THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 20

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From Oub Own Correspondent.) There has been a pretty heavy rainfall during the past week, and the earth has been well saturated. The rain has been slightly colder, but not sufficiently severe to retard growth. The country is looking very much greener and better, and there is now a fair amount of feed coming on. In most parts of the Waikato there is abundance of grass, and in Hawke’s Bay there is a very perceptible improvement in the appearance of the country. PEDIGREE JERSEY SALE. At Ferncourt, N in the Waikato, a sale of Mr R. Wattam’s pedigree Jersey herd took place during the week, and must he regarded as satisfactory. The highest price of the day was 65gns, which was paid by Mr W. H. Tuck, of Matangi, for the young cow Belvedere Golden Pride; 50gns was paid by Mr H. Moreland, of Ncwstead. for Fencourt Graceful, and Mr W. Campbell, of Leamington, paid 45gng for the heifer Fencourt Ruby, and Mr J. Shan, of 47igns for the heifer Fencourt Favourite. The young bull Fencourt Briar Laddie was purchased by Mr S. C. Gordon, of Taupiri, for 26gns. The cows averaged 38gns, and the calves 20«im. At the conclusion of the sale several heifers on account of Dr F. T.

Wataon, of Bulla, were offered, and sold up to 4lgns. STIMULATING PRODUCTION. The Toko Settlers’ Association, Taranaki, has now been in existence over 14 years, and its efforts have mainly directed towards stimulating production among the settlers of the district. That the association has succeeded goes without saying, and the root competition held each year speaks eloquently of the interest the farmers take in the association’s activities. Mr J. W. Dean, of the Agricultural Department, performed the duties of judge this season, and he considers that the swede crop of Mr A. Marfell, Huinga, one of the finest he has ever .seen in the district. The results of the judging were: Mangc#ds—Mr Hine, 111 tons 13cwt; Mr E. Jones, 83 tons lcwt; Mr Were, 82 tons 14cwt. Carrots—Mr Woollaston, 50 tons; Mr Were, 48 tons lOcwt; Mr Gernhoefer, 42 tons 3cwt. Swedes—Mr L. Marfell, 69 tons Bcwt; Mr E. Jones, 60 tons llewt; Mr Kaye, 51 tons 18cwt. There is, of course, a broader significance than prize-winning in the direct benefit to stock through the careful attention to cropping, and the more intensive cultivation required to produce prize-win-ning crops. The possession of good, healthy-looking crops is undoubtedly reflected in well-conditioned herds, capable of withstanding the rigours of winter better than their indifferently nourished cousins in a district where a minimum of cultivation has resulted in inferior returns of winter fodder. ENGLISH VISITOR ON FARMING. Mr J. Morgan, member of the British Farmers’ Union, has just arrived in New Zealand, and the Auckland Farmers’ Provincial Conference w as fortunate in havii 7 a talk from him soon after he had got off the' boat. Mr Morgan’s object in visiting New Zealand is to investigate farming conditions in the Dominion. He is particularly interested in New Zealand’s central boards, and stated that they should function splendidly in interlocking with the suggested import boards advocated by the British Labour Party. Mr Morgan went on to say that for practical purposes Vesteys and Armours (who control, under various names, most of the retail trade at Home) are one firm. The Home-killed meat hardly comes into competition with colonial, as the former is all high-class trade, a wealthy demand. The so-called “Scotch beef” goes to the West End. The high-class demand is changed since the w r ar, and beasts are finished off at two years, never leaving the stall. Chilled beef is sold at from Is to Is 5d per lb retail. Questioned as to the danger of Russian competition in butter, Mr Morgan said that New Zealand butter had largely displaced Danish during the past two years, chiefly because of quality, but also because of the rapidly opening German market, which might be expected to also absorb any Russian increase. He thought wheatproducing countries would feel the Russian pressure now' that the country had got seriously to work. High wages Home meant greater consumption. The people had been educated up to butter, and would not eat margarine while they could pay. for butter. There is a very strong move to give preference to Empire- j produced goods, and the Labour import policy can only find reciprocal combinations in the Dominion. The drawback was the many millions of British money invested in foreign countries, but the trusts overdid things, and spoiled their own sources of supply. This had happened in Argentina, where the meat production had fallen off. Asked as to whether the framers of New Zealand were not in exactly the same position as Labour at Home, Mr Morgan replied that it was too soon for him to express an opinion on anything in New Zealand, but he wo ..d say that they were in the same position c,s to strategic value to the country. It was necessary to keep national interests to the fore, and New Zealand must see that the prosperity of her countryside is essential. THE PORK INDUSTRY. The pork export trade is now commanding great interest, and after considerable discussion on the matter the Auckland Provincial Conference of the Farmers' Union appointed a committee to meet the representatives of a committee sent to Hamilton from Feilding. where the union has already gone fully into the question and arranged a pool The conference was addressed by the managing director (Mr Makgill) and the general manager (Mr Simpson) of the Auckland Freezing Company. Mr Makgill first of all referred to the heavy competition in the meat exportbusiness. He reminded the Conference that the industry was coming into fewer and fewer hands. Mr Makgill appeared to be in rather a pessimistic kind of mood. He advised the farmers of the Auckland province not to touch the bacon industry. It was perilous. Two years ago tile Auckland Freezing Company offered to kill and store, export or hold pigs, the offer being made to all dairy companies. The offer was approved to a great extent by the dairy companies, but great difficulties were experienced because so few pigs were handled. Organisation was needed amongst the dairy companies, which should undertake collection. The Auckland Freezing Company would kill and hold or export, just as wished. Exportable pigs should be sent Home when the market warranted, and rejects (which were only rejects judged from an expert standard, but were usually quite all right) should be marketed locally. Any pigs condemned were covered by insurance. There have been heavy losses in pigs and heavy damage in pigs, which could be avoided. The business should be concentrated, cheapened costs increasing efficiency. Mr Simpson advised setting up a committee, and in reply to questions stated that the works handled more pork 18 or 20 years ago than now. Prices varied greatly at Home. The pig required is known a 3 the * large white/ lengthy, not too fat, and from 1201 b to 1801 b. Italy takes heavier pigs. Home reports were most satisfactory. The Berkshire-Tam-worth cross was suggested as an ideal. There was always a large market in New Zealand for rejects, end it would be ■imple to transform the pig market from • live to a dead pig market, sending the figs frozen through New Zealand, and

