THE FARM

Southland Times, Issue 16786, 15 July 1911, Page 2

THE FARM

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTSRAL 009HGS.

EVENTS AT HOME AND ABROAD

AG-KICUHTURAIi EVENTS FOB WEEK ENDING JULY 22nd, 19X1. —Saturday, July 15th.— Horse Jnvercarglll by Messrs J. JL Mitchelßß&£o. —July 17th.— Mr J. Laidlaw’s farm, Isla Bank. National Mortgage and Agency Co. —Tuesday. July ISth.— Stock sale at Wallncotown. —Wednesday, July 19th.— Clearing sale at Mr J. G. Manson’s farm, Bayswgter, by Messrs J. E. Watson and Co. —Thursday, July 20. Sale pedigree colls, mares, geldings. Implements, etc., at tOautau account Mr P.obert Cupples, by the National Mortgage and Agency Co. Apiculture is the basic industry of Society owes its greatest debt iff lie farmer. The lambing season has commenced in Canterbury and in the North Island. Good returns are being reported, especially In the Masterton district.

to walk upon. The pepolo at large wore to blame when they put men into power to pass such laws.

Mr Richard Allen, secretary of the Southland Farmers’ Union, speaks very well Indeed of the latest hatch of boy farm labourers who arrived here on Monday last. Mr Allen says that each of the eleven of them was eager to settle down to work as quickly as possible, and there was keen competition among them as to which should obtain berths quicker than his fellows. All round they are younger than those which have previously arrived, arc of good '"physique, and Mr Allen thinks that given fair treatment they are more likely to stick to farm work than are the usual class of farm labourers who arrive In the country. Two of the lads are described as labourers, one as a shop assistant, two as errand boys, one as a carman, one as a messenger, one as a warehouseman, one as an engineer’s helper, one-as a clerk, and one as a machinist. There was no difficulty whatever in placing the lads with farmers, situations _ having been obtained for them at Oreti Plains, Dumsden, Kapuka (2), Mangaplrl (2). Woodlands, Thofnbury, Waikawa. Cllfden, and Walmumu.

The country in the vicinity of Wrey’s Bush, and all along the Otautau road is reported to be looking remarkably well, and large areas of turnips are yet to be seen, so there appears to be no lack of feed. In the Gore district feed is reported to be still plentiful, and several farmers have been selling their surplus turnips, up to £3 per acre being given for good fair crops.

During the progress of the Wreys Bush Ploughing match last Friday, Mr Michael Egan, of Walrio, was an interested spectator. During a conversation with a representative of this paper he said that he had assisted thirty-three years ago to break up from its rough natural state the paddock they were that day doing fancy ploughing in. The crop sown was oats, and when ready to harvest no reaper and binder could cope with it. The paddock has a nice slope eastwards to a water course with a good fall and would naturally drain Itself in time, but with a generous amount of drain ploughing since those early days it has become one of the best paddocks in the district. By the condition of the sub-soil as it was turned up as a seed bed by the fancy ploughing on Friday, one could easily realise what a very .strong crop it would grow notv and how much stronger would be the case when It was first cultivated.

In April last a return, in connection with the General Census was taken Of the agricultural and pastoral statistics of the Dominion. Comparing the grain and grain crops with the returns of two years ago—no collection was made last year—both show a large decrease this year. This can be accounted for by the drought experienced in several parts of the Dominion last summer, and by the Increase of dairying and of sheepfarming. The principal decrease are in Canterbury and Otago, where the drought was very severe, and where the turnip and other crops were, in many instances, total failures. In grain crops, while there was an increase In the area under wheat amounting to 81,859 acres, oats, on the other hand, show the very large decrease of 155,557 acres. Other Increases noted were; —Maize, 4138 acres; peas, S6S4; beans. 566; vetches, 14; linseed. 2009; hops, 14; other grain crops, 386; mangolds, 1880; beet, 171; carrots, 307. Decreases were:—Barley, 14,225 acres; rye, 419; potatoes, 1854; turnips, 83,107; rape and kale, 13,860; other green crops, 2760. The total net decrease was 171,664 acres.

