AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3349, 22 May 1918, Page 11

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Very keen competition is expected at tho Winter Show of the Otago A. and P. Society, which will bo opened on Tuesday, May 28, as tho entries are greatly in excess of those of last year in most of the sections. The floor space in tho Brydone and Fullers' Halls has been marked off, and stallholders are starting to make arrangements for their stands. Tho whole spaco arrangements of the upstairs portions of tho show buildings have been altered this year to provide more accommodation for visitors, and also with a view to setting off the exhibits generally to better advantage. Fullers' Hall will bo devoted entirely to the display of fruits, honey, and fancy butter. As the entry in apples is largo, the general effect should be exceedingly fine. The wool section will also prove very attractive, as fleeces from

some of the best flocks in Ofcago have entered for competition. | The cockstoot yield this last season has been distinctly disappointing (says the Akaroa correspondent of the Christchurch Press). A general estimate by those capaDie of judging places the output from tno- Peninsula as barely exceeding 12,000 bags. Borne seven summers since nearly i 1011,000 bags were recorded, while in a ' particularly good season 15 years back the tally reached 150,000 bags. The causes of this serious decrease are not far to seek — a succession of droughty years, the consequent impoverishment of the grass itself, a lighter crop, a smaller area oi grass-seed paddocks "snut up," and, in respect to this season- at leasts heavy rain coming about Christmas time, instead of at the end of October, when it would have been most beneficial. An average of three bags of "clean" seed to the acre has been a very rare exception this last summer. Taking it all round the average would pan out roughly at about If bags to the acre. From 20th November last to 30th April there was paid out by the Imperial Supplies Department, in respect to butter, £2,538,246. For cheese, the payments for the current season to 35th April amounted to £3,575,257. The butter was purchased at 157 s per cwt., and the cheese at lOd per pound, for first quality in each case. It is understood that for the output of next season, an advance of |d per pound is asked for, and that 196 s per cwt. will bo asked from the Imperial Government for butter, or an advance, on the previous year of 3Ss per cwt., or equivalent to an increase of 4 3-16 d per pound. In reply to a communication from the Pastoralists' Federal Council of Australia, which recently held its 29th convention in Adelaide, the central wool committee has advised that so far as it is able to guage the position, ample supplies of sheep and cattle dips and pest poisons will be obtainable, as these arc mostly of local manufacture. In regard to woolpacks and twine, it is believed by the Naval Board that supplies will be forthcoming, and renewals for shearing machines, and so on, have received the- personal attention of the High Commissioner in London. The committee, however, suggests that under the conditions ruling strict economy should be exercised in every direction, on account of the dangerous and precarious shipping position, and further emphasises the benefits to be derived from the proper classification of wool on tho stations. It urges that the maximum quantity should be packed in each bale in order to reduce the requirements of the number of woolpacks. Two timber experts, Messrs T. Moylo and Kohne, were introduced on May 3 to the Minister for Foi-cste, Victoria. They claimed to be able to season properly any green Victorian timber in two hours by a new process. A bye-product was, they said, useful as a disinfectant. The Minister promised to place samples of green timber cut from Victorian forests at the disposal of Messrs Moyle and Kohne for a test, and they undertook to return them to the Forestry Department within 24 hours properly seasoned. Another case of clashing between Commonwealth and State methods has arisen in Queensland. In connection with the grading of butter it appears that the Commonwealth has taken over the grading of butter throughout Australia, and a few days ago Mr o'Calla.srhan, the Commonwealth dairy expert, arrived in Queensland to deal with the matter. Mr Lonnon, the Minister for j Agriculture, said that the Queensland De- | partment of Agriculture considered it most | undesirable that tho Commonwealth should take out of the hands of tho State Govern- | ment the work that the State Government | had been doing so satisfactorily for many j years past. The Prime Minister had as far back as 1912 said that no attempt would bo made to disturb the existing system without fresh legislation. In the meantime tho State authorities were passively resisting j what they regarded as an undesirable intrusion into the Sitato domain. Tho New South Wales Meat Board has accepted a contract to supply the British Government with 20,000,000 rabbits. The industry, which was languishing since the Federal Government's declaration some months ago that there was no shipping accomodation for rabbit exports, may be expected to at once revive. The contract is allocated among tho States as follows: New South Wales. 500,000 cases : Victoria, 83,000 cases; South Australia, 9000 cases; Tasmania. 8000 cases. Each crate will contain on the average 32 rabbits, making a grand total of 19,200,000. An advisory committee has been appointed to control the industry. The Irish store cattle trade (says an Exchange) is "booming." Lambing has commenced in County Kilkenny, and so far the season has been very favourable. Twins are more numerous than usual. Winter wheat is growing well wherever sown in Ireland, # and it is a thousand pities that the people in some parts of that fine agricultural country would not settle down to work, and leavo politics severely alone. At a recent meeting of the. East Suffolk War Agricultural Committee, Lord Rendlesham complained that in the grass counties of England generally only one-third) of a farm was ordered to be under the plough, whilst in tho Eastern Counties only onefifth was allowed to remain under grass. He should like the Executive Committees in tho Eastern Counties to approach the President

of the Board of Agriculture) and point out tho unfairness of this. The suggestion -was adopted.

A report that horseflesh, purporting to be beef, was on sale in a. city in tho Commonwealth, and had been condemned by the health inspectors, was confirmed by the Commissioner of Public Health. He said legal proceedings had been instituted in connection with the matter.

