THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 13

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From Oub Own Cobhespondknt.) More settled weather during the past week has led to a more pronounced call from the land, and wherever crops are to be gathered in, reapers and binders are to be seen at work. Some very fine crops of oats are being harvested in Rangitikei, and it is confidently expected that the oat yield will be considerably in advance of the last few years. HAWKE'S BAY RAINFALL. Particulars of the rainfall in Hawke's Bay during the past 12 months show that for 1918 the total rainfall was 32.59 in. The maximum fall was in January, when 6.79 in were registered. Bain fell on 157 days during the year. Snow fell on two days in July and October. There were 4 frosty nights, the latest being on December 14. Exceptionally oold weather was experienced during the winter, lasting to October, when it was very severe. SOUTH TARANAKI. In the South Taranaki district potato crops are looking particularly good, and some heavy yields are expected. The blight is said to have affected several exposed crops, but, on the .whole, the patches are free and well forward. From Stratford to Hawera and in the surrounding districts ploughing seems to be universal, and the short snell of fine weather has seen many acres of new ground " broken up. Some fine haystacks are noticeable around Normanby. Evidently profiting by last year-'s experience, farmers are shutting up mor§ paddocks for winter feed. Many of these stacks aro quite close to the railway line, which looks like tempting Providence, in view of the possible danger from railway engine, sparks. SOUTH AUCKLAND. Tho weather in South. Auckland has been more or less broken, and harvesting operations aro being carried on with great difficulty. Hay and oat crops are very heavy. A good deal has been cut for some time, and is still in the stook, the probabilities being that, with the frequent rains, a good deal will be damaged before being finally secured in stack. Potato crops, particularly in. the Pukekohe district, are exceptionally good this year, arid as they are so far free from blight, a plentiful supply of tubers seems assured. POTATO DRYING. The Franklin Sub-provincial Union has been making inquiries into the methods of drying potatoes, and that body has now received a letter from Dr C. J. Reakes, Director General of the Fields Division, in which he stated that various ways of drying potatoes had' been tried, and a material which keeps well and promises to x have a groat future had been prepared. The digestibility and the effects of the dried potato as a cattle food-were excellent, whatever the method of drying. It was roadily eaten by horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs. The digestibility of dried potatoes From the experiments made as food for animals proved to contain organic matter 82 per cent., crude protein 20 per cent., and nitrogen free extractives 92 per cent. Information concerning the nature and pries of machinery would be submitted later, together with tho probable markets and the price of the finished article. The secretary of the union has now written to Dr Reakes inquiring if it were possible to manufacture potato flour suitable for human consumption. THE MEAT COMMANDEER. In tho Hawke's Bay district an opinion £revails that the meat commandeer should 9 extended to June, 1920, and at the Provincial Executive of the Hawke's Bay branch of the Farmers' tJnon a motion, which is tp bo_ submitted to the Govorn- • ment, was carried to that effect. It was also decided to strongly object to the Government consulting the freezing companies on meat questions, and leaving the producing farmers out. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The ersdication of noxious weeds is most earnestly desired by up-to-date farmers, but the " Maori" farmer is never much concerned whether the "undesirables" make advances on hi 3 farm or not. The trouble is to make the indifferent landholder recognise his responsibility in the spreading of noxious weeds from his farm to clean paddocks adjoining. The subject

can always be depended upon to evoke criticism at any gathering of farmers, and it was not to be wondered at that on tho occasion of a recent visit to Gisborne the Minister of Agriculture had the question brought before him. Tho Hon. Mr MacDonald asked the farmers if they would accept drastic action. Upon receiving a choru3 of approval the Minister said he would go right ahead next day. He expressed himself as being in favour of the department taking in hand the eradication of nox'.ou« weeds on Native leaseholds and charging the cost against the land. The Minister's reply was received with hearty applause COW-TESTING. The following is a summary of the Kaupokonui Herd Testing Association's operations for the 30-day period ended Decem--ber 28. 1918:

