THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 20

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From 00-b Own Correspondent.) Most welcome rain fell in most parts during mid-week, and continued on at intervals till the week-end, and there is no doubt that it proved most beneficial to pastures and gardens, besides filling up the empty tanks of rural dwellers. The rain was of the steady, soaking variety, and none of it was wasted. The rain was followed by a high wind, which undid some of the good that was occasioned, but there is every indication that the dry spell has now ended, and that the rainy season has commenced. As long as heavy frosts do nof come too soon to kill the young growth,

stock should fare pretty well with the supply that will be available. At the same time, a fair number of farmers are getting busy, and crops are being sown as auxiliary feed. CATTLE TICK IN POVERTY BAY. There has been an uneasy feeling over in Poverty Bay concerning the discovery of a cattle tick. Last week Mr Lyons, Director of the Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture, visited the district, and he assured farmers that there was no occasion for alarm. The Department was satisfied that the tick found in Poverty Bay was only an isolated one, and, even if a number were found, there was danger provided farmers adopted prompt and effective remedial measures. Prior to visiting Gisborne, Mr Lyons visited all the boundaries between Gisborne and the infested areas, and he found that the regulations were being strictly euforced. Although representations had been made in some quarters for a relaxation of the regulations, the Department, he sat id, had no intention of doing away with rigid inspection. One of the points which had been definitely established jn connection with the New Zealand cattle tick was that it did not carry red water, the dread disease which was giving so much concern in Queensland. The New Zealand tick was purely a parasite, and, provided farmers were willing to go to sufficient trouble, it could be controlled. Dairymen in the northern districts, through constant inspection of their herds, nad reduced the ticks considerably, but the problems were more difficult in the far north where stations were large and mobs of cattle big. Good work had, however, been done by dipping, and ticks were well under control in ihost areas. w*

DOG TRIALS. The Rere Dog Trials on the East Coast proved very successful, the Huntaway class being particularly interesting. The results of the latter event were: T. Roderick’s Bob, 42 points, 1; A. Mcßae's Rose, 41 points, 2; 11. Hamilton’s Lad, 40 points, 3; C. Parkinson's Fan, 39 points, 4. Most of the important of the North Islan. trials have % now been run off, and the results have ‘gone to show that the season has been the best on record. The steady improvement in the work of the dogs has been most marked, and everything goes to show that the progress made Inis tended to lessen the work ot the shepherd and prevent undue harrassing of the flocks. A feature of soi~e of the trials lias been the work of ladies. At the Awakino trials this year, Miss Long, of Kopahi, won two events, and put up such a splendid exhibition that the judge, Mr J. McLeary, nu.de special comment on it. The lady had perfect control of her dogs, and succeeded in carrying off the awards in both of the huntaway classes. The question of * New Zealand championship has aeain been raised, and a writer in a Gisborne paper points out that with the advent of the dog trial season there is the annual outcry for a New Zealand championship, but this, appears as far off as ever. The blame to a great extent lies at the door of the southern clubs, for if there were a South Island Association on the lines of the North Island Sheep Dog Trial Association, the fixture could be arranged without difficulty. Proposals are made each year for such an association, but there appears to be less interest in trial work in the south, with the result that a parent body has never yet been formed. Several North Island competitors were present at the Dunedin Exhibition trials and the subject was discussed there. Tt remains to be seen, however, whether southern clubs will make a definite move this year, but in the interests of trials generally it is to be hoped that a South Island Association will be formed. It has been contended, with some degree of truth, that the type of work in the North Island varies from that in the South, but there is at least sufficient in common to be able to arrange trial fixtures on a basis satisfactory to the competitors from both islands. IRRIGATION SCHEME AND SPLENDID RESULTS. In Hawke’s Bay the past season, with its long-continued drought, has caused attention to be drawn to the question of irrigation, and to some people it is not a surprise to find that irrigation has already been tried with phenomenal results. At Turanoe, near Paki Paki, two men —Mr Charles Rosser, and his son and partner, Mr Claude Rosser—have plenty to prove that if an irrigation scheme was put into force the troubles of Hawke’s Bay farmers as the result of the vagaries of the weather would almost disappear. A Hawke’s Bay journalist recently made a tour of the district, and after travelling through country that looked like desert he came across great stretches of land that were like an oasis. The property belonged to Mr Rosser and his son, and on 150 acres there are 80 milking cows, 20 dry cows, 22 two-year-olds, 10 yearlings, 10 calves, one bull and five horses —a total of 148 cattle. Besides those there are 600 sheep, all on grass, making 4 total of 748 head of stock. From the total pasturing area of 150 acres must be subtracted four acres, of maize and five acres of potatoes, leaving a net area of 141 acres. Thus the farm is carrying about 5.25 head of stock to the acre. Both the sheep and the cattle are in splendid condition, and some of the lambs, which were bought in the poorest condition three weeks ago, are now looking as well as any of the other stock. There are also 20 acres of lucerne on the farm, and in one month two cuts, one of which was four feet long, were taken from it. Mr Rosser and his son now have 80 tons of lucerne in stack, and have sold another stack. That quantity will provide enough winter feed to cause -the partners to feel no anxiety at all about the coming months. Apart from their success in fattening sheep the Rossers have had great results from their dairy stock, and netted last month a tidy sum from the sale of 16281 b of butter-fat. To quote Mr Charles Rosser: “The cows are still being milked, and are fat enough for beef.” Last year there was a crop of potatoes on the farm, and when the Maoris dug them they left many in the ground. The result is that this year there is a selfgrown crop of potatoes on that area, and although they are ten chains from the nearest water, and about four feet above it, they are of astonishing size. One potato weighed s|lb, and was one of nine whose total weight was 361 b. Even the smaller potatoes are huge, and the smallest of them would shame the most assiduous and painstaking town gardener. Yet those potatoes have received no manuring nor even the most cursory attention. There are also great crops of mangolds and pumpkins, some of the fruit being of mammoth size. The maize, the pumpkins, and the potatoes are on land that rises from three to five feet above the level of the nearest water, which is a considerable distance away. All over the farm, excepting a small knoll, the grass is luscious, sweet, and luxurious. In some places it is nine inches or more in length, and on the land surrounding that 150 acres there is hardly a blade of grass as far as the eye can see. The Messrs Rosser’s system of irrigation is very simple, and they have not yet had it established long enough to devote time to perfecting it. That will be done later; but for the present it is working wonders. The water comes from a small stream, which is dammed as it enters the property, and is distributed by a series of shallow channels into another series of what are practically plough furows. Further on there is another dam, and there is a third dam on the farthest boundary. The water courses are laid out so that the distance from one to another is in most cases about the same, and a surprisingly small flow suffices to do the work. The water percolates under the ground, and is not pumped over it, though flooding can be done, and has been done to a limited extent. It is wise, Mr Rosser said, to keep the water flowing, but once when it was allowed to stagnate for three weeks not the slightest harm was done. Mr Rosser also pointed out in denial

