BRIGHTER DAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22320, 18 January 1936, Page 16

BRIGHTER DAYS

TE KUITI DISTRICT abundant pastures SHEEP AND CATTLE INCREASE DAIRY FACTORY PROJECT [BY TELEGRAPH —S FECI AT. REPORTER ] TE KUITI, Friday Beneficial rains have resulted in a great improvement to pastures and feed in the district round Te Kuiti during, the past week. It is considered that the rain has fallen at an opportune time, and, although its value cannot be estimated, in exact terms, the net result will bo to place farmers in a better position to feed their stock for the remainder of the summer tliao at the corresponding period last year.'-" The future outlook of the Te Kuiti district, in the opinion of farmers and townsfolk alike, is that it can now look forward to general prosperity and development as never before in its historv.

There has been a considerable increase in the number of fat lambs handled at Te Kuiti. An estimate places the figure at one-third higher than in 1928, before the lean years set in. The quality of sheep and cattle has improved out of all recognition, and a reliable authority stated yesterday that some of the drafts of ewes sent from Te Kuiti this season were equal to the best in the North Island as regards condition. It is expected that if the present rate of increase in the production of sheep and cattle continues, the King Country will eventually become one of the most important sheep-producing districts in the North Island. Eflect of Chilled Bee! The sale of chilled beef on the overseas market has been reflected in a ereat increase during recent years in the number of cattle handled by local farmers. The most popular breeds are Polled Angus and Herefords, both of which do well on country which, for the most part, is now intensively farmed. Forward-conditioned cattle find a ready and profitable market with Auckland and Waikato buyers. The extent to which farmers have adopted the practice of intensive cultivation is illustrated in the greatlyincreased use of top-dressing. Greater production has been' made possible by its use

In .addition to top-dressing, the system of "rotational grazing" has proved its worth, and some farms have found that a larger turnover of stock has been made possible. On one farm, for example, there are now 40 per cent more sheep and cattle than there were five years ago. Presence of Ragwort The presence of quantities of ragwort is a noticeable feature in the genera! appearance of some of the land in the vicinity of Te Kuiti. The greater proportion of this land belongs either to the (Irown or to native owners, and in spreading on to land already cleared of this noxious weed it is placing an unnecessary- burden on neighbouring farmers. There no sign of ragwort on farms carrying sheep. There are hopes that the dairy industry will have expanded sufficiently in the near future to warrant the estate lishment of a local dairy factory. The output at present totals about 800 tons a year, and this is sent td-ithe factory at Otorohanga. When the total exceeds 1000 tons a year, a. tentative proposal to erect a dairy factory at Te Kuiti may be carried into effect. Elsewhere in the district there are general signs of returning prosperity. All the mam timber mills have been working at full time for a longer period than for many years. The chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. W. S. Cato, stated that the population has shown a large increase and many houses have been erected in or near Te Kuiti. Steps are being taken to improve the surface of the Te Kuiti Aero Club's landing ground, and if the present proposals are carried into effect the whole surface will be ploughed and a number of trees at the end of the ground will be removed.