FARMERS COLUMN

Patea Mail, Volume XLVII, 25 April 1924, Page 3

FARMERS COLUMN

V NOTES Rabbitcrs have m*dc a start in the Patca-Waitotara Rabbit Board's area at Kaorikia and Waverley. The work is being systematically carried out, and the uumi>u of rabbits will be considerably lessened. A very big effort is being made to raise the necessary money to keep the Patea Freezing Works in operation, and there is every indication of success. Farmers and business men alike are realising that it would mean a big sacrifice to allow £250,000 worth of building and plant to bo demolished. Mr J. Liggins, the well-known Christchurch breeder of poultry, recently shipped 16 White Leghorn pullets two cockerels to Mr R. Parritt, of the Kirkwood Stud Poultry Farm, Pietermaritzburg, Natal. This is the first order that Mr Liggins has received from South Africa, but he has sent shipments to Australia and England. After the last cut of the season, lucerne should be well cultivated with, preferably, a narrow-pointed springtooth cultivator, in order to eradicate patches of grass which may become established during the summer. Autumn cultivation is of the greatest importance in localities where the wet conditions of the early spring makes cultivation impracticable. There is a luxuriant growth of grass along the coast between Patea and Wanganui, the countryside having a spring-like appearance. 'The effect of the cold southerly snap a few weeks ago can be noticed on the pinus insignus trees, the salt spray causing them to have a burnt appearance on the southerly side. The bluegum blight has also got a good hold along the coast. Mr J. C. Holler, general manager of a big firm of rennet manufacturers in Copenhagen, who is visiting New Zealand for the purpose of studying, the dairying industry, in the course of an interview said: —“In competition with Denmark on the Home markets. New Zealand butter exporters are at a great disadvantage on account of irregular shipments. But I can say without hesitation that the quality of New Zealand butter, as compared with the Danish product, does not dictate its price on the Home market."

Bay of Plenty maize realised 6/2 on the .wharf at Auckland last week, in wholesale lines. "It is not generally known that the tobacco leaf can bo grown in Southland. On a farm at the Narrows, a small area has been sown, the plants being of a good size. The London office of the National Dairy Associatiori has now been closed. Mr Ellison, who during the last fourteen years represented the producers in London, has joined the Now Zealand Producers' Marketing Association in London. \ The persistent growth of bracken and other ferns has been the medium which has brought discouragement, failure and keen disappointment to many new settlers on virgin lands in New Zealand. Harrowing of pastures to scatter droppings should bo done now; also, any top-dressing 'decided upon with the slower-acting manures, such as basic slag or rock phosphates, so that ample time be allowed for Nature to do its part before spring. Mr I. Hopkins, the expert on bees, writes to the Auckland “Herald" as follows; —With regard to the .item on stingless bees from an American source, stinglcss bees are to be found in different parts of the world, but for commercial purposes they are worthless. Eeccntly (says the ‘Taranaki News') a party of 22 from Waitara visited Okiawa, and during the day dug and bagged one and a half acres of potatoes, which yielded 135 sacks. They returned to Waitara the same evening, satisfied wdth their performance, which was no mean one.

The 48-cow milking plant installed at the Bovs ’ Training Farm at Weraroa, which is said to be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, has given the greatest satisfaction during the past season. With the present machinery, 24 cows can be milked' at one time, it being possible to milk the whole 48 cows, which is practically the extent of the herd kept, in the time taken to milk two cows by hand. The great practical value of the extended plant, however, is that the whole herd can be put in at one time for the purpose of feeding, and the equipment moved along from’ cow to cow down the whole length of the shed.

In proposing the toast of “Agricultural and Pastoral Interests,” at the Greater Wanganui celebration banquet, Mr W, S. Glenn, M.P,, said that there was no need for the stupid cry of town v country, and he was glad to sec that it was dying out. The man on the farm was just as much interested in the welfare of his market centre as the citizen, and he was just as loyal to it. The farmer was not yet round the corner, financially, but another good year would see him in a sound position and able to spend his surplus cash.