AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19236, 27 January 1926, Page 16

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

Firm fruits that are well-coloured beep better in the cold chamber than less ripe fruit, which would be expected to stand preserving better. If it is necessary to make sweet cream butter it is not essential to churn daily. The cream, if cool arid kept cool, will remain sweet for a few days. 'Phosphorus, or phosphates, has an influence on root, seed, and fruit development and is, therefore, useful for root crops and seed-bearing plants. Top-dressed pasture in good heart» will produce more than -is required for stock during, the next three months. Hence the economy of saving the surplus for hay and silage. A common practice is to sow superphosphate in drills along with the see.fl, but this is not altogether advisable, as acid manures have a tendency to destroy tho vitality of young seedlings. The outstanding position occupied by New Zealand in the production of highfradc stock is shown by the expanding usiness that is being done in the exj port of stud sheep to other countries. | Canadian cattle, shipped to Great Britain and finished in Scotland, are fetching prices equal to home-grown beef Despite the trans-Atlantic fee of £4 per beast, on the hoof, the demand grows incessantly. The, extent and increase in machine milking in Now Zealand is shown. by statistics of the number of milking plants, as follows: 1919, 7577 plants; 1920, 8806 plants j 1921, 10,450 plants: 1922, 12,465 plants. The Danish dairy industry is organised with a view to stabilising and furthering the export of dairy products, principally butter, and consequently there has been a large increase not only in production but in exports for these products. We must build 'up our soil fertility. It is the greatest need of agriculture. We can meet competition only by producing, not more in the aggregate but more per acre, and thereby reduce the cost of production and increase profits. It is essential 'that the pig shall be kept in good health and always with a ! keen edge to his appetite when meal times ! come round. The various arts whereby these ends are secured represent the technical equipment of the good pigman, and can only be acquired by practical experience. Any man -who farms 100 acres should have a little shop in which to make necessary repairs during the winter. With a forge, anvil, vice, drill, tap dies, hammer, and wrenches, any handy man can make lo per cent, of the repairs. needed to order m ' m^ement; ' s * n g°od working The total Jerscv cattle of the Island of Jersey numbers fewer than 12,000 members. Of these, about 10 per cent., although eligible, are not registered. Probably there is no herd in the world that ! m actual commercial competition with others,, is of purer blood, [