DAIRY PRODUCE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13173, 4 February 1936, Page 3

DAIRY PRODUCE.

PRICES UP SLIGHTLY. BOTH MARKETS STEADY. Butter prices on the London market firmed slightly last week, and finest New Zealand salted closed steady at 94s a cwt—a rise of 2s on the week. The New Zealand retail price remains unchanged at Is a lb, and Danish at Is 2d. Deliveries of New Zealand butter last week totalled 1932 tons, compared with 2045 tons for the previous week, and 2717 tons a year ago. Australian deliveries were 2495 tons, compared with 2750 tons a year ago. New Zealand butter in store now totals 4082 tons, including 1792 tons ex the Mahana and Rangitata, compared with 2030 tons for the previous week and 5644 tons a year ago. Australian stored amounts to 4620 tons, against 2534 tons a year ago. The cheese market also improved last week, prices showing a rise of Is 6d to 2s on the week, while the market closed steady. Deliveries of New Zealand cheese last week totalled 19,819 crates, compared with 20,602 crates a year ago, while the quantity in store is now 57,717 crates, against 94,813 crates a year ago, while the quantity in store, 123,148 boxes, compares with 118.089 moxes a year ago. The Dairy Board’s London office reports lasit week's closing quotations is follow, those for the previous week being shown in parentheses : * BUTTER. New Zealand, salted (equals approximately 10.99 d f.0.b.), 94s (91s to 92s ; 'January 31, 1935, 87s to 90s) ; unsalted, 102 s (102 s ; January 31, 1935, 92s to 945;. Australian, salted, 935; ex., 94s (90s to 91si ; unsnltc d, 98s (97s to 98s). Argentine, unsalted. 96s (965). Danish, 95s /r.0.b., 116 s spot (945, and 115 s to 116 s). Danish, unsalted, 93s to 105 s (92s to 101 s). Polish, salted, '6Bs to 91s (86s to 88s) ; unsalted, 91s (90s). The Dairy Board has also received the following advice from its agents in Canada :—Butter : New York, fresh extras, cents a lb, stored 34£d cents a lb; Montreal, , 23§ cents a lb. CHEESE. New Zealand, white (equals approximately 5.78 d f.0.b.), 535, ex., 53s 6-d (51s 6d to 525; January 31, 1935, 47s to 47s 6d) : coloured", 57s to 57s 6d (54s 6d to 555; January 31. 1935, 460 6d to 475). Australian, white, 50s to 52s (50s , to 51s) , coloured, 54s to 555» (52s to 1 545): ! Soqtli African, white, 525. | Canadian, white, 59s to 62s (59s to 625) ; coloured, 60s to 64s (60s to 645) : old season's white, ’6ss to 68s I (65s to 68s). { English* finest farmers 5 ,96 s to | 106 s (96s to 106’s) ; factory, 47s to j 55s (50s to 555). j MINIMUM F. 0.8. PRICES. | The New Zealand Dairy Board lias I fixed the minimum prices for f.o.b. i and e.i.f. sales on the basis of: ButI ter, lid; cheese, s£d. Minimum I prices are subject to agents’ selling i commission oi I V per cent. The prices | are equivalent to 89s Id c.i.g.e. for butter and 49s 7d c.i.f.e. for cheese.

CARE OF ROSES. Roses require attention at this season. The first crop of blooms is over, and all dead flowers should be cut off. It is a good plan to cut well back, always to an eye pointing outwards, to encourage fresh growth which should give a later crop of flowers in the autumn. Keep the surface of the beds well worked over, and do not allow the bushes to suffer from drought. Do not let aphis get the upper hand, but deal with them as soon as they appear. CARNATIONS. Carnations are in full bloom now, and to prolong the season as much as possible it is advisable to give the plants some liquid manure once a fortnight or so. Liquid cow manure or soot water are the best to use. Re sure the roots car the plants are moist before giving the manure. Keep the plants well staked and tied up to prevent the blooms from lying on the ground. Carnations, if properly supported, will suffer no harm from wind; in fact, it will do them more good than harm. Should aphis appear, spray, and for mildew dust the plants with sulphur. CHRYSANTHEMUMS. These indispensable autumn flowers are, or should be, making good growth, and unless staked securely, are nearly bound to be broken down by wind and rain. They are surfacerooting plants, and in working round them with fork or hoe care should be exercised not to damage the roots. While it is recognised that they prefer a rather firm rooting medium, the surface soil should be kept loose, otherwise the plants will soon suffer from want of water. Watch should be kept •tor brown aphis, which soon do a lot of harm if not checked. •STORING BULBS. Where it is necessary to lift bulbs they should be carefully dug up and laid out to dry in an airy shed. As soon as sufficiently dried they may be cleaned and stored away till planting time. With the earliest of the narcissi it is advisable to replant as soon as the ground can be got ready—they have practically no resting time, starting to make new roots is soon as tlie*old foliage dies off. Small bulbs, such as ixias, 1 recsias, titonias, sparaxis, etc., increase rapidly, and i* allowed to remain for too long a time in one place get overcrowded to the detriment of the flowers. On account of the number of tiny- bulblets formed it is difficult to get all out of the ground. The simplest method is to dig the whole clump up, soil and all. and spread it out on a sack until dry. Then pick out the best- of the bulbs and burn the rest next time you have a fire. (’ LE A N ING AN D STO RING TU LIPS. Although March is the month in which tulips are planted, the work of sorting and cleaning the bulbs should be attended to now. It is while the bulbs are out of the ground that they contract many diseases. Many pests attack the dry bulbs and only periodical inspection and cleaning will keep them in good condition. Inspect each bulb for evidence of pestfc or moulds. clean, ;in d store in a cool, dry situation. Tulips do best in a well-drained soil that is fairly rich in humus. Tt is not too early to prepare the soil, and if it is on the poor side sow a crop of white mustard for digging under in about six weeks’ time. Tulips require plenty of lime and a heavy dressing applied now will prove beneficial. Tulips should be planted in a fresh situation every year; every third year is often enough to use the same plot.