exporting surplus when New Zealand was supplied. Pigs were usually worse as to disease after winter months, and much can be done by improving conditions in holding and wintering. The report of the committee which is to interview the Feilding delegates is awaited with interest. EXPERIMENTAL PIG FARM.

Before leaving the pig industry t is interesting to note that at the last meeting of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board it was decided to approach the Government and the New Zealand Dairy Produce Control Board with a view to making experiments in the breeding, fattening, etc., of pigs suitable for export. It was suggested that these experiments should be conducted in conjunction with the dairy industry on a suitable farm possessing all the necessary facilities. These experiments would extend over a considerable period, and the fullest investigation made; as a result, valuable data should be available for the farmers of this Dominion.

A committee was formed by the board to go into the matter, and it was resolved that a subsidy should be given to finance these experiments. The Meat Producers’ Board some time ago distributed gratis a number of bacon pigs among the different bacon curers in Great Britain, and the reports from these firms show that we can export the pigs suitable for the British market. The next step is to experiment in the development of the breeding of the best type, and ilso to make tests .as to feeding, particular attention to be given to foods that can be URed in conjunction with the by-products of our dairying industry. HERD TESTING IN TARANAKI. The Taranaki Cow Testing Association has compiled its return for the period ended May 14, and those interested in dairying will read the figures with interest. In Group 1, the herd averages were as follows: No. of

Summarised the returns were:— Herd Averages —No. of Cows, 38; milk, lb, 331; test, 5.5; fat, lb, 18.15. Group II herd averages were:— The highest individual yields were:—

Child grinding teeth? Give WADE’S WORM FIGS. Pleasant to take. Immediately effective.—Ad vt.

