THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 4038, 4 August 1931, Page 17

THE NORTH ISLAND.

GENERAL. Judging by the interest being taken in herd testing in the Gisborne district, there will be an increase in the number of herds tested here next season. “ Nature is looking after us this season. ’ stated a farmer at. Auckland, referring to the early lambing in the north. The flocks he had seen included an unusually large number of twins and triplets. Many of the lambs born about a month ago were thriving well. It is not expected that the payment to suppliers of the Toatoa cheese factory will average much more than 9d per lb butter-fat for the past season. For the previous season the average was Is 7 Id. However, the output for the past period easily constitutes a record. The factory remained open well into June. The amount of rain that has ialien in the past month materially increases the prospects for a good season in Hawkes Bay this year, and the absorption capacity of the land is illustrated by the small amount of surface water to be seen about the country. Hawke's Bay is now in firstclass order to respond to good conditions in the spring. The trench method of ensilage making is becoming increasingly popular (states the Taranaki Herald). It has been found that excellent results have been obtained from a trench six feet deep, having the sides built up with the earth taken from the trench. Both for carting in and carting out the handling costs for the trench method are much lighter than for the stack. Some of the pick of the land on Mr Fernie’s rich Cliesterhope property was inundated through the Ngaruroro flood waters coming over the stop-bank at the Pakowhai end. No material damage appears to have been done, however, although the flood wate-s will leave a heavy deposit of silt. The recent rains have had the effect of"widening the earthquake cracks running down to the Tutae-Kuri-Waimate on this property. As proof of the bad time farmers were having generally, a farmer showed the Stratford Post an invoice and receipt for the sale of two sheepskins, which netted him ninepence. Threepence for commission brought the gross return from the sale to one shilling. The hoggets from which the skins were taken had not been shorn. Stamps to the value of ninepence attached to the document testified to the truth of the farmer's statement.

■ Taranaki land agents report a better demand for farm properties and town businesses in North Taranaki districts. One agent said he had seven callers on one day, all inquiring for property and genuinely seeking investment for capital. Surprising features were the definite nature of the inquiries and the size of the deposits available. One inquirer had £4OOO cash to invest, another £lOOO, and another £9OO.

Since the value of sodium chlorate for exterminating ragwort and weeds has been determined there has been a marked increase in the importations from the continent of America. Mr J. W. Deem, director of the fields division, stated at Palmerston North recently that figures were now available showing the extent to which sodium chlorate was being used. Whereas the annual importations to New Zealand were only five to ten tons, the amount brought into the Dominion during the year ended March 31 last was 417 ton, 17ewt.

“ I like rotational grazing in that it allows us to raise the young stock,” said Mr Hume, federation supervisor of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Associ-

ation, speaking at Wanganui recently. He said that many farmers wanted all stock on their farms to be productive. Far better results could be' obtained if farmers would rear their own replacements than by constantly going to the market. “If you have anything like a decent base to work on —breed your own replacements and leave the saleyards alone,” said Mr Hume. He had seen many a good herd ruined by bringing in a few disea: ed cows.

Some of the freezing works are now experiencing a busy time on account of the seasonal “ bobby ” calf trade (says the Auckland Star). It is stated that at Horotui. in the Waikato, 2000 calves were killed on last Tuesday alone, and large numbers are also being handled at Southdown and Westfield. The herds in the Auckland district appear to be coming in about a fortnight earlier than last year, and dairy farmers generally are selling their calves immediately. This is in contrast with the practice years ago, when frisky young calves were a common sight on the farms. They were given their rations of milk night and morning, and frequently pastured to the yearling stage. Reports from Taranaki show that calves are being collected in greater numbers than in previous seasons, but in Auckland there has been little change in the numbers. FORDELL DAIRY SALE. There was a fair yarding at the Fordell dairy sale held by Associated Live Stock Auctioneers, Ltd. Prices wete as follow;—Pedigree Jersey cows. lOgns to lljgus: dairj- cows. £8 5s to £8 15s; springing Jersey heifers. £7 to £9 2s 6d; medium sorts, £5 to £6 6s.

EARLY FREEZING. With the old freezing season only just finished, and the new season's lambing still in its comparatively early stages, it is impossible to provide any forecast of whether there will be sufficient demand to warrant the Haiti Freezing Works opening early enough to catch the Smithfield Christmas market. The early lambs killed last November arrived in London just after Christmas, not early enough to participate in the trade, but at a time when there was still a fairly good demand, although at low rates. There is little doubt that if the demand for killing space warrants it. the works wid be opened about the same time as last year. HERD TESTING. Herd-testing as the great factor in the improvement of the Dominion’s dairy herds was emphasised by Mr C. M. Hume, I federation supervisor of the Dominion Group Herd-testing Association, in speaking at a large meeting of farmers in Wanganui recently. Mr V. Horrocks presided over an attendance of about 60, a good number being boys and young' men. The address also dealt with many subjects allied to the dairy industry, and was termed by several after the meeting to be the finest of its kind heard, in Wanganui for many years. Many lantern slides gave decisive figures as examples of what the herdtesting had meant to farmers who had participated. Much of the address was devoted to the lucid explanation of the results obtained. At the conclusion of the address a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the speakers, and Mr N. Fulton, chief grader at the Castlecliff stores, told the meeting that the address had been one of the finest he had heard in his long association with the dairy industry.

