FARM AND STATION NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20291, 27 December 1927, Page 15

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rustxctts

FORTHCOMING SHOWS. 1927. December 27. —Waitahuna. 1928. January 14.— Blueskiu. ; Janudry 20.— Palmerston-Waihemo. January 25.—Tapanui. January 28.—Waikouaiti. February 14, 15, 16, 17. —Masterton. March 17. —Lake County. March 29.—Metbven. April 9.—Mackenzie. April 9. —Strath-Taieri. FORTHCOMING WOOL SALES. January 5, 6. —Christchurch January 11, 12—Wellington January 16, 17 —Napier. January 20 —Wanganui. January 27.—Invercargill. January 31. —Dunedin. February I—Dunedin.1 —Dunedin. February 3, 4.—Timaru. February 8, 9. —Christchurch. February 16, 17. —Wellington. February 20, 21. —Auckland. February 23, 24—Wanganui. February 27, 28. —Napier. March 2. —Invercargill. March 7.—Dunedin. March 12. —Christchurch. March 15, 16. —Auckland. March 19.—Wanganui. March 22.—Napier. March 26.—Wellington. Export of Pigs.* at Tauranga. Mr Judd, of the New Zealand Co-operative Pie Marketing Association, said it was estimated that 230,000 pigs would be fattened in the South Auckland area this season. The year’s surplus for export wa s estimated at 65,000. The association had sold pigs locally for export to Australia and Britain, and endeavours were being made to open up new markets. Sales had been made which showed a material advance on the local sales prices. The scheme had been operating for only about five weeks and it had already handled 5000 pigs. He estimated that 50,000 pigs would be handled this season. ,The Great African Veldt Grass. This grass, which is destined become famous throughout Australia and New Zealand, was introduced accidentally by carnal owners in Western Australia, where some seed from the imported fodder from South Africa germinated in one of the national parks. Though dry to the point of brittleness, this hay was always found to bo extrerae.y nutritious, and to impart considerable staying powers to the animals who lived on it. The guest was a welcome one, for it filled up many a bare patch witfi luxuriant and nutritive grass four feet high. Its marvellous growth so attracted the attention of the superintendent that he made inquiries end discovered that it was a perennial veldt grass of the utmost value for stock purposes. Plants, for which there is now a great detfiand, were sent to the various parts of the State, and they are said to have prospered greatly whereever tried. A reliable Government official says: “It is without doubt the best fodder grass in. our State_ (W.A.). Stock of alj, kinds like it, and it grows freely. ’ Show Classes. An objection to tho invasion of professional breeders into the class for_ natural condition sheep, which was intended originally for novices, who now, howexer, are able to win few of the prizes, was the subject of a letter from Mr W. Rayner, of Masterton, one of the leading sheep breeders of the Dominion, to the committee of the Masterton A. and P- Association. The writer stated that he was sure that exhibitors at present were showing from 50 to 75 per cent, better sheep than when the class was first started, and entries still kept up. One of the writer s reasons for showing in the natural condition class was that at the Palmerston isortn Show a few years ago there had been outside buyers for natural condition sheep. Exhibitors had' as a result sold a fair number and received repeat orders. The meeting decided to refer the matter to the next conference of agricultural and pastoral associations. , , , P “My opinion,” said Mr Rayner, is that the open class should bo cut out and a stock shown in natural condition. You will then breed sheep that will keep out m the rain with curly wool of beautiful lustre. In our better-class Lincolns to-day we have soft, lustrous-woolled sheep with no sign of rain in their wool. For the natura condition class you must have strong crimpy wool on the back that w fiirThe hand Py and then you will have sheep that will suit the farmer of New Zealand and give satisfaction in export. Massey Agricultural College. The prospectus of the Massey Agricultural College states that the college w*U bo opened on March 2,1928. The college vear will comprise two terms, the first ex- • tending till May 2 and the second from Juno 11 till September 8 Pending the erection of the permanent college buildings, classes will be held in the old homestead, a largo 10-roomed house situated on the property, and in , a U.