A GREAT INCREASE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16622, 14 April 1928, Page 11

A GREAT INCREASE

MANUFACTURE OF BUTTER WONDERFUL AUTUMN IN P.B. Warm autumn rains in copious quantities are expected to sustain butterfat production, and sometimes even to increase it a little temporarily, but this autumn has been unprecedented in the manner in which the butter manufacture has been increased. Shortly after the warm rains had fallen in Poverty Bay, increased buttorfat supplies were apparent, but the figures for last month, supplied by the Kia Ora Co-operative Dairy Co., indicate that there has been an increase in tlii; production of no less than 29 per cent, when the second portion of last month is compared with the first. CONDITIONS ELSEWHEEE. This has been brought about by tho ever-increasing supplies of green feed that the pastures are able to provide as a result of the great growing conditions. In this respect Poverty Bay appears to have been treated better than most other districts in at least the North Island. Mr. J. H. Sunderland, secretary of the Kia Ora Co.. returned this week from a holiday tour that embraced the most important dairying districts of the North Island, and he states that nowhere did there appear to be as much feed as in Poverty Bay. It was astounding, he said, the difference he noted in the Poverty Bay. pastures when he returned, as against those in the parts he visited. He went via Bbtorua to Auckland, back through the Waikato to Taranaki, and returned to Gisborne by way of Palmerston North. .

In the Waikato, ho said, the pastures were looking well in some parts, but even here there was not such a growth as in Poverty Bay. The rains after tho drought experienced there had undoubtedly helped the production, but to his mind it had not solved the problem of winter feed. While there was a good growth in some parts,, others, particularly south of Hamilton on the Main Trunk line, still appeared to be brown as if places had not had so much rain as in the other areas.

Taranaki had experienced the driest period for 20 or 30 years, Mr. Sunderland was told, and there the pastures were a brownish tinge. Manawatu also had experienced a protracted dry spell, and there little green grass was to be seen.

A RECORD SEASON. At the beginning of the season it was predicted that the Kia Ora Cooperative Dairy Co. would be able to manufacture close on 1000 tons of butter if the conditions throughout were as favorable as those at the commencement. The dry spell just after the new year checked production considerably, but the more recent unprecedented increase will make the attainment of tho 1000-tons mark not far beyond tho realm of possibility. Already tho previous season's record has been exceeded. In the 1924-25 season the output totalled 783 tons of butter v but already the present season's production exceeds 800 tons, and judging by the manner in which the supplies are still coming forward, a total of 920 tons should be reached before the close of the company's year.

The season's production in itself is a record, testifying to the advance of dairying in the district on the one hand, and also the favorable nature of the season on the other, but the greatest factor about the present season isthe enormous increase in the butteri'at supplies since the warm rains began to have their full effect. By this time •of the year the factory usually suspends operations on Sundays, but si far this year it has been found impossible to slacken off to this extent, there still being six to seven ohurniiigs a day for seven days in the week,, as against three ehurnings six days at this time last season.

INCREASE ALMOST GENERAL The output for March this year totalled 214,0701 b., as against 151,977 lb. for the corresponding period last year, an increase of 62,0931 b. For the first portion of the month, a period of 154 days being taken, the manufacture totalled 93,3211 b., while for the second period of ]M days 120,6491b5. of butter was made, the second half of the month showing an increase of 29 per cent, on that of the first, a remarkable rise for so late in the season, when farmers arc usually thinking of starting to dry off the early c-alvers. It is stated that such an increase is unprecedented in the history of Poverty Bay. Last autumn was considered to be a good one, but it has been entirely eclipsed by the present period, there being a very considerable drop at the end of March last year, while it appears as though the present production will be maintained till well on in April. Tho autumn of '1920 was a poor one. the March production being particularly small. None of the butter manufactured during that period was exported. Tho increase apparent in the production at the Kia Ora factory appears to bo almost general throughout the whole of the area from which the company draws its supplies. The districts to show the greatest effect from the favorable conditions are those surrounding To Karaka, Puha and Whatatutu. ' The cream received from the areas along'the railway line from To Karaka to Matawai totalled 14,260 lb. at the beginning of March, this being increased to 17,0671 b. for tho latter portion of the month, but it is stated that practically the whole of this increase was from the neighborhood of To Karaka, Puha and Whatatutu, there having been only slight gains in some cases from tho Matawai suppliers. Taking at random groups of 40 suppliers in various districts, it is seen hat much the same conditions exist in. each. The figures given arc for the first half of March, and the second half of the same month in that order, for 40 suppliers in each case: Factory area (Gisborne flats) 64751 b., 83121b.j Ormond, 74321 b., 87621 b.; Patntahi, 10,7291 b., 12,4731 b.; To Arai, 15,0751 b., 16,8811 b.; Ngntapa, 10,5441 b., 11,9881 b.

BUSTLES AND BELL-BOTTOM TROUSERS. Back in the days when our grand mothers were wearing bustles and our grandfathers bell-bottom trousers, the fame of Dill's Host as a mighty fine pipe tobacco was already established. Proof of its enduring, quality lies in the fact that after 80 years it is more popular than ever to-day. In fact, the Dill's Best of to-day is much finer tobacco than the Dill's Pest o? yesterday, this being d:ie to improved methods of cultivation and of curing plus an accumulation of nearly 80 years' manufacturing experience and knowledge—a record unequalled in the manufacture of smoking tobacco. Good tobacconists everywhere sell Dill's Best, for which Barlow Bros., Christchurch, are' the New Zealand Distributors.