A Wananui farmer states that a pest of mice is very prevalent in some parts of that district, and considerable damage has been done to grain stacks. The enormous price of 3700 guineas waa paid for a championship shorthorn bull at Penrith, England, on March 8. A Thornbury correspondent of the Southland News writes stating that a fatal disease has occurred amon? calves feeding m a largo paddock of turnips. Tho first symptoms are panting, followed by a ccugh, and in the course of a month or two the animate die. Examination of ons showed tho lungs to bo seriously affected. Manawatu Times says:' "Mr- John Kobbell has sold his forming- property, tho well-known To Rauawa Estate, Ohau, to Mr F. S. Easton, of Poxton, for £42,000 cash. Mr Easton will probably take over tho stock also at valuation. This is probably the largest cash land deal on this coast of recent years." A farmer in the Ashburton County who has been sowing poisoned wheat behind the drill, reports an exceptionally good kill of small birds. He carried the poisoned grain on the drill and distributed it at intervals*

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL' NOTES.

(From Oue Own Correspondent.)

i Thero is in Southland at the present) i time a commendable ambition on the part of many to excel in the general quality of their stock and to go in for pure breeding. This is very noticeable in both sheep and cattle. Shorthorns are receiving considerable and a few breeders are' coining mere prominently to the front. Amongst soma of our dairying people Hoisteins or Friesians are claiming special attention, and more are obtaining pedigreed sires. So long as the breeding enra bo carried out with a pure strain it will bo right enough, but there are so many whoj Will make anything do, resulting i:i a great many mongrels being bred, which can be neither profitable nor satisfactory. Mon-grel-bred cattle are becoming largely in evidence. .If this is persisted in with dairy cattle for any length of time it will un* doubtedly prove disastrous to many. In sheep the Eomney is tho favourite breed at present. There are a considerable number of breeders, and tho breed has been much improved within <jven tho last decade, resulting in Romneys and Romnev crosses constituting a largo and rapidly-increasing proportion of our flocks. They cannot yet come up to Lcicesters foi? early maturing, and raising early fattening l lambs, but for general purposes many mam* 'tain that they hold premier position. There are .those also who persistently adhere to a considerable strain of Leicester, and they possibly are more suitable on heavy land suitablo for fattening and early maturity so long as tho land for a length of time has to carry 'the same stock. In such case* a frequent change is necessary. Unfortu* na'tely, many enterprising breeders of all kinds of stock —horses, sheep, and cattle—■ have not found it a profitable undertaking, and in too many cases hace come to griof. They have not received the encourage* ment they deserved and were entitled to. There have always been too many who have used any sort of sire so long as jt served tiie ono purpose.

It is alleged that much of the land purchased for returned soldiers is not suitable for close settlement, and that returned men aro not applying for land in proportion to the- number returning, but are obtaining l Government and other positions. That may be so, but there is a big question beyond that. Wo muse have increased production to meet tho heavy financial burdens tha .country must carry. This can be done only by tP 3ystem of promoting closer settlement, which we do no'fc at present possess. A considerable amount of trouble results from parties selecting suitable areas for settlement not having knowledge nor experience to enable them to do so properly. An official may be a good surveyor oc administrator or la.«cl_ official i.n any capacity, and bo quite incapablo of selecting land, say, to nut soldiers on under conditions favourable to ensure success. Putting parties on land with no previous experience is a mistake. They require training just as much as anyone who has done nothing but manuo.l labour would require special training for the work in a count in<?-houso or any kind of book-keep-ing. The settlement of tho soldier on tha land is of vital importance, not only in the interests of tho soldier, but in that of the country as weli, _ and requires the most careful consideration of tlie Government.Many quite capable of judging the of ihe position from a practical standpoint consider the position requires the setting, up of a Royal Commission to inquire into 1 the working of the Lands Department generally, and obtaining a system of successfulsettlement.

The coat of everything, including all kinds of raw material—fencing wire and every kind of material v quirext for fencing,—has gone up to S'.ch a high figure that many who are now, requiring to renew their fences are now realising thft

toistake they mado when tboy were induoed lo boliovo that by p'.-vrohasing a cheap article rhey \vero doing well. A great quantity of wire used and put into fences

a-9 {ax baok as the sixties is etill in good rapa.hr, and likely to last for maay years yet If given a good chance to do so. Tho cheaper German wire looked just ae well,

or for that part, perhaps, sometimes better, than the superior English article; but even if it didn't, so long as it could be bought at from 10s to £1 or more per ton cheaper, agents were easily found who would buy it and push its sale, and farmers were too easily induced to use it, and are now finding what a big mistake they made. It has been found that wire purchased in, say, 1900, has had to be renewed in 10 or 12 years; whereas wire purchased over 50 years ago may still be found in use. After the lessons learned, will che agents fc* tho wholesale merchants repeat this operation if they can earn a few extra pounds, or the users bo so foolish as to think they are saving money by buying it? OTA.GO WINTER SHOW GRATIFYING INCREASE OF ENTRIES. Excellent entries have been received for the Winter Show, which will be opened in Dunedin on Tuesday afternoon, May 28. In the cattle and sheep sections some fine exhibits will bo seen, and competition should be unusually keen. The entries in factory cheeso are very good considering tho disturbing conditions now prevailing. Factory butter is affected by the difficulties of finding shipping space for entries from tho North Island. As usual, the entries in homo industries are large, and tho judges will have no easy task In arriving at their decisions. In honey and pre-

serves some fine samples will be seen. The entries in fruit are very good, and the display is certain to attract the keenest attention of visitors to the show. In the root arid potato classes the entries are in excess of those sent forward last year, and good competition should result between exhibitors. Grain and seeds will make a good display, and will this year be seen to better advantage than previously. One of the most interesting features of the show will be the display of wool, of which there are 60 entries, as against four last year. The wool has been classified according to Bradford and will be judged by the Government expert valuers. A fine number of entries of roots has been made from school gardens throughout Otago, and it is pleasing to note the yearly increasing interest that is being,.taken in these classes by the scholars in the province ; which indicates that a desire is being evinced by the boys to acquire an early knowledge of _ improved methods of cultivation in agriculture.

