ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7022, 10 January 1910, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

ANBWEE3 10 COEEESFONDENTa fW'o shall he glad to answer, as far as possible all questions relating: to the pastoral, agricultural, and dairying ia* duHtrice, bee-culture, horticulture, pool* try-raising, etc. Inquirers must send their full name and address as a guar* antoo of good faith, hut may also for ward a nom-do-piuroo tor the purpoet of reply. Headers arc also invited to for* ward comment or personal experience on any points raised in these answer* or on this page.---EU., Land Page* Time®." - ! STOCK SALES Tuosday. Abraham and Williams, >foluu*mvUle. AV'cdncedny.—Abraham and ” steams and Daß'etv and Co., AVaikanae; N.Z.L. and At.A. Co., Waikanao; Dalgcty and Co., Upper ilutt and Wanganui; N.Z.U. and M.A. Co.. Pahautanui. Thursday. Palmerston, Associated Auctioneers. LOCAL WOOL SALE Tuesday, February 15th, 2 p.m. NEW ZEALAND BUTTER 'A COMPARISON AVITH AUSTRALIAN. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. There recently appeared in a Sydney oapor a statement by its London correspondent to the effect that the increase in the moisture content of New Zealand butter of last year had le<l to a narrowing of the margin between New Zealand und Australian butters and that by the end of the present season New' Zealand butter would bo selling at the same •price as Australian. There is no denying the fact that the way in which the moisture content of our 1908-9 butter was raised did have a prejudicial effect, but while our makers have discarded the manufacture of a dry butter, they are working on a safer basis in regard to the water content this season. And having been forced to realise the mistake of sailing too near the British legal limit of 16 per cent., they have adopted a principle in manufacture —pasteurisation of the cream—which is doin" more to raise the standard of Now Zealand blitter than any advance movement yet recorded. This will mean that the average quality of New Zeala.ncl butter this eeaeon will probably exhibit a gratifyin.g improvement ovex‘ that of the pa-st season. A AVONDERFUL ADVERTISEMENT. As to the statement of the London correspondent; some figures taken from the annual review of the dairy produce year by Weddel and Co. i 3 particularly interesting under the circumstances. There is no necessity to reprint the whole of a table showing tho variation between the value of New Zealand and Australian butters during the last three years. It is sufficient to state that the average annual price per owt for Australian of "choicest" quality was lower than New' Zealand for the last three years by Is 7d in 1907, 3s 8d in 1908. and 5s in 1909. "It is well known," says the “Weddel Review," " that while 97 per cent, of New Zealand butter is classed as first grade, a considerably less percentage of Australian reaches that standard. If the New Zealand standard of grading wore followed not much over 80 per cent, of tho latter would be placed in tho first grade," It might be added, for tho information of the “Review,'" that while 97 per cent, of New Zealand butter is classed as first grade, this is not to say that the remaining 3 per cent, is supplied to the British market. It is a fact not generally known that many New’ Zealand factories do not export any butter which mdy come under the design of second grade, but reserve it for the local trade. Apart altogether from any prejudicial effect on New Zealand butter of the water-logging of last season it will probably be found this season that, as a result of the improvement in quality taking place, tho splendid ratio of increase in value over Australian butter — which has been taking place during the past three years—will bo probably continued, if not exceeded, notwithstanding that an improvement in Australian is recorded this season. A GRATIFYING REPORT. * That New* Zealand hatter has improved in quality this season is proved by a Weddel report on the first shipments. This reads; —“The Arawa from New Zealand, arrived on Tuesday, two days before due date, with 25,664 boxes of new season's butter in excellent condition, and of a quality that may justly ho described as superior to that of recent years at this date. . . . The quality of Australian is improving, that of New Zealand is giving great satisfaction." A PLEASING PROSPECT. If our butter is showing an improvement tffiis season it is highly probablo that even a greater improvement will bo exhibited next season. Then pasteurisation of cream should bo in general application, and there’should be an extension of the important principle of skim-milk pasteurisation, which means cleaner milk-carrying utensils and consequent improvement in milk condition. Everything, in fact, points to an advance in the quality of New Zealand butter which should have the effect of considerably strengthening the dairy industry of the Dominion. THE BACON INDUSTRY ANOTHER MISCONCEPTION. While it is highly desirable < to have tho important business of pig-raising placed on a more satisfactory basis and os high a return as possible secured to the producer, no gooa will be served by the establishment of co-operative curing on a mistaken conception of tho business. . In Saturday's issue some of the drawbacks to an export trade and the serious causes for lower local values — which producers have failed to realise — wore pointed out. Since then a statement naa been published which shows how farmers may be misled into taking a wrongful view of the profits in curing. Tho statement was to tho effect that whereas the curing companies allowed from 27 J per cent, to 33J per cent, off the live weight of pigs, the real difference in weight was somewhere about 191 b. So that dairymen may understand the exact position, the following figures, taken from Douglas's Encyclopaedia (the standard work of reference on bacon curing) are given : Actual Ter cent, weight, of live lbs. weight. Blood 6.00 2.41 Hair 1.50 0.61 Entrails. 