GLADIOLI AND DAHLIAS. Gladioli are now in their glory, and the tall spikes require support if in an exposed position. The best way is to give a strong, slender stake to each spike and tie neatly with raffia. Dahlias are sure to be damaged unless staked securely. The tall stems are hollow and fragile, and with the weight of foliage and blooms will snap off very easily with any high wind, especially if accompanied by rain. These plants should be well supplied with water during the dowering period, otherwise the flowers will deteriorate verv quickly. All the summer flowering plants should have dead blooms removed ; if allowed to remain on the plants they drain their vitality and leave the plants weakened for next season. WINTE R F LOWE RI NG STOCKS. The older varieties of stocks have largely been displaced by the earlyflowering or Beauty of Nice type, which come to us from France. These stocks come into bloom about the end of May, and flower for a considerable period. They are easily grown, and come into flower vuickly. For a supply of flowers through the winter seed should be sown now and .again early in February. The seeds should be sown in drills in the open seed bed, and shaded, or where small quantities only are wanted, in boxes in the calico frame. A light compost, through which a little wellrotted. sieved manure has been mixed. will suit the seedlings well. The seed, if fresh, germinates quickly, and the plants are quite hardy. Sow thinly, as the plants should be lolt in the seed bed or boxes until ready to transplant out. The young plants should be allowed plenty of room to develop fully, and not become overcrowded. When planting out they should be spaced two feet apart each way, as they grow to rather large dimensions. Stocks prefer new ground, but where this is not available the ground should be dug deeply, and the surface given a dressing of lime. Work into the soil some well-rooted manure and bonedust. Mix the manure thoroughly through the soil and fine, it up and level it in preparation for the young plants. PRESERVING FLOWERS IN WATER. In almost every house the vases will now be filled with flowers of various kinds as well as decorative foliage. Some flowers are extremely difficult to keep for any length of time and even under the most favourable circumstances will not retain their freshness for long. With a little care, however, it is possible in many cases to keep them presentable for a much longer period than usual. The first thing is to change the water at least every day. A pinch of salt in the water or a piece of charcoal in the bottom will help t<s keep the water clean and prevent the water becoming putrid. Whenever the water is changed cut off about half an inch of the stem. When flowers arrive in a box or parcel failed and crushed stand them in lukewarm water for a Ifew hours and afterwards put them in fresh cold water. Hard woody stems should have the lower two inches plunged into boiling water and left till water is cool, standing in fresh water. Fern fronds also require this treatment. Hydrangeas stand best il the lower portion of the stem lias the bark or rind scraped off. Always pick the blooms just as they arrive at their best and either cut in early morning or late in the evening. As soon as cut plunge the stems into a good depth of water and let them stand lor 12 hours, if possible. Flowers cut of an evening and allowed to stand -up to their necks in water till next morning will last longer

and travel farther unharmed than if cut at any other period of the day. DANDELION. Hie common dandelion, one oi the most troublesome of weeds, produces leaves and roots much resembling those of the chicory, and needs the same cultural treatment. On no account must plants iu gardens be allower to flower and develop seed, or they will cause considerable trouble. Being thinned out in the rows to bin. apart. every encouragement must be given the plants to produce strong leaves, as root development is then proportionately good. Although the leaves are bitter in a green state, when blanched, they made admirable salading. During the growing period the hoe must be used freely between the rows, not only to prevent weeds, but also to ensure the production ot a loose mulch ot surface soil. In all other respects the plants should be treated as advised for chicory, forcing the roots in winter in such conditions as will produce blanched growths. The dandelion is not exactly a “blanched stem” vegetable, as the edible portion consists mainly or blanched leaves. ALPINE GARDENING. A FASCINATING HOBBY Few phases of gardening have enjoyed a more rapid rise in popularity than the culture of alpine plants. The reasons are not far to seek. The owner of a small garden lias splendid opportunities of amassing a really extensive and representative collection, and in this respect the rock garden owner may bo compared with the collector of miniatures. In the space ot a few square yards can be cultivated specimens collect id from a dozen different countries, but perhaps the most enjoyable of all are the specimens collected from their native habitat on botanical raiublings. The conditions under which the plants are found growing in a natural state are a good indication ot the measures to be taken to ensure their success in the rock garden, and these facts should lx* noted at the time ot collection. New Zealand is particularly rich in alpine flora, which live in all manner of situations, and quite a number are amenable to cultivation. though there are a few which refuse to change their abode. It is stated of the late Canon Ellacombe. of Bitjon Rectory. Gloucestershire, that this famous gardener was in the habit of clearing out most oi his plants every seven or eight years, and introducing a new batch, so that he might, during his lifetime, enjoy as manv as possible of the treasures he loved. Whether this bo true or not. many gardeners will echo these sentiments, for in most ca sea their gardens are not large enough to accommodate all the plants they wish to grow. Alpines solve the problem to a great extent without involving any very costly charges. Another point of considerable importance in the lengthy flowering season is that there is not a month in the year when the alpine enthusiast is unable to enjoy a few blooms. An alpine flora is to be found in all parts of the world. Even in the tropics there are plants growing at a high altitude which are quite amenable to cultivation in this country, and it is possible to make a collection of moderate size in which owner may roam in imagination all over the world, and if he ballpens to lx* a botanist as well as a gardener, to study the manv strange developments evolved in the course ol the intense struggle for existence.