THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3877, 3 July 1928, Page 20

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) More wintry-like conditions have prevailed during the past week, and stock in unsheltered positions have had a bqd time, particularly on the East Comst. At the beginning of the week settlers of Poverty Bay woke up to find a cold snap well established, a half gale coming off the snow of the Raukumaras making the air very keen indeed. The cold was intense and very penetrating, and settlers who. care for their stock were kept busy placing them in less exposed positions. On the West Coast it was also extremely cold for the greater part of the week, and quite a large number of cows have been rugged ' against the severe weather being experienced. THE PROPERTY MARKET. While in the Auckland province there has been a good deal of activity in the property market, other provinces have not the same report to make. Very few properties have really changed hands, although there have been a good many inquiries. In most cases, however, the prices offered by prospective buyers did not approach the sellers’ conception of values; consequently negotiations were not brought to a satisfactory conclusion. It is not likely that there will be apy pronounced activity until later in the year. DISEASES IN CATTLE. During the National Dairy Association Conference nt Palmerston North last week an able address, and one that created immense interest among dairymen and pastoralists, was given by Dr C. J. Reakqs, director-general of agriculture. The speaker said that the primary object of his recent trip to England was to attend a conference on agricultural research that had been arranged by the Imperial Government. He had gone fully into matters affecting research work in connection with diseases that greatly troubled the industry, namely, contagious abortion, sterility, partial or complete abortion, and vagnitis. These diseases caused considerable monetary loss to farmers, and though much knowledge had been gained, the genesis was obscure to a certain -extent, and it was difficult to find means of eradicating or at least amending them. Dr Reakes said that he found in England that, as regards contagious abortion, they were up against a brick wall. Some years ago the experts thought they had found a method that would overcome the difficulty by the use of vaccines, which for a time gave encouraging results, but it was soon realised that these did not come up to expectations, and they were now where they were some years ago.

He had continued inquiries in Denmark, where they were making research into the question, but were still attacking it while knowing little about its control. One great point had been reached. By a blood test it could be ascertained whether the disease was present in a herd or not. The test was used in New Zealand, and it enabled farmers to regulate any arrivals and check the disease from spreading through the herd. Tn France Dr Reakes found the sameopinion regarding vaccine—that the dead vaccine was useless and the living was unsatisfactory, the grave objection being that it was- liable to convert the animal into a carrier. In New Zealand vaccine had been studied, but it had been decided in view of the risk of carriers and the indefinite nature of reports, that the department could not advise farmers to use it.

In Germany they were making, exhaustive inquiries to ascertain whether or not vaccine had done any good. Tn South Africa he had inquired into a vaccine used in Southern Rhodesia, with, it was reported, favourable results. This had been put under trial in New Zealand. Analysing the results, Dr Reakes said there was no definite data available in Southern Rhodesia, and he assumed that improvement had synchronised with the the use of the vaccine. The first year the trial was made in New Zealand the results were promising, but last year they were not so good. The department was still pursuing its investigations. Sterility was another disease that was obscure, and in various countries research was being carried out with a view to overcoming it. There was a difference of opinion as to whether or not it w°s due to the abortion bacillus. He was, able to supply information as the re-.: t of New Zealand research. Tn Denn.crk he had seen demonstrations of a new method of washing out cows. A French expert considered the disease -was largely the result of the intensive nature of the industry. Mammitis was very troublesome in New Zealand, where a good deal was known about it. He found it also troublesome in England, where it appeared to be getting worse, but very little research was being made in connection with it. Cows, however, were taken in hand at once, and very often gave successful results. . In Denmark a good deal of investigation was. being carried out on the lines of injection through the teat, Germany was trying out new drugs, and as soon as definite results were obtained they would forward the information to New Zealand. In other Continental countries they were troubled with mammitis, and, while experimenting with new forms of treatment, their mainstay was the treatment that had years ago been recommended by the New Zealand department.

