THE FARMERS’ COLUMN

Patea Mail, Volume XLVI, 3 September 1923, Page 2

THE FARMERS’ COLUMN

CATTLE FOR EXPORT GOOD PRICES REALISED IN MELBOURNE The Union Company’s Waihora returned to Wellington last week, after lauding her third shipment of cattle in Melbourne. There was keen demand for them, and the 600 bullocks realised the very satisfactory average price of £29 10/-;, and the 100 cows brought an average price of £l6 10/-. On the trip across, seven of the qattlc were lost. Out of a total of 720 ail told, this represents a loss of less than 1 per cent. Mr McLean, who is exporting the cattle, stated to a “Dominion” representative that the fourth shipment of cattle was expected to leave Wellington on Friday afternoon for Melbourne. A total of 720 head would include about 100 cows. 1 WANGANUI FREEZING COMPANY WANGANUI, August 31. At the annual meeting of the Wanganui Freezing Company, the chairman (Mr E. H. Campbell), referring to the balance-sheet not being as satisfactory as could bo wished, said the company was paying too much for sheep. There were too many freezing companies in the country for the number of sheep handled. It seemed that the only ones which had made money were those which handled meat on account of producers. British and American firms were eating largely into the New Zealand trade. Ho credited the Meat Board with doing good work by lowering freights and otherwise. He referred to the decrease in the number of sheep and the keener competition from the Argentine, and said it was up to the Prime Minister to see at the Imperial Conference that the trade of the Dominion was protected. With regard to beef, the outlook was no bettor than a year ago. The largo quantity of chilled beef going Home, cut the price from under the New Zealand article, and prices in London ■were still low.

FARMING NOTES Canada’s 1922 loss from forest fires would make a belt a mile wide from Halifax to Winncpeg, a distance ox 4000 miles. . The water drunk by animals passes directly into the blood, and if it contains organic elements in solution they are carried along with it, and cause liver and other disorders. Therefore, it should be pure. During the last five years farmers’ organisations in the Union of South Africa have destroyed 66,184 baboons, 2112 eagles, 224,642 jackals, 18,380 lynxes, and 54,963 wild cats. A pig will convert from 41b to 51b of dry; matter into 11b of edible flesh, and it is the topping-off with ground grains that gives the finish to fine flavoured, well-grained, firm ,sweet bacon. Mr P. M. Compton, a well-known enthusiast in agricultural education, said that the reason he took such an interest in it was not because he was trained himself, but because of the training ho had missed in his younger days. A large deputation of Scottish cattle and sheep breeders waited on the British Minister for Agriculture to urgo him to approach foreign and colonial Governments and secure the admission of live stock from Scotland, which is free from foot and (mouth disease. A flock of Rocky Mountain goats is allowed to roam about the buildings at the naval powder factory at Indian Head, Maryland. The goats devour the dead leaves and other inflammable rubbish, thereby protecting the powder house from fire, A Wisconsin banker says that, to his knowledge, in 50 years’ experience, a failure has been seldom, if ever, recorded whore the farmer attended strictly to his business of dairy farming, using good sires, weeding out the poor cows, and crossing these with other good sires, thus increasing his herd and improving it. According to the annual report of the Selwyn Plantation Board, Canterbury, there are Oregon pine trees 36 years old on the Racecourse Hill plantation, which have reached a height of 70ft, The board has 133,000 Oregon pines in its plantations, all of which are reported to have made abnormal growth. From one pound of Japanese larch seed the board succeeded in raising 28,000 sturdy plants. While weeding and breeding arc essential to the development of the dairy industry, the question of feeding is of paramount importance. It docs not matter what the breed of the animal may be, if the farmer docs not display A wisdom and judgment in the feeding of his herd. Attention must be paid to feeding from the very 'day the calf is born until the animal is called upon to produce the lacteal fluid. Kindness and care must also play their part. Young fellows arc not always entirely to blame, apparently, for preferring town to country life. Here is a case in point:—A New Plymouth boy, between 16 and 17, had been working on a farm in the Oakufa district, and was making good, those best able to form an opinion being satisfied he would be a success on the laud. His wages were 35/- a week and found, and he was to get a little extra by way of gifts, such as a calf and a young pig. His mother, however, wrote him, enclosing a “Wanted” advertisement, and stating that she had secured the job for him at £1 a week, but that it would be more later on if he suited. So the boy gave up his position in the country and came back to town “to help his mother, because dad was ill.”