A WHEAT POOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3869, 8 May 1928, Page 20

A WHEAT POOL.

CHRISTCHURCH, May 6. A meeting of wheat-growers in the Waikari-Hawarden district, one of the largest and best wheat areas in Canterbury, last evening carried the followin'* resolution:—- °

“ That this meeting of wheat-growers is in favour of the formation of a wheat pool.” agricultural ano pastoral NEWS. Experiments with Norfolk Island pine and willow timber for butter boxes have been made by the Warrnambool box factory company', V ictoria. The manager has received a favourable report from the export superintendent of the Agricultural Department concerning boxes of these timbers filled with butter and kept in cool stores for seven weeks. Apparent success in combating the grass grub in Canterbury' was reported to the meeting of the Selwyn Plantations Board this week. The superintendent stated that, contrary to expectations, the grubs which seriously threatened to play havoc with the transplanted stock a few months ago had done little or no damage, a fact which was due probably to the intense surface culture applied, and handpicking of the larvae.

Tapanui farmers are well pleased at trie prices they are at present receiving for their fat stock. As an example three lines that recently -went through Finegand works may be quoted:—On behalf of Mr R. Yardley (Moa Flat), 1080 lambs were put through the works, averaging 44.361 b, and there were only 34 seconds in the line. Mr A. Gow (of Waikoikoi), who forwarded two trucks of lambs, to the works, averaged 50.71 b, realising the very satisfactory price of 37s Id net. Mr J. D. Edgar (\\ estholme, Tapanui) also forwarded a very nice line, which realised 33s 3d net. Both these two latter lines were sold on the hooks.

It has been said by a -well-known small farmer and by fruitgrowers in Havelock North that snails have been seen climbing to the top of trees in his orchard. Another man said the same thing was noticed in Clive square, Napier, in the year of the big flood.

It was reported at the executive meeting of the Farmers’ Union at Wellington that the Stock Department had been inter viewed regarding a proposal for age-mark ing stock. The department's officers pointed out that it would be accessary to get legislative sanction. ” Are you going to mark all stock? ” asked a delegate. The secretary replied that every animal was to lx» age-marked and stock officials thought that the only practical method of markin'* would be tattooing on the ear, not brand° ing. Mr H B. Stuckey suggested that if the scheme was to be made practical it should be devised by the Farmers’ Union, and on his motion a committee was appointed to draft suggestions.