AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20255, 15 May 1929, Page 20

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

Fertilisers of a total tonnage of 153,851 were imported into the Union of South Africa during the nine months ended September 30, 1928; 103,244 tons were imported in the corresponding period of 1927. Thanks to the efforts of an energetic i committee, funds have been collected to | enable a start to be made with renovaI tions to the tomb of Robert Bakewell j and members of his family in the chancel of the ruined church at Dishley, near Loughborough, England. The money collected at present is only sufficient for repairs to the chancel and tomb, but it is hoped enough may be raised to allow further renovations to be made to the church. The annual report of the Christ.churcb Tomato and Stone-fruit Growers' Association stated that there was a membership of 156. The balance sheet disclosed a credit balance of £3B 7s 3d. The following officers were elected : —President, Mr. C. J. Fineran; vice-presidents, Messrs. C. E. Pope and D J. Falla; secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. Firman; executive committee, Messrs. F. Adams, A. S. Beckett, A. E. Bloxham. D. Montgomery, and C. Fineran.. jun. A return issued by the Canadian Bureau of Statistics reports that the number of cattle on farms in Canada on June 30, 1928, was 8,793.000, compared with 9,172,000 in the previous year, indistating a decrease of about 4 per cent. Sheep, on the other hand, have increased, the 1928 total being 3,416,000 or 153,000 more than H 1927. The increase in sheep has been progressive since 1924, the 1928 numbers being 731,000 in excess of those of four years ago. The dingo rate in North and Central Australia for the year ending June 30. 1930, has been fixed by the Federal Minister for Home Affairs on the basis of one penny per square mile. The rate will apply to all land in those territories except town and suburban areas, unleased Crown lands, areas reserved for public purposes, and land used for cultivation. The bonus lor the destruction of dingoes will be reduced from 10s to 5s a head after July 1. Mr. R. A. Wilson, of Marton, Has been conducting interesting experiments with top-dressing on 490 acres of heavy clay land. In 1921, 100 acres were under crop, while last year the cultivated area had fallen to 40 acres under wheat and oats, and 20 under swedes, this area being sufficient to grow ample fodder for his stock with the increase in the grass growth from top-chessing. Prior to 1921, when top-dressing was commenced, 630 ewes were pastured, while last year the number had risen to 1532 and over 100 per cent, lambs were reared and fattened, At the quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, the president, Mr. C. H. Weston, referred to the Covernment's embargo oh immigration remarking that he had been informed that that the embargo applied to public school boys. It was pointed out that the chamber bad been corresponding with the Immigration Department over the matter without success. The chamber was confident that it could place between 20 and 40 boys on Taianaki farms, and was anxious to know whether it could uo ahead with its project or not. It- was decided to plaje (he matter before the Prime Minister. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Kairnata Farmers' Union,-Mr. George ('upper suggested that the services of sortie of the unemployed in the towns might be utilised by sending them into the country to cut noxious weeds, the Government subsidising farmers to the extent of £ for £on the wages paid them. That, lie thought, would lie more profitable to liie country than utilising them in constructing roads, etc., in the towns. In any case, towns would benefit from the work owing to tho increased production that would result. The branch decided to send the suggestion forward as a remit to the provincial conference. At a meeting of the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union, letters were read lroin the Mount Cook Company and from Mr. Innes Taylor (in charge of the team of sledgo dogs for the Byrd expedition), setting out the position with the suggested uso of these dogs at Mount Cook for sledding purposes. Tho meeting unanimously resolved that, owing to so many urgent and emphatic suggestions received from run holders in the Mackenzie County, (lie objections previously lodged to the use of these dogs as suggested cannot be with drawn. It was generally agreed that dogs of this breed could not be allowoo into nriv part of (ho Dominion, and the secretary was instructed lo advise the Agricultural Department of the decision come to. At the annual meeting of the Christchurch Tomato and Stone-fruit Growers' Association, it. was decided to forward remits to the Tomato Growers' Conference lo the effect that tomato cases should be standardised in 6!b., 121b., 201b., and partitioned 201b. sizes; that tho question of railway delay in transport bo given consideration, and that the conference consider the question of asking the auctioneers to abolish tho charges for receiving, weighing, and delivering. The < following remits for tho Dominion Fruit Growers' Conference were decided upon : That it bo made a penal offence for growers to uso crates bearing Iho registered brand of other owners; that application be made to have a duty placed upon imported dried and canned fruits.