SUMMARY. Herd Averages. —No. of cows. 43; milk, lb, 324; test, 5.5; fat, lb, 17.75. TOP DRESSING. The dairy season will soon be brought to a close, as the supply is now greatly reduced, and a number are on once-a-day milking, whilst others are drying off their cows steadily. The last month lias seen a number of farmers busy top dressing, so as to ensure a good early growth in spring. A variety of manures are used, but superphosphates get a good all-round hearing, as it brings the grass away quickly.

cows. Milk, lb. Test. Fat, lb. 29 428 6.3 27.33 26 400 5.7 22.81 47 326 18.06 81 361 5.1 18.45 18 293 5.0 14.47 G3 247 5.7 14.00 34 273 6.0 16.62 53 382 4.7 18.18 51 304 *5.3 16.22 38 315 G.6 20.70 67 418 5.1 21.44 15 434 G.O 26.03 27 325 5.8 18.84 31 335 6.5 18.33 32 241 5.6 13.57 35 340 19.48 22 242 5.4 13.00 17 166 6.6 10.98 47 390 5.3 - 19.78 26 310 5.6 17.46 28 392 5.2 20.66 33 245 5.0 1*2.12 43 379 4.G 17.42 40 413 5.1 21.27 41 342 4.9 17.00 35 296 6.0 17.62 The highest i individual yields were: — Milk, lb Test. Fat, lb. 720 5.8 41.76 525 5.7 29.92 7.3 27.37 780 4.3 33.54 375 6.4 24.00 630 6.3 39.69 495 5.9 29.20 930 4.4 40.92 4*20 6.6 27.72 390 9.5 37.05 1050 3.8 39.90 570 6.8 38.76 510 5.8 29.53 555 5.6 31.08 390 G.4 24.96 465 G.O 27.90 450 5.8 26.10 435 6.6 28.71 510 6.0 30.60 480 5.6 26.88 615 5.0 30.75 870 4.9 42.63 705 4.4 31.02 705 5.4 38.07 570 4.9 27.93 570 7.0 89.90 The lowest individual yields were:— Milk, lb. Test. Fat, lb. 210 C.l 12.81 195 5.3 10.33 90 4.9 4.10 90 4.0 3.60 150 4.0 6.00 90 3.2 2.88 60 7.0 4.20 75 4.5 3.37 60 6.4 3.84 135 5.2 7.02 60 4.0 2.40 270 5.9 15.93 120 5.7 6.84 195 4.2 8.19 00 4.0 2.40 150 5.4 8.10 6.4 4.80 30 8.3 2.49 60 5.8 3.48 120 4.2 5.04 166 5.2 8.58 105 6.0 G.30 60 3.3 1.98 60 3.6 2.16 60 7.8 4.68 185 4.6 6.31

No. oi Milk, ib. Test. Fat, lb. 42 326 5.2 17.03 72 493 4.3 21.54 41 428 5.0 21.39 39 312 6.3 19.64 M 311 6.0 18.46 56 249 4.7 11.66 45 290 5.4 15.81 30 281 5.9 16.60 47 301 5.3 16.06 46 , 344 6.6 19.51 63 338 5.4 18.27 31 404 6.1 24.83 45 366 6.2 22.75 36 291 6.0 17.47 86 * 292 6.0 17.46 32 339 5.0 16.39 Ofiq 5.0 13.59 49 347 5.3 18.53 182 6.0 10.77 36 344 5.5 19.04 46 268 6.3 16.96 53 336 5.6 18.73 104 362 6.1 18.51 28 314 4.8 15.07

The highest individual yields were:— Milk, lb. Teat. Fat, lb. 480 5.3 24.96 790 5.0 36.00 570 5.7 32.49 345 9.4 32.43 m 5.8 26.10 375 5.4 20.25 52a 4.5 23.62 555 5.2 28.86 380 7.7 30.03 510 6.2 31.62 810 4.0 32.40 045 5.7 36.76 570 8.0 45.60 406 6.8 31.62 765 5.8 44.37 670 5.0 28.50 540 5.4 29.16 720 4.6 33.12 450 6.3 28.35 375 0.6 36.00 540 6.6 35.64 585 6.0 35.10 630 5.5 34.65 375 5.6 21.00 The lowest individaul yields were:— Milk, lb. Test. Fat, lb. 210 4.2 8.82 180 3.7 6.66 165 6.9 11.38 105 4.2 4.11 150 5.6 8.40 105 4.0 4.20 120 5.4 6.48 120 6.8 8.16 180 3.2 5.76 300 3.0 9.00 120 4.4 5.28 •240 5.9 14.16 90 7.7 6.93 75 7.0 5.25 150 5.0 7.50 90 5.6 5.04 150 4.3 6.45 105 5.3 5.56 30 5.2 1.56 135 5.6 7.56 60 5.8 3.48 135 5.2 7.02 225 4.0 9.00 225 4.0 9.00