DISTRICT JOTTINGS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17233, 12 April 1930, Page 15

DISTRICT JOTTINGS

Wool Sold at Napier. Considering the values ruling lor wool at the last two Napier sales, very little remained unsold. Official figures show that, of 13,408 bales offered on March 0, 12,086 were sold, while, of the- 8393 offered on March 24, 7502 were sold. Uncertain Markets. In view of the uncertain state of the markets for slock, Poverty Bay farmers are finding it difficult, to know what to do for the best. Some are holding off the market as long as they can, and several who usually dispose of their owes before this time of the season have now earned the rams out with the .surplus for disposal with the hope of securing better value for them than when empty. Welcome Rain.

Although Poverty Bay had not suffered from the lack of rain as had some districts, the showers last weekend were welcome, as they restored a vigorous growth in tho pastures both on hill and flat country. In sonic parts there was not sufficient rain to promote growth, but this was not tho general experience. Even on those areas which did not receive sufficient to-benolil the pastures, however, thero is enough feed to carry the stock on for 'some time! Fertilising 40 years ago.

The use of ammonia as a fertiliser is ne of the recent developments in

agri.-iilturnl science, but an old resident of Gisborne recalls its use in a jiquid form more than 40 years ago. A barrel of ammoniated liquid was secured from the gas works, and this was' used to fertilise a potato crop, which benefited greatly as a result of (he dressing. The same method was tried next year, but the results on that occasion were not altogether pleasing for the plants ran to stalk. Apparently insufficient other manures had been added after the previous year’s good crop.

Nejft Season’s Apples. If scientific investigations are correct, Poverty Bay orchardists may expect only light crops of apples next season. In a paper entitled “Meteorological Research and Fruit Production.” Air. H. V. Taylor, Commissioner of Horticulture, at the conference of Empire Meteorologists, traced investigations concerning rainfall and its effect upon fruit crops. It was revealed that after a wet summer the succeeding crop was likely to be smaller than if dry weather had been experienced. With a heavy crop during a wet summer the following season’s production was likely to be very poor. Taking this season's Poverty Bay apple crop as a medium one, the wet summer, according to Mr Taylor’s deductions, would give only a poor crop next season. Cull Cow Problem.

Throughout New Zealand one of the greatest problems in dairying is the disposal of the cull cow; too many are sold and re-sold as dairy cows. Poverty Bay may well take a lesson from the Waikato in this matter, upon which the following report has come to hand: “The cull cow drive now being carried out by tho Now Zealand Farm By-Products Co. has resulted in about 2000 cows being sent to the works last week from the Morrinsville districts. Farmers have given the company whole-hearted support ,and are entering enthusiastically into the movement to send all unwanted cows to the works to guard against them being re-sold as dairy cattle,” Markets and Manures.

It is inevitable that, the prices for woo! and butter this season will all'ect in some degree the purchase of fertilisers, but the more progressive men are not allowing the values of their produce to interfere with a progressive top-dressing campaign. They realise that a greater output is the only factor which will compensate them for lower values, and many are ordering the same quantities as usual, some trying out new manures with the idea ol testing their efficacy in producing better results. Sulphate of ammonia is being given a more extensive trial than heretofore, in order to promote earlier spring growth, but in the use of this it must be remembered that other manures must not be neglected; ammonia must bo used in conjunction with other fertilisers and the pasture must bo in good heart before the application of a mmonia.

Fig Population. flic increase, in the numbers of dairy <‘OWs >n the Dominion has been gicaier in proportion to the increase n the pig population. According lo in bulletin issued by*the Department ;i'f Scientific and Industrial Kosearcli. | ! here were 2-10,000 pigs and 257,000 pinny el Now Zealand in IS97*, or ; s'7 pig* :o every 100 dairy cows. In It'd.-'. Ihe number of pigs hail grown i'" dd7,000, but the cows had been Imised to a total of 1,552,000, or only H : pigs to every 100 cows, but this perceulage was higher than in .1010, | v. hen the ration of jugs to 100 dairy i'!>.\s as as low as 2.5. Front then lon there has been a gradual improveM"Mt. This position is contrasted ■■'Mil that of Denmark, where in 1027 i ! here were 2-1 li pigs to every .100 dairy ‘■"'vs. In Poverty Bay and on the | I.as! Coast, lho ratio of pigs to cows "as considerably above the New Zealand average, except in the Waikohu County, but the Waiapu figure is exeeedeit only by two others in the North Island, The following figures gTve the position in the Gisborne Land district:—

On an acreage basis, however, what is described as the Gisborne district does not eompare nearly so favorably, due, of course, to the large amount; of hi.ll emptliy farming adopted in these parts. Whereas the average for New Zealand is .12 pigs per 1000 acres in cultivation, the Gisborne district has only nine pigs per 1000 acres.

County. Dairy Cows. I’ifFS. Pigs per .100 dairy Cows. Opotiki in, son , r )!t0fl 50 Matakaon.. 700 400 07 Waiapu :i,soo 2.400 00 Waikohu .. .4,800 1.400 .44 Pawn J ,000 800 00 < took s.soo 4,400 4!) Wn i roa 4,000 2000 41