OUR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20288, 22 December 1927, Page 12

OUR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES.

AN OPTIMISTIC REVIEW. FARMING AND PASTORAL. (Special to Daily Times.) ' WELLINGTON, December 21. “ The present season is now sufficiently advanced to enable one to say that in any event it will be a good one, even in comparison with the high New Zealand average, and, further, that if nothing untoward, such as an exceptionally dry autumn, a wet cereal harvest, or widespread floods should occur to mar its later months, it will be exceptionally good.” This statement was made to-day by the assistant director of agriculture (Mr F. S. Pope). “In New Zealand,” said Air Pope. “ the year ending on December 31 covers approximately the second half of one farming season and the first half of another, and the calendar year is therefore not the period one would choose as the subject of a review of the Dominion’s agriculture. Nevertheless it is hoped that some remarks dealing with matters affecting farming and the industries ancillary thereto during the year just closed will be of interest at the present time. It is very pleasing to record that 1927_was comparatively free from even relatively minor climatic troubles, and in consequence primary production was maintained at a high level. The year has been a most satisfactory one for all classes of stock. Feed has been abundant, and there has been an absence of any abnormal mortality among stock. The raising of beef for freezing for export has not been a payable proposition for some years past owing to the English market being abundantly supplied with chilled beef from South America. The position has, however, shown improvement during the past few months, and there is a prospect of slightly better prices ruling for the coming season for our surplus beef. _ The sheep, however, takes first place in the importance of : is contribution to the value of our export i, and it is therefore very satisfactory to record a good year for the sheep farmer. The flocks have, since tha 1526 returns were collected, shown an increase of 744,023, bringing the total number of shdep in the Dominion to 23,649,016. An even more satisfactory feature of the position is an increase of 883,478 breeding ewes, and, further, an estimate of this season’s lambing percentage gives an expected addition of 799,158 lambs to augment the flocks and the lamb exports for the coming year. “The wool clip for 1926-27, as anticipated, turned out to be a good one both as regards quantity and condition, and the prices realised were on the whole in advance of the previous season’s, particularly in respect of the finer wools. The quantity exported showed a substantial increase. The present season’s clip is turning out well—quite up to last season’s —and at the sales so far held the price has shown a considerable advance over last season’s. Even if this price is not maintained throughout the remainder of the year the indications point to the average price realised per bale comparing more than favourably with last year’s. Altogether the position of the sheep industry has been quite satisfactory, and promises to continue so. “ Tho development of the pork industry has made some progress, and although tho returns from exports have not been altogether satisfactory, the position may be expected to improve. “ The poultry industry is one of considerable promise, and some progress has to be recorded during tho year in the way of building up flocks and preparing for a greater production with a view to entering again anergctically into the export of eggs* "A most satisfactory reduction in tho number cf rabbits throughout the Dominion has taken place. “ The year has been one of the best in the annuals of the dairy industry, and the butter and cheese produced was a record in respect to both quantity and quality. The climatic conditions on the whole were very favourable in all dairy districts. Cows milked remarkably well and for the first time an average production of 2001 b of butter-fat per cow was reached. Tho recent winter, except in tho South Island, was mild, with the result that cows generally wintered well and wore in good condition at calving time. “ During the season 1926-27 dairy herd testing in New Zealand was carried out for 170,150 cows—a slight increase over the previous year. Of this total 56,823 were tested under the association system, 109,827 under tho group method and the remainder—3soo cows—by dairy companies as a portion of the factory routine. The average. yield of the 170,150 cows tested was 24,0481 b tat, an increase of 201 b fat Over the preceding season. Five breeds were represented, namely, Jersey, Friesian, milking Shorthorn, Ayrshire, and Red Poll. With a view to assisting the breeder of purebred dairy cows, the department has this season introduced the official herd test. The new test is meeting with encouraging support during its first season. “Tho season 1926-27 was very satisfactory from the point of view of the areas harvested of both our two main cereal crops—wheat and oats. In connection with wheat tho actual area threshed was 220,033 acres, which was an_ increase of 68,410 acres ovier the previous season. In addition tho yield per acre secured, namely 37.50 bushels, was the hightest for many years, being 7.06 bushels per acre greater than the yield for tho previous season, and 8.47 bushels per acre greater than the average per acre yield for the previous 10 years. The two factors mentioned combined ito bring about an increased total yield of wheat of 7,540,2jx bushels, against 4,617,041 bushels, an increase of 2,923,250 bushels when compared with tho previous season This increased yield, which nearly meets the Dominion's requirements, obviated the necessity for the importation of ns much wheat as has been brought in in recent years. For the 10 •months ended October, 1927, the importation was a little over 500,000 bushels as compared with 1.500,C00 bushels for the sanm months in 1925. “ The position as regards oats was quite satisfactory. The total area grown was 372,689 acres, of which the product of 117 326 acres was threshed for gram. The yield was 4,420,504 bushels, an increase of 304,898 bushels when compared with the previous year. The Dominion average yield per acre was moat satisfactory, and as m the case of wheat, was the highest obtained for quite a number of years past. The actual yield per acre was 45.55 bushels being 3.39 bushels greater than the 1925-6 yield, and 7.05 bushels per acre m excess of the average yield for the previous 10 years. , , , “ An increased area of barley was prod'uced, the figures being 29,886 acres threshed, as against 25,969 the previous season. Additional to this, the per acre yield secured was higher than in any recent vear, being 41.60 bushels, as agamst 36 47 "in 1925-6, and an average of 32.77 bushels for the previous 10 years. The increased area sown, combined with tho exceptionally good yield, was responsiblc for the production of an extra 296,331 bushels, as compared with the 1925-26 production. , , . “No definite figures are yet available in regard to the areas sown in wheat and oats for the 1927-28 harvest, but an estimate indicates that an increased area has been sown in wheat, and a decreased area in both oats and barley. The figures for wheat arc 270,000 acres sown, against 220.083 acres actually threshed in 1926-27. With regard to oats. tho estimate is 312 000 acres, against 372,698 actually harvested the previous year, and with barley 21 500 acres sown against 50,414 acres harvested in 1926-27. <■ Xhc output of seed from the different grasses and clovers saved for seed production in the Dominion has been fairly well maintained. The area planted in potatoes in 1926-27 was 24 616 acres,, as against 23,484 acres in 1920-_G. The yield has been normal, and potatoes have been plentiful owing to the embargo on the importation of New Zealand-grown potatoes into Australia. “Up to the end or November, bales of hemp and 23.394 bales of tow were submitted for grading. . I hese figure,-, arc practically on a par with those tor the corresponding months of tne previous year. Increasing interest has been shown ‘in the cultivation of phormium throughout the Dominion, and several companies have been formed in this connection, in a few years’ time this planting of phormium v.-ill have a marked on the production of New Zealand fibre.”

The word “carol’’ is from “ eantarc." to sing, and “ rola,” a joyful interj cctl onArticles made from stone, hone, and ivory, including a beautifully carved little effigy of a Polar bear, and all believed to have been made by Eskimos of 1000 years ago, have recently been discovered on Mill Island, in the Hudson Strait . ...