THE FARMER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 4

THE FARMER.

11 Agriculture Is tlie most healthful, rrust useful, uml most noble employment of man."—Geohue WasuIN'OTON',

EDITORIAL NOTES.

THE SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY. Substantial as the rise in wool has been, and justly as wo may congratulate the sheep farmers upon the pleasanter times now being experienced, it is highly desirable that wo should not loso sight of tho fact that to carry all our eggs in one basket is a bad policy. Wo ought to be less depondont upon tho tvool and meat industries than wo aro, and ho who can soundly and permanently establish some new industry, especially in tho interests of tho small settlors whoso lack of capital and a sufficiently large area of land renders it impossible for them to go in for sheep, will rightly bo accounted a great public benefactor. And in this connection wo aro pleased to-day to chronicle a few facts concerning tho sugar beet industry, interest in which is slowly but surely increasing amongst tho settlers in more than ono district. So far wo aro as yot in the experimental stage, but the results of which we havo data before us go to show that the prospects of establishing this industry in Now' Zealand are becoming much brighter. In Hawke’s Bay the experiments conducted by that enterprising settler, the late Mr 11. S. Tilfen, have

fertile province for beet cultivation, and we trust that the start made by Mr Tiffon will bo followed up by those who have inherited his estate. Nearer homo wo havo in Mr T. H. Smith, a well-known Carterton settlor, a gentleman whoso

faith and interest in tho sugar boot industry aro unbounded, and wo aro glad to hear that recent experiments conducted by him have been ihighly successful. Mr Smith, who has gone to an immenso amount of trouble and expense in procuring tho best French seed has amassed a vast amount of gereral information as to tho ! growth of the beet and the manufacture of sugar therefrom. Mr Smith has grown beet from Vilmorin’s seed (tho host French seed) and has succeeded in obtaining a very fair and indeed most encouraging results from a small patcli planted last season by him. We have boon favoured by Mr Smith with a copy of tho analysis conducted by Mr Skey of the three samples of whito beet forwarded by the grower. The highest proportion of saccharine m after was 12'0U. This, it i.s true, is not up to the requisite standard —in France, Belgium and Austria Vilmorin’s seed gave 16percent, of sugar—but as Mr Smith has pTinted out, tho sample root tested weighed only half a pound (it was not the whole rnot) and with bitter knowledge how to prepare the ground and cultivate tho plant, a higher percentage would in all probability be obtained. Mr Smith intends to persevere with his efforts to establish the sugar beet industry in the Wairarapa, and he deserves the best w.shes and hearty support of Ids follow-settlers. ILo i.s, we understand, in correspondence with French firms who manufacture the machinery necessary to the extraction and refining of the sugar,and hopes soon to bo in possession of reliable data upon which to base the cost of establishing a factory. The main thing, however, to be done is, as lie admits, to prove that our soil can produce beet capable of giving the necessary percentage of sugar, and this lie is very hopeful of doing. The importance and value of the beet sugar industry to France and other Continental States cannot well bo over-estimated. Germany, we are informed, exports annually eight million pounds’ worth of beet sugar every year, and Austria six millions’ worth. In Now Zealand wo spend nearly half a million yearly for raw and refined canc sugar, and yot tho only place where labour is provided i.s at tho Auckland works, Tho establishment of tho bcotsugar industry would, if successful, prove a great boon to the small settlers, especially to thoso in districts where dairying is carried on. On the Continent the tops aro used as forage and the pulp remaining after the extraction of tho sugar is eagerly bought by dairy-men. The licet sugar industry could not, of course, ever assume the proportions attained by the wool and moat industries in this Colony, but it would prove a very reliable adjunct and would, as wo said above, bo of special value to tho small settlers, many of whom aro at present so hard set to mako a living out of their holdings. As to the capital required, wo believe that there is no reason to fear that it would net be forthcomingOnce wo can prove that good roots containing tho necessary percentage of sugar can be grown, capital would speedily be forthcoming from the Old Country, or even, failing that, tho co-operative principle could be adopted. Wo congratulate Mr Smith upon his endeavours to practically assist his fellow-settlers in the Wairarapa, and sincerely trust that hi 3 well meant and most praiseworthy efforts may ultimately bo crowned with success. THE SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY IN THE WAIKATO. Since writing tho above we have come across an article in the New Zealand Herald, the leading Auckland paper, which con-

