ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12930, 28 July 1905, Page 7

ON THE LAND.

HUMBLE BEES AND GLOVER.

Mr. E. White, F.R.H.S., Kingsland, writes:—"ln your report, of the Agricultural Conference held at Wellington I was somewhat surprised at the remarks on the above subject made by the speakers referred to. As is well known to many residents in th* Waikato district, humble bees are almost a pest. Specimens of two varieties are to be seen, in almost every garden, and red clover (Trifolium pratense) is usually well seeded. The humble bees are credited with being the cause of this, but other insects, as honey-sucking- moths, which are now to be seen in great profusion, and which are- the parents of the caterpillars which cause so much havoc among tomatoes, and many other plants, are in all probability as much entitled to the credit as the bees. I should have thought that our Southern neighbours would have known, of this, and would not think of sending Home for what is to be found at then very doors. In making these statements I am not doing so without some knowledge of the subject, having studied entomology for a great number of years, and being acquainted with the habits of the varieties referred to." . — , GUERNSEY AGRICULTURE. Only about 12,000 aores of land in Guernsey are under -cultivation, and there are about 1800 occupiers, so that the average size of a holding is about six acres. The range of sizes.of. farms, as distinct from very small holdings, is from five to 60 acres. The intensive character of the farming may be imagined from the statement that, in addition to providing for home requirements, the occupiers of 12,000 acres export fruit, vegetables, and flowers to the value of £558,500 Guernsey currency, about five per cent, below English. In addition, the cattle exported are valued at £6000. Allowing five per cent, off for the currency, the total is £592,725, or over £41 per acre'of cultivated land. This extraordinary result, however, is due mainly to the great area of glasshouses, which cover about 632 acres, their length being 153 miles. Exports of tomatoes, chiefly grown in the houses, are Valued at £300,000, and those of grapes, all grown in glasshouses, at £124,000. Melons, peaches, etc., account for £17,000, and flowers, partly grown in glasshouses, for £72,000. Some of the peas, beans, and potatoes also are grown under glass. Apparently more than three-fourths of the exports are grown under glass. Some of the glasshouses are artificially heated, and others not so. French beans are grown in heated and peas in unhealed houses; grapes, potatoes, and tomatoes in both. As to live stock, in 1904 Guernsey had 2312 horses and ponies, 3310 cows, 2600 other cattle, 241 sheep, and 4722 pigs. There is nothing of an advanced character about Guernsey dairying. Butter is made mainly by churning milk, and it is only recently that the ancient upright "dolly" churn has given way to a great extent- to the barrel churn. Some , cream separators are now in 'use, but not many. It is curious that while Jersey lias long made butter from cream, Guernsey lias continued to churn milk. Of course a good deal of ossein gets into the butter,. as shown by the estimate that 161b of milk will make lib of butter. The butter is not at all of high quality; but it is in great favour in the island, its price being 6d to 8d per lb higher than imported butter made from cream, commonly superior to it. ■ NEW; ZEALAND HONEY IN LONDON. INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNMENT BEE EXPERT. '•Messrs. Moritzson 'and Co., merchants, of Dnnedin, have recently been publishing through the press in different parts of the colony .their experience of a trial shipment of honey to London. As the returns did not reach their expectations, they have condemned that market for New Zealand honey. The matter being of much importance just how, whert the Agricultural Department is fostering the bee. culture, one of our staff waited on Mr. I. Hopkins, the Government apiculturist, to obtain his opinion on the matter. " I suppose you have seen Messrs. Moritzson and Co.'s letter on the London market for New Zealand honey," queried our reporter. . "Yes, 'I have seen two or three copies of it." "Have you any remarks to make about

"In the first place, I cannot understand the reason, Why that firm should have been so diligent in sending copies of their letter to the press in various parts of the oolony, as well as to the Agricultural Department. Had they communicated ' with the Department in the first place, and waited for a reply, they would have saved themselves a lot of trouble, as I think they would then have realised they had no case."

"Will you kindly explain?"