™' porary annex. It is anticipated that the dairy factory, which is to be erected for teaching and research purposes, _ will. bo completed in time for the courses m dairying to be held during next winter. The farm is some 865 acres m extent, about two-thirds being heavy clay and the remainder river flats which vary from loam to light sandy loam and gravel. The property thus possesses a wide range of so types, a distinct advantage to an agricultural college. The stock being earned at present consists of purebred andgrado Jersey and Friesian dairy cattle Aberdeen Angus bullocks. Romney and Southdown sheep and Berkshire and Tam worth pigs. The following are the subjects to bo taught in the college Agricultural geo- : logy, chemistry, agricultural botany, agn- | cultural bacteriology, veterinary hygiene, i economic mycology, agricultural zoology, j economic entomology, genetics, field h - | bandrv, farm forestry, live stock, daily | science, agricultural economics,. agncitl- | tural engineering, farm surveying and , leve'hn"- farm bookeeomg and account- ■■ ing, machme-shop practice Two typos of , courses will be offered : -(I) Courses lead- ■ to" to degrees of the University of New Zealand; (2) short courses. 1 Students may enter upon the, degree , courses as soon as they have matriculated , In the case of tho remaining courses olifered | by the college, no student will bo adm tted , under the age of 16 years. Women student, | will bo admitted to all courses. , The Dairy Research Institute is cb,eh associated with the Massey Agricultural] College, so that students attending courser, . will have an opportunity of getting firsthand knowledge of the work earned on therein The college laboratories, dairy factory herds, and farm are utilised for the carrying out of research work. Canada’s Wool Production. Woolgrowing interests in Canada, confidently believe that the sheep and wool industry of the Dominion will show marked expansion this year (-Lite? h Times, London). It is stated fw “the woo! Hip is superior to that of 19 < 2 Anada has still a long way to go. how- ■ ■ xifere it will count in the world s PVer ,’ At the end of 1926 .there wool mark_ ] n *'- P Dominion, were only 3.300.507 sfieep i MOorte d The total he Vr al vear to March from tannda .n t valu'cd at 1.433.660d01. 31 Wa L 5 . it voidd seem that tho worth approximately a shilling a the present vear go to 1 ThTview that' Canada has entered confirm the vie Aiecp-hrecdinc and upon a (states the Times), and wool-productl . ntiTle to accelerate the efforts are n • Notice is periodically rate of, progress- - ■ esfabreceived while the value fished in 3VcS _ " nia )l farms is hem- mnre of the sheep on •' f i anc ) a small nerd is generally ar> ’Lf romin2 „ n additional nhase increasingly bj’. nc tivitv. The sheep ° f T; e nn f to Canada would appear to he population i" . definitely °n the While Canadians h of per cap lta consumption of mution average anxm .

Items of interest to those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, with a view to their publication in these columns, will be, welcomed, S2»ey abeuld be addressed to “Bastions,” Otago Daily Times, Dunedin,

is only 9.38!b. While a large and profitable export trade has been built up in beef and pork, that in mutton is insignificant and 98 per cent, of slaughterings are consumed at Home. Exports of mutton from Canada represent 1.5 per cent, of these of bacons and hams, and 11 per cemt. of those of beef. Russia Active in Wool Market. A firm that is apparently going to wield a big influence in Australian wool markets, with tho possibility of extensions to New Zealand, is the Textile Import Company, Ltd., a Russian company with headquarteis at Moscow. It was registered in Sydney on December 5, with a capital of 3,000,005 roubles (£316,0(2,0). It is intended to establish a branch of the company in Sydney, in order to operate freely on our wool markets. Already this season about 42,000 bales have been bought, representing approximately £1,260,000. Last year the company bought 17,000 bales through an agent, entailing an expenditure of £510,000. Tho company’s wool to supply its mills in Russia was previously purchased in England, but now it was being obtained •more economically from a primary market. Moreover, about 40 per cent, of the wool purchased is scoured in Australia, instead of in European countries, as formerly. Contracts for this work have been made with six Australian mills. A quantity of wool, however, is still purchased in England, chiefly tops, at the Bradford sales. The Sydney branch of the company is controlled by two Russians, Cereal Research. Further to consider the proposal to set up a Cereal Research Laboratory in Canterbury, a meeting was held last week in the rooms of the Canterbury A. and P. Association (says tho Christchurch Press) The proposed regulations under the recent Finance Act dealing with the setting up of a