THROUGH OTHER EYES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 20

THROUGH OTHER EYES.

DOMINION AS A DAIRY. MANAGEMENT OF PASTURES. FACTORY METHODS PRAISED. "'There is no doubt tho basis of the great wealth of the Dominion lies in tho scientific management of tho pastures; from these, duo to top-dressing, an almost incredible return is yielded." That is one of the many laudatory passages contained in tho joint report of Messrs. J. I'roud and A. E. Sweaney, two Australian dairy factory managers, who recently loured tho Dominion on behalf of tho 'Australian Dairy Council. They have much to say in praiso of New Zealand dairy factory methods. In tho section of their report dealing with pastures and their management, they remark that thousands of acres possess liut a few inches of soil on poor pumico formation. Such conditions, they noted, had obtained in tho Waikato, where, as late as 20 years ago, land could not bo sold for a pound an aero. Now tlio land could not bo bought for less than £SO an acre, so phenomenal wero tho returns.

"This transformation," tho report continues, "has been effected by tho application of fertilisers in tho form of top<Lressing, which has clothed the land in excellent permanent pastures. These consist of rye, cocksfoot, prairie, fescuo and whito clover. Up to quite recently it was thought essential to plough tho pastures periodically, and after taking a crop off tho land to relay it in pastures. This has sinco been proved a fallacy. The cropping of dairy land has become obsolete, tho now scicnco of grass-land farming succeeding it. It is now found that ft permanent pasture can be maintained at its highest state of perfection by topdressing with fertilisers and tho hard use of chain and tripod harrows. It is also claimed that, when tho pastures cannot be grazed short enough to prevent any suspicion of running to seed, tlio mower should be employed. Evolution in Top-dressing.

"Evolution is likewiso taking place in tho methods of top-dressing. Until quito recently tho system was to top-dress the pastures of the entire farm in one, and later in two, annual applications, namely, in early autumn and early spring. Such a course produced an excessivo growth in tho spring and early summer months which could not bo grazed down. Thus n considerable amount would run to seed und not only loso its highest nutritive value as feed, but also have a damaging effect on the pasture land. To obviato this, tho modern system is to top-dress tho paddocks in rotation and likowiso graze them. In this way they obtain and utilise tho maximum nutritive value of tho pastures. Superphosphato and smaller amounts of basic slag aro the universal fertilisers, and aro used at tho rate of from two to four cwt. to the acre a year. " Broadcasting from tho back of a motor-lorry, where the machine is connected and worked from a sprocket on the back wheel, is tho latest and quickest method of spreading. It is a significant fact that the application of superphosphate on any of the land immediately encourages the growth of clover. While nono is sown with tho other grass seeds, all pastures aro well stdeked with it. In fact, it is so superabundant that experiments aro being mado with mixtures of nitrate "t>f soda and otlier nitrogenous manures with a view to curtailing its growth in tho pastures south of Auckland. " In tho north of tho Auckland Province, paspalum is tho staple pasture, and the superphosphate top-dressing of it stimulates clover growth, which is, Jiowever, most desirable in this pasture. Wo were supplied with the returns of one North Auckland dairyman, who, on a 60-acro farm of paspalum, produced 20,0001b. of butter from 60 cows during last season. As quite a considerable amount of Australian butter is produced from paspalum pastures; where in many cases the clover is gradually dying out, wo wish to emphasise these results in tho 1 hope that top-dressing will be employed, believing that lik'e results can be obtained in the Commonwealth."

Prosperous Rural Population.