15.00 6.11 Lungs, kidneys, spleen and brains ... ... 4.75 1.95 Flesh, without fat or bones 80.00 32.61 Heart, liver and tongue 6.00 2.44 Bones, crude 17.50 6.73 Side fat 70.00 28.57 Kidney fat 8.00 3.26 Fat on entrails 3.50 1.43 Skin 12.00 4.88 Loss 20.75 8.87 Total 245.00 99.90 This is the percentage of live weight in the case of a Berkshire pig (1501 b of curable matter out of a 2401 b carcase),

And there is then the shrinkage in curing to bo taken into account, which will hardly bo Jc«s than 10 per cent. Bacon curing is a tricky business. Producers would be well advised to thoroughly investigate it before attempting to commence operations. WAITOTAEA SHOW A SUCCESSFUL DISTRICT EVENT. Last Tuesday the (settlors in the AVaitotara district held a very enjoyable little show, in which the best stock of the district was displayed, and the women folk showed what they could do in the culinary art. The *tock was confined to light horses, fat sheep and dogs. Included in the horse competitions was a driving event for Maori ladies, and a stockmen's competition (an idea which should commend itself to more important show societies). There were wood chopping and wood .sorting competitions. The principal horse leaping event was the Challenge Cup Leaping Competition, Lie cup being the gift of the well-known horseman, Mr J. Coombe, a settler of. tho district. In presenting tho prizes Mr G. V. Pearce, M.P., made a very •happy reference to Mr Coombe, who has taken the leading part in tho Waitotara show movement. Mr Coombe, he said, was a spirit whoso mottle gave a true .ring whenever tried. He was the moving spirit of the association and it was mainly to his ability and knowledge that tho body stood in the present solid financial position. So long jus -such men as Air Coombe were at tho helm their barque would ever bo steered, to safe places. It would be a sorry day for the district when it saw his back. L. G. Brewer’s Redan was declared the champion hack, and J. It. Hunter's Bill won the Challenge Cup Leaping Competition. A successful concert and danco was held in the evening. GLEANINGS A joint delegation representing the Levin Borough Council and the Horowheuua County Council visited the sand drift areas in tho district on Saturday. The Ruahine brought from London for Canterbury clients of Dalgety and Co. two Southdown rams and five Border Leicesters. Air R, Tanner, of Longburn, has a crop of 100 acres of Algerian oats, which he estimates will give a return of 90 bushels to the. acre, and some of it he thinks will go as high as 100 bushels. During last month the Walroa Dairy Company (Auckland) turned out 150 cwts ■more butter than in the corresponding month of last year. The dry weather is now, however, affecting the milk supply. Mr F. Gillanders, late manager of -Moumahakl Experiment Station, was a member of the Glnzebrook party which met with the exciting motor accident in Hawke's Bay the other day. Mr Gil landers is at present the guest of Mr H. Glazcbrookj of West Clive. A Hastings cattle drover made a "swap" of an 18-month collie to a Ha* wera resident and forwarded the dog to its destination about a week ago. On Thursday last (says tho Napier "Telegraph") the animal, footsore and very exhausted, arrived back again at its quarters in Hastings, after finding its way by instinct over country it had never travelled in the ox>en. Ripe peaches may now bo secured in Otaki, says an exchange, which speaks •volumes for, tho climate. Lemon trees are bearing in abundance, and many trees may be seen bearing tho blossoms, (green fruit, and some quite ripe. Orange •trees are also thriving well.' If the dairying industry in New Zealand is to receive justice (says "Drover" in the "Witness"), every effort should be made towards keeping rip regular shipments all the year round, and this could be attained by solving and cultivating suitable fodder crops for winter feed other than turnips, and by saving our waste feed and making it into ensilage or hay. At present we are hardly doing justice to our fine climate and tho favourable conditions Nature has endowed us with. Countries like Australia, Canada, and Denmark, under less favourable conditions, are doing better than we are to meet the difficulties of the season when feed is short. As showing the rapid manner in which the oat crops have "gone off" as a result of the dry weather, it may be said that Air Thomas Stewart, of Seaview .(Ashburton County), commenced reaping a 40-acre paddock a few days ago, which appeared to be ripe. On rubbing out a handful of the grain he found, to his ■surprise, that there was bArely any kernel in the oats, despite the fact that there was straw enough for at least 50 bushels per acre. The crop will thus only be fit for chaff purposes, and will barely pay for the labour and expense .involved in harvesting it.