THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 11

THE NORTH ISLAND.

j (From Our Own Correspondent.) j _ Farmers in the North Island have no ' time to gamble with just now. They are, vulgarly speaking, " up to their neck in it.'" There are no idle moments. What with having cows to look after, sheep to shear, crops to save, etc., etc., the man on the land is indeed a busy worker. Nothing is being lost that can be saved, except in the case of cocksfoot, and, unfortunately, railway men, without apparently any sense of the loss they are occasioning, are destroying pounds and pounds of cocksfoot along the railway reserves. This serious matter was introduced at a meeting of the Taranaki Executive of the Farmers' Union by Mr Orr, who said that railway surfacemen had already destroyed, by burning, a very large quantity of cocksfoot that was growing along the railway reserve. This he correctly described as a scandalous waste. Mr Orr went on to say that the Government had urged everyone to bo economical these times and to prevent unnecessary waste, but they deliberately destroyed valuable cocksfoot seed before anyone had a chance of harvesting it. On Mr Orr's motion, it was resolved that the Railway Department be- asked to instruct their surfacemen that, before burning off cocksfoot growing alongside the railway lines, every effort should be made to save the seed and have it properly harvested. This is a matter that it is hoped will command the closest attention on the part of the Railway Department. Seed is very scarce, and no stone sho'uld be left unturned to prevent the destruction of such really fine crops that have grown, and are still developing, along the ! railway lines of the north. I Splendid rains have- fallen over the north since my last contribution appeared in print, and though harvesting has been delayed the humid conditions have given a great impetus to the rapo and turnip crops, which in so many parts are now looking really beautiful. This consummation affords general satisfaction, inasmuch as that this year it is most important that these crops should do exceptionally well, in view of a diminished area sowh. It is stated that of land in turnips there is a decrease of 45,854 acres, and green fodder (nearly all rape) a decrease of 11,043 acres. It will therefore bo seen that it is necessary that the rapo and turnip crops in should be particularly well treated by Nature. Swedes appear to be doing much better, and it would seem as if they have not been affected so much with the aphis this year. This is a great trouble each year with the farmer who sows down swedes, and then finds that the aphis gets busy on the crop when it is developing. One farmer said he found the best solution was to sow carrots in between the rows of swedes, and the result was ail unmolested and perfect crop of swedes. Altogether farming matters in the north are "going on well, and the new year promises well. At the same time everybody wishes the wretched war was over, and the affairs of the nation would speedily get back to normal IMPERIAL PURCHASE OF DAIRY i -PRODUCE. It has now been ofELpially announced that the negotiations conducted by the NewZealand Government for the disposal of New Zealand dairy produce have been brought to a conclusion. The Butter Committee met Mr Massey last, week, when minor details were arranged. Tho estimated outnufc of tho season is 18.000 to 20,000 tons of butter and 45,000 tons of cheese. Tho whole of the exportable surplus has now been requisitioned by the I Government on Imperial account. All last I season's make of butter is now believed to j be exported, and' a very considerable quantity of new season's butter has gone already. There was a difficulty as between the Imperial Government and butter exporters as to tho liability for insurance of the produce from the factory to the ship. This has now been' adjusted, although its deferment ivas_ not permitted to delay shipment. The prices and terms of the butter purchase are as follow: —Creamery butter,

157 s per cwfc first grade butter, f.o.b. . ocean steamer, and Id per lb per grade reduction on above price for butter below first grade. Whey and dairy, butter, 133 s 8d per cwt for first grade, and £d per lb reduction for second grade. Milled butter, 124 s per cwt first grade, and id per lb less for second grade. The insurance risk from factory door to on board ocean steamer is to be borne by the seller, who will pay the storage charges; but uWtho event of there being storage of over an average of three months then the Imperial Government will pay the excess at cm-rent rates. Should there bo any profit resulting from the sale of the butter by the Imperial Government in the United Kingdom, then a sum representing 50_ per cent, of the net nrofit, as determined by the Imperial authorities, shall be made available to the New Zealand Government for distribution to producers. Advances equal to 90 per cent, of the value of the butter will be made 28 days after the produce is in store. Factories will continue to make their usual arrangements with the shipping companies as to space by steamers available from time to time, and members of the dairy associations will do this_ through their own organisations, who will ship the produce and supply the necessary shipping documents to the proper authority. The same conditions apply to cheese, excepting that there is no participation in the profits; * the prices for cheese being