committee, levies, administration, etc , were unanimously approved with certain amendments, and these will be submitted to the Government to be made statutory if considered satisfactory. Approval was given for certain work to be started at once on crop certification under Dr Hilgendorf and Mr Hadficld. The following executive was elected Drs Hilgendorf and Denham, Messrs Hawker, Lyons, and Hadfield, who will deal with the questions of setting up tho proposed laboratory, making the necessary prelimjnary arrangements, including the appointment of a preliminary staff. Farming at Home. Some interesting observations concerning the fanning industry in England were made to a representative of the Christchurch Press by Mr Norton Francis, who has returned from a visit abroad. “ I was disappointed with the appearance of many of the farms in England, as seen from the train,” he said. “ There is much evidence of want of repairs to fences, ditches, buildings, and renewal of pastures. The farming industry has, and still is, suffering from its post-war bqpm, as has been tho case here. The granting of. the freehold by large land owners to their tenants has also been in many instances disastrous to tho owner. He now has to pay interest on a mortgage m lieu of a rent, which was usually reduced in a bad year, and desirable improvements previously done by the landlord cannot be afforded by the new owner. The result is that much peasture land looks neglected, and does not carry sufficient live stock or grow’ enough hay to make it profitable. “Much is being done by countv agricultural colleges and various research stations to show farmers how the position may oe improved, with excellent results, but much more is necessary, and possibly parliamentary assistance before English agricultural life is again prosperous. Denmark exports bacon to England to a value of nearly £40,000,000 annually, and actually buys the offals from the big English flour mills to help to fatten the pigs for this trade, while many of the English and Scottish bacon factories cannot get sufficient pigs to work them profitably. “ As a member of the Massey Agricultural College Council, I was naturahy much interested in the agricultural research work going on, and visited several institutions in England and Scotland, and also the latest up-to-date beet sugar factory at Carlow, in Ireland, where Colonel Gibbon, our Chief of Staff hero during the war, is a director and taking a great interest in getting die Irish farmer to grow roots for this factory.” Herd-testing Associations. The returns secured by a Southland farmer from a Friesian dairy her! of 29 cows (some, purebred and the rest grade Friesians) are very interesting as showing the high producing capacity of the breed. In October his ' herd averaged 531 b of butter-fat, and in November the average was over 611 b. The highest cow, a grade’ Friesian, in November milked up to 911 b daily, and her butter-fat return for the month was 103.741 b. Tho herd was milked twice a day, and was supplied with no extra feed. ’ Granulated Butter. An experiment in the shipping of butler to London in granulated form and of minimum water content, say 10 per cent., is to be made immediately. Associated with the scheme is the intention to develop the distribution of Australian butter in pats, so that it shall rear h the consumer as the product of Australia. The suggestion originated with Mr Hartmann (James Bell and Co., Melbourne), who has perfected a machine for rapidly chipping or shaving frozen granulated butter, prior to its rechurning or reconditioning. Arangements have been made for installing this machine in London. It is believed that, in addition to a slight freight saving because of the lower moisture content, the reconditioning and incorporation of the legal limit of moisture (16 per cent, in London, will present the butter to British consumers in a more spreadable and freshened condition. New Zealand Friesian Association. Following Messrs H. North and Sons’ report that they sold no fewer than seven of their renowned Rosevalc bulls within 10 days of the finish of the Royal Show at Christchurch, Mr J. I. Royds reports that ho has also experienced a keen demand for his Friesian bulls from his stud herd at Fcndalton. Christchurch. Among his sales since tho Royal fixture are tho following bulls: To Mr R. N. IVaghorn, Little Akaloa, Fendalton Abberley Topsy Posch. sUd Fcndalton Abborley Sylvia Posch 'Netherkiud Pietertjc of Bainfield—Bainfield Topsy 14th, 7101 b fat. herd record) dam Bainfield Topsy 12th, a daughter of Roscvale King Sylvia, and with a record of 151101 b milk and 6511 b fat as a junior two-year-old. i To Mr A. G. Waghorn, Little Akaloa, Fendalton Inka King