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Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 196, 21 August 1935, Page 12

Arran Pilot, a new potato variety to New Zealand, is one which is being made the subject of enquiries by a number of Hawke’s Bay farmers this season. Tho current issue of the Journal of Agriculture contains a reference to this variety, which, it is stated, appears to crop xvell for a first early, and its excellent shape makes it very promising. Of the tubers, the Journal says “the eyes are shallow, mostly on tho point of the tuber, the skin is white, flesh white, and sprout purple.” Like the other Arran varieties. the Pilot was raised by Air D. MacKelvie, Lamlash, and was introduced in 1930-31. ■* ’ * * The difference between sowing pastures down xvith and without a good companion, crop was very noticeable recently on a farm at Waikaka, states tho Journal of Agriculture. Rape was sown at the same time ns the grassseed, but in one fairly long run the rape-seed stopped running and the grass seed only was soxvn. On this part the sward is quite dense, while the other part is quite open. Sheep appear to appreciate the dense sward as regards grazing. * •» -K The development of the Auckland province and the North Island was strikingly indicated by figures disclosed by Mr &. M. Hume at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Herd Testing Association. Tho cow population of the Dominion wa3 2,000,000, stated Mr Hume, of which 1,000,000 were in the Auckland province. There were approximately 260,000 cows in the land district of Taranaki and a similar number in tho Wellington land district, whereas the South island could boast only one cow out of every seven in the Dominion.

In America, lvhcro much has been made of tho selling points natural to Guernsey milk, over 32 c million quarts were sol'd during 193-1 —an increase of 37 per cent, over tho previous year. Tho experience iu other countries has been repeated in Victoria. The Guernsey Cattle Club (Australia) Pty. Ltd., which is composed ot Guernsey breeders, started marketing guaranteed Guernsey milk about 15 months ago. In the comparatively short period to date sales have been more than trebled.

At the Oxfordshire (England) show Messrs Howse and Sons, of The Elms Farm, Botiey, Oxford, won the milking trials, open to all breeds, xvith their six-year-old Dairy Shorthorn cow Buttercup 3rd, xvhich gave BS-llb. of milk in 21 hours, butter lat percentage 4.27. Buttercup 3rd has many fine records to her credit. In three lactations she has given 12,0061 b., 20,2271 b. and 17,7391 b. respectively, and since her last calling has given 50561 b. in 57 days. At the last visit of the recorder she gavo 1011 b. in 21 hours, and she has since reached a daily production of LOOlb. Buttercup 3rd is the second coxv in Messrs House and Sons’ herd to give over 10 gallons daily.

Interesting particulars regarding a prize-winning fat heifer at the Dunedin Winter Show disclose xvhat must bo very nearly a record in early maturity in New Zealand. The heifer in question took second prize iu tlio class for fat heifers born since July 1, 1932, and when killed at the ago of two years and nine months her weight xvas found to bo 11081 b. These figures provide a striking commentary on grazing conditions in Central Otago, xvliere the animal’xvas broil and fattened.

Another equally notable example of baby beef’’ production is reported from Middleman?!], the animal in question being the first prize lat bullock, bred and fattened by Mr A. Carrutbers, of Ngapuna, This bullock was a first prize winner at txvo successive winter shoxvs, and when slaughtered at Middleware]] last xveek at the age of just under three years it killed out at 11501 b. The first prize three-year-old heifer, also fattened and exhibited by Mr A. Camithers, killed out at 9701 b. These examples comprise an excellent recommendation for Strath-Taieri pastures as xvell as for the grazing methods employed