THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20701, 26 April 1929, Page 4

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rusticus.

Sterilisation of Cream. , , , A system for the treatment of cream to prevent souring, which is believed to be entirely new, is being put into use in Glasgow, Scotland, according to a report by Consul Leslie E. Woods, made public by the Department of Commerce. The principle of the process is rapid heating under pressure. The cream, after separation, is quickly raised to a temperature of 235 degrees F., and then is cooled to between 60 and 50 degrees F. The result of this treatment is claimed to be that the cream remains sweet for six or eight days in warm weather, and as long as 10 days in cool weather. Further, it is claimed that this cream may be kept for six weeks in vacuum churns and then, exposed in open containers, will remain sweet for the above stated number of days.

Attention was focussed on this process on account of the new x’egulations of the Scottish Board of Health prohibiting the use of preservatives in certain foods, including cream. Cream pastries are consumed in large quantities in Glasgow, and as the supply of cream is a day’s distance from the city, the absence of preservative endangers its sweetness. In fact, with the preservative, the cream remained sweet four or even five days, which was the time that customarily, elapsed between production of the milk and consumption of the cream pastries. The plant required for this process occupies a floor space five feet by seven feet and costs about £BOOO. Two such machines are now in use, one at a dairy in Cumnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, and the other in Ireland. The plant consists of four cylinders into which the cream is pumped. In two of these the cream is raised to its maximum heat 235 degrees F. with the pressure and heat scientifically balanced to prevent boiling, and in the other two cooling chambers this temperature is reduced to 60 degrees F. or lower. A Question of Names. There, is an interesting article in the December issue of the Commercial Fertiliser. The president of the National Fertiliser Association, Mr E. L. Robins, in his address to the convention, proposed that the name “ fertiliser ” be supplanted by “ plant food." This proposal was favourably received, and was agreed to be a matter worthy of serious consideration and operation. . The words “plant food," says ' the article, are decidedly more descriptive of the materials that the industry sells. They will mean more to the farmer'than the words “ fertiliser ” or “ guano,” now in common use. The article argues that the first step in educating the farmer to recognise and know fertilisers by their plant food content is to call them by the name “plant foods.” He will then the more easily understand what is meant by nitrogen plant food, phosphorus plant food, potash plant food, and by more complete plant diets. Mr _ Robins pointed out that the term “fertilisers”, has been so associated in .the past with bad odours (literally), and with malodorous methods of busihess. that the use of the term “plant food” might have a beneficial effect in cleansing the atmosphere of the trade. He said that a smell was no longer a qualification of. a useful fertiliser material. Candid Criticism. Consideration was given by the New Zealand Dairy Board to a letter addressed by Mr A. C. Rowson, London, to Dr J. A. Kuddick, Dominion Dairy Commissioner for Canada, on New Zealand cheese. The letter was published in the Montreal Produce News. Mr Rowson wrote on the looseness of texture and absence of Cheddar flavour in New Zealand cheese, believing it to be due to high pasteurise-’ tion. Whilst bad flavours in New Zealand butter and cheese were “getting less all the time, there seems to be an entire absence of the fine flavours that we used to in the past. This tendency in New Zealand seems to me to be entire! y to tn 6 benefit of Canada..” Mr Rowson also wrote that' development' of New Zealand cheese would be slower now that makers had gone in'for waxing. He also wrote; ;L sold a straight line of Canadian coloured cheese here on the spot yesterday at 112 s, and the same day a line of New Zealand coloured at 965. Here is a difference of 16s per cwt (a difference of over three .cents per lb,) oh the same day for straight lines of goode in each case the best of their kind. The comment made on Mr Rowson's enticisms by Mr W A. lorns, chairman xof the h. GW Zealand Dairy Board, was as follows; Mr Rowson is, of course, entitled to have lus opinion and to state it as he thinks fit. It is well, too, that New Zealand producers should know the faults of their produce as they appear to a merchant who is selling the cheese, but it does seem a great pity to advertise our faults in tins way, especially in a paper like the Montreal Produce News, which not only has a big circulation in Canada but in Great Britain also.” The Dairying Industry.

