FARMING FOR EXPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20594, 19 June 1930, Page 12

FARMING FOR EXPORT.

MEETING CUSTOMERS' NEEDS

LORD BLEDISLOE'S ADVICE.

EDUCATIVE VALUE OF SHOWS

[BY TKL.EGIUPH OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PALMERSTON NORTH, Wednesday.

Sound suggestions to tho farming and industrial communities were made by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, when ho opened tho National Dairy Sbow today. "There is no function in which I find myself in a moro congenial atmosphere than an agricultural show," said Ilis Excellency. "I vorituro to hope that yours will always be preponderalingly an agricultural show.

"I do not come in critical spirit," said Ilis Excellency, "but I have had tho privilege of being president of most agricultural societies at Homo and of visiting shows in different parts of the world, particularly England. I might suggest that unless a show of an agricultural nature is of definite educational velue to tho farming community it is difficult to justify. "Six years ago I found myself in supervisory charge of agricultural exhibits in tho Old Country. I took an early opportunity of seeing that tho exhibits of tho Department of Agriculture should be materially changed, that they were entirely reorganised. That was done at the leading shows, starting with the Royal Show, with a view to making the exhibits illustrative of tho class of land products which the public was demanding, and of showing how to present them on tho market. Tho Government stand, which was formorly deserted, is now the most crowded part of a show.

Factors of Competition.

"On these stands," said His Excellency, "wo display hen eggs of two ounces and upwards. We emphasise that the egg which rattles in the cup cannot be compared with that which bulges over the rim; that bacon must bo firm, lean and streaky, and fed preferably on hard cereals, if it is to compete with that of tho enterprising Dane; that joints of all butchers' meat must bo small, young and perfectly lean, if competition frcm the Argentine is to be kept at bay; that butter bo free from rancidity and excess moisturo ,and of good texture, if preference for Canadian margarine is to be avoided. "Wo emphasise that cheese must have a rich, nutty flavour, and be free from undesirable mould and cracks, if it is to compete with that from Holland and Canada; that tho lower layer of packed fruit must bo of the same quality and grade as that on the surface; that loafy tilling grasses and clovers arc better than those of a stemmy description, and particularly desirable if it is proposed to topdress them with chemical fertiliser.

Making of Ensilage.

"Also do wo emphasise that carefullymado ensilage—l am developing an admiration for that prepared under somewtiat primitive methods in this country—with an aroma which combines that if good tobacco and good treacle, is better for dairy cattle than bad hay of poor appearance, so that it may save the stockowner many sleepless nights from overanxiety as to the vagaries of the weather; and that chemical analysis shows that size in the case of roots is not always in a direct ratio to nutritive value.

"Perhaps the rtfost valuable exhibits nowadays on our Government stands are those which illustrate tho genera! effect of the various topdressings; how limo and phosphates are absolutely essential to tho manufacture of bones in young animals, and to milk, farm slock and the eggs of poultry (deficiency ailments are bound to occur if thoy are not liberally employed); that lime and farmyard manure is' a, loosener of stiff, tenacious soils and stimulates rather than destroys useful bacterial activity in the top few inches of tho soil, developing roots; that nitrogen develops the loaf and is of special valuo to those whoso economic value depends on their leaves; that potash is essential to the production of stem fibre and is invaluable as a plant medicine under intensive conditions of cultivation.

Fundamental Principles. ['l do not want to suggest that all those tilings which applied in the Old Country may necessarily bo applied here, but, after all, thore arc fundamental principles which arc easy for all to follow." His Excellency congratulated the organisers of the show on collecting such an all-round display. Speaking of the standardisation of cheeso, ho said he would like to venture a suggestion, but would refrain from doing so, beyond commenting that what New Zealand had to meet was the economic requirements at Homo. The more the' Dominion could convince its customers with its uniformity of thequality, the more certain it,was to hold its own with the competition of other countries. If they all gave .of their best they could face international competition with confidence.