SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15053, 28 January 1911, Page 8

SCOTTISH AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION

VISIT OF TWO OF ITS MEMBERS,

AN INTERVIEW.

Two interesting oversea visitors to Dunedin at the present time aro Messrs James llunlop and James Keith, who wore among tho 1Z members of tho recent Scottish Agricultural Commission to Australia. 'rho commission has concluded its investigations in the Australian Commonwealth, and (excepting Messrs Dunlop and Keith) its meinbeis have now returned home. It was tho intention of several of them to havo visited Now Zealand, but receiving urgent cablegrams at tho last moment to return Homo they wero unable to do so. The two members of the commission who aro now in Now Zealand are here in a purely private capacity, but, at the same time, it is tliir intention to make a thorough -investigation of the agricultural conditions of the Dominion, and also to visit its various scenic resorts. Messrs Dunlop and Keith wero both members of tlio Scottish Agricultural Commissions which visited Denmark in IM4, Ireland in 1206, and Canada in 1908. Mr .Dunlop hails from Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, and is a director of the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture, and lecturer and demonstrator on livo stock to the West of Scotland Agricultural College, besides filling other capacities. He is a successful breeder of Ayrshire cattle and Border Leicester sheep. Ho has exported stock to every continent in tho world, where they havo taken leading honours, tho championship Ayrshire bull at the l-ecent Commonwealth Exhibition, Melbourne, being ono of his breeding, Mr Dunlop has also sent several different breeds of sheep out to New Zealand to the Government and to private individuals. _ Mr Keith is a proprietor and farmer in Aberdeenshire, and is a director of the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture. The commission which lias just visited Australia, and which was composed of practical farmers and others interested in agricultural education and development, was invited out by the Commonwealth Government, and its mission was to compile a report on tlio same lines as that which the Scottish Commission prepared for Canada two years previously, the Canadian Government desiring to'have a. report on the agricultural conditions of the country and the prospects in regard to futuro development, etc., for presentation lo intending settlers. The Australian report lias -not. yet mado its appearance. Each mcmlwr of tho commission devoted his attention to one particular -phase of agriculture, ar.d tho individual reports will be grouped mid tho whole issued probably in June or July next. INTERVIEW WITH MR DUNLOP. Mr Dunlop has spent two days in tho Southland district, and in the course of an interview with a Daily Times roportor last evening made somo intercstine: remarks on what liad so far come under his notice, and on fanning generally. "I havo spent two enjoyable days in the Mataura and Edondalo districts, and sawmuch there that interested me. I was very interested in tho various co-operative undertakings in tho district-, and was pleased to fco that the movement hud extended itself to the chee.vo factories. The co-operative idea, I consider, has been tho salvation of tho dairying industry in Denmark and Ireland. countries which I have visited, and it cannot have otherwise than the same liiably beneficial results for Now Zealand. It is probable that it could bo greatly extended in Now Zealand with increased beneficial results. I am a little disappointed to find that you have not instituted co-opera-tive milk-testing associations for the testing of dairy cows. There is a groat field in Now Zealand for it. Through this same system Denmark has reduced the cost of producing lib of butter by over 3d. The productiveness of their cows has been increased, and thoso cows which arc tlio host producers are retained and fed accordingly. In Scotland wo havo had half a dozen years' experience of this same system, and with most gratifying results. Tho method of working in Scotland is generally for 18 farmers to co-operate and obtain the, services of a young graduate of the Scottish Dairy School, whore milk-testing, butter and "cheese making, etc., are taught. This graduate visits each farmer one day every three weeks and weighs the two daily ir.ilkings of each animal in the herd and teste tlie milk for butter-fat. That is taken as the average yield for three weeks, and is duly noted down in a book, a.nd at tho end of tho year t-lio farmer can see the exact amount that each cow has y.iektad, and lie is them in a position to brcwl only from tlio best stock. The result is that the progeny of heavy milking strains make big prices," and instead of keeping cows that aro living on him tho dairy farmer keeps only those animals that yield a handsome profit. The introduction of tlnV, same, system to Now Zealand would make for marvellous results, and would increaso the butter yield immensely. " What I have seen of your draught horses so far lias pleased me," said Mr Dunlop. "I may say they-are bcttoT than I expected, and I really consider they are a very good class for a young oountry. The oro]», especially tho oats and turnips, are also looking very promising. I havo not semi as much wheat- growing as I expected, perhaps because I havo not. .yet been in a w-b«it-growi!ig district. Tbere are some fine pastures in the Edop.dale and Mataura districts, and they would compare with anything I iiave seen anywhere. I was surprised to find that cattlo aro riot, housed hero during the winter time as, with the latitude of tho country, one would have considered that essential. At the same timo, however, if housing can he done without, tho cattle are infinitely moro tacdtha,"