. A father, as a rule, is not the best teacher; he either pampers and spoils, or bullies and disheartens. A stranger can form a more impartial judgment of a boy's capacity; more notice is taken of his instructions, and, further more, a lad's outlook is broadened by seeing a different system of farming from that practised on his father's farm." COOLING CREAiM.

Mr H. W. Gregory has published an account of an experiment carried on at Purdue University, to determine the quality of butter made from cream, cooled by different methods, which was kept until the end of each week, and churned. The mosf satisfactory method was to cool each lot of cream separately, and then put it in with the rest of the cream. Running the warm separated cream directly into the cooled supply was found next best, wheroas cream which was not cooled developed high acidity, and was very lumpy, This cream did not. make good quality butter. Stirring the cooled cream three times a day was also found i'o improve its butter.making qualities. Studies were made of the effect on the butter-fat test of leaving samples of cream in a hot-wafer bath to eliminate the lumps ! n order 10, get a more uniform sample. It was found that holding the samples in an open jar at from 135 to 140 degs.- F. for four to eight' hours increased the fat from 0,5 to, 3 per cent. When held at' a lower temperature the increases were reduced and sealing tho jars eliminated the error.

ATTACKED BY A .BULL,

FARMER'S NARROW ESCAPE.

THE VALUE OF DEHORNING.

The importance frequently attaching to the dehorning of cattle was emphasised in a marked manner at Annesbrook (Nelson) the other day. After many years' close association with stock of all descriptions, Mr L. Ingham had a most unenviable experience with his bull, and had the animal not been dehorned, it is almost certain a fatality would have resulted.

Mr Ingham was disentangling the bull's chain from some short scrub, when the animal charged him, knocking him clown against a log of wood which was lying on the ground. In that position the bull had its intended victim in an awkward position, but fortunately with the chain still entangled it could only reach Mr Ingham's legs. These the bull butted savagely with his head and kept Mr Ingham pinned against the log. At first he tried to got the bull away by tearing' at its eyes, but this seemed only still further to infuriate the animal. Soon, however, Mr Ingham managed to got a firm grip of the ring in the nose, and as a result of a great wrench, was able to torce tho bull to move its head up, enabling him to slip over the log into''safety. Had the animal not been dehorned it is evident it would have been able to inflict" fatal injuries.

Although considerably bruised, Mr Ingham is little the worse for his unenviable experience.

DOMINION'S COMPETITOR. MEAT AND DAIRYING. ARGENTINE POSSIBILITIES. 'People do not realise what a mar vellous country Argentina is," said M; W. Tate, who has just returned tc Wellington from an apple-vending venture in the Argentine. "Th< trouble there is not to fatten cattle but to keep them from getting toe fat. When you go cut to the second and third grade land and see lucerne that has been down for 12 or 15 years fattening cattle, you realise the smaL amount of cultivation necessary compared with our own. Prom the beei point of view, they have wiped us out, and as far as the meat industry is concerned, until we pull down overhead charges they will continue doing it. It makes one think to see their four freezing works against our 50, while their lower standard of life and the employment of boys and girls enable them to cut down, labour expenses to a degree that will not bear com. parison with ours. "When Argentina takes up the dairying industry in earnest—at present she is only playing with it—she will be very likely to rival us almost as seriously as in the meat trade. The majority of the holdings - are too large, but they are quickly becoming smaller. Several farmers are employing New Zoalandcrs, who know the business, and have milking machines, and these are proving quite successful in the production of a fine dairy product. It is only a question of time, when all the dairy farmers of the Argentine will have up-to-date methods, but they must first get over the antiquated methods they have at present. We

must remember that they have thousands of acres to our hundreds."

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE.

The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated October 13, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand in - London: Butter. —The market is slow and lower prices have been accepted. Present quotations are: New Zealand, salted, finest. 190/ to 194/ per cwt. '(1/8J to 1/82 Per lb.); exceptional 196/ per cwt. (1/9 per lb.); unsalted, 204/ to 206/ per cwt. (1/9?, to 1/10 per lb.); other qualities, salted, .184/ to 186/ per cwt. (1/7i to 1/73 per lb.). Australian, salted finest, 184/ to 186/ per cwt. (1/75 to 1/72 per lb.); unsalted, 190/ to 194/ per cwt. (l/Si to 1/85 per lb.); other qualities, safted, 156/ to 176/ per cwt. (1/4| to 1/6J per lb.) Argentine, 176/ to 180/ per cwt. (1/62 to 1/75 per lb.); exceptional 186/ per cwt. (1/72 per lb.); other qualities, 152/ to 172/ per cwt. (1/4J to 1/65 per lb.) Danish, 202/, to 206/ per cwt. (1/92 to 1/10 per lb.)

Cheese. The market continues dull, with slow demand, and prices have declined further. Official quotations are: —English, finest farmers', 135/ to 145/ per cwt. (1/2* to 1/3* (per lb.) Canadian, coloured, 106/ to 108/ per cwt. (Hid to Hid per lb); white, 104/ to 10S/ per cwt. (lid to 113 per lb. New Zealand, 110/ per cwt. (113 d per lb.) coloured; white, 104/ to 110/ per cwt. (lid to lUd per lb.)

Hemp.—Manila market firmer and fair business has been done. OctoberDecember shipments "J" grade sold up to £32 per ton. Present quotations are £32 5/; "Or" grade £35 10/. New Zealand markt inactive and unchanged, nothing offering. Spot buyers offer £32 for Highpoints NovemberDecember shipments and £3O 10/ for fair but no business reported. ■\Vool. —Results of Liverpool sale week were satisfactory. Demand active and prices for crossbreds show from 5 per cent, to 11 per cent, increase on London closing rates.'