•f the prophecies of pessimists that the •oil had nowhere become sour, which was proved by the rich growth of clover and English grasses. At present the scheme is in its early stages, but, as the pressman points out, the most unitiated could see that it had vast possibilities, and could be developed to such an extent as to become even more efficient. However, a glance at the land surrounding those fruitful acres was quite enough proof that what has already been done is a wonderful thing. It has meant hard work and optimism, but the partners are reaping their reward. The results obtained by Mr Rosser and son are sufficiently good to make Hawke’s Bay farmers put on their thinking caps, and if more irrigation were done it is quite safe to say that Hawke’s Bay would become very much more productive than it is now, the full benefits of this great country on the east side of the island never yet having beefn produced because of weather conditions. HARD WINTER FOR FARMERS. Unfortunately the irrigation scheme in Hawke’s Bay is limited to one holding, and there is great anxiety throughout the Bay concerning the coming winter. Rain fell during the week, but it almost seems as if it has come too late to do much good. According to a Napier stock auctioneer, from northern Hawke’s Bay to Tokomaru Bay the district is, with the exception of some parts around Wairoa, where there have lately been appreciable rainfalls, in the poorest condition. Jt is also reported that the Manawatu and Wairarapa districts are being hard hit, and it was said by a prominent Wairarapa farmer that the season was the worst he has known in his 60 years’ residence in the district. Farmers have a habit of saying those things, but if half of it is true it is bad enough. A normally dry season is more of a benefit than it is a disadvantage to Hawke’s Bay, and one of the virtues of the district, from a farming aspect, is that its temperate dryness is most favourable to the production of fat stock. Hawke’s Bay need not, therefore, be ashamed to have it known that things are bad. They are bad in many another place, and the present drought is not an ordinary characteristic of the district. The rainfall at Hastings may be taken as fairly representing the average for the district, and the figures for the period of almost four months from September 1 last to date show that only 7.29 in have fallen. The total rainfall for the similar period in the previous year was 15.81, or more than twice as much. The rainfall for each of the eight months is as follows, the monthly rainfall for the previous period being shown in parentheses: September, ,47in (1.96), October 1.42 (4.32). November, .55 (1.39), December, .07 (3.25), January, 2.13 (3.47), February, 1.73 (.77), March, .92 (.49), April (23 days), .00 (.16). . The meat works are being affected by the drought, and though they are not being overrun with sheep, cattle are coming in at such a rate that there is not killing space for them, and there will not be for some time to come. The condition of the meat is poorer than it has lieen for a very long time. Many farmers, foreseeing what was coming, sent large numbers of cattle away for grazing, and are still doing so. ENTERPRISING FARMERS. Professor William Reddit, who was appointed to the new Chair of Agriculture at the Auckland University College, has been travelling over both islands, and he considers that splendid progress has been made i: agricultural affairs which, ot course, will be materially enhanced when the new agricultural college is established. Referring especially to dairying, Professor Riddet remarked that it was quite possible to conceive of good dairying land becoming communities of not very large farms —each farm having, say, about fifty cows. Dairying had made striking progress in the matter of manufacture and output, but here again the Dominion could not afford to stand still. Competition in the world’s markets was increasing: there was an increase in the production of dairy produce in Siberia, and in the middle west of Canada; and the Argentine was reported to be taking up dairying. So New Zealand must not only maintain the present high standard jf quality, but must aim higher, and must, at the same time, aim to lower the cost of production. “Good work is being done in this way already,” Professor Riddet remarked, “by top-dressing old pastures and culling out poor-yielding cows as a result of herd testing. The herd-testing movement can be very materially extended to lay the foundation of a really highly-producing stock; there- is no need for further importation of high grade stock; we have plenty of good stock in this country already. It is by breeding from that good stock, and by extending it, that our production can be increased. There is no reason why New Zealand should not surpass the Mother Country and appeal even more as the world’s breeding farm of dairy stock.” “Feeding of stock was a most important direction in which enterprise was needed by the farmers. There was a huge % amount of work to be undertaken in this connection. The growing of supplementary forage cr could be extended, and feeding might be carried even as far as the feeding of meals and cakes. Some farmers were not finding it profitable to use these; and the question whether the practice could be extended to all farms depended upon a number of considerations that required to be investigated by a central body Hence the need of an agricultural college. Provision would be made at the proposed college for short courses for farmers to give them a training in things they could not get at home. It was not going to be a highbrow education, but one for the people who were on the land and were going to be on it all their days.”