SECOND-CLASS LAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 11 May 1929, Page 2

SECOND-CLASS LAND

HOW IT SHOULD BE HANDLED PIGS AS A SIDE LINE Oik* of the proposals which Las Lcicu brought down l>y tins new Govonimonl inis been l.lie breaking in of .second-class country on mol'd or less communal lines, after which if is to be. liaiidecl over to settlers who have made good. The idea is an attractive one (writes “Sundowner” in the Auckland “Star”), and in a country where land settlement has been made difficult owing to inflated land values seems to have possibilities. The area wilh which it is proposed at first to deal is the Tanpo-Rotorua pumice land, most of which is unproductive at the present time. The idea of working it in large blocks and then dividing these among tile settlers who have gained their experience on it, is by no means now, and it has yet to lie shown Thai it would he profilablo. In this connection some remarks of the British Economic Mission to Australia are of direct interest. The mission found that in Australia very large sums of money had been spent on group settlement which had proved nnrenitineralive. The Government bore the cost of breaking in the land but it was found that the returns secured by the settlers were insufficient to pay interest on the capital expenditure. While, knowing that the work was largely experimental, the mission unhesitatingly condemned future work on those lines and suggested that expansion could lie host secured through fuller utilisation of the lands already being farmed. Will there be any great difference in New Zealand? It is difficult lo see that this would be any different. It is always difficult lo curli public expenditure, and it seems almost certain that the breaking in of this second-class country would neb bo as cheaply carried out by the Government as it would be by private enterprise. If this is file- case it simply 'mentis that the settlement of this sec-ond-class country will be done largely at the expense of the State; or, in other words, out of the pockets of the taxpayers. It would certainly be advisable for the Government to pause and carefully consider (be commission’s report cm affairs in Australia. Composed of most able British financiers and experienced men, the commission speaks with an authoritative voice which cannot be ignored. GROWING USE OF ENSILAGE The use of ensilage, which has assumed such proportions in the Waikato and Taranaki districts during the last few seasons, is steadily becoming more general. In practically every district in New Zealand to-day dairy farmers are either making ensilage or planning to make it next year. Modern appliances have greatly reduced the amount of work required, and to-day there are many farmers who consider that ensilage making is much easierthan haymaking. The South Island has, so far, given less attention to ensilage than the North, but it, too, is coining info line, and the writer knows of many Southland fanners who are now making a little ensilage and using it for winter feeding in conjunction with turnips. Root crops appear to be getting h iss popular each season, largely owing to the inroads of disease in the crops. The farmer who can combine ensilage and roots has an advantage over his neighbour who sticks to one or the other. A point worth mentioning is that it is advisable to feed hay with ensilage, as the ensilage by itself is inclined to have an acidifying effect on the stomachs of cows. PIGS AS A SIDE LINE The recent economic survey carried out on dairy farms in the Waikato and Taranaki districts has again drawn attention to the neglect of the pig as a side line on dairy farms. It was shown that while on some farms no return whatever was secured from pigs, there were farms which showed a profit of £f> per cow from the pigs on the farm. A very considerable number of the farms netted at least £2 per cow, a result which is surely worth striving for. The system which was shown to provide the biggest profits was that in which the farmer bred his own pigs and fed them to maturity,'and this is a system which should become universal in dairying. When the farmer relies entirely on the saleyards for the purchase of weaners he is placing himself in a poor position for profitable pigkeeping. Prices are invariably high in the spring, when there is a good demand for weaners, aml the profits are accordingly reduced. ‘ THE USE OF NITROGEN A very great deal of ingenious propaganda for the use of nitrogen has been broadcast through New Zealand during the last twelve months or so. While there is a good deal of truth in many of the statements made, they are inclined to err on the generous side and to suggest greater profits than those which have actually accrued in practice. The success of the New Zealand pastures lias been due, up till now, to reliance on pliospliatic manuring. New Zealand soils are very deficient in phosphates,'with the result that liberal applications of these doubled, and even trebled, the grass in the paddocks. We have by no means reached maximum production as yet, hut it is obvious that to further increase our returns production must be very considerably stimulated. At the low prices which are now ruling for nitrogenous fertilisers reasonable profits should be made. The recent statement of Mr Cockayne, Director of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, bears out this contention. In it lie suggested it would lie possible to secure earlier spring growth and later autumn growth through the use of nitrogen, but the necessity for ample dressings with phosphate was stressed. Under no circumstances will the basis of our present system be upset, khospluile will always remain our most important need, but the proper use of nitrogenous fertilisers should give us an earlier spring growth, successfully increase butterfat, and return reasonable dividends. DON’T LET RHEUMATISM STEAL YOUR YOUTH Rheumatism will make you old at 30! Those slight twinges and stiff joints are too serious to ignore—they are symptoms of Sciatica, Gout, Lumbago or Rheumatism. Rheumatism is caused by excess uric acid in the blood, and can only be treated through _ the blood. Rheumo counteracts 1 lie Uric “poison,' removing stiffness and pain very quickly, giving lasting and permanent relief. Two or three doses will arrest a bad attack. Keep young and active. Ask to-day at any chemist’s for a 4/6 bottle, it contains one week’s treatment.