AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3519, 23 August 1921, Page 10

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie, has informed ili-3 Dannevirko A. and P. Association that tiie woo! situation at Home is improving, but a sad muddle has been made of it by those in tilth, rity in this country. Til at t'iie dairy industry means much to Taranaki. ; r.d assists largely in the prosperity of the district, is reflected in the annual balance sheets of the various dairy companies (wires our correspondent from Hawera). For instance, in South Taranaki alone the Mangaioki Company, which is not the. largest creamery by any means, bail some big finance last season, the balance sheet shewing that on profit and loss account the stun of £99,027 had been paid against, milk. Putter brought in £93,578 10s, cheese £57.195 15s 2d. and casein £5295 16 s 9d. After making deductions and allowance? there was a balance to appropriation to the amount of £22,868 18s

Id, and suppliers would receive approximately 2s s|d per lb for butter-fat for tho J season. The chairman, in referring to the j prospects for the new season, said it was difficult to know whether it was best to consign or take an offer that would ensure to suppliers, say, 2s or 2s Id per lb for butter-fat. He would be tempted if an offer came along from a substantial firm that would secure 2s or over to accept it. Shipping was the great trouble. Apparently it now took a boat nearly 12 months to go Home and back again, whereas formerly they made from two to two and a-half trips in a year. Not only had freights increased enormously, but they had to be paid before the ship left. Evidence of the growth of dairying in Kangit-aiki is the fact that the Kangitaiki Plains Dairy Company has found it necessary to provide for over 3000 cows this season, against 1400 last season. Four years ago the milk of only 200 cows was supplied to that factory. An indication of how some dominion woolgrovvers have been hit by the present j slump in prices is given by the experience of a Hawke’s Bay farmer, who a few days I ago received a remittance for Iii s season’s consignment, which, after all charges had been deducted, amounted to the munificent sum of threepence ! The Oamaru Mail says: The sowing of wheat has now been nearly, if not entirely, completed in North Otago, and we are enabled to say that the total area under this cereal is greatly in advance of that of last year. By precisely how much the area has been increased it is impossible to say, and the estimates of those who are entitled to speak with authority vary a good deal. 'J he ascertained facts enable us to say that the aggregate increase in the area under wheat this year is about 60 per cent, over that of last year’s total. The total area under wheat last year was between 18,000 and 20,000 acres. If we add 60 por cent, io the average of those figures we get in round numbers 30,000 acres as approximately the area now under wheat. We are satisfied that that estimate is not far v. til • IV marl:. It is, wo may say, in conclusion, a groat many years since wheat was so largely cultivated, in the Waikiki County. A new record in milk production for the entire globe is claimed on behalf of Bella Pontiac, owned by T. A. Barron, of Brantford, Ontario, According to the official test in ken by the supervisor of the Holstein Freisian Association, this animal produced for the 12-month period ended

June 18 last, a total of 27,0171 b of milk, 12591 bof fat, 1573.751 bof butter. This is said to be far in excess of any world’s record previously set, and to entitle Bella Pontiac to the title of tho world’s record cow. The annual report for the year ended 31st July, 1921, of the Southland A. and • P. Association discloses a successful financial season and considerable activity in agricultural and pastoral matters. The amount received for subscriptions has fallen away, but, other sources of revenue have been well maintained. The excess of assets over liabilities amounts to £15.549 15s 9d. It has Ijeen deeded that at future shows only registered stock will be accepted for competition with pure-bred sheep and cattle sections. A bull sale will be held on the morning of the second day of the show. The retiring president is Mr Arnos Campbell, and Mr J. T. Mitchell has been nominated for the ensuing year. The next summer show will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday the 13th and 14th of December, 1921. A bonus of 2d per lb on butter-fat received at the factory is being paid cut by the Lake County Co-operative Dairy Company. This bonus will absorb about £290. The company refused two offers of ll|d per lb for next season’s output of cheese (says an Exchange). In a fortnight’s shooting over the ranges from the Higliburn to Mount. Centinel, on the Neck country, Mr J. Collins accounted for 140 kea.s (says The Cornwell Argus). The birds were shot in the evenings, mainly of misty days, in the moonlight, or in the early morning' after dawn.