Sylvia, sire Rosevalc Inka King Sylvia, dam Roscvale Queen Sylvia Posch, a full sister to the 1925 Royal Show champion. Roscvale Inka Holland Prince. To Mr S. Gilbert, Little Akaloa, Fendalton Abberley Sylvia, sire, Fcndalton Abberley Sylvia Posch (Netherland Pietortje of Bainefdd—Bainfield Topsy 14th dam Fcndalton Sylvia Posch. who has a C. O. R. test of 181451 b milk and 550!h fat, ami whose darn, Bainfield Daisy = v!via, 18.3101 H milk, 6211 b fat, is a ’-nghtcr of Bainfield 27, 23,2031 b milk and ',lllb fat. To Mr J. Greer. Papanir.. fendalton King Del find, sire Fendalton Abberley Svlv'n Posdi. dam Bainfield De'.hnrst, 16 0551 b milk and 6131 b fat. and the dam n-- Bainfield 16, 20,0171 b milk and Tjlh fat. To Mr J. Ernany. Roll Block Taranaki. Fendalton Prince AUartra I'osch 2nd, jtiry. Roscvale Inka Holland Prince, the 1925 Royal Show champion; darn. Feudalton Alcartra Rozine 10.9571 b milk. 6531 b fat n daughter <•■? Wondorest Alcartra Rorine hv that t' ♦ ‘ daughter of Sir Dc Kol Inka Pietcrtjc—Lady Rozine. Dairy Production. Nenrlv all the dairy companies in the Waikato report increased outputs for November, eomnared with. November, 1020. the improved production ranging up to 40 per cent. The following advances are reported to have been decided upon (says the New Zealand Herald):—Te Arohn. butter. Is 3Jd per lb hutterfat. a 24 per cent, increase; Kaknpuku. cheese. Is Gd per lb, a- 20 per cent, increase;

Tatua, cheese, Is 5d per lb; Is 4£d per lb for cheese and Is 5d per lb for butter, production being stationary; Raglan, butter. Is 4id per lb. a 25 per cent, increase; Te Awamutu, butter, Is 4Jd per lb, a 25 per cent, increase; Bruntwood, cheese. Is 5d per lb, production stationary; Norfolk, cheese, Is 6d per lb, a substantial increase in production is shown. The Cambridge Company wilt pay out Is 6|d per lb for cheese and Is 44d per lb for butter. Farm Labour Problems. While farmers in Now Zealand have undoubtedly had difficulty in recent years in attracting tho righl class of labour to their farms, they are infinitely better off than the farmers of many other countries. In Australia, for instance (says the Auckland Star), the farm workers are demanding an award, with wages of up to £4 per week and keep for dairy farm workers, and a. working week of only 48 hours. The position of the dairying industry, were -ueb an award granted., can bo readily understood. It would simply mean that farmers would have to get rid of much of their land, and farm only such a small area as they could work entirely themselves, or with the assistance of tbe-ir families. Eventually such an award would rebound on tho workers, and result in unemployment and distress through trying to force impossibilities on an unprotected industry which is dependent for its returns on prices secured m England—a land of lower wages and cheaper hying conditions. In Germany, too, the agricultural workers are agitating for an award with high wages and easier hours, while taxation of the farmer is crippling him. When wo survey what is happening in other countries we are forced to the conclusion that, although the Dominion farmer undoubtedly has his troubles., they are not nearly as great nor as serious as those existing in other countries. RURAL COURSE. AT HAMILTON SCHOOL. Training for boys who propose taking nip farming is to be provided by the Hamilton Technical School next year (says the Auckland Sun). Dealing with the question in his annual report, the principal of the school, Mr W. Fraser, said: “During the past year or two we have found that many boys who came , from dairy farms and whose intention it , is to remain at school for only a year or ; two, have boon drifting into one or other of our industrial courses. With a view to providing a course in keeping with thoir requirements the school board oi managers has decided to include m the school curriculum a composite industrial course which will include, in addition to the compulsory free place subjects, bookkeeping and science, various practical subjects such as metal work, forge work, woodwork, technical electricity, and dairy work connected with testing, separators, and machines. “ This is not intended to be an agricultural course, and we do not wish to label it such; but we believe that it will prove not only suitable, but particularly useful to the boys we arc getting from the dairy farms of the Waikato. This course should bring our curriculum more into relation with local conditions. Sound teaching, it is recognised, must be based upon the puil’s interests; and these, though they may in time reach out to the end of the world, begin at home in the attraction and challenge of things around him.” “ GET-TOGETHER ” FEELING. MR