The catering will again be under the control of the Otago Women's Patriotic Association, and the proceeds of the lunches and teas will be devoted 'to the patriotic funds. Various stalls will also be allotted for patriotic purposes. ' The following is a comparative statement of entries for 1917 and 1918: 1917. 1918. Cattle and sheep 100 78 Factory cheese 62 83 Factory butter 18 10 Farmers' butter 56 37 Fruit 130 295 Bread, scones, cakes, etc. ... 453 423 Honey and preserves 26 33 Hams and bacon 15 20 Grains, seeds, etc 86 100 Potatoes 40 : 47 Roots 92 105 School garden competitions ... 48 59 Wool ... ... 4 60 Total 1130 1350 THE NORTH ISLAND. (Fkom Oub Own Correspondent.) The past week's weather has been very mild all over the island, though it has been a little nippy at nights towards the southern part.. Growth has been wonderful; and m the kitchen garden weeds require keeping down. In my own garden 'the apple trees are full of blossom, as if it was quite usual for Nature to be asserting itself in that way. Weeds, however, are likely to cause considerable concern unless promptly and effectively grappled with. For instance, at Kohi Park, in Wanganui, where a plantation of broccoli was put down by patriotic effort, Cape daisy has taken possession, and its growth has been phenomenal; so much so that the matter was referred to at the monthly meeting of the Patea County Council by the chairman, Mr B. G. Pearce, M.P., who contended that action should bo taken to prevent its progress in Patea County. Mr Pearce went on to say that when the growth of "pennyroyal" became so apparent, and an effort was made to arrest its progress, it was found by the authorities to be too late. It would have been an impossible task to eradicate it, owing to the complete way it had taken hold of the country. They did not want a recurrence in respect to Cape daisy. After discussion it was decided to declare Cape daisy a noxious weed, and place it on the second schedule. In addition to the prolific grow'rh of weeds, I noticed in the course of my travels that quite a number of good oaten paddocks are to bo seen. A good many progressive farmers hold to tho theory that 'the principle of sowing oats early n.iul feeding them off enables the oat crop _to ultimately resist, rust, tho explanation boiug that the crop, through advanced development, is better able to resist attack by rust spores who: they appear with warmer weather in tho spring. In tho oo.renlgrowing areas a little more ploughing !•■• going on, and generally preparing the Isutd for winter wheat and for the preliminary conditioning of the soil for spring-sown crops. At tho same time., there is room for further activities, and if the men nro obliged to leave the plough to wield a join it seems only reasonable that a good deal of field work will ultimately have to k> done by women to maintain production, Why not prepare them for tho work while the good ploughmen are hero to do tho Biipervising? OF INTEREST TO DAIRYMEN.

An invention of considerable interest to dairymen has iust had a vory satisfactory

trial at Gisborne, and it promises great advantages to 'those engaged in the dairy.ng industry. The invention is the work of Mr Robert Preston, of Manutuke, Gieborne district, and is -in the form of a milktesting scheme. It has long beeen recognised that individual cow-testing is the key to success in dairying. The farmer who does not test each cow in his herd is quite in the dark as to the cows that are profitable and those that are not. Every is in favour of cow-test-ing, for it is no more expensive to keep a good cow than a bad one, and yet we find all over the country farmers who are prepared to exercise their own judgment in estimating the value of the various cows in their respective herds, rather than go to the trouble or a little expense in having the tests made. As pointed out at Gisborne a few days ago, milking machines are now being largely used with big herds, and, as the milk from different cows is, after being extracted, mixed up in one large vat, it is impossible to obtain a cample of any particular cow's milk, and the herd must be judged as a whole, and not individually. The results in the,aggregate may be quite satisfactory, and yet many cows-may be kept at a loss on a very small profit. To obtain a test of each cow's milk hand-milking would have to be adopted, and the dairyman who has a herd of 100 or more wants something more expeditious than that. Mr Preston, who is one of the mos't progressive dairymen of Poverty Bay, set himself to solve this problem, and. after giving a great deal of thought to the subject, and conducting many experiments, he has been able, it ia believed, to have arrived at a system which is not only valuable, but simple. A demonstration was made a few days ago in the presence of Mr Beatson, Government Grader, and a number of prominent dairymen. Over the bails, with a cow on either side, two cans, connected with the milking machine, were placed. These cans have a capacity of three gallons, and are so constructed that they can withstand the suction pressure of a machine, which in this instance was 151 b to the square inch. A strip of clear glass is let into one side of the can so that the contents may be seen. The weight of the milk (on the basis of quantity) is registered clearly in figures on the can. As soon as a cow has been milked the quantity of milk is marked on a blackboard, a sample drawn off from a tap, and then the whole of the milk is released, alowing it to flow into the common receiver. The strappings do not form part of the milk tested, but for practical purposes it is not necessary that they should. On the wall of the cowbyre is what", Mr Preston has called a "totalisator." This is a shallow case and blackboard combined. The case, contained in several rows over 100 bottles for holding samples of milk. Each bottle was numbered, and so was its particular place in the case. Below the rows of bottles is a blackboard about 3in in width, with a space below each bottle marked out in four squares. The squares allowed sufficient space for marking down the quantity of milk given by a. particular cow at each of the four milkings necessary for a complete test. The cows bear numbers corresponding to the numbers on the bottles and the places they occupied on the case. The weighing of the milk, the taking of a sample, and making the necessary records on the board was the work of a few minutes, and did not interfere in the slightest degree with the continuity of milking operations. Mr IVatson who will no doubt, .ivport to lus department, tested tJtw? yeh'abdttv of the woik'hmg .-n'stv-m., and took samples ol the milk, not o.ulv hv.«.i \hs «*n |«.t<3 WIUQh it. just ttowvU. .':-;.i,5 uiije* « h»u b&&k ro-Uvi-i- ' 'IK* v«v : !/ J 'i5 wa,a a.tuxtet; t?x«,e-l\ «ud tvuuuUv,; t-v .v.'/';..-!. pit $/> AU tiuw.> ■yv'ho. ' «n>> ivwV .. u .-;; wprowd. vvj-ue the ""v 'V v ?MIA <iW: v'"--!/)' worfce4 -»,u } o'i* \> u - ifafc«4 --■<=..:;.> ww;o 9#fetftt&. 1% \ivA\V\ *v v,«,i :•:■.- s4s m :.:»!•.'.:' Q\\:' '•■=.'■•-.. '-''i »>;-.»-'.!. r ,'.i; V:,- ; j \jfe $&&&&• -.-ifv. A «*'*. '.' '■'■-•■•' ftl P® w© satno iUv.i! M Afc «%?<& ••••'V «BW>niwrt, :1 wM te% ■**s*■.*,■*:. f to the milking tv-V 1 «wv.-->. bait '\'*.<& cans, which V.w* fttwnijj «■>.-•;v«j'::; I'uU, j\»sfc npon A ■;.i\\:\\\ v,0.\ ; ..-'u p\atfw\i\, and .-.•in readily be dotafthed to? eWnams. I.ANP V-'OK UPTURNED SOLDIERS. Farmers of the northern part of the Dominion tuo thinking over some information given to them by tho Hon. D. H. Guthrie,

