THE BACK – BLOCKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5733, 31 October 1905, Page 3

THE BACK - BLOCKS

CO-OPERATION IX FARMING. A 'PARANA KI CHICLE. There, is probably no part of New Zealand whom co-operation in tho producing industry is tari'in stiCii a degree ;us in Taranaki. In the first place, of course, flic (pent majority of tho dairy companies are on co-operativo lin<«. tho fannors being botli suppliers ami shareholders. Thou there arc cooperative bacon factories, and tho shareholders of these concerns are, to a largo extent. Iho shareholders of the freezing works at Motnroa. Tho latest development of this co-opcrntivoinove-inont is tho formation of tho 'Rgmont Co-operative Box Company, which has boon in operation for two or throe years. Tho factory, which is situated lit Klthara, is equipped tvith tho most niffdcrn machinery for the production of boxes at tho lowest possible rates. Everything is dono wholesale. There is a machine for driving nails, another ior bevelling tho corners, a third for naraffining, and a fourth for branding. This is the American stylo of specialising elaborately carried out: and the result is tho production of boxes at Is each, an extra halfpenny being charged For paraffining. The whole supply of 'timber for tho year’s requirements stands in the yard seasoning. There is thus no danger of tho supply being suddenly cut off during the season. The company ha.s also secured an option over a 'milling area, and will probably arrive eventually at milling its own timber.

The shareholders of tho Co-operative Box Company at present are seventeen butter factories, unread over a radius of twenty-live miles. Fp to that distance, •at any rate, they find it cheaper to have their boxes made wholesale and nailed together liefove being consigned, (ban to keep men on the premises to do the work retail. Several oilier factories have cumo in as shareholders, though existing contracts will compel them to get their boxes elsewhere for a few years. It is hoped within a few years to develop the Kgmout Company so as to embrace the majority of tho butter factories in Taranaki. THE EXPORT OF APPLES. It is a pity to sec New Zealand neglecting so consistently the opportunity of becoming a fruit-exporting country. Last year, of course, was not a good one for apples, but the fact remains tliat the shrunken export of 1004-5 was only in sequence with the trend of things for years past. Ton years ago we exported nearly 200.0001 bof apples. Wo have not come anywhere near that ainee. In fact, the exports of apples during tho past five years have not been nearly half, either in weight or value, of those for. the previous quinquennial period. Tho figures to -years ending March are as follows:

Now, there is no reason why New Zcaland should not export apples on as largo a scale ns Tasmanian exports. But it can only be done by generous treatment on the part of the State in the early years of the industry. A continuance of the guarantee of a penny per pound which has been ottered in previous yeans is all that growers have asked. On this basis successful shipments have been sent Home in previous years, and it is, therefore, all the more regrettable that the development of the industry should he allowed to hang fire. In Tasmania this year the industry is in a very promising position. During this season growers will have the opportunity for the first time of shipping apples direct to Antwerp and Hamburg by Germim-Australian steamers, which will coll at Hobart in February and March. The Tasmanian fruit trade pays in spite of the fact that the freights amount to 30 per cent, of the London sale prices. It is a significant fact, by the way, that the three .Australian States which have deve'oped the export trade in apples are those which have passed legislation to compel the destruction of fruit pests, while New South Wales, which has no such legislation, does not export a single case of apples. . MANAWATU SHOW. The Mauawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s annual show, which opens at Palmerston North to-morrow, is now regarded as the most important agricultural event in the North Island. .Cn fact, chore is a large section of the public who regard it as the premier stock exhibition in New Zealand, not so much on account of'the number of exhibits—for wo do not regard that as a legitimate boast for any agricultural society—hut .rather from the comprehensive nature of the catalogue. Palmerston is much more centrally situated than either Christchurch or Dunedin, and the show thus draws largely on the prize stock of the Masterton, 'Hawke’s Bay, Wanganui, and New Plymouth fixtures. This would naturally tend to the selection of a higher class of stock throughout. The show will last three days, the People’s Day being on Fitday.

Mr W. J. Birch, of Marten, has just •received from tho Gladbrook (Otago) herd two very fine bulls of tho Aberdeen polled Angus breed. Ono of them. Grant, which may probably be regarded as tho better of the two, is out of Duchess, who is out of the imported row Quetta. The sire is the unbeaten Lady Ida bull Mistral of Glamis. Grant took first prize as a yearling at tho Dunedin show. Tho other animal, Governor, is by Ralph of Caroston, out of Obcnn. Both these bulls will bo shown at the Manawatu show. It scorns as if the farmer will only listen to advice when he is punished for not doing so. Potato disease has appeared in several parts of the Wanganui district, and tho Government Biologist had the unique experience there this week of finding the hall too small for tho gathering of farmers which assembled to hear his address on this scourge. There were three hundred persons present, and they wore impressed with tho necessity for early spraying. There is a good

deal of perfunctory spraying done that is not much good. It is essential to spray (lie under side of the leaf. '1 o do this a side-delivery Cyclone nozzle can ho got for half-a-crown.

Tho rams which were brought over by the Mocraki on her last trip for transhipment hv the Paparoa for Monte Video were eight in number, and were from Mr Albert Austin’s well-known iv'anganella flock. Victoria. Three are stud rains, ami five flock rams. They ai'e believed to ho the first that have ever been shipped from Australia for Patagonia. Tho Milton branch of tho Farmers Union has decided to open a registry office specially to meet tho requirements of farmers in tho matter of farm servants. Registration is to bo applied for at once. Mr T. G. Lilico, tho Government veterinarian in South Canterbury, is treating a horso for ccrcbro-spmal meningitis.

Weight. Value lb. £ 1896 ... 193,391 1759 1897 ... 175.702 1270 1898 ... 182,3-19 1920 1899 ... 139,936 1297 1900 ... 137,331 1132 1901 ... 38,082 409 1902 ... 12.188 136 1903 ... 122,790 1219 1901 ... 07,360 679 1005 ... 80,407 770