Messrs Sheat Bros., Morton Mains, have sold through Messrs Dalgety and Co. a line of 60 {mime bullocks at a satisfactory figure to Messrs J. and T. Wills, and 400 extra prime wethers to Messrs Ryan and Turpin. Both lots were sold for extended delivery.

Wellington, Otago, Taranaki, Southland, and North Canterbury delegates to the Dominion Conference of the Farmers’ Union will vote in favour of the immigration of lads under some such scheme as that recently carried out by Mr Sedgwick. There are five remits on the order paper dealing with this subject, and each one expresses approval of the scheme and urges the Government to extend It. The Conference will also consider two remits asking the Government to adopt a scheme for bringing out women for domestic service.

The Marlborough executive of the Farmers’ Union has passed the -following motion for submission to the Dominion Conference:—“ That this Conference endorse the proposal of the New Zealand Producers’ Association to ask the Government to introduce a bill during the coming session to establish the Association for the protection of the producers’ interests, and empowering the Association to levy a rate on all sheep (exempting flocks under 250), and on all cattle (exempting herds under 50), for the purpose* of providing the necessary funds.

A Harrlsville farmer, who purchased a small property of twenty-six acres fog £420 four years ago, according to the Poverty Bay Herald, has very good reason to congratulate himself on that purchase, as he has already cleared the price of his property several times over out of potato growing. Last season he put in nine and a half acres of early potatoes, which realised £605. He immediately resowed five acres for a second crop, which he has just finished digging, and out of this crop he has sold seed to the value of £175. besides keeping sufficient for his own use. This nine and a half acres have shown a total return of £7BO for twelve months’ cropping, which is nearly twice the value of his whole farm.

A pleasing feature in connection with the Southland champion ploughing match on Wednesday last was the number of ladies who were present and who maintained a keen interest in the proceedings. Boys and girls, too, were there in plenty, and so long as the younger fry take such an active Interest in the fixture, as was evident on Wednesday last, there need be no fear that the labour of love of the members of the Association has been in vain.

Recently when driving through a paddock in Victoria its owner pointed out to a press representative a couple of two-year-old draught fillies, each of which had cost over 50 guineas. They were well-developed youngsters that less than ten years ago would probably have sold for from £ls to £2O, certainly very little more. This is what happens almost every time a sale of horses is held. Anyone who is able to secure an animal for general farm work considers himself-for-up a likely animal for a sum 40 guineas. A view of the \WflnHPt has to be performed, and the scarcity, one cannot regard the cMS as extravagant, but at the same time greatly enhanced prices are paid. These should be more than sufficient to encourage those engaged in the industry to devote more attention to breeding.. To a great extent breeders of these animals are independent, for owing to the number ready to buy a good type of colt, filly, or gelding, they seldom have to roly upon the sale-yards to find purchasers.

It is wonderful how keen old-time champion ploughmen retain,their keenness, and on Wednesday last a number of ex-champions submitted to the wiles of a camera man, and a group of them was photographed. Of the champions in previous years Messrs James Fleming, Dan McFarlane, and Malcolm Gray were actively engaged as judges; Messrs David Hardie, Chris. Hardie, Arthur Lindsay, and John Turnbull were again competing, and other ex-champlon present were Messrs Robert Smith, John Hamilton, Thomas Docherty, Harry King, William A. Young. John King, William A. Gray, Peter McDermid, Colin Gray jnr., and ;William T. James.

Mr David Hardie, this year’s champion ploughman, had a “leg-in” for the Reid and Gray double-furrow plough, but owing to his using a Trapski plough on this occasion his second win did not count. However, it is understood that Mr Trapski has righted matters by presenting Mr Hardie with the plough with which he won the championship.

A German statistician has calculated that, roughly, there are 1.200,000,000 bees in the world, and that they produce about £24,000,000 worth of honey in a year.

