AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20810, 28 February 1931, Page 18

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

A sharp frost was experienced in Feilding last week and heavy damage was done to all tomato, bean and pumpkin plots. Commercial growers of tomatoes and other susceptible plants were heavy losers.

Advice has ben received by Gisborne farmers of urgent measures being taken to shelter Poverty Bay wool which escaped destruction in the fires at Napier, following the earthquake. Most of this wool will be shipped to London for sale, at an early date.

The Dannevirke Agricultural and Pastoral Society has decided not to hold its annual show this year. It ; was pointed out that unless it could be held at once, which in view of recent events is impossible, sheepbreeders would not be able to enter their exhibits.

An attack of the dreaded fire-blight disease has been found in a pear-,tree in Christchurch. Outbreaks of a more or less serious * nature had occurred at several places in the North\ Island, and a year or two ago in the Kaikoura district, but this is the first time fire-blight has been recognised in Christchurch, aiirt the second outbreak in the South Island.

Lambs are being exported in large numbers from South Westland, several mofcorlorries making trips with them to the railhead at Boss, reports the correspondent of the Weeky News. Several hundreds have also been brought from Kokatahi. The indications are that the number of lambs will exceed that of previous years, but, unfortunately for the farmers, the market value has not similarly increased.

The Waikato branch of the Farmers' Union passed the following resolution concerning the grouping of dairy companies afc a meeting recently: "That subprovincial executive recommends the Auckland Provincial Executive take steps to urge the different co-operative companies operating on their territories to form themselves into pne group or as few as posible for the purpose of marketing their products.

Mr. J. J. Goodwin, of Morrinsville, has three highly-producing pedigree Jerseys in the December merit list of cows, under semi-official test. In the mature class his cow, Rexcourt Lady Magnet, produced 94.091b5. of butter-fat in November, and 94.441b5. in October and it is well ahead of the others under test. His four-year-old Wainui Finery, has produced 219.221b5. of fat in 91 days and his junior two-year-old, Restholme Belle, 96.611b5. of fat in 58 days.

After a discussion on the price of fertilisers at the meeting of farmers at Matamata recently, the following resolution was passed: "Believing that it is of vital necessity to New Zealand not only to maintain, but if possible to increase primary production during the present economic crisis, and as fertilisers are essential to production and to the maintenance of the income of the country, this meeting urges the Government to take immediate steps to arrange for a substantial reduction in the price of fertilisers, even if it should be necessary to provide temporary assistance during the period of depression."

Speaking at the Masterton show Mr. G: H. Perry, chairman of the Wairarapa Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Club condemned the Government for the manner in which it was starving the Agricultural Department, and said that the resources of the department had been cut down to such an extent that it was not even able to pay mileage on necessary travelling by its officers. He had had to use his own car in order .that essential departmental work ii) connection with the operations of the calf club might be carried out. Mr. Perry said that, this starvation of services that were of great value to the Dominion was very far from being in the national interests, and should be protested against in the strongest terms.

A recent importation into the Orari district is a first-class Friesian . bull, Rosevale Echo Isobel Roberts, bought by Messrs Muff Brothers, " Ohape," Orari, from Messrs North and Sons, Dunedin. This bull ifi sired by Count Korudyke Roberts Poach, whose dam has a record of 9001b5., while a sister of the dam has the world's record of 11571b. as a three-year-old, and as a five-year-old yielded 113511). The dam of the bull is Rosevale Isobel Echo, now on test, and is by Echo Sylvia Sir Griselda (imp.), from Roscvale Isobel, with 7731b5. butter-fat. Only last October, a Friesian cow, Beauty, in Messrs. Muff Brothers' herd, put up a New Zealand record, and is still keeping up her high standard, and for 112 day's testing to the end of December, has given 2831b. of butter-fat. Another cow in the same herd, Ohape Daisy Posch, has 1971b5. for 76 day's testing.