Minister of Landß, who has been making himself well acquainted with Northland and its needs. At Uargaville the Minister quoted figures to show what his department had done for'the 17,670 soldiers who had returned. Of these men, he said, 12,714 had been settled on the land or had found employment, and 2882 cases were at present under consideration. The Lands Department had purchased areas for returned soldiers at a cost of £1,008,000. Already 638 men were settled on 339,376 acres j a further area of 109,924 acres was ready for settlement, and negotiations were proceeding for tho acquisition of additional areas totalling over a quarter of a million acres. In the Northern Wairoa district several large blocks were being held solely for returned soldiers. In the Raupo district there were 7600 acres " and men who secured sections there would be lucky. Ho had that day inspected the area, and he was glad to say that he and his officers had been able to devise means whereby the. burdens of those located on such lands Avould be considerably lightened. In regard to the Government acquiring fully-improved areas, his experience the men preferred unimproved land, as they desired to .fully participate in the increased values of their holdings. Returned soldiers who desired to select land in any locality could do so, and there would be no difficulty in his department acquiring it for them, providing the department was satisfied that the section would prove remunerative. In regard to the timber on sections now occupied by returned soldiers, any moneys derived from such would be credited to the rental accounts of the soldiers. SHORTAGE OF BONEDUST.

There is a shortage of bonedust, the recent shipment having all been bought up quickly. Merchants are again looking for further supplies; but it seems that the next vessel will have no bonedust, as all the available space is being reserved for oornsacks,- and also for the large quantities of Avoolpacks that must be obtained in order to be in time for the coming wool season.

WAIROA FREEZING WORKS. Some consternation was caused at Wairoa on Saturday afternoon last, when it was discovered that a fire had occured at the freezing works. The fire, however, was confined to the new additional storage chamber, in which no meat was stored, and it was not long before the fire was suppressed. The damage was only slight, and has since been repaired. In spite of the season, which has been a very wet one, and not good for fattening purposes, there have been killed at these new works to date 87,234- sheep and lambs and over 500 head of cattle. In addition

20,000 sheep and over 1000 cattle are on the company's books. 'The new storage S chamber, which will be completed probably before this is in print, nas a total oapacity .of 50,000 carcases, making a total capacity of 125,000. The works have thus ample accommodation for all this se'ason's requirements. STORAGE QUESTION IN TARANAKI. The adequate provision made for the storage of next season's produce in Taranaki has given general satisfaction along that part- of the coast; but another worry has cropped up—namely, whether a sufficient supply of packing cases and bpxes will be forthcoming. The action of the Government in' prohibiting the export of white pine ought to help in solving the problem, but the continued exportation of labour may affect supplies. According" to a well-known Taranaki correspondent, the returnees are not filling the gap there at all. Making every allowance for. the numbers that have returned incapacitated, it might have been expected that, out of nearly 20,000 who have come back, tsrtcre .. would have been enough hale men to have prevented " the shortage becoming daily more acute, especially when one considers the great number of girls that have been drafted into town jobs hitherto filled by young men. It remains to be seen what is to be the general effect of their soldier experience upon the present generation of young mei\. Much, of course, depends upon the way they are treated by the authorities and the public. Hero-worship and coddling to begin with, followed by growing indifference, will prove disastrous. The question is a very big one indeed, and the future is shrouded in mystery. It is hoped, however, that the men will quickly settle down, and give the evidence required that their experiences in the larger field of life have really made them better men. POSITION IN AUCKLAND.