The export of draught horses to Australia still goes merrily on, and on Monday last the Manuka had on board twenty-nine from Dunedin, one from Lyttelton, and two from Wellington. At Bluff twenty-six were shipped, seventeen by Mr J. Lawson (Gore), six by Mr H. McColl (Seaward Downs), and three by Mr John McDonald (Wyndham). On Monday next Mr Sam Clarke (Wyndham) will forward 22, and Mr H. McColl has also engaged space for two. On July 31st Mr McColl will ship a further twelve.

In some countries on the continent the excellent custom of selling eggs by weight instead of by number is in vogue. In some parts of Ireland, too, the custom Is being adopted. It is really a much fairer way than the one now existing—fairer both to the producer and to the purchaser. At the present time eggs are sold at so much each or so much the dozen, and in buying them one does not get by any means eggs of uniform size. Sometimes large ones are received, while at other times they are quite small. Selling by weight would greatly simplify matters, ns all it would be necessary to do would be to use a package of a known weight, subtracting this from the total, the remainder of which would be the weight of the eggs, valued at so much per pound.

The six mares and fillies sent forward jto Melbourne by Mr McColl on Tuesday last were a fine lot. Two of them, a three, and a four-year-old, were by Herdsman, their dam being by King o' the Clans out of Blakie’s Duchess. A black mare claimed Clan McArthur as her sire, her dam being by Lord Lyon, and a nice dark bay Ally owed her existence to Lord Cranbourne and a Clydeside jnare. Bancor was responsible for another fine filly, and the last of the choice collection was by Young Ke';\!n t hose tsire, Kelvin, was bred by the late Mr John Small.

A Fielding settlor lias been carrying out tests In the Tlangitikei district with a remedy for the extermination of Californian thistles. He claims that so far the results have been entirely satisfactory, and after a certain period the thistles can b" dug out or pulled in a perfectly dead slate lo the extreme end of the root shoots. Trials are to be hold under the supervision of leading farmers.

In Mr John McDonald’s lot were the Stallions. Silver King, by Darwin, out of Alice Swan by Lord Cranbourne, and Prince Charlie by Lord Thornley out of a King o’ the Clans mare, also mare by King o’ the Clans. Mr McDonald has disposed of Prince Dean, a rising 3-yoar-old. by Kosedean out of a Tasman mare for £l5O, and he has also sold, his wellknown horse Duncraig to Mr .1. Steveneon, of Dumsden, for £3OO. Dimcralg Is by Hatfield, his dam being Kit II , who was never beaten in the prize ting, and Is one of the finest-tempered horses that It is possible to find. In fact a child could handle him. Mr Stevenson snou’d have no reason to regret his puronase, as Duncraig’s progeny are universally well epoken of.

The success of the movement to form cow testing associations in Wairarapa is practically assured, ami a Wairarapa Dally Times representative was informed recently that sum" import am Information on the subject would bo available in the course of a few days. The South 'Wairarapa Association were being communicated with by tho local association in reference to amalgamation, and It was expected that delegates from the two bodies would moot shortly to discuss the matter.

Grooming is a very important part of a teamster’s duties If be wishes to keep his horses in good condition and healthy when they r. re working hard. Sonic ploughmen ihink that grooming moans a few rulis v. ith a dandy brush, just enough to rub off any marks of sweat that may be left showing from the day before, and a lot of brushing on their manes and tails. At this season of tho year, when T be horses have a fairly rough coat, what they really need is a good hard application of n fairly rough curry-comb, with enough brush to clean off the dust which has been brought t" the surface by the comb. Fifteen minutes can tie very well spent on each horse, and at least ten minutes should be spent if you expect to keep your horses clean and heaUby,

Mr J Lawson’s consignment consisted of ten colts and seven mares. Three of the colts were by Duncraig, two by Abbot. one by Silver Crest, one by Hector McDonald, one by Koval Albert, and one bv Royal Derby. The mares were by Abbot, Captain Alexander Glen Lyon, Koval Stuart, and General V, bite. M. Lawson said that he considered the colts as being equal' to Southland's best .Nine of them were three-year-olds, and one of them was a four-year-old, and he had mirchased them in the Wyndham. Edendale and Gore districts. One of the colts which was bred by Mr R. G. Carson (Wyndham) took first prize aa a yearling at Gore, and several of tho others baif also taken prizes.