j The supply of milk at the various dairy ° n f Is , "'ell maintained, and a f e bright prospects for a good Thf> P mi^nff 16 a i^ r ■ r>ai '* ; le season in+n ««- a i n H ties 4 airy P r °duce received I «r p i 1 ‘ st H e *? tbe end of March show a considerable increase in cheese, but a very decided drop in butter. The latter it has been suggested, may be largely due to increased local sales, in which case’the actual manufacture of dairy products might show an increase over last year’s figures. The shipments from Bluff would seem to have been fairly satisfactory this season, as at March gj there remained: in store at Bluff a balance of 21,505 crates ot cheese as compared with 28,551 crates at the same date last year, and 4801 boxes ot butter, whereas there remained at the same time last year 5241'. The increase in the manufacture of cheese according to the returns from the cool stores amounted during the first six months of the season to 6281 crates, equal to 5.5 per cent., but the decrease in butter V s n ™’ Cl ,n °re substantial, amounting to 10,979 boxes, equal to 43.2. Those figures do not, however, mean that the decrease, it any, is as great .as might be suspected, as to date only 14,392 boxes of butter have been sent into store, while the quantity of cheese amounts to 119,586 crates. The quantities of cheese forward during the individual months for this and last season were as follows;

The butter figures for the same period are as follows:

Auckland’s Record Year.' 'With, two months and a-half of the 10-8-20 dairying season’yet to run, production to date in the Auckland Province exceeds the total for the whole of- the previous record season, 1926-27, by over 1.6 per cent. Following is a summary of the number of boxes of butter and crates of cheese received at the grading stores for. the season, to date and the quantity in store on April 17, with comparisons for the corresponding, period .of last dairying year in each case:— Butter. Cheese. 1929. , 1928. 1929. 1928. Season 1,981,452 1,730*460 167.T45 138,222 Instore 110,653 76,941 20,052 12,976 The season's yield to, date,„ in terms of

Itews of interest to those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be addressed to “Rusticus,” Otago Daily Times, Dunedin.

butter-fat, is over 14 per cent, in excess of that for the corresponding period of last season.

It is noteworthy, in a detailed comparison over these two periods, that butter so far shows an increase of 13.9 per cent., while cheese, the lesser element in production. is over 21 per cent, ahead of last season’s figures to this stage. The premier fact, however, is that production for the season to date is already in advance of that for the 192G-27‘fulI season, which was a provincial record. Demand for Farm Lands.