While matters so far as the storage of next season's produce is concerned have been fully apprecated in Taranaki, and farmers in that province have made every provision for meeting emergencies, Auckland is not eo well fact, the congestion in stores is reported to be "-very serious Shipments are not as frequent as the occasion demands, and practically all the available.space is heavily taxed. Cneese and butter have been sent away in satisfactory quantities—in fact, shipments have been responsible for a clearance up to January and February, and there appears to be every prospect of the whole of the season's output being cleared before the new season's make comes in again. Tallow, hemp, pelts, and hides, however, were piling up to an alarming extent, whilst in regard to wool, Mr A. W. Perkins, president of the Wool-brokers' Association, states that there is a greater accumulation of wool in the Auckland stores than had ever previously been experienced. Fortunately, satisfactory arrangements had been made for the use of certain stores, and the wool was being held without serious inconvenience. STOCK STATISTICS:-

During the year ended March 31 last 4219 head of young cattle were sent away from the Hawera stock district. These ■wore distributed practically all over the North Island. .For the season juet ended no fewer than 25,065 head of young stock were innoculatcd in the stock district, and of thoso over 21,000 were last season's oalves. The total dealt with by the local stock inspector was a long way ahead of the previous season's —probably 5000. or 6000 in excess. NORTHERN DEMAND FOR LIME. Gisborue and Manawatu are not the only districts making efforts _ to get their own limeworks. At Dargaville on Wednesday last a meeting of farmers, convened by the Northern Wairoa Dairy Co., was held, Mr T. Bassett, chairman of _ directors, presiding. Information regarding the fertilieafon properties of the deposits at Otamata, voca, and Omana were submitted to those present. It was pointed out that already district farmers had assessed their annual lime needs at 1000 tons per annum, hut it ■was considered that the quantity would need to be doubled. At present agricultural lime was costing settlers £2 15s per

ton, whereas the Kaipara prepared article should bo delivered at the river wharves for £1 10s per ton. It was ultimately resolved that the directors of the_ dairy company should constitute a provisional board of directors for the formation of a lime company; that they should collate all the necessary data, and report at a future meeting. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. TURNIP, SWEDE, AND RAPE SEED SUPPLIES. A WARNING TO FARMERS. The Board of Agriculture heid a lengthy meeting on May Id, at which there was a large attendance of members, the president l&ir .James Wilson) Deing in the cnair. Mr Pope, Secretary ol agriculture, was atoo present at tne meeting, and many matters of agricultural interest wero discussed. -

Phe board went very exhaustively into the question ol tne supply, of turnip and swede seeds, as inquiries from meicnants nad shown that tne stocks were seriously Deiow tne probable requirements lor tlie coming season. ±<till details of the quantities on hand and expected to arrive from Great Britain, and tne usual annual requirements, were laid beiore the meeting, and tne best steps to be taken to secure a sufficient suppiy for tile coming season were discussed, xt was pointed out that as tnere was such a shortage ol supply of seeds m jG l ' O3 -* -Britain the necessity lor reserving sufficient to meet home requirements compelled restriction of exports even to Bntisu possessions, and witn regard to some seeds export licenses were being entirely relused. It was aecided to issue a warning to farmers that tnere would probably be a shortago _of turnip and sweae seeds for 1918 sowing, and to make the suggestion that tney snould reserve a portion 01 their crops tor seed purposes; also to advise that it would be well to nusband our resources as much as jiossible. Pne position with regard to r9.it> supplies was still doubtful, but it seemed extremely probable tnat Great iiritain would be snort, and atem:>ts were being made to persuade merchants and larmers to grow at least IOUO acres of turnips lor seed, to be harvested about next December or January. It was thought that certain varieties, such as Purple 4 iop Mammo'tn, Red Paragon, and other early maturing varieties not De obtainable lor lyj.9 requirements, and that it rniJTht be necessary to do without these varieties for a season.

So far as rape was concerned, there appeared to be a ; better supply in store to fulfil the 1918 requirements, but there was every indication that the 1919 supply would have to be largely made up from locallyproduced seed. Wairarapa Farm School.—

A proposal from 'the Wairarapa districi to establish a farm where returned soldiers mjght receive some training in farming matters, "which had been rclened to tne board for a report, was very carefully considered. The farm in question, whicb had already been secured, bad cost nearly £2U,OUO, and >yas suitable for stud, sheep, and agricultural farming-. The Wairarapa people themselves were giving the farm, which contains 736 acres o£ land, as well as the stock, and they wished the Government to assist in providing the cost of buildings,' equipment, and maintenance. When the time came that the farm was not required for 'training soldiers, stitution could be utilised as a farm school for- the sons of settlers for all time. It was suggested that the institution should be under 'the control and management of a board of governors to be selected by the Government, the donors of the land, the looal A. and P. Associations, and tbe Education Board of the Wellington district. After fully discussing the matter, the board considered that the generous and patriotic offer of the Wairarapa people should be accepted, and that their effort, which was in keeping with the other good work they had done for the benefit of returned soldiers, should receive all the help that could bo given to the movement. They further recommended that the various matters connected with 'the arrangements' for the working of such a farm should be referred to a conference of a committee of the Council of Education, of the National Efficiency Board, of the Board of Agriculture, and of representatives of the subscribers 'to the fund, so as to formulate a scheme for the management of this farm and of other similar farms in various places throughout the Dominion, of which they hoped the, Wairarapa farm would be the forerunner. ■ —Uniform Fleck "and Stud Books.—

The board received a report from the committee which had been set up at the previous meeting to drafb a uniform set of rules for the flock books of New Zealand. Final consideration, however, of these rules was deferred to the next meeting, pending further inquiry. Ear-marking and Branding of Stock.— A report- was teceived from the special committee appointed to consider the method of ear-marking and branding sheep which had been advised by the Live Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture. _ The committee reported that 'they had visited Somes company with some officers of the department, and had made an inspection of the sheep which had been car-marked some 18 months previously, on which the marks were* very plain and distinct, and. although at present incomplete, they were of opinion that the system was one well worthy of further inquiry and subsequent trial. The scheme was one that was capable of making a great many distinct earmarks which were of great convenience so far as the breeder of the sheep was concerned. The principal difficulty, however, anneared to be when the sheep changed * "ownership from time to time. This scarcely seemed to be fully provided for in the scheme and it would render the adoption of the plan rather difficult unless it could be overcome.