MEMBER OF MEAT FIRM. Partly on holiday and partly on business, Mr A. M. Borthwick, of the meat exporting firm of Thomas Borthwick and Sons, Ltd., arrived in Wellington by the Monowai from England, via Australia. Mr Borthwick told a Dominion reporter on arrival that he was really not in a position to make any authoritative comments on the present state of the meat industry, as much of his time had been recently spent on ranches and stations in various parts of the world; but he at least knew that “ things were not too good at Home.” As to the heavy fall in the prices of meat, dairy produce, and other primary products during the last two years, Mr Borthwick said that it appeared to him that prices could not rise. The only alternative was that production costs would have to fall. It seemed impossible to expect people in England, where the basic wage was less than that in New Zealand, to pay more for their foodstuffs. The remedy was at the other end. EASf COAST DAIRYING. A steady expansion is being made in the dairying industry at the northern end of the coast, particularly in the Waiapu Valley. Recently interest in dairying had been marked in the Matakaoa County, in which a number of Maori herds have sprung up. The expansion this season will be partly at the expense of the sheep industry. A number of sheep men are turning portion of their properties over to dairying in view of the 'more regular markets that exist for butter. In addition, some of the hitherto small dairy men intend increas-

ing their herds. Both Maoris and pakehas will be among the new entrants to the dairying industry. The Ngatiporou factory was idle for a short period recently, and the cream was sent to Gisborne for manufacture. During this interval Diesel engines were installed, and the factory resumed operations. The amount of butter being produced, however, is not large. x OAKVIEW FRIESIAN SALE. At the annual sale of Oakview Friesians held on account of Lichtenstein, Arnoldson and Co., of Putamahoe, there was a good attendance of buyers. The cattle were in good condition, and a good sale resulted. The top price for heifers in calf was 30gns. paid for Oakview Colantha Dutchland Posch XXIX by Mr N. J. Sutherland, Clevedon South. The 19 heifers sold averaged 20Jgns. There was not the same competition for the bulls, but Oakview Forbes Sylvia Echo XXIX realised 26gns to the bid of Mr >S. R. Heslop. of Hikitaia. Seven bulls averaged 16gns. Particulars are as follow: — Heifers. —Oakview Lydia Posch XXIX, Mr I. Wymer, sen., Pukekohe, 19gns; Oakview Echo Buttercup Posch XXIX. Mr I. Wymer, Pukekohe, 19gns; Oakview Queen Conemaugh Posch XXIX, Mr 0. G. Brewster, Tuakau, 22gns; Oakview Dutchland Abberkerk Posch XXIX, Mr I. Wymer. IGgns; Oakview Jessie Forbes 111. Mr 0. G. Brewster, Tuakau. ISgns; Oakview Echo Pietertje Posch XXIX, Mr W. J. Halls. Park Estate road, Papakura, 14gns; Oakview Hengerveld. Lass HI, Wright Stephenson and Co. as agents, 23gns; Oakview Cadillac Posch 111, Mr W. J. Halls, Papakura, 15gns; Oakview Heroine Marie 111, Mr O. G. Brewster, Tuakau, 17gns: Oakview de Hol Johanna ITT. Mr L. M. Walker, Tuakau, 15gns; Oakview' Domino Daisy 111. Mr E. E. Jolly, Aka Aka, Waiuku, 17gns; Oak-

view Queen Johanna 111, Mr W. Richards, Runciman, 19gns; Oakview Colantha XXIX, Mr L. M. Walker, Tuakau, 17gns; Oakview Posch XXIX, Mr I. Wymer, Pukekohe, 23gns; Oakview Marie Cadillac Posch XXIX, Mr W. S. Duder, Clevedon, 18gns; Oakview Dutchland Rosebud Posch XXIX. Mr L. M. Walker, 17gns; Oakview Lady Segis Posch 111. Mr W. Richards, 20gns; Oakview Pietertje Gem 111, Mr I. Wymer, 22gns. Bulls.—Oakview Abbekirk Dutchland Posch XXIX, Mr N. J. • Sutherland, 18gns; Oakview Gipsy King Posch XXIX, Mr W. Richards, 15gns; Oakview Domino Hengeveld Posch XXIX, Mr 11. L. Orurn, lOgns; ’ Oakview Pietertje Posch XXIX, Mr H. L. Orum, Clevedon, llgns; Oakview Forbes Sylvia Echo XXIX, Mr S. R. Heslop, Hikutaia, 26gns; Oakview Echo Croningen Posch XXIX, Mr S. Cosgrave, Waiuku, 14Jgns. „ Wright, Stephenson and Co.. Ltd., were the selling agents.