Farm Topics

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 74, 28 March 1936, Page 12

Farm Topics

Hawke's Bay grazing conditions are reported to be much the same as in the Manawatu. Gross pastures, little sunshine, and sheep not thriving. The Government’s proposals regarding farm wages have been circulated amongst Farmers’ Union organisations. These propose substantial increases in dairy farm wages. The matter has yet to be settled. The guaranteed price proposals are to some extent contingent with that of wages. Tractors are selling quite freely about the district lately. Many are for replacements of outworn machines. A large number of tractors were sold about the district some eight and ten years ago.

Paspalum grass, bearing seed stalks, is growing profusely along the inside curve of the new road leading from Massey College towards the new Fitzherbert Bridge. This grass is not common to the Manawatu. It dislikes frosts, but stands those of the Waikato that are fully as heavy as any experienced here. Some heavy yields of red clover and cowgrass have been cut lately and got into stack, despite (ho tricky weather. This hay has very special qualities, that make it especially valuable for young, growing stock and, too, for pigs. Milk Consumption. A very satisfactory development from the viewpoint of tho dairy industry is the increasing popularity of milk drinks and of ice cream. There are now six milk bars in the main street of Auckland, and these are being well patronised. Undoubtedly the supplying of milk to school children will have an important bearing on the milk drinking habit of the community in the future. Ice cream is becoming very popular in Britain, and this can be hailed with satisfaction by dairy farmers of this country. In the last nine months of last year the Ice Cream Association of Britain used no less than 3,000,000 gallons of milk and cream. The Minister of Agriculture has definitely stated that he has no intention at present of lifting the embargo on the importation of British livestock.