the probable establishment, at no distant date, of the beet sugar industry in the Waikato. For some time past, it appears, a great deal of interest has been created in the prospect of establishing the beetgrowing and sugar-making industry in that district. Things have progressed satisfactorily in this matter, and Mr M. Lowenberg (says the Herald), who has been chiefly instrumental in negotiating the difficulties with the farmers, lias succeeded in getting a number of farmers to promise to cultivate at least 3000 acres, for a period of five years, in areas of from a quarter of an acre upwards. He has left by the mail steamer for America and Europe, to make arrangements for supply of seed, and tho construction of tho necessary machinery. He has taken a return ticket, and on his trip through America lie will visit the beet sugar mills there. His first anxiety i.s to secure a sufficient supply of first-class seed, and as this is the sowing time in Europe, ho is afraid ho may have some difficulty in getting enough. However, h« is determined nob to take seed of a less hereditary character than 116 per cent, of sugar. Tho seed being secured and despatched, ho will consult the ablest engineers as to whether existing machinery will be suitable for the purpose. He is of opinion, from his observations made in tho Colony that some special features will require to be introduced, but whatever may be considered necessary will be accomplished, and he states that the plant, when constructed, will embody all the latest improvements known to scientific men in Europe. It is to be hoped that all the arrangements will bo successfully carried out and that at an early period we may see Mr Lowonberg back again amongst us. THE IMPORTANCE OF WE BE-BRED BURLS. The importance of brooding in dairy cattle has often been insisted upon, but we fear that all through tho dairying districts of tho Wairarapa and tho West Coast of this Island far too little attention is paid to this subject. Some two or three months ago we sketched out for our readers a i scheme now in high favour in Denmark, by j which what arc called Co-operative Bull | Associations are formed, and by combiuation the settlers secure the services of well-bred bulls at a very moderate rate, and gradually improve their herds. We have since heard that some Wairarapa settlers were considering the advisableness of establishing an association on the lines laid down in our article, but up to the present, so wo believe, nothing definite has been done in the matter. Wo now road that in the State of Illinois a bull was recently selected by the Government whose seventeen nearest female ancestors (extending back in every line to importations) havo made milk records which average for tho whole number 16 SOOlb in a year and 211 b of butter in a week. Tho services of this bull and of his approved get aro placed by tho State at tho disposal of tho dairy producers on very moderate terms, iteferring to this new departure (which, by-thc-way, wo should like to see copied by our New Zealand Department of Agriculture), an Australian contemporary points out this is the class of bull to breed from, for if tho descendant is a duplicate of any ancestor within the first four or five generations, ho will be what is desired. With such a sire, crossed with cows of similar breeding, the results aro almost as certain to give descendants of equal merit as a certain variety of seed corn, planted in good soil and well attended, is to produce a crop of the same variety. In the ono instance, good care and proper liberal nourishment, with favourable environments, are of course as indispensable as in the other if tho best results are to bo ensured. This subject of breeding from producing an-

an extent in the most progressive of the dairying States of America that in at least one instance, vouched for by Mr Powell in the Rural New Yorker, a young bull has been produced whose 30 nearest female ancestors have made weekly butter records which average 20lb 2oz, and the 35 nearest have made milk lccordu which average 15,4471 b 2oz in a year. If such animals bo selected for foundation stock how surely and readily can a great producing herd bo established ? PROPOTENCY IN BREEDING. The principle that “ like begets like, or the likeness of some ancestor,” says the Melbourne Reader, the Australian journal quoted above, has now become established as the foundation of scientific breeding. By intelligent adherence to this principle we aro enabled to increase production, improve quality, add quantity to quality, secure larger returns for tho food consumed and odd symmetry and beauty to utility. The unerring truth, of this piiuciplomay be illustrated in its application to tho breeding of the dairy herd ; ns, for example, in taking a cow of superior excellence, producing say 50001 b of milk in a year, and whose qualifies it i.s desired to perpetualo. Tho thoughtless breeder who uses a sire whose ancestors would .average only 30001 b of milk in a year would havo no right to oxpect from their descendants more than tho average of the ancestors on both sides, viz., 4001 b. By this ono wrong cross lie breeds backwards 20 per cent., taking as tho standard tho dam that was desired to bo improved upon. Tho breeder, however, who puts brains into his business, acting upon the maxim that “the sire is half the herd,” selects one of high breeding, coupled with vigour and the other qualities which he desires in his future herd, and whoso female ancestors have made authenticated records of, say, 11,0001 b per year. With the same dam ho makes his cross with this sire, and can calculate with reasonable certainty that the descendant heifer will represent the average of the ancestors, or 80001 b in a year, or just 100 per cent, more than the production which could naturally be expected from the former cross. Yet the only difference has been in the selection of the sire. In support of the foregoing, two very telling illustrations aro given by Mr Edward A. Powell in the Ilnral Nor Yorker of 22nd February. Ho says: “ I know a sire whoso 13 nearest female ancestors have made, without a break, yearly milk records which averaged over 10,000!b and weekly butter records which averaged about 20l!>. This sire stood at the head of a held of cows whose milk and butter record were equally as good. Tho result was watched with interest. Thirteen of his oldest daughters —all that had been tested—finished their two-year-old yearly milk records last season, averaging over 1(*,0 )oib, and fourteen of his daughters, all two-year-olds, made weekly butter records which averaged over 121 b. These were all two-year-olds and all that were tested.” Again : “ One dairyman in this vicinity, a few years ago, commenced to improve his native herd, by selling tho poorest and breeding his best cows to tho best pure-bred bulls within his reach. Beforo the third generation produced by such breeding bad reached maturity, be sold to the Syracuso Milk Association an average of over 10,0001 b of milk per cow, for his entire head. What he accomplished can be repeated by others, with the exercise of equal care and good judgment. Had the dams at tho start been equal to tho sires used, the quantity produced would of course havo been still larger.” STORING POTATOES. There is a great deal more in storing potatoes properly than most growers take the trouble to perform, but in view' of tho fact that potatoes aro likely to bo dearer than

