OTAGO A. AND P. SOCIETY

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 9

OTAGO A. AND P. SOCIETY

The monthly meeting of the committee of the Otago A. and P. Society was held on Thursday, Mr James Macandrevv (president) in the chair. j The New Zealand Council of Agriculture ■wrote stating that a conference of delegates from A. and P. societies would be held in Wellington on Wednesday, 27th inst. in connection with the amusement tax as it affects A. and P. societies, and asking if it wu the intention of the committee to send u delegate or delegates to the conference. Tha Chairman' intimated that, as it was necessary to act promptly, he had asked Mr R. A. Ewing, who resides in Wellington, and Mr E. F. Duthie, hon. treasurer, to bo the society's representatives at the conference. The appointment of delegates was approved. The secretary of the Gore Association forwarded a circular letter, stating that, at last meeting of his association he nad been instructed to ask for this sooiety's co-opera-tion and assistance in having the freezing charges in the South Island brought intd line with those of the North, and that the following resolution had been passed: "That in the opinion of this meeting tha figures disclose a combination of the South Island freezing companies to maintain a high rate for freezing charges and a low price for the by-products purchased by tha' companies."—The letter was referred to a sub-committee consisting of Messrs Cantrell, Price, Todd, and! Turn bull to report. Mr F. J. Shelton, secretary of the- New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation, wrote forwarding copies of standard rules for judjging apples arranged by the federation, and asked the society to consider the matter favourably ahdl adopt the rules for use at its shows. —Referred to the Fruit Commit* teo. Mr H. Turner wrote stating that he had approached the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation for a donation in the shape of a special prize in the apple classes at &4 forthcoming Winter Show. —It was resorveq to thank Mr Turner, and the letter was res ferred to the Fruit Committee with powei to act. Mr A. Mao Donald, Outram, wrote fn» timating that, at a meeting of the Taierf Fruitgrowers' Association, it was decided td arrange for a display in the new clasf for orchardists at the Winter Show, ana asking for information regarding some.—Tha letter was received, the information to b« supplied. On the motion of Mr Cantrell, seconded by Mr Prioe, it was decided to request tha Government to decide at onoe whether If intended to declare the price for wheat fotf next season, as delav Imperils the acreage which may be sown this autumn, It was further resolved, on the motion of Mr H. O. Campbell, seconded by Mr T. Scott, that kindred societies b© circularised asking them to urge the Government to endeavour to see that sufficient wheat is grown in New Zpalnnd to meet home requirements. The schedule for the various clause* fo* the forthcoming Writer Show was carefully gone into and rwW, and various suu-srea-tions made by exhibitors and others weir*

given effect to. In this connection the Cooperative Fruitgrowers of Otago are offering to. special prize of £2 2s for most points in plato fruit classes, and other promises of support havo also been received. A considerable amount of detail business was' idealt with. i FISH MANURE MAKING. At the request of the Provincial Executive- of the _ Farmers' Union Mr John Christie., chairman of the CI nth a branch, and Mr Jasper Clark, of Loveil's Flat, paid a visit of inspection to the fish manure frorks recently started by Mr J. Mennell, of (Nugget Bay, Port Molyneux, and, according *to the Frco Press, were much impressed by the quality of the fish manure, and intend to report favourably upon it. At present the product sells at £8 per ton, and Mr Mennell says he has orders booked to keep him busy for a year. The difficulty

in the way of a largo output is the decrease in the number of fishermen owing to the war. The plant consists oi A Tangye steam engine and a grinding rnillv made to Mr Mennell's own specifications. The heads and entrails of fish, which fishermen are only too pleased to have carted away, are first boiled in a digester, then sun-dried, and then put through the grinding mill, which turns out a perfectly granulated manure, fit to go through any sowing machine. Official analyses show that the manure has a good proportion of potash, nitrogen, and ammonia, and those who have used it for turnips speak highly of it. A by-product is a crude oil. for which Mr Mennell has been offered £3O a ton. Mr Mennell referred to tho valuable fertiliser going to waste in the kelp, which grows so abundantly on the coast. He has been gathering 11 hi in quantity and putting it through h cnaffctiiter in a raw state, and selling tno sliced product to farmers.