lOd per lb for first grade and 9|d for second for factorymade cheese, and for first and 8d for second grade dairy cheese. The whole of 'this huge business is passing through the Imperial Supplies Department. GOOD HORSES WANTED. It is the general feeling that since the motor car has made such strides in the life of 'Dominionites there has been a. steady falling off in the quality of the general utility horse. This opinion was backed_ up. by a northern farmer, who maintains that good, heavy-boned horses are very badly wanted in the country, and that such class of animal is threatened with extinction unless farmers paid more attention to _ breeding. At present the general practice seems to be to mate any mare with any kind of v entire, and "weeds" are thus becoming alarmingly numerous instead of good stock being secured. This fact is steadily becoming apparent, and if farmers will'study their own interests, as well as the interests of the horse industry of the Dominion, they will take a " pull" and change their methods of breeding. AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION. In the Auckland district a teachers' farm school is to be held at Ruakura Government Farm of Instruction, under the auspices of the Education Board. The period of instruction will be for one week from January 28. Ninety-five teachers from all parts of the Auckland education district will be in attendance, and these teachers were specially invited because of the interest taken by them in agricultural education. The- Department of Agriculture is actively co-operating with the Education Board, and Mr J. Brown, B.Sc, (Director of the Fields Division), Mr A. H. Cockayne (Government Biologist), Mr Allan Grant (Government Stock Expert), and Mr Beverley (Assistant Agriculturist), all from the Central Development Farm, Weraroa, will bo at Ruakuri for the week. In addition quite a number of leading breeders and agriculturists are to be present, and assist by lectures and demonstrations, so that it will be seen the function has been weii organised, and in consequence far- . reaching results should be achieved. In the ' Taranaki education district matters agriculturally are not running too sweetly, and as a result a deputation from Hawera waited upon the Education Board, and asked that, so far as South Taranaki was concerned, agricultural education should be placed under the control of Director of Technical Education. The deputation made itself clear that it was concerned only with the instruction given at the technical schools, and had nothing to do with any outside classes. The present system, it was contended, was not in the best interests of the pupils of the district. Hawera was more concerned in the matter of agricultural education than the northern part of Taranaki. Farming was a business into --winch many people went in a haphazard manner, and the results were sometimes very unsatisfactory. What- the Southern Taranaki folk wanted was an instructor who could divide his time between Hawera and New Plymouth, giv- j ing, say, two days per week at one place one week and three day 3 a week at the next place,, and so on alternately. Differ- ! ent instructors prevented a continuity of work, and so it was asked that a different scheme of operations be undertaken. The matter was eventually referred to a com- ' mittee, which, if necessary, had power relegated to it _to call a special meeting for further consideration. HARVESTING IN TARANAKI. Harvesting operations are in full swing j in Taranaki, and farmers are not " going to town" just now. Along the Opunake , road some very fine and substantial hay and oat stacks are to be seen. The recent showery weather has had a bad eft'eci on some grass, as in one instance a farmer with a ecven-acre patch con- j siders he has lost 33 per cent, in quality j and quantity through not' taking precau- ; • tions regarding the weather. Others also

find the growth light compared with previous years. There are some, however, who • state that .their hay yield will be good for the winter, but generally haystacks will • be very valuable by the time July-August comes round. I SETTLEMENT OF THE BACK i , COUNTRY. ; The progress of settlement in the back country is, in 'the first place, so entirely dependent on the construction of roads and tracks that one is inclined to think the value of the all-important work carried out by the Roads Construction Department ia hardly as much appreciated as it deserves to bo. Year after year the vast area of valuable land between the mid-Main Trunk railway and the Wanganui River ie being prepared for occupation by a small band of stout-hearted men employed by tho department. Their chiefs in the Public , Works Office at Ohakunc have no little responsibility in setting out the work of these men, and this arduous pioneering task goes on constantly without any waving of flags, or beating of drums. Soma excellent work is being carried out, and in the days of the future the roads and tracks being constructed and laid out will have an important bearing upon the development of the Waimarino. Some big blocks of land are being tapped, one of which extends from the Mangaturu'turu Stream to the Erua road, and contains approximately 10,000 acres. . The whole of this block i,s easy undulating Country of first-class quality, and when settled ultimately 'the traffic will, of necessity, gravitate to Raetihi and Ohakune, as conI venienco of _ accessibility dictates. The