Captain Logan, a Vancouver business man who has handled New Zealand produce for many years, passed through Wellington recently on route for Sydney, and Intends paying some attention to business when iie returns next October, He anticipates a good development In trade between Vancouver and New Zealand when tho new mall contract enables Auckland to bo the last port of call, ‘ New Zealand butter is already very favourably known in Vancouver,’ he remarked to a New Zealand Times representative. * It always sells, and almost reaches aa good a price as the local butter, This trade has developed well during tho last few years. I handled New Zealand mutton fourteen years ago, hut when the direct service was discontinued w® lost touch with New Zealand, and

Mr Donald Stalker, in proposing the toast of "The Dairy Industry” at a recent Seaward Downs function, said that there was too much interference with Industry in this country, Mr John Morris was disposed to agree with Mr Stalker and he believed that the country was over-inspected. Some of the rising generation had a dislike for the work, though it could be made pleasant enough, and it was profitable. The effect of legislation was to draw people to the towns, where there were asphalt paths

hrul to got our supplies from Australia. ; '1 don’t claim to be an authority on meat, I hut 1 believe the consumers on our side j of the Pacific prefer New Zealand mut- , ton to the Australian.'

Tliere are few people perhaps who realise the commercial value of pinus in.-ignis. besides its ordinary use as a tree, (says ■‘The Land," Sydney). This point may bo fully appreciated when one considers Hi e experience of the Macedon State Nursery. In the early days of Hie nursery, a plantation of pinus insignis v a.-, made on a seven-acre block. with no thought of over culling the trees down. The trees grew rapidly, as they usually do, and matured in about 25 years. Their commercial value tempted the authorities to realise on the plantation. The trees were cut off at the stumps, and the Umber from the seven acres realised £720. In the replanting of this area. too. no preparation of the ground was necessarv, new pine seedlings being planted alongside the old stumps in each instance. The young generation of trees will thus gain nourishment from the rotting down of the stumps of their predecessors.

It does not pay in any sense to perpetuate the qualities of poor sheep, and the cullings should be made close enough to eradicate all poor animals, and thus eliminate their blood for ever from the flocks.

Speaking at a Seaward Downs function, Mr John Morris (in replying to the toast of "The Dairying Industry”) said that a proposal emanating from Mr Singleton, dairy instructor, was likely to be given a trial at Edendale that Mas, to make butter out of whey. Anything above a certain percentage of butter-fat in milk was not absorbed in the process of cheese-making, and it was estimated that in the whey from every 100 gallons of milk there were 21b of butter. At present this was going to waste. That which clogged the factory drains was butter, he said. There were facilities in the Edendale Factory for treating the whey to recover this butter-fat, but good machinery would require to be introduced. There would be some initial outlay in this respect, but, if it were as payable as Mr Singleton estimated, there could be no question that the step would be warranted. —Wyndham Herald.

An ex-Edendale resident, in Mr James S. Laidlaw, last week concluded a visit to this district, says the Wyndham Farmer. Mr Laidlaw was trained as a cheesemaker, his mentor having been the late Thomas Scoular. of Edendale D.F. Thirteen years ago he went to Taranaki, to assume charge of Riverdale Cheese Factory, a position he maintained for six years, after which he acquired a fine 200-acre farm at Waverley, and went into dairying. His numerous friends in these parts will he pleased to know that Mr Laidlaw has no reason to regret his decision to go in for dairy farming. He last season hand-milked a herd of 75 cows, all labour being confined to members of his own family. He informed us that the Taranaki dairymen are going in more for cultivating winter fodder than they used to do. Mangolds and carrots are chiefly grown; turnips do not do so well, their roots being smaller than those of Southland-grown turnips, and having a pronounced bitter taste. The favourite carrot is “Sinclair’s Champion,” which has a short fat red root, and Is a fine cropper.

