AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20367, 23 September 1929, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

Right from its source the milk should bo as jealously guarded from its unseen enemies as if they were "fiends mcarnate."

Many people do not appear to hold a very high opinion as to the value of pig manure, but. without doubt, the manure from pigs that are being, fed for the butcher is of considerable value.

The term " good" in relation to milk covers moro than cleanliness, and expresses comparatively its value in richness, or, more technically speaking, its richness in butter-fat, and again in the actual milking wo can guard against loss in this particular.

It is interesting to read in an Australian paper that at the annual meeting of Nalangil Herd-testing Association the report showed that during the 12 mo/iths 2442 cows had been tested. In the two units up till the end of May six cows had given more than 4001b. of butterfat, and ono herd had averaged 3201b.

A mangold-growing competition for boys nnd girls, inaugurated in the Wairarapa and recently judged, resulted in cham> pionships being awarded as follow: Group A (comprising all the Pahiatua districts), Georgu Cotter, with 143J points, who raised tons'per aero, was champion; Emmett O'Brien, Scarborough, 137 points (55 tons), second, and Brownlow Fergus, Ruawhata, 130£ points tons), third.

The schedule of the 53rd annual show of tho Wairarapa atid East Coast P. and A. Society, to bo held at Carterton on October 30 and 31 next, is up-to-dato, having been thoroughly revised. Generous prizes aro provided throughout for all breeds of livestock, and also for cheese, home industry, school classes, etc. Schedules may bo obtained free 011 application to L. H. Smart, Secretary, P.O. Box 25, Carterton.

The orchard instructor % Nelson reported in tho last issue of tne Journal of Agriculture: "An instance of the dying of pear-treesi from an attack of aphis on the roots came under mv notice during March last. The foliage turned a purplybrown colour and fell off, and an examination of tho roots disclosed the presence of aphis on the roots. casß ™ brought under the notice of Dr. Mdler, of tho Cawthron Institute and e.\periments are to bo undertaken for combating tho trouble.

At the last meeting of th ® Stratford sub-provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers Union the scheme for apprenticing boys from secondary schools to farmers for tour years, after whch thov would bo put on pumice land having saved about £2OO, was discussed. /I he executive, however, expressed, the opinion that the scheme was and suggested that more agricultural training should bo given in schools. A resolution was also passed, protesting against tho apathy of the Agricultural. Department in combatting diseases in farm stock, and suggesting that tho Government might engage patho'ogistS to carry on research work, with a view to finding a cure. The diseases particularly mentioned wero abortion and marowitis. It was stated the Department had made no progress in the last 20 years, but other speakers pointed out that, while there did rot appear to be much activity on tho cart of the Government of New Zealand. oM-e----rountries, with more money to uti' : se in research work, had not made much pi<> gross, either.