I block lies entirely to the west o'f the rail- | way line. The road through it was surI veyed about 20 years ago, and the land subdivided into _ average areas of about 200 acres. The projected settlement was subsequently withdrawn from sale on account of the valuable timber growing on the land. , The Raetilii-Ohura road is formed as a cart roacl for about 20 miles from Raetihi, For a further distance of seven miles a horse track nas been formed. At this point the road reaches the block reserved for returned soldiers, which is 35,000 acres in extent, and'is cut up into holdings of from 250 to 1800 acres, according to th< nature of the country. Several of thfl sections are already occupied by returned) soldiers. Tho nature of the land in the soldiers' block is papa formation, and it will make first-class sheep country. The frontage to tho Wanganui River of the i block from the southern end at the Manga--I pururua Landing to 'the northern end at I Retaruke Landing is 34 miles by river. A depth of a mile directly fronting the river along the banks is, however, held by the Wanganui River Trust as a permanent reserve, so that the nearest boundary of the soldiers' block is really a mile distant from 'the river. It is unquestionably a good thing for the public to know that the skill and endurance of our Publio Works officers and men is put to some test, with great results, in preparing trackless wastes so that they may be converted" into smiling homesteads, as is being done in tha Waimarino. IS FRUIT-GROWING A PAYABLE PROPOSITION? Is fruit-growing a profitable venturel That ;p a topical question just now, and, in view of the number of orchards there are in the making in the North Auckland district, it is quite certain that a great many people think there is a good deal in it. There are others, who hold that fruit-growing will only become remunerative when the Government legislates to prevent the importation of fruit from other places.. I notice in an Auckland paper that Mr A. G. Lunn has been giving his views upon this matter. Mr Lunn say? that the 1917 season was a bad one owing to excessive rain. Despite adverse circumstances, a fair number of apples came to market, but .the large importations of Canadian apples caused the bottom to fall out of the market, and apples which realised 21s per case had to be disposed of at 3s per case. One grower sent 50 cases of apples to Wellington, and they realised 2s lid per case. Out of this he had to pay Is 2d for car,es, 7d for freight, Id for cartage, Id for receiving and delivering, and 2d for commission, or a total of 2s Id, leaving lOd as gross profit, or id per lb. Tho grower had to pay for sprays, horsefeed, labour, and incidentals, and, as a matter of fact, the £d profit would not pay for packing. Can we not impose a duty and protect the grower? IN POVERTY BAY. Farm operations in Poverty Bay are being attended with very considerable success." The maize crops particularly are in splendid condition, though there is not the area under maize this year as last. The oat crops (many of which have been cut and stacked) have done well. The high price ruling for butter-fat has apparently stimulated dairying, and reports go to show that the number of herds in the district . has increased. With regard to shearing, most of the stations have finished, and wool waggons are now to be constantly seen on the_ roads carting the golden fleece to the various stores. The freezing industry also promises well, and additional storage for frozen meat is being provided by the Gisborno Sheep-farmers' Company, and" when completed it will be able to hold 50,000 carcases. According 'to Mr do Lautour, chairman of the company, it is

possible that the whole of the frozen meat in store from laet season will bo shipped at once—that is, of course, if weather conditions are favourable and the sea permits. The difficulty of obtaining- labour has materially affected the killings; but it is. considered that all stock coming forward this season will bo efficiently handled by the local freezing companies. GRASS AND CLOVER. The market for grass and clover eeeds has been rather active during the past week in consequence of the rainfall a couple of weeks ago. Burning off in tho bush districts, however, has not been done to any vory great extent, and it is yet difficult to state how the season is going to shape, as eo much depends upon weather conditions. A good season was prom?sed, and in several instances in tho King Country settlers and intending settlers got busy, and set the fires agoing, with excellent results. They just got their seeds in when the rain came, and new pastures are now under way. Others missed the opportunity, and are waiting their chance, which seems imminent, tho weather having been fine 'during tho past week. Tho new season's cocksfoot seed is being saved, generally epeaking, under favourable conditions, though tho wet weather delayed operations somewhat. Tho crop of Danthonia seed bas been rather light this season, or rather tho quantity Bared has not boon so largo aa usual. Considering that it is worth about Is 6d per lb to the -farmer, it ie