The Wheat Question.—

The attention of the board was drawn to the fact that_ the arrangement made between the Minister of Agriculture and farmers with regard to the price of wheat had not yet been gazetted, and it was resolved to write to the Minister stating that the Board considered that the prospect of growing sufficient wheat for next season was being very seriously endangered by the uncertainty that prevailed, through the Government not gazetting the price which was to be paid for next season's crop. It was also decided to recommend that the Government should follow the procedure established by the British Government of guaranteeing a fair price for

a term of years to ensure a sufficient quantity of wheat being grown to meet the requirements of the Dominion. A suggestion which had been made to the board of the desirability of having the judging of live stock at shows taught on tho various Government Experimental Farms was discussed with the Secretary of tho Department of Agriculture, who stated siat ,the department would be glad to co-operate in any way in its power to promote the kind of training for students which had been suggested. The board, after considering the matter, was of opinion that it would be extremely desirable for the breed societies themselves to assist in the matter by selecting some of their most capable breeders to givo the required demonstrations in stock-breeding to the students at the farms, the department placing at the disposal of the instructors_ for tho demonstrations 'the herds at the different institutions.

Live .Stock Registration.— It was reported to the board that the council of the Komney Marsh Sheepbreeders' Association had written, in reply to tho board's representations, that the Romney Marsh Flock Book bo reopened to all eligible Romney flocks in New Zealand, to say that at the annual meeting of the association in Juno the' matter of tho reopening of the book to all tho Romney flocks registered in the South Island book would be brought forward for- consideration. The board hope that the proposal will bo viewed in a liberal spirit with the view to Flock Book registration being made uniform. Amongst other matters dealt with were: — The settlement of returned soldiers on the land; shipments of wool packs and corn sacks; requisiton of slipe wool, sheepskins, etc.; annual report of the board's work; women's work in agriculture; the control of the world's 'food supply; and shipping shortage., OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER. (Fbom Our Rfkciax Cohkespokdkkt.i BDADFORD', March 14. COMBING VERSUS CLOTHING WOOLS. The uppermost topic in wool circles today is combing v. clothing wools, entirely arising out of conditions obtaining in the great scheme of State control. It is now admitted in the best-informed circles that an error of judgment has been committed by some responsible party, and, while the general trade seems to think that the responsible individual should be named, I thmk it policy to let it rest at that. No man is infallible; but as the Coinmitte of Inquiry as far back as last August urged upon 'the department the advisability of taking steps for bringing home the wool wanted to keep all classes of machinery running, no excuse whatever can be given for neglecting such_ an important matter. The same subject was urged upon responsible parties both, in October and November, and for the trade to be now told that stocks of combing wool are dangerously low, and that wool combing is to. be reduced, shows clearly enough where things are. The writer has all along maintained that if a practical mill-man had been put at 'the head of this business and ' given power to define the classes of wool which are to be brougnt from Australia and _ New Zealand, the present state of affairs would never have exsited/ and it is high time that everybody saw 'that, above all, the wool textile industry wants a practical man at the head of affairs, whether he be with a big business or not. At the head of the whole business of State control there ought to be a man above military age who- had been in the turmoil of the wool trade all his life. If this had been the case, the present mess and muddle would have been obviated. Instead of that, the entire industry is now faced with unnecessary suffering, all due to the incompetence of officials and those responsible for conducting the scheme of State control. I very much, doubt if any of the men who are supposed to be conducting the business were, ever connected with the woollen end of the._industry. All the officers in charge as far as the writer knows are simply connected with the worsted branch, chiefly topmakers and spinners at that. The more one looks at the whole/ matter the more one sees the operation of the inviolable law of cause and effect.

WHAT IS COMBING WOOL? I desire to-day to make our weekly contribution more educational than usual, taking the opportunity of defining combing arid clothing wool., In the first instance let us deal with combing wools. The question naturally arises, What are they? and the answer can be given easily. Every practical sheep and wool man knows that a shorn fleece is not absolutely uniform in quality. It is the work of the classer to overhaul that fleece, to skirt it and to designate into which class the skirted fleece is put at the time of shearing. This cerainly is an important matter, and a good classer where even a reasonable number of sheep are shorn is indeed of groat use on any sheep station. Of course, among British sheep-men no attempt whatever is made at classing, all the farmer does being to separate his ewes from his wethers and hogs, also baling separately all his cast fleeces, cotts, and dead wool. But .on a good big sheep station classing is an important matter, and every body attempting the work should first of all go to a technical college and there learn something about wool and _ its qualities. As already indicated, practical men know the importance of separating, Bay, the britch portion from the shoulder, the' former often being four to six counts coarser than the latter. Here we have a phenomenon which is well worth considering. One would naturally think that the britch wool would be equally as fine as the shoulder and the neck, but every eheep on the face of the globe will show a difference in quality on the points named. Now, combing wool can be oalled anywhere from 2in and upwards in length in merinos, and, say, 3Jiin in crossbteds. It can be said that every sheep, grows combing and clothing wool—that is, if the fleece is allowed to "crow a kill 12 months. If we first deal with merinos, practically every part of the fleeco can be combed with the exception of the stained britch, heavy bellies, and locks, though here in Bradford in pre-war days, if stained pieces from the britch were at all decent in length, a discoloured top was frequently made, while of good bellies have also been "salted in" with other portions of the fleeco and combed into a short or averago top. Of course,. the real opening for stained pieces, bellies, and locks is the woollen trade, it being also a fact that if merino jjombing wools

are excessively dirty and faulty they are reserved for tho woollen industry, where they must bo carbonised beforo being fit for the machines. Still, assuming mat a shorn fleece shows a reasonable length of staple,_ as. ahead; indicated, if it is not excessively dirty, 'jhe wool can bo combed. In other words, the neck, back, shoulder, and sides of the shorn fleeces aro all eligible for -combing, it being the shorter and more wasty parts of tho flec-co which go into the woollen trade. DEGREES OF COMBING WOOL.

