Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITION DAILY. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10496, 5 November 1912, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITION DAILY. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5. EDITORIAL NOTES.

IN the course of a recent address in Wairarapa, Mr D. Guddie, Chief of the Dairy Division of the Agricultural Department, made some re-marks-of general interest to those engaged in dairying. He said that in his opinion, of all the developments, the most important has been the initiation of cow-testing which was contributing, in an essential, degree, to more remunerative results attending the dairying pursuit. To indicate the development of the cow-testing movement it may be mentioned that when associations were first established some four years ago, only about 800 cows were treated, whereas this year fully 30,000 cows were being tested by the various associations. Mr Cuddle instanced two members of a testing association. Both were good breeders' and treated their cows kindly, rearing the calves from their herds. One used a purebred bull and the other a mongrel. Last year the.average, yield of the cows was 2951 b and 2101 b butterfat respectively, a difference of 851 b a cow, dr £4 5s at Is per lb. for butter-fat. With a herd of 40 cows the man using the purebred bull would have made in a year £l6B more thanthe other man. Reckoning the annual upkeep of a cow including grazing, labour, interest, accidents, and depreciation, at £8; if no more than this is produced it follows that the dairyman is making no headway. Last year the average cow in the best herd tested by an association produced 3201 bof butter-fat which, after charging £8 against the cow, with butter-fat at Is, showed a profit of 6d per lb. The average cow in the worst herd produced only 1601 b of butter-fat, which absolutely left no margin of profit. The best cow for a 30-day period left the owner a profit of £4 15s 9d for the period. The worst cow’s product was worth only 2s 3d. It is now generally recognised that it is practically impossible to gauge the value of a cow unless by the process adopted by the Testing Association. Mr Cuddie instanced the case of a member of the association who was in the habit of patronising saleyards for his cojys, who up till the middle of February this year had culled out 38 per cent, of his herd and was fattening them for the butcher. The benefits of testing associations were further elaborated by the speaker quoting one .herd, the owner of which, by finding out the duffers and culling, had reduced his average of 41b below the association’s figures last year to this season. He also emphasised the necessity of purchasing purebred bulls and regaining the heifer calves from the best milkers in each herd. .

I THE British Army manoeuvres evidently impressed Colonel Hughes, the Canadian Minister of Militia who in a recent speech said:—“l am delighted at the change I observe in the British Army. I have no hesitation in saying I have just returned from watching the manoeuvres of the finest army in the world, barring none. What impressed me most of all, perhaps, was the marked development in the intelligence of all ranks, men and boys alkie. Physically, I believe, the condition of the men, .which was excellent before, shows little change. But what did*please me immensely was - their clean, keen, alert look and smart bearing, which suggested that individuality was more highly developed and that the men took a very real and .serious interest in their work. The, men are certainly keener than ever before. Their discipline—by which I mean their self-control—like-wise struck me very forcibly. Officers, non-commissioned officers,

and men also .showed what I consider fine judgment in taking cover, and protecting the movements of their comrades with a covering fire. These are two very important things which were not so strongly developed as they bright have been perhaps daring the South African War.”

AS a rule public sympathy, through

out the British Dominions, is w “the under dog” in- any fight * when “the unspeakable being beaten, hmnanily ' reason to rejoiee. Othe present conditions on' , a . , - the Turks in their “ f> ld fe f? The war with *“ L disastrous to - -*■ Ital J „ h “„ States haw . .ton. .and the Balkan to flndea- J seized the opportunity toenuea to drive the Crescent ou °J. Europe. From the northWa the Bulgarians,, the Servians the Montenegrins are forcing them hack, and from the South the Greeks are operating. It seems question of hut a few days when , the enemy will be besieging Constantinople, the city ■which for cen- ; turies has been identified with Moslem interests and ambitions. It seems also that Russia is likely to be a gainer by the passage of the Dardanelles being thrown open. If the Turk can be driven from Europe, without involving Britain in any quarrel with her Mohammedan sub- : jeots, who number many millions, the cause of civilisation will be ; greatly > promoted.