APPLES TOO BIG. According to the statement of Mr J. C. Hardy, Poverty Bay delegate to the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Association, a rather peculiar situation has arisen in connection with the export of apples. In some fruit-growing districts a difficulty has been experienced in that large quantities of apples have been too small for the export trade, while in Poverty Bay the reverse has been the position, considerable quantities of apples being too large for export requirements. The result is that each season Poverty Bay growers are left with large quantities of apples which they cannot export, and the wonderful autumn experienced this year left them with more than usual. This feature of fruit growing in Poverty Bay was discussed at the Federation Conference at Wellington. During the season permission was obtained by the Poverty Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association to ship to Hamburg a small , consignment of apples larger

than the standard export size, while later the local organisation sent a remit for presentation at the annual meeting of the federation seeking authority to export in future apples which would average in_ size about 3Ain in diameter, this being a little larger than the present standard. The humour of the situation was caused, he said, by the fact that two of the southern centres had forwarded a remit applying for permission to ship overseas apples of a smaller, size than was now permitted, it being suggested <lown to 2£in in diameter should be included among future exports. A. keen discussion ensued for some time in connection -with tins proposal, according to Mr Hardy, who stated that immediately after that aspect had been disposed of he introduced the Poverty Hay remit, and in doing so placed on the table some fine specimens of his district s large-sized fruit with the remark that they were man-sized apples,” where,,one o£ the delegates ejaculated that they were more like pumpkins than iruit when compared with what had been previously discussed. Support was forthcoming tor the Poverty Bay remit irom the Hawke s Bay and Auckland delegates, but it was deemed advisable that betore coming to any decision the report on the result of the trial shipment sent lroi !l , ( < lsbo ,?; ne to Hamburg should be available. The remit, therefore, was referred to the Control Board. INDIGESTION IN CATTLE. According to Mr MTfinden, lecturer in veterinary science at the Massey College indigestion is a complaint that puzzles many farmers. The cows first begin to showsigns of heaviness, and generally exhibit ♦I? 113 fchepe is something wrong with them. A noticeable symptom was when the animals left the milking sheds and staggered around the paddocks, eventually tailing over. The complaint was generally due to either over-feeding with turnips pr musty hay. A remedy was to slowly drench the cow with a mixture of 11b pt salt and IJlb of molasses, the whole to be first dissolved in water. It was essential that great care should be taken with the drenching, which should not be (lone too hurriedly. POVERTY BAY SHEEP. Poverty Bay flocks are practically immune from trouble, and sheep generalljare in such good condition that the lambing should be good. It is reported, however» that the wet weather has caused pcalding, the feet of the sheep suffering from continual tramping in sodden ground. Inis, however, is a complaint that develops every winter, and no serious consequences are expected. FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. Dr Reakes (Director-general of Agriculture) stated at Palmerston North last week that, while he was in England the country had one of the worst outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease ever known. He had gone there intending to procure some stock for New Zealand, but, in view of the outbreak, it was not advisable to do so until conditions improved and the quarantine station was available. Conditions had improved, and the question of removing the restrictions on the embargo regarding the importation of Stock was under consideration. They had considerable trouble in England over isolated outbreaks whose connection with other outbreaks could not be traced. DEMAND FOR CATTLE. There is still a pretty good demand for cattle, but it is not likely that there will .be any heavy sales until spring. Inquiries are being made on both coasts for grown bullocks, but breeders appear to be desirous of retaining their present stock to keep in check the extraordinarygood growth of feed. In the Gisborne district there is more winter feed than for several years. Both freezing works are still killing fairly large numbers of cattle, but very few sheep have been coming forward lately. DOMINION AND BRITAIN’S MEAT SUPPLIES. Weddels annual review of the meat position at Home is very interesting, dealing as it does with supplies oT frozen and chilled meat imported into the United Kingdom. The report states that the total quantity of imported meat marketed at Smithfield during the year amounted to 324,438 tons, or 34 per cent, of the total importations into Britain. The following table, supplied by the Smithfield market superintendent, shows the quantities of beef, veal, mutton, and lamb which passed through Smithfield during 1927:— Pere Beef Mutton Total centand and age of veal lamb total Tons Tons Tons Britain and

Totals 261,810 150,107 411,917 100 It will be seen that Home supplies represent 21.2 per cent, of the -whole against 17.2 per cent, in 1926. New Zealand is the largest supplier of mutton and lamb, and the Argentine of beef and veal.