Every man who has gone to tho London sales know that on a fairly big Australian station merino wools is usually classed into super, first, and ordinary combing wool. These three classes indicate the character of the wool in question. For instance, the lightest, best-grown, and most-attractive wool should form tho super combing lot, good average wools constituting the first combing, while tho heavier fleeces are usually thrown into the ordinary combing. Often the latter contafhs just as good wool as the first lot, except that the ordinary combing is always heavier in condiion and a little more wasty. Every buyer knows this and values accordingly, "clean yield" forming the basis on wiiich, as a rule, his valuation is made, while a little allowanco is also made for freedom from burr and other extraneous master. These are all important details which naturally go towards establishing tho manufacturing value of wool and determining the market price.

Then, too, the neck portion of the fleece is often baled separately ; so is the broken, clothing, pieces, belliesj and locks—in fact, on good big stations two descriptions are made—say first and second necks, —a.nd likewise in every class, the dividing line being_ made by the classer at the time of shearing, condition very largely being the standard. The reader will therefore see that it is a fine art in classing shorn fleeces; but, like every ofiier business, experience is tho -best teacher, and having once learnt tho art of classing fleeces, tho work becomes comparatively easy if a man. has his wits about him and knows his job thoroughly. CLOTHING WOOLS.

I have already indicated briefly what constitutes clothing wools, these really being the heavier and shorter stapled portions of the shorn fleece. So far the writer has had- in view only merino wools, and these short clothing wools are rightly separated from combing classes, because, as a rule, they undergo a different treatment altogether. A real good classer knows that clothing wools as a rule are finer than combing,. these being shorter in staple, but usually four to six counts finer than the longer combing wools. Of course, on the .French principle thes© can be combed, but, as already indicated, clothing wools jn the first instance were destined for use solely in the woollen trade, and during the past 20 years there has been increasing use made of fine clothing as well as the wasty pieces, bellies, and locks. I have already stated that if a fleece is very dirty and wasty its real home is the woollen trade, and all these wools fall naturally into the category of clothing, it being very seldom, indeed that when wools have been carbonised they are combed, all these as a rule being used in the production of w~oollen fabrics. To the writer it is no wonder that there is. to-day a surplus of clothing merinos and a shortage of combing wools; and if those in charge of importation had advised Australian shippers to send good fleece wools home, there need not have been a surfeit of supplies for the woollen trade and a scarcity for the worsted. N.Z. FARMERS' UNION OTAGO PROVINCIAL, COUNCIL. At the annual conference of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, to be held on Thursday, May 30, the following proposals, amongst others, will be submitted: — By Mr A. Fraser (Lawrence): "That the Government be urged to push forward afforestation, especially wittQ regard to quick-growing trees, with a view to supplying the needs of the dairying and fruit industries on land unsuitable for other purposes." By Mr Thomas M'Donald (Palmerston): "That, in view of the possible shortage of coal, and also in view of the large demand for nitrogen for fertiliser purposes, the Government ~be urged to proceed at the earliest possible moment with its scheme for harnessing the water-power of the dominion."

By Mr J. D. Rodger (Pomahaka): "That, as it seems to be generally recognised that the Meat Trust is getting a rather serious hold in this dominion, this conference urges both the Dominion Conference and the Government to' take this matter up vigorously, and endeavour to curtail its activities oeforo getting too strong a hold, as it has done in other countries."

By Mr Jasper Clarke (Milton) : " (a) It is suggested that the New Zealand Government (which represents the consumers), in conjunction with representatives of the producers and trade, should control the export trade of the dominion, so as to ensure adequate" supplies being maintained in the country for local consumption, and should fix the price of meat from time to time based .on Imperial values. Also, that this conference considers that the retention after the war of the captured German Pacific possessions is vital to the welfare of New Zealand and Australia."

By Mr John Christie (Warepa): " That the Farmers' Union protests strongly against the purchase by the Government of large estates for subdivision and settlement by returned soldiers when there aro largo areas of Crown land available for settlement. If, however, special circumstances should necessitate the purchase of improved land for soldiers' settlements, the Government should, wherever possible, purchase the land from those farmers who are called up for military service, and are thereby compelled to sell their farms. That, before any land is offered for selection by ■ returned soldiers, the Government bo requested to have all such lands properly roaded, drained, and fenced, and put in such order that the successful applicants have every chance of making a living immediately on occupation. Also, that theGovernment take into consideration the advisability of acquiring, when the -price of shipping becomes normal, a fleet of State-owned vessels as a means whereby the producer and consumer of New Zealand products may be brought into. direct contact, and as a set-off against any trust which may try to get control of the New Zealand meat or other produce markets."