The average association cow gave 9551 b of milk, 4.3 test, 41.331 b fat.' The highest individual cow gave 15301 b of milk, 4.9 test, 74.961 b of fat. The lowest individual cow gave 3751 b of milk, 3.5 test, and 13.121 b of fat. AUCKLAND DAIRY PRODUCE. Dairy produce has been accumulating in the stores_ at Auckland, and just lately some anxiety has been felt at the congestion that seemed probable owing to shipping shortage. A good deal of relief has, however, been afforded by information received by the Auckland Farmers' .Freezing Co. to the effect that shipments of butter and cheese will be made by the Durham (due at Auckland on Thursday) and the Ayrshire (to follow immediately afterwards). Space has been allotted on theso two boats for considerably over 5000 tons of butter and 500 tons of cheese. The estimated value of the 208,550 boxes of butter is £345,000, and 7500 crates of cheese at £56,000, or a total value of £1,001,000. The shipments will make substantial room for the new season's make of produce coming to hand. TALLOW AND HEMP. The Department of Agriculture has advised the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce that tallow and hemp may now be exported to An.erica by sailing vessels provided that not more than 500 tons are carried on any one vessel. That matter in connection with the exportation of hemp are more favourable is proved_ by the fact that a shipment of 4000 bales is to be made by the Suevic at Auckland some time in February. This big shipment is expected to ease the position of the flaxmillers to a certain extent. Most of the mills in the Auckland and ManaAvatu districts are now working, and the season is expected to be a good one. PRICE OF FERTILISERS. Now that the war is over agriculturists are looking forward to a busv time m tilling the land, but one of the obstacles is the high price of fertilisers. It was thought that there might be a drop in the current price at no distant date, but merchants hold views to the contrary. One Auckland merchant said that a big shipment of bonedust was expected from Calcutta in March, but latest advices show that the sailing of the boat has been deferred The only other source of supply they could depend upon was Sydney. But as other articles have priority, ft is not thought that much will find its way into New Zealand from Australia. Latest information is also to the effect that the export of slag from Great Britain has been prohibited. All of what may be termed the fancy manures are practically unprocurable. Bearing these things in mind, therefore, it does not appear likely that the expectations of a fall in prices will be realised. RABBITS. The rabbit pest is becoming a real live one down the Main Trunk and in the King Country, and it is quite evident that localities which were quite clear a few years ago are being overrun. One station manager in the Taihape district states that the yearly expenditure to keep rabbits down on his station amounts to £IOOO. It is only reasonable to assume that other station-owners are faced wi£h similar expense, ond yet, despite poisoning operations,

the pests are more numerous than ever. The question is very serious. In the Gisborne, district the East Coast Rabbit Board ate straining every nerve to exterminate bunny, and yet the pest can beat the. rabbiters. Latest reports are that rabbits have been seen in the Awapuni district near the abattoirs, and investigations are to be made. In the Wanganui and Rangitikei districts rabbits appear to be increasing in numbers very fast, and it would almost appear as if the North Island is going to be invaded by these long-eared pests. THE TAHORA BLOCK. The gratifying news has been received in Hawke's Bay that the survey of the Tahora block —the last block of Cro\v,ri land of any extent remaining unoccupied within the borders of the northern portion of the Hawke's Bay land district —is about to be resumed.' I'he block, which has been the subject of previous investigations, extends from the Ruakituri district well towards the Bay of Plenty, the greater portion remaining in its virgin state on the edge of present settlement. VALUE OF HIGH TESTING AND GOOD PRODUCING COWS. There are some farmers who never seem to appreciate the value of feeding good bucket-fillers and the method of discovering which are the cows that make the bank account good, and the ones that take _t away again. In South Taranaki the best farmers keen a strict watch over their herds, and culling operations are never neglected. According to a correspondent in the. Hawera Star, there are two small herds of dairy cows whose records make interesting reading, and they bear comments which have already appeared at various times in the Witness.* In the one there are 12 ordinary xjows taken over with the place, and the owner decided to have them tested". Their figures were 2.8,-3.6, .3.8, 3.2, 4.7, 5.7, 3.3" 3.0, 4.4, 3.6, 4.1, and 3.3. The average factory test was 3.9. In another herd of 18 pedigree cows, owned by Mr Robertson, on Manawapou road, their tests were 5.9, 5.5. 7.2, 6.9, 7.0. 5.4, 6.0, 5.2. 5.2, 5.3, 6.0, average factory test was 5.3.. These figures (adds the correspondent) merely add further testimony to the value of proper testing, and demonstrate the margin of loss between a well-bred and well-selected herd against a nondescript lot. Many farmers seem slow to realise" that high testing and good-pro-ducing cows occupy no more space and consume no more food than the robbers, but their factory returns make all the difference. PURE SEEDS. The question of rmre seeds is one of extreme impoi-tance to agriculturists, and no one has been more persistent in order to place the responsibility of supplying pure seeds upon the merchants. The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce, as a result of Mr M'Gregor's activities in the direction mentioned, has been in communication with the Canterbury Grain and Seed Merchants' Association and the Minister of Agriculture. As a result advice has been received from the Minister that the question would be thoroughly gone into with a view to drafting a B ; ll to deal with the problem of seeds. Mr M'Gregor assents that he can prove by tests made by the Agricultural Department that so-called * reliable firms—some of them the oldest in the Dominion — judging by the prices and the quality of the seeds, knew very little or nothing, of their value—that is, the true value •of germination and purity. In several cases seeds of high germination and purity are sold at a lower price—considerably lower —than those of low germination and purity.

TEN- BEST HERDS. Cows. Lbs Milk. Test. Fat. 31 1099 , . 4.8 53.07 8 1119 ' 4.8 48.52 50 1140 4.1 47.28 27 - -«, 9*3 4.9 46.77 14 1078 4.2 .. 46.33 28 920 4.8 44.74 81 1023 4.3 .. 44.51 37 1001 4.3 43.24 90 963 4.4 43.17 25 947 4.5 .. 42.67 TEN WORST ' HERDS. 45 851 3.5 30.00 26 772 4.2 32.09 35 903 4.1 33.55 •94 812 ..•¥ 4.1 .. 33.75 48 920 3.7 34.60 6 615 5.6 84.94 48 ..920 3.7 84.60 55 868 .. 4.0 85.57 36 797 .. 4.8 38.64 49 1038 3.8 39.49