COATES TALKS TO FARMERS “ The cities are not against you. They are with you, and they realise as much as you do the necessity for keeping the primary industries in a stable position. But at the same time the people in the cities must be considered.” These very true words were uttered by the Prime Minister (says the Aucklond Sun) when reminding an assembly of farmers that while much depended upon their produce and a successful market for it, the city man also possessed a point of view. “ It would be politics only to talk of going back to Freetrade,” Mr Coates went on. “ It cannot be done. Under a policy of partial protection New Zealand has built up valuable industries. and_ it would be suicidal to take away that protection now. There are thousands of our people living in the cities who are dependent upon the secondary industries, and if these industries are killed it will v be a bad day for the country.” In skimming lightly over the financial position of New Zealand, the Prime Minister asserted that the country was returning to hotter times, “We have to keep our heads up and stick to it, and if every man keeps to his task we will pull through,” he said. “ There is no room for pessimists. We can discount many of the suggestions and questions as to what the Government is doing. The solution of most of our difficulties lies with the people themselves. “Wo have been told that the Dominion is going back £10.000,000 a year, but answering that in the politest terms possible, I say such a statement is contrary to fact,” Mr Coates said. “We could not do what wo have done without money, but in the past few years we have managed to reduce our borrowing from £11,500,000 a year to £6,500,000, and, in addition to that, wo have repaid deadweight war debts since 1922 to the extent of nearly £8,500.000. Our critics cannot get behind the fact that New Zealand s credit stands higher than docs that other overseas dominion. “Can anybody say that credit docs not reflect a standard of efficiency? The Government s opponents say the Dominion’s credit will be destroyed if the Government remains in power, but it is a fact that since the present Administration has been _m office the standing of New Zealand m the, financial market has steadily improved. It seems to m e that the attitude of some people tends to lower our credit lather than help the country along. J CREAM GRADING. COMPLAINTS VENTILATED. A meeting of dairy farmers, convened by the Ellesmere branch of the Farmers’ Union, was held at Leeston last week (says the Christchurch Press), when Mr H. J. Fetch, Government cream grader, gave an address and replied to a number of questions upon grading. During the past few months there hag been much dissatisfaction among suppliers in regard to grading at the factories. A higher standard has been insisted upon since tho introduction of compulsory grading, and the classing of a good proportion of the cream as first grade instead of finest has been a subjecl of complaint. Some supliers contend that it is easier to get a finest grade ticket from one factory than from another, and thus they hold that the various graders are not working to a uniform standard. Mr Fetch stated that a s butter was sold according to its quality, it wa<; only fair and just that the supplier who sent in finest cream should be entitled to a better price than another who supplied an inferior cream. Cream wa-- graded by tasto and smell. The greatest difficulty in Canterbury was with what might bo called border-line cream. There were cases where complaint was made that the standard was not high enough; in others the standard wa s considered too high. Dealing with the question of flavours, Mr Fetch said that fermented cream was full of gas-holc:-, sometimes as large a s a shilling. The croam often worked up and over flowed from the cans. Causes might be the putting of cream into cans which had previously held milk and had not been proper!} cleansed and scalded. Other causes were neglect to cool croam, mixing hot and cold cream, and keeping cream too Jong. A curdy or cheesy flavour often resulted from skimming too thin and not cooling, taking up I amts from the dairy or shed, bad ventilation rind keeping too long without stirring, or stirring with a wooden article in.-tead of a suitable rnotal one. Perished rubber wa s often the cause of i,-linted cream, tho cracked rubber providing a harbouring place for bacteria. Cream which was not protected from the sun when put out for the carter wa? frequently affected, often developing a tallowy flavour. Recently a fair amount of (rouble had been met with from a ere?? flavour, and flavours, from various weed.-. Cooling and stirring vmre ihe only reniedie- in such cases. A; present the department had under consideration a scheme for farm dairy in--miction, which should have the support of all farmers. Cream grading and farm dairy hr-truction should go baud in hand to give rite best rr?ults. Provided the scheme met with the approval of farmers, it would probably come into operation. Mr Retch said that the department was "oing it? utmost to see that cream at all factories \4,is graded a? near a? possible to a uniform standard. Tho work of the