By Mr P. A. Watt (Balclutha): " (a) That the Farmers' Union protest most emphatically against the issue of war loan ecrip on a free of income tax' basis, as

we convinced that it will result in th« wealthy bondholders evading their duo share (4 the present and future heavy taxation, the burden of such thereby falling with increased severity uporT those who are less able to bear it. Moreover, whereas th«

Bominal rato of interest is 4£ per cent., the * free of income tax' concession, with its further effect upon the. graduated income tax, results in the actual rate of interest being not less than 6i per cent., which is 6 distinct injustice to holders of the 5 per cent ,taxable issue." By • Mr R. Wilson (Lauder, Becks): *' That, as practically all the farmers' products have been requisitioned and the price fixed, we call upon the Government to protect us from exploitation by taking steps to check the rapidly-increasing price of materials and machinery which are essenrtial to us for the maintenance of production. That, as the Government has fixed the price of wheat for the producer, the price to the consumer should also bo fixed to prevent exploitation." By Mr George Aitcheson (Kaitangata): " That this conference emphatically protests against the reprehensible attitude of the Government in retaining, after over three years of war, persons of alien or enemy descent in responsible positions in the public service." By Mr W. S. D. Trotter (Hillgrove): " That this conference views with alarm the number of First Division reservists who ivro evading military service, more especially now in 'view of the fact that the Second Division is being called up; and ib is the feeling of this conference that the property of such deserters should be confiscated, and the proceeds pooled for the be.nefifc of returned soldiers." B 7 Mr A. Craig (Greenfield): "That the Government be asked to abandon Territorial camps until after the war." MANIOTOTO BRANCH. At the annual meeting . the New Zealand Farmers' Union, Mr C. Inder presiding, tile balance sheet submitted was considered satisfactory, the chairman remarking that the position was the same as last year de.spito tho fact of so manv members being ?way ftt the fronj;. Tho office-bearers for tho year were- elected as follows: —Chairman, lAy C. J. Ihdcr : ' vice-chairmen, Messrs D. Duncan and J. Howell; secret-aJ-v, Mr J. W. "Reed; auditor, Mr C. Inder; delegates to Provincial Conference, _ the chairman and Mr J. Howell; committee, Messrs J. M'Lcod, A. Pearson, K. Williamson, Dobb, W. M Mawhinney, R. Scott, H. W. Davis, G. Mathias, Armour, and Howell. The annual subscription was fixed at the previous year's rate ; At tho quarterly nicotine: of delegates which followed, it was resolved to appoint a committee to trv and ascertain if a sm'tablo person was available to act as organiser. It was resolved to hold one of the quarterly meetings at Patraroa, Mr P. Aitken to be asked to trv and get farmers to attend. It was decided to send on a remit to the effect that the nrico fixpd' by the Government for wheat should be free on rail. The Provincial Executive is to be asked to again endeavour to have the tare of 31b on wool abolished. Messrs Duncan. M'Lennan, and Davis were appointed a committee to make arraneements "for the shooting match for the Mathias Shield. VXJT R43IS OF I»3?*»«rrrioV ( It has frequently been contended that in tho effort to reduce the dependence of tho United Kingdom upon imported foodstuffs it was the quantity grown and not tho acreage sown or planted that mattered. It is hard to believe that this argument could bo seriously disputed in any quarter if a

moment's consideration was given to the subject. But the fact has to be admitted (writes the Field in referring to this matter) that the popular mind, not over well informed in agricultural matters, is more deeply impressed when the results of the special efforts are expressed in terms of acres than in quarters or tons. It is conceded that the latter are the vital considerations, but tho lay mind does not easily or willingly grasp the significance of efforts concentrated upon increasing the yield from a given acreage. It is too apt to run away with the idea that the standard of production will bo about the same whatever attention is given to the cultivation and manuring of tho land. It appears to be incapable of realising that the same expenditure of labour nad money in improving the condition of a smaller area may easily give a larger return of food than if it were spread over an acreage considerably larger. Efficient tillage and judicious manuring are far more potent factors in raising crops than any addition to the acreage that could be effected by withholding the finishing touches which mean so much to the seedbed and the subsequent welfare of the corn or green crop. The Prime Minister did not exaggerate in the least the splendid work of the farmers in the inspiring speech he delivered to their representatives recently. They have had many difficulties to contend with, not the least of. them arising from the same cause as some of those our armies in the field had to contend with—persistently bad weather at critical junctures, —but they have shown similar vigour and determination in meeting them, and tho result is a return of precious food appreciably in excess of what was generally expected. The harvests of the present year have not been particularly bountiful, except in the cases of potatoes and root crops, but here again the ordinary method of computation does not do full justice to the farmina- industry and the Food Production Department, since it makes insufficient allowance for the obstacles' that had to be surmounted. The growing of corn crops last cereal year was a constant struggle with adverse conditions from seedtime till tho last load was carried, and consequently the efforts to increase production were seriously discounted. The substitution of acres for quarters as a basis for calculation in respect to tho important harvest of next year is to bo discouraged for many reasons, but chiefly because it may grievously hinder the achievement of the objects in view. Tho country wants food._ r.ot the destruction of grass. If the existing area in tillage is insufficient, let the plough have free play on such pastures and meadows as may be considered likely to grow good crops of corn, but the first point is to make the most of the arablo land we have. Unfortunately the better cultivation of land already the plough does not, as wo have remarked, impress the inexperienced, and tho Government departments, whose labours are apt to bo calculated on spectacular rather than actual results, are naturally anxious to have something to show that will satisfy their eager but hit discerning critics. The adoption of the acre instead of tho ton as the unit in the preparations for tho harvest of 1918 is fraught with risk to the country (concludes the Fields which it would be highly advisable to avoid, and we trust that a way will be found whereby the success of the work of the year will not bo imperilled by a concession to the popular but erroneous conception of what really counts in producing food for tho people.