AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19452, 7 October 1926, Page 18

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

Produce prices are still profitable for the producer whose costs are right—and reduced costs partly depend on applied science.

This year, the farmers point out, they do not intend to have " all their eggs in one basket," and in many cases they are now going in for cropping as well as for sheep.

Basic superphosphate is a useful manure and has come very much into favour of late. It is prepared by' adding slaked lime to ordinary superphosphate until the mixture is distinctly alkaline. A co-operative association is not operated to make a profit on invested capital above The usual rate of interest, but to profitably market the products of its members at the lowest possible cast. Many farmers aro willing t» learn from recognised authorities upon subjects and problems affecting the important industry, while others persist in waiting to find out by actual—and often costly—experiment. If it pays to feed pigs on hay in the States, there seems no reason why tho plan should not be successful here, and a series of experiments- would at least be interesting, and might produce profitable results. Garlic is stated to have such a very powerful flavour that milk has to bo thrown away for at least three days even although a cow may have picked up only two or three mouthfuls of the plant when grazing. Limit the area to be treated to the amount of manure available, or, in other words, do not attempt to dress, say, 20 acres, with a quantity sufficient only for ten acres, and do not expect to make up the deficiency with lime. The increase of 4 cents per pound in the customs duty on butter going into the United States may have a very depressing effect for some time on tho dairying industry, and particularly on the manufacture of butter in Canada. New Zealand held pride of place among other countries in tho manufacture of milking machines. No other country in tho jvorld has boerr able to compete against tho machines designed and constructed by New Zealanders. Our farm animals to-day are merely machines to convert vegetable matter into food that can be used by man, and thoy must use all the food fed them if they are to make you tho most profit for the money you havo invested in them and tha feed.