" So universal is pasture management as above described, and so much faith have they in its ability to carry them through even a severe winter, that it is not surprising that we were unable to fifid any supplementary winter crops. In fact,. we rarely saw an acre of ploughed ground throughout the wliolo tour.. A noteworthy feature in the Dominion is the general adoption of hedge fences. These serve the dual purpose of protecting stock aud pastures in bleak weather, and add much of tho picturesqueness to their rural scenery." " This wonderful country," states the report in another place, " seems to have developed an enlightened, contented and prosperous rural population, and any undue drift to the urban areas has been effectually stayed. The hundreds of miles of tar-seaied country roads; the general equipment of country homes, with electricity, telephones and wireless; the aesthetic taste displayed in their architecture and general surroundings, all testify to the flourishing and progressive condition of New Zealand rural life." Herd-testing methods are dealt with extensively and appreciatively. Wonderful progress had been made. CommeTit is directed toward tho proximity of factories in New Zealand, compared with Australia. " Whilo there may be room for argument concerning the wisdom of the expense entailed in erecting so many factories, there can be nono as regards the effect on duality. Proximity means early delivery of cream. At many factories we were informed the supply was nil in before noon. Delivery is daily for eight months of Ihn year and for tho four winter months tii-u eekly." -Mensuits in Now Zealand cream grading are regarded bv the investigators us strict, soino factories stating they gavo no finest, grade during the winter months, when the (.ream was delivered only every other day. Such cream, they maintained, could not be. of finest quality. This view would scarcely meet with the approval of Australian dairymen. Premium tor Flavour. "We noticed that all freshly made but-

tors iii tho factories possessed a distinct it' slight, processed flavour, hut storage considerably modified this, although "it was still slightlv evident in the show butters after a storage period of two months. While tho Dominion graders arc partiai to this flavour, wo in Australia prefer a truer butter flavour, as the cause of thi» processed flavour is thought by some to Leu combination of the soda and heat 3t was noted-that their best butter possessed this flavour, although it hail not been neutralised. We therefore conclude that such is caused during the timo in ■which tho cream is subjected to beat in passing through tho two pasteurisers ,"ono thing is certain tho Dominion has succeeded in standardising to a high degree tho flavour, keeping quality and (he manufacture of her butter. In'doin? so however, nfie has largely destroyed" (he lactic flavour characteristic to butler. Do xniniori consumers aro accustomed to this lack of lactic butter fit/our, and desire none other. In London, where about 80 per cent, of tho butter is marketed, it /.as commanded a substantial premium in price-over our Australian artirle. Wo were surprised to find that manv of their butter boxes were made of Swiss and Canadian timber, and were only costing tlioin Is per box—very different to mo price ivc aro paying for boxes of New

Zealand pifie, They had not received any adverse reports from London concerning wood taint.

"Tho equipment of the factories, especially as to capacity, was an outstanding feature, and in all the newer factories that wo inspected was most modern. Tlio provision of chilled water for butter washing was larger per ton output than is pro vided in many of our plants. Electricity is being extensively used in the factories and gonerally without any standby power plant." "Compulsory cream grading is rigorously carried out, but wo were surprised to find that in many factories that after classification and the reduced prico on grade being entered to tlio supplier, the cream was all blended together, and one grade of butter alone manufactured. One prominent exception to this cream-blend-iug practice was the New Zealand Cooperative) Dairy Company, whoso method is similar to that employed in Australia. That this blending of the wholo supply can be done with such success in the finished articlo simply proves tlio wonderful general quality of the raw material delivered to the factories. Wo spent much time inquiring into this feature, and found that tho principal contributing factors were:—Climate, systematic and sympathetic farm dairy instruction, and proximity to factories. "A climate that rarely exceeds the low eighties in the shade during tho summer months is a wonderful asset to the caro of cream. This fact' was evident to us when tlio condition of tho majority of cream cans was considered. In our climate, wcro the cream but an hour m such cans, it would have a definite oxidised metallic flavour, and result in tallowy butter." Only in its rcfercnco to tlio pork anil bacon industry is tho report adverse to New Zealand. Tho industry, it is noted, has mado littlo progress compared with that in Australia. Tliero was a scarcity of grain and meal in the Dominion, but with its tremendous milk production it might be expected the pig industry would flourish. It had to bo remembered, however, that about half tho milk was made into cheese. Tho whey was again separated to extvact the last ounce Of fats and little remained for pig feed from this source. 'Co-operative bacon manufacture had not prospered, and tho bacon factories inspected were not of modern design or construction and tho quality of the bacon did not compare favourably with Australian-made.