There continues to be a good inquiry for land in Southland, but not a great many sales have been reported so far this season. The inquiry is principally for small places with an easy ingoing and, of course,- it is difficult to secure such properties rowing to the fact that lenders arc very conservative in their advances on land. However, the prospects are that during the current winter a number of properties will change hands. The interest from the north is still evident, and it seems probable that the approaching visit of South Taranaki farmers will increase this tendency as in all parts of Taranaki it is reported that the price of land is still a good deal in excess of its value. Southland has never suffered, from this to any extent, and so farm lands should prove quite attractive to the visitors and any transactions that may take place will be to the advantage of Southland. OTAGO A. AND P. SOCIETY MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the committee of the Otago A. and P. Society was held' in the society’s board room on Wednesday and was attended by Messrs W. -0. M’Kellar (in the chair),-A. M'Kinuon, E. M. North, D. J. Ross, G. Ross, James Begg, John Young, H. Turner, E. C. Hazlett, ,G. Black, D. M. Philip, J. Sim, R. H. .Edie, H. C. Campbell, S. Bowman, and J. W. Blair. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs A. Johnson, J. P. Littoe, and T. J, Gawn. On the motion of Mr H. Turner the Finance Committee’s report recommending that .accounts amounting to £290 8s 7d were' passed for payment. Correspondence was received from the town clerk and the secretary of the Otago Motor Club_ in reference to providing a m otpr camping area, which was noted. The Department of Agriculture wrote advising that it had decided to make a display at the principal winter shows throughout the Dominion, and advised that Mr E. B. Tennent, field instructor, was authorised to arrange what amount of space would be required. Dr C. J, Reakes, of the Agricultural Department,-wrote stating that the Minister of Agriculture had advised his Excellcncy, the Governor-General to appoint Mr James Begg as Otago’s,representative on the Board of Agriculture. The president considered that the .Otago district was fortunate in-having -a man of such experience, and whose practical advice should be of immense value to the country on the Board of Agriculture. The secretary of the Auckland A., and c " rro^e asking the co-operation °i the society ijj sending a few exhibits or turnips and mangels for display at ■ ? Auckland Winter Show. It was decided that the secretary should endeavour to arrange with some of the principal exhibitors to forward to Auckland a few cases of roots. question of submitting a remit-to the Agricultural Conference to be held in Wellington next June 'dealing withthe question of time occupied in the valuation of and sale of wool was left in the hands of the president and Mr G Black. i connection with the mortality in lambs Mr James Begg was asked to submit a remit for Mr D. J. Ross, a member of the council, to bring before the conference. The Palmerston North A. and P. Assoelation wrote in reference to resolution passed at the conference in Wanganui dealing with the question of rates on show grounds and buijdings, -which was submitted for the opinion of the society. The president pointed out that the question was an important one, and it was evident that the society had not taken full advantage oj the provisions l in the Acts dealing with the valuation of agricultural show properties. Mr M’Kellar stated that according to Act 31, Clause 52, it provided that in making valuation of land held for show grounds or show purposes which gave local bodies power to remit rates on show grounds. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the executive to bring the matter before the interested bodies. A report of the Dominion Conference New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League was received and noted. The Space Committee reported that so far. over 70 applications had been received for space. ■ Out of that number 17 had either been declined or held oven j-m committee was - experiencing great difficulty in obtaining sufficient space to nieet the demands, and unless more accommodation was provided it would be compelled to ask many exhibitors to retheir space. . After a very full discussion it was decided that the question of utilising Messrs Dalgety and Co.’s new building, which adjoins the' society’s in Vogel street, be referred to the Space Committee with a recommenriation that it be utilised if possible for the display of 1 some stands and side shows. This building was, 9000 square feet, iand would be admirably suilpd for the display of exhibits. A special vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs Dalgety and Co for their generosity in offering the building free of rent. T? v ? a decided to send invitations to t" e "me Minister (Bir Joseph Ward) the Minister of Agriculture (Mr G. W n l- the Mi «istcr of Railways (Mr W. B. Taverner) to attend the Winter ' Show,

■ An itinerary of the South Taranaki tamers visit to the South Island was received. The .party will arrive in Duhedin. at 6 p-in. on Saturday, June 1, and will leave Dunedin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. June 5. It was decided to issue free mvitatnms for them to attend the Winter Show, and the Dunedin Jockey mill has also agreed to extend to them a free invitation to visit the races. On Sunday afternoon it is suggested that they be given an opportunity of visiting . Around Dunedin.” and on Tuesday evening tne_ Farmers’ Union here proposes to entertain the visitors at a social evening in the Savoy. , ; The committee then considered and ,i?ii « v,t s I ?. at,y .’ natt , era in, connection with the forthcoming show, , and’received nominations for judges in many of the sections. v

September .. . October ., .. November .... December .. . January .. . 1028-29. . .. 24.482 1927-28. 6,354 19,160 24,047 24,345 March .. 1, , 18,276 119,500 113,305

1028-29. 1927-28 .September,. . .. .. 1C 732 October, .. .. ,. 637 1,484 .November . . 2.483 6,081 December . ... .. 3,243 January ■ . F ebruary . . ..... 2,573 5,940 4.114 March .. . 1,944 14)392. 23,371