The total importations .into Britain of mutton from all sources amounted to 5,374,598 carcasses, as compared with 5,605,290 carcasses in 1926, a decrease of 230,692 carcasses, or 4.1 per cent. The individual‘totals, however, show greater variation. Australia sent 135,180 carcasses more than in 1926. Against this New Zealand shipped 166,245 carcasses fewer. From the Argentine Republic there was an increase of 276,245 carcasses, counterbalanced by an almost identical decrease from Patagonia, while Uruguay failed to reach the 1926 total by 157,680 carcasses. The total of 9,611,170 carcasses of lamb imported last year is easily a “record,” having exceeded the previous highest total by 703,613 carcasses. The increase over 1926 was 1,330,329 carcasses, or 16 per cent., but was offset to some extent by the lighter average weights of the carcasses. Australian shipments were smaller by 354,887 carcasses, but from all the other sources of supply heavily augmented shipments were received. New Zealand, with an increase of 364,277 carcasses, for the first time, exceeded the five-million mark. Argentina had a large increase of 853,300 carcasses, and Uruguay a ■ rela-

.ttvely larger one of 309,770 carcasses. Patagonia made a good recovery from the preceding year’>s drop in supplies, with an increase of 142,634 carcasses. Another considerable falling-off in arrivals in frozen beef has to be recorded, the total of 986,346 quarters imported being 544,850 quarters, or 35.6 per cent., smaller than the 1926 total of 1,531,196 quarters. The heaviest decrease was in respect of Australian shipments, which declined by 275.864 quarters, but New Zealand's drop from 267,068 quarters to 131,060 quarters was perhaps more significant. From Argentina there was a comparatively small decrease of 48,084 quarters. Uruguay shipped to this country only 34,747 quarters, against 117,470 quarters in 1926.

Importations of chilled beef during the year amounted to 6,585,429 quarters against 5.770,290 quarters in 1926. an increase of 815,139 quarters, or 14.1 per cent. Actually the Argentine Republic sent 964.207 quarters (or 18 per cent.) more than in 1926. Shipments from Uruguay decreased by 204,837 quarters. After an interval of two years, Brazil resumed the. exportation of chilled beef, the total quantity received being 55,769 quarters. AGRICULTURAL CLUB DEVELOPMENT. The institution of boys' and girls’ clubs has proved a popular and successful move, and is doing excellent work for the farming industry. The idea of these clubs emanated in America, where, even in the days before the war, it was felt that something was necessary to combat the alarming drift to the towns of the younger section of the rural community. With a view to making farming more attractive to the younger generation it was decided to institute these clubs, and thus educate early the potential farmers of the future, from America the movement spread, and, 1 understand, Otago was the first province to introduce the agricultural club system into the Dominion. Taranaki, however, took the matter up eight years ago with perhaps greater vigour than any other part of the Dominion, and now the boys’ and girls’ agricultural clubs are a feature ot the educational work of the West Coast. At first the growing of swedes and carrots was undertaken, and later mangolds and carrots -were the competing crops Then, in 1921, the scheme was extended to include calf-rearing competitl®n8 >.. a J ld ia 1926 a senior division was established for children who had left school, classes being provided for quarteracre mangold and carrot crops. Latest reports irom Taranaki show that the steady increase in the number of entries is proof of the growing popularity of the movement and the season 1927-28 has established a new record with a total ot 540 entries in both the calf rearing and j cro P competitions. The previous record was last year’s total of 400 entries, rsot only has there been an advance in numbers, but there has also been a decided improvement in the standard of cultivation of the crops and of the yields. ±he average yield in the mangold section this year is particularly good, being 70 tons lent, as compared with 59 tons 13cwt last year, an increase of 10 tons Bcwt per a £ r€ ? £ ' le carrots also show an increase - 4 A OI 1 S 4cwt > tbe average being this year 44 tons 17ewt, as compared with 40 tons 13cwt the previous season. This 18 remarkably good, and reflects great ci edit on the work of the competitors, , h° u sh the mangolds apparently benefited by the dry spell the district experienced, the carrots were noticeably afS Ct t d ’ ? elng ® hort in growth, owing to the hardness of the soil. While the average was good, the best plot weighed considerably less than the previous record crop that of Ray Wallis with 76 tons •pv,-i l9 “x*', 26 ' r year’s best was Leslie Philpott s, of Ohangai, with 58 tons loewt.