The Oware D.F. Co. has sold the whole of Its season’s output, and settled with the suppliers on the basis of 12 per lb of butter-fat, in addition to paying up Cs per share. The amount received by suppliers is thus practically 13d per lb of butter-fat. The total output of the factory for the season approximated 70 tons and the future prospects are regarded as excellent. The factory, which is closed down for the winter months, will probably re-open in September. The manager (Mr David McQueen) has been re-engaged, and the suppliers were so pleased' with the way in which he did his work during the Initial season that they gave him a bonus.

PArarAZ notes. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The weather is changeable, but we must not forget that we are in the middle of the last month of winter, and having had such a mild winter we must expect the weather to vary as the dajs lengthen, yet it is grandweather for the advancement of all farm work. Stock on turnips are thriving, that is wethers and forward steers. Ewes in lamb are on breaks following wethers, as they do not require heavy feeding. Dairy cows are on the best feed on the farm, preparing them to meet the results that are expected from tluem during the milking season. This being the dormant month grubbing gorse ami trimming fences are the jobs attended to by the odd or handy man. Although not laboriously employed, the handy man is kept steadily at work looking after the stock and fences and trimming things up In general. So as to keep the teams steadily going the drivers must have no other work beyond giving attention to their teams, ns at this time of year, weather permitting, the teams must be consistently employed so as to keep the work well forward and ensure an early harvest. Southland farmers have fully realised the benefits of having the binder going in February or March instead of May and often June. Of course the change for the better in the seasons also greatly assists in keeping farm work well forward. Tliis is the ploughing match season of the year, and it is very pleasing to see how effectually the young men on the farms arc maintaining the reputation of many of their forefathers as “tweelers” of a very high order. It is often remarked that since the advent of the double-furrow and the disc harrows high class ploughing is not necessary. True anyone of ordinary ability can yoke and work the discs, but it takes an artist at tlie work to dismantle a double furrow plough, set it up again, and go and compete and win a championship among so many champions. Besides it is worth the labour and trouble of the whole year to see how tidily and tastily these young ploughmen bring their teams on to the field, and at lunch time to watch how they visit and vie with eacli other in their work and exchange the very heartiest of banter. It is also pleasing to many old farmers to see those splendid teams driven so steadily and quietly with hardly a sound above the driver’s breath, clearly showing that the young ploughman has been put through the very best of farm discipline—as Kitchener said, the discipline that makes the very best of soldiers. A visit to a ploughing match by some of the town

quill-drivers should be quite sufficient to empty all the desks in Invercargill. It may be said that it is “every man to his trade," but for health, variety, of work, and for creating robustness, few occupations can excel farm-work. I notice that a committee of farmers in the Otautau district is to wait on Mr H. McColl with a view to securing the services in the district of his lately imported three-year-old Shire colt. If they can be secured the judgment of the delegates is to be recommended, as there is In the district a great number of first-class mares, some by Shepherd Lad and others by Shepherd King that will blend well with the Shire stallion, and the blend will give both action and character which are great essentials In a draught horse. According to Australian reports there Is a sea of plains in Riverina and all parts of New South Wales to be brought under the plough, and although the average yield of the wheat crop is only 12 bushels per acre—an average that should surprise the dominion farmers considering that they get from 40 to 60 bushels -—the expenses for harvesting are light as most of it is done by harvesters, and Invariably the wheat Is bought by merchants at the railway sidings, so that the farmers take no further risk after the bags are landed at the station. Considering the many thousand bags at the stations that got damaged by rain this year the merchants must have lost heavily. That Is an arrangement that would suit our dominion farmers well considering the scarcity of trucks In the grain season. The merchants buy and take the risk when there is neither shed room nor tarpaulins to cover with. However, previous to next harvest we may have a change of Government and a new Premier who will study all our requirements, and then it will be a tale of the past to hear of growling farmers.