season to exorcise a little more precaution in storing. Some excellent advice is given -J| by a writer in the Tasmanian Mail, who i proffers tho following counsel: —First, M then, do not use tho haulm and foliage to jJM cover them. As these always carry or loss fungus germs during autumn, it is evident that if the foliage is used to cover 1 tho potatoes, these become infected, and are caused to rot. The different varieties of potatoes show' a great difference in their keeping qualities. Naturally, there is no potato that does not rot at all, hut those tender varieties which aro found to be most liable to disease, rot of course, much the quickest. The best covering for potatoes over a thin • layer of straw i.s earth, and on tho top of the earth the haulms may bo thrown. Before everything, the potatoes should lio dry, and no water should get to them from underneath, from tho sides or tho top of the mound. Tho place where the mounds aro to bo put should t horefore bo a specially dry one, on a sloping piece of ground, and a trench made around tho outside to carry off any surfaco water. English experts say that potatoes will keep all the better lay having a little earth adhering to them. Again, only sound potatoes ought to bo put into the mound, and if unsound ones aro found in tho crop, they should be kept out, even at the expense of picking thorn over. Largo growers in England who “pit” their potatoes examine tho mound from time to time with a thermometer, to see what is tho temperature. This should not he more than 45 degrees Falir. A good a temperature is 41. If the potatoes heat over j 45 degrees they will be going wrong.

THE VINEYARDS OF NEW ZEALAND. They are as good as any in the world; unhappily there is not much of them. What is their quality was very fully described for us a few' months ago by Signor Bragato, tho viticulturist whom the Government of Victoria sent over, at the request of our Government, to enquire and report. Tho Signor travelled through Central Otago, over the Wairarapa and through tho Napier country. He came, lie saw', and ho conquering]}', that is to say, convincingly, described. He made it clear that there is no better country for the grape than those. About the qualities of the wines made in the Wairarapa his report was enthusiastic as roll as appreciative. In addition it contained the fullest information about tho best varieties of grapes to grow in these countries, full instructions with admirable diagrams about the best methods of pruning for all purposes, and, in fact, every information of a practical kind that is required by the viticulturist. Wo again havo the pleasure of bringing the subject up in our columns. Another viticulturist, Mr Lowcay, has been travelling through the Wairarapa and the Napier districts, and he wrote us a few linos of practical appreciative comment. We trust the agricultural community will specially notice that this is the testimony of a qualified export to tho value of thoso fine parts of Now Zealand for tho production of the grape. They should be aware, « also, that no industry is so profitable as jl viticulture, and the general public should bo aware that no other employs so many hands regularly. Tho ono thing needed, as Mr Lowcay points out, for the successful establishment on a large scale of tho industry is more knowledge. In this connection, we will impress on all who plead ignoranco in bar of enterprise that the report of Signor Bragato contains a great deal of tho necessary information. Whoever chooses to start the industry of viticulture cannot do bettor than study the contents of that report. The Government is quite alive to the value of tho industry, and, we mako no doubt, is quite prepared to arrange for getting practical exports to I superintend tho work of cultivation, and

importing of suitable stocks. But before doing anything on a large scale, there ought to be some evidence of a general readiness to devote land to this purpose, for which it is so well adapted. We trust that evidence will soon be forthcoming.