factory graders was frequently proved by the Government graders. There was a severe penalty for putting in a finest grade ticket if cream had been adjudged second grade. While one Government department was doing its best to keep the quality up, ananotner department was doing much to keep it down, said Mr G. Nairn, in referring vo the Railways Department’s failure to provide proper ventilated wagons for the carriage of cream, It was disastrous to have cream in unventilatcd wagons from noon on one day until near noon next day. The Chairman s aid that the Farmers Union had taken this question up some years ago and an improvement had been brought about. It appeared that the proper wtacrirons were being sent south to comey fruit which was not so important as cream. The meeting decided to ask that reasons for the grade given all cream other than finest should be marked on the tickets for the information of farmers. . „• Another resolution was carried calling upon tho Railways Department to provide properly ventilated waggons for the con veyance of all cream sent by rail. BUTTER QUALITY. THE VITAMIN CONTENT. TESTS TO BE MADE. The vitamin content of butter and of butter from other parts of * the Empire and from foreign countries is to 1 be exhaustively investigated by Sr S. S. Zilva. of the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine, Chelsea London in conjunction with Captain Gold ing’ of the National Institute for Research in Dairying, Reading, and with the support of the Empire Marketing Board. Investigations will into the influence of environment and the diet of the cow. The problem is looked upon as one of great especially that aspect which deals with the effect of varying natural conditions upon the vitamin content of butter, an aspect of importance second only to that ot tne effect of storage and transport conditions upon the vitamin content. It is realised that if the results obtained are to be of real value scientifically and economically, something more than mere sporadic tests, which may prove very misleading, is necessary. . °yste: m " atic inquiry in collaboration with local agricultural experts overseas has been mapped out, and the Dominion s Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is co-operating in this. Two factories close to each other are to be selected, so that soil and climatic conditions may be comparable. For the purpose of comparison, the milk supply to each factory is to be the same, the butter for test being made from similar grades of cream. The two factories are to be selected on a basis of their manufacturing methods, the method of one being such that soda is used as . neutralising agent, the other manufacturing without the use of soda or any other neutralising agent. All possible details are expected to be recorded, referring to the average lactation of the herd supplying the milk, the composition and nature of the soil and the pastures, and to the periods of shade and sunshii. experienced by the supplying districts. The suggestion is made that the butter should be made during December at the height of the grass period. This, on first sight, sounds an innocent enough proposition, but therein lies a catch which will not show the Dominion’s butter to the best advantage. If all the tests made in other parts of the world are made at a period of maximum grass production, all the butter is likely to show a high vitamin content. New Zealand’s contribution not being outstanding amongst its competitors. If, however, the tests were made at other times of the year the fact that New Zealand’s butter excels in vitamin content would be more apparent. In this favoured climate where there is plenty of sunshine and cattle can graze outside all the year round, the vitamin content of the butter made at “ off ” periods of the year compares much more than favourably with that of competing butters. The Dominion, however, is co-operating in the tests, even if they are confined to only the period of maximum grass production, and Professor Malcolm, of Otago University, is carrying on a duplicate series for the purposes of comparison. In dairying circles especially, and by the Dominion as a whole, the results will be awaited with considerable interest.