The mangolds, however, this year create a record. The previous record was a ky Dorothy Ward, of Okaiawa, in 1922, weighing 152 tons per acre. This at the time was described as a “ freak ” plot, and many journeyed to Okaiawa to view it Harold Willis, of Matapu, this 5 ear eclipsed all previous records with the remarkable return of 188 tons 7cwt a phenomenal weight. Alfred Muggeridn-e was the next highest with 130 tons 3cwt, and no Jess than seven others—J. Goldup Laurie Philpott, Doris Dakers, Robert brmth, and Reg. Bird, were the possessors A £A T S T y^T lung over 100 tons per acre. A VALUABLE TROPHY PRESENTED. To further stimulate interest in boys and girls agricultural clubs Messrs Henry A. Lane, Ltd., of London, have presented to the Department of Agriculture a challenge shield (a photograph of which appears in this issue) for competition amongst the schools taking part each year m the boys and girls’ agricultural clubs’ various competitions. The conditions under which the shield is presented are as follow:—

r sb * eia is to be the property of the Department of Agriculture as a perpetual challenge shield, to be awarded each year to the school the pupils from which gam the most points during the year m the various competitions that are run. each year, for the boys and girls’ agricultural clubs throughout New Zeathe actual competitions themselves and at those run in connection with the boys and girls’ agricultural clubs at the A. and P. and winter shows. (2) The shield to be held by the school winning it each year, or until won by another school, and a photograph of the shield will be presented each year to the winning school.

(3) Points to count for the shield to be awarded as under:—(a) For the percentage of children that are eligible in ufch school actually taking part in the competition, and at the A. and P. and winter shows; (b) for points gained by each school in the various competitions, as under: 1. At the actual competitions. —Championships, Ist, 2nd, 3rd? points, ?’ 9y°? ps ’ I , st> 2nd » 3rd; points, 3, 2 {_. •. 2 : -A- and P. shows. —Championships, Ist, 2nd, 3rd; points, 3,2 1 Classes, Ist, 2nd, 3rd; points, 3,2, L 3. At winter shows.—Championships, Ist 2nd, 3rd; point?, 3,2, 1. Groups, Ist, 2nd, 3rd; points, 3,2, 1. Classes, Ist, 2nd, 3rd; points, 3,2, 1. MAIZE PICKING AFFECTED.

Recent wet weather has affected picking operations among the maize crops of Poverty Bay. some cases the maize paddocks have become too wet for easy working, the pickers having to plod about in thick mud. The maize market is very weak just now, and this is attributed to

the plenitude of feed that exists. The quality of this season’s maize at Poverty Bay is reported to be particularly good, growers having taken a great deal of care in sorting the inferior • cobs from those of first quality. There is, of course, a large quantity of inferior grain, but this has been carefully kept separate from the first grades, so that buyers should have little fear of finding inferior maize in lots declared to be of first quality. HAWERA WINTER SHOW. Hawera Winter Show Committee’s annual winter show was held during the , and , was of a very high standard. This show is really a proprietary concern, in which most of the business men of Hawera are interested and have developed for the benefit of the town. The exhibition was particularly good, and the management left nothing to be desired.

Ireland .. 47,558 39,921 87,479 21.2 Australia .. . 2,758 18,582 21,340 5.2 Now Zealand 1,292 65,660 66,952 16.3 Canada 827 827 0.2 United States 1,314 93 1,407 0.3 Argentina .. 201,064 21,155 222,219 54.0 Uruguay . . 6,997 4,696 11,693 2.8