"Messrs. Moritzson and Co., as you are aware, sent 60 oases of honey to London for sale last year. They say it was first-class. I 1 have not seen a sample, but I do not. doubt their word. It sold at the rate of £30 per ton, with which prices they were, as you know, very dissatisfied, hence their letter. I cannot help thinking that there was some mismanagement, first, in sending the consignment at the wrong season (landed in ! London November 14, and sold December 22), when the market was likely to be well stocked with English and Mediterranean (Narboniie) honey—the only two likely to rival our best honey; and, secondly, in sending it in bad condition. The report from brokers states: '* Several tins rusty, several cases stained, a few samples inclined to ferment,' necessitating, mark you, the auctioneer tagging the sales with : ' Sold with all faults,' a most serious drawback to any sale. Instead of . £30 per ton being a low price, I consider it a very good one under the circumstances." "When do yon consider the best time to ship honey for London?"' "It should leave here in April, to arrive in May, or early June. May is best, as the previous season's honey is about cleared, and the new season's has not come in." "What is your experience of the London market?" "I first shipped honey Home in 1839, since when I have shipped a good deal, and although I have been out of business some time, I have kept in touch with the Home markets. In 1891 I made an agreement, Which covered five years, with the head of a large Home firm, who was on a trip out here, to ship him all the first-class honey I could get during that time. My subsequent consignments, under this agrement, averaged in price from 38s 9d to 42s per cwt, er from £38 15s to £42, per ton, f.0.b.. at Auckland, which, in the latter case, would mean over £50 per ton if sold through brokers, with their expenses added." " Do you know of other experiences beside your own?" "Yes, the manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company very kindly furnished me a few days ago with his Louden account sales for honey, sent, through that office in recent years. Briefly, they sire as follows:In 1902, two consignments realised at the rate of £46 10s and £48 per ton; in 1903 it sold at £40 and £42 per lon. He states thai very little honey has beet oxported of late owing to the local dernaud increasing at advanced prices." " What about future prospects for the industry?" " I consider they are very bright. There seems to be a. general desire among settlers to learn all they can about modern bee-keep-ing. 1 -have now four requisitions from branches of the Farmers' Union to give addresses, and am kept busy answering correspondence. There is any amount of de-

mand for our best honey, both locally and in Europe, but I would, advice those who contemplate exporting their honey to be very particular in what they ship, and the condition shipped in. I shall always be pleased to give my opinion of samples submitted to me, and .state the market it is suitable for." . ■ THE MAIZE CROP. Maize demands a rich soil, and soil lacking in plant food, apart from its physical conditions, means a cause of low yield. Defined quantities of potash, phosphoric acid, and nitrogen are removed with every crop. Superphosphate and potash may be added in suitable quantities, or a complete manure such as 3cwt per acre of the following mixture :-Superphosphate, five parts; sulphate of potash, two parts; dried blood, one part. In "dealing with the crop's needs in so far as that valuable constituent nitrogen is concerned, expert growers have of late years begun to recognise the part played by legumes and their associated bacteria in gathering and fixing the nitrogen of the asniosphere. Crop rotation forms an essential factor in the successful growth of food crops. Soil fertility is maintained and improved by the intervention of crops of lucerne, clover, tares, peas, beans, lupins, soy beans, and cow peas, and grown between the main food crops. Nitrogen, humus, and moisture are all increased thereby. Another form of improving fertility is by growing a rapid crop such as rape in the autumn and eating it off with sheep. To turn in the rape roots' and sheep manure enriches the soil .preparatory to the maize crop. Where the soil is fertile and friable deep ploughing answers best. In a stiff clay subsoil it is good practice simply to stir and not to bring it to the surface. In all cases it is better to vary the practice, and as seasons come round to change the depth of ploughing. The seed bed should be fine and well cultivated, moist, and clean and firm. In many districts, where maize is required solely for green fodder, the seed may be sown broadcast. This,,however, can only be conducted where climatic conditions are suitable and where it is not necessary to conserve moisture by cultivation. The general rule is to plant early as. soon as the ground is warm enough to germinate the seed, and a handy seed-drill, ono with manure attachment, is useful. The depth of planting is controlled by the quality and moisture of the soil. In light, friable, dry soil 3in or 4in will ensure a good start. In a stiff clay, with ample moisture, lip to 2in. For grain the drills should ' be planted 4ft apart and the- plants thinned, out .to 12in apart in single plants. For fodder the grain may be drilled ,3ft apart . and the plants 9iti. The quantity of seed will vary with the size of . the seed kernels. The range being from one to three bushels as to varieties, this is determined by • the purpose for which the crop is to be grown.