remarkable that more Danthonia seed is not harvested. WESTFIELD FAT STOCK. While in other parts there _ appears to bo rather a shrinkage in prices of fat stock, at Auokland there is good demand. Prices consequently remain firm, and last week's advance was well maintained at the current week's sales at Westfield. Some of the Auckland buyers of stock should take a run further south, and 'they might be able to pick up cheaper lines. At last Wednesday's offerings choico ox sold to £2 12s per 1001 b, other quality £2 5s to £2 lis, and cow and heifer beef £2 3s to £2 10s. Steers sold at from £l4 15s to £2l 12s 6d, cows and heifers £8 to £ls 15s, and bulls £9 10s to £l6 17s 6d. Some of the averages wero: Seven steers from Mr Fred Bregman, Waiuku, £l7 7s 6d; 10 small steers from Mr M. Harding, Wellington Park, £l6 7s 6d; eix cows and heifers from Mr N. K. Taylor, Gordonton, £l2 3s; 16 steers from the north, £l7 ss; 12 cows from Karaka, £l2 7s 9d; eight steers from Mr M. Fitzgerald, Mangaiti, To Aroha, £2O 4s Id; nine from Mr C. J. Storey, Woodstock, Te Awamutu, £l9 12s 9d; eight from Mr W. G. Park, Te Awamutu, £l9 3s Id; 13 from Mi- D. J- Cunningham, Ohiwai, Kiokio, £lB 8s 9d; 20 from the Kaipara, £lB 19s 8d; 15 from Mr James M'Nicol, Te Aroha, £lB 13s 4d; eight from Mr Thomas Bischoff. Tauhoa, £lB lis 3d; two 'trucks from Waikato, £l7 18s lOd; four cows from Mr James Freegard, Waerenga, £l3 12s 6d; threo cows from Mr T. M'Burney, Waerenga, £l3 2s 6d; six cows from Mr W. D. R, Hall, Mangeret £l3 3s 9d; throe cows from Mr Robert Hall, Mangere. £l3 Is Bd. A lino of 40 cows and heifers averaged £l2 18s lid. THE LANDS PORTFOLIO. Northerners have not jumped with joy at tho prospect of Mr D. H. Guthrie, M.P. for Oroua, being called to tho Cabinet as Minister of Lands, and to mostpeoplo tho announced "prospect" has com© as a surprise. While Mr Guthrie has no doubt made a good Whip for his party, no one —even his closest friend—would ever say that ho has shown distinctive ability. The general opinion is that merit has never been 'taken into account in the probable appointment, and that in the time of the present national peril the Government should not carry "passengers." Even in Mr Guthrie's own doctorate it is claimed that he has not taken even sufficient interest in land to prevent or protest against tho mopping up of the land by the system of aggregation, and that, in consequence, quite a number of desirable properties suitable for small settlers are falling into the hands of the aggregator. There was never a time in the history of New Zealand when the Lands Department more urgently needed ah experienced head. Not only have our thousands of returned and returning soldiers who desire' to go on the land to be attended to, but if the Government is wise it is already preparing for and encouraging a wave of immigration from the Old Country. It is probable also that a very considerable number of Australians will come to New Zealand as soon &s practicable—tin fact, it has been said that quite a number of Australian farmers, disgusted at the despicable attitude the Commonwealth has displayed towards the Empire, have resolved to leave it, and have been making inquiries as. to the feasibility of acquiring land in New Zealand. For the next four or five years at least a liberal and progressive administration of the Lands Department will be of the greatest importance, particularly as our main need will be a steady influx of the right kind of rural settlers upon the waste lands of the country. Under such circumstances, therefore, it is not- desirable that such an important portfolio as Lands should be passed to any member of a party as a good conduct prize. The interests of the department in particular and the Dominion in general should have first claims, and <if in the realms of the National Government Mr Guthrie i» the most capable man, irrespective of party, to keep the "wheels of industry" moving at a satisfactory rate, and a man who possesses the characteristic of initiative and sound administration, then by all means let him have it. ■ DANNEVTRKE BUTTER-FAT COMPETITION. Winners of the butter-fat competition m connection with the Danneviike A. and P. Society's forthcoming show are as follow:—J. Smith's Cherry—46lb - milk, 5.8 test, 2.6681 b butter-fat, 1; L. Polglase's Buttercup—s6lb milk, 4.6 test, 2.5561 b butter-fat, 2; L. Polglase's Lady Disdain—--541b milk,. 4.2 test, 2.2681 b butter-fat, 3. There were 17 competitors. COMMERCIAL BEEKEEPING. Mr I. Hopkins, tho veteran beekeeper, in the course of an interview with a pressman expressed himself as hopeful regarding tho future of beekeeping in the north. He referred to the great advance made by the industry. He said there are now between 12,000 and 13,000 beekeepers in New Zealand, and he anticipated a crop this season of between 1200 and 1500 tons of honey, worth somewhere in the neighbourhood of £IOO,OOO. Compared with prewar prices, there was an advance of from 250 to _ 300 per cent. He was satisfied that prices would remain at least 50 per cent, higher than pre-war prices. An offer had already been made to the Exporting Association to pay not less than £6O per ton for three years after the war. Farmers could keep bees if a son or a daughter about 17 years of age had a season's training at the Government Apiary. It was always best for beginners to "start in a email way and increase operations each season as experience was gained. About £2O should give a good start. In commercial beekeeping New Zealand was in the lead of all countries, and New Zealand honey topped the market. Since the Apiaries Act (for which Mr Hopkins is responsible), came into operation the industry has gone ahead by leaps and bounds. In 1906 the output of h'onev was 450 tons, in 1915 1250 tons.