LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

Southland Times, Issue 20496, 26 May 1928, Page 14 (Supplement)

LIVE STOCK AND THE FARM

PRIZE FARMS

COMPETITION RESULTS REPORTS OF THE JUDGES 'AN INTERESTING REVIEW The report of the judge at the Prize Farm Competition (Mr. D. Marshall) which was submitted to the committee last week, was as follows: “I, accompanied and assisted in every way by Mr. R. McGillivray, have at various times during the year from March 15th, 1927, to March 15th. 1928, visited the farms of the various competitors. Before starting out I found some difficulty in arriving at the manner in which I was to award the points, particularly in the section where half the number of the total goes for economics. To-day economics is a very common word; it is used by all sorts of people, but when we come to bedrock, how many of those who write and talk about economics can just explain what is covered by the term and farm economics over a one year yeriod I found rather hard to get at. I referred this section back to you, but you left the matter to your judge and you left him with considerable responsibility. I had my own opinion, but went out to get that of others. English authorities rather agree that the balance sheet is the only road to find the points for Fann Economics, and that might be so if books could be kept so as to show the appreciation or depreciation of the land during the term under review. A man may make a great showing in his balance sheet for one year, at the expense of his land and he may do the opposite in my opinion and be economically sound. “Mr. McGillivray procured for me a table showing the amounts allowed to tenant farmers in England for inexhausted manures, some of them lasting for years, so that unless such things as that can be truly shown on the balance sheet, we must look further for a correct finding of the economic position. “The Director-General of Agriculture, who is taking an interest in this competition, introduced me to Mr. Fawcett of the Economic Department, and after a long talk with him, I am convinced that my opinion of farm economics is sound. Therefore, although I put down the points in a lot for this section for my own guidance, I have divided farm economics into A,B,C, and D. (a) Profit for the year as shown by the books and manner of book-keeping:— 200 points. (b) Appreciation or depreciation of the property for the term under review:— 100 points. (c) The proper expenditure of money on work and improvements during the year. “The Science of the Application of Wealth.” : 100 points. (d) Economy practised in every part the farm work and management, including domestic management:— 100 points. “Note:— There has been very little depreciation of the farms in this competition, but rather a considerable amount of appreciation in some of them. “I have given no points for extravagant expenditure and there really has been none, but I have given consideration to the keeping in order and beatuifying of the surroundings which go to make country life pleasant. Every farm in the competition has been successfully farmed, during the year. “Our first visit was as near the beginning of the term as we could get things ready. I then inspected the stock and plant and checked the valuations. In my opinion, land values throughout the province are not equitable, but that was not my business. It has, however, a good deal tb do with the outcome of this competition, as the higher valued lands have to show a larger return for interest and correspondingly higher taxes. “To get the required information, we used the forms being used by the department in the industry into the cost of production. A simpler form, less inquisitive would serve and would please competitors better. The information collected and tabulated on the sheets is confidental, so also are the balance sheets. On our second visit I made an inspection of the land, crops, drains and fences, and at the finish, I have had a look at those I considered at the top,’ then gone into financial returns.

“In the competition among the larger farms over 250 acres, every farm would be worthy of mention and goes to show that however desirable sub-division may be, larger farms can be equally well worked and carry a prosperous population, with corresponding production.

“The winner in this class is Mr. A. S. Holms. Waimahaka. The size of the farm is 2813 acres of undulating country, situated on the down country of Lower Mataura. The quality of the soil varies from sweet loam to rather light clay ridges. The farm is subdivided into 52 paddocks by very substantial post and wire fences and where necessary wire-netted, the owner has a decided aversion to gorse. The homestead is backed by a clump of native bush, with a well kept garden in front, there is nothing expensive or extravagant about the home but everything is neat and well kept and is beautiful. The farm is all in permanent pasture with the exception of one paddock in oats for feed and about three paddocks in turnips and green-feed, and portion have been cut for hay. The pasture, much of it is very old, is composed of the best varieties of grasses and is kept up by liming and various kinds of manures are being tried out for top-dressing. The principal line of farming carried on is stud stock breeding, but store cattle and sheep are bought and fattened as required. The studs are Hereford cattle and Romney Marsh sheep. The flock of Romneys is a very old one, and has been much improved by the present owner, who has a thorough grasp of to-day’s requirements for a mutton carcase along with a heavy clip of good wool. The herd of Herefords is a very fine one, composed of animals with splendid conformation and constitution writ all over them. The staff employed is four married men, who live in cottages on the farm, while there are three of Mr. Holms’ sons working on the farm. Casual labour is also employed if suitable is offering when required. Judging by length of service of permanent hands and by the interest they seem to take in work well done,they are satisfied with their job. Mr. Holms is a hard worker, directing everything with ability and energy while Mrs. Holms with an assistant ably keeps up the domestic end. As will be seen from points awarded general excellence runs through every part.

Points:—l, Buildings (possible 50) —48; 2 fences (possible 40) —38; 3 pastures (possible 120) —110; 4, crops (possible 75) —72; 5, drainage (possible 40) —38; 6, implements and plant (possible 25) —23; 7, stock (possible 125) —123; 8, economics (possible 500)—435; 9, absence of rabbits (possible 25) —24. Total, 911. The second place in the over 250 acres is taken by Mr. J. T. May, “Mayfield,” Winton. The size of this farm is 375 acres, divided into eleven paddocks by gorse, post and wire fences. About 140 acres is flat reclaimed swamp, about 50 acres undulating the alance being cleared bush land, except 10 acres not yet under cultivation. This farm has required very much work as it has been wet and cold land, but draining and liming has made it what it is. The moat oJ tjie farm is in grass, oats for feed

and a portion for sale are grown, and a fair acreage is in turnips and rape, the grass has been controlled by cutting, the cut being saved for hay. The principal line of farming carried on, is fat lambs and wool and store sheep are bought when required. About 700 Romney-Leicester ewes are kept, they are big strong sheep well suited to the land , shearing a heavy clip of strong wool and giving a good return per sheep, all the lambs are fattened and the flock kept up by selected ewe lambs from those bought in. The flock gives a handsome return for the year under review. Mr. May is keeping up his grass land by top-dressing with lime and any manure he finds of use he is open to try out. The layout of the farm is good and everything that is necessary is on it and well kept. Mr. and Mrs. May do most of the work, only one hand being kept. Points. 1, 48; 2, 33; 3, 105; 4, 68; 5, 37; 6, 23; 7, 105; 8, 443; 9, 20. Total 882. “For the farm under 250 acres, competition was very good but after the second round three stood out. Mr. Thomson, Brydone, Mr. Dickie, Tuturau, and Mr. Owen Sutton, Winton, and in the final count I place them in the above order. Mr. Dickie runs Mr. Thomson very close for first place.

“The first was Mr. A. A. G. Thomson, ‘Primrosedell’ Brydone. This farm consists of 109 acres on the Edendale plain, the land is flat and subdivided into 10 paddocks, all in grass except one in turnips and one in oats, with a small patch in chou moellier. The crops are good and the pasture of the best mixed grasses, free from weeds and well controlled by careful shifting of the stock. The farm is close to Brydone Dairy Factory. Being about square, it lends itself well to a nice layout. Dairy farming is the principal [ business and a few sheep are kept. Oats arc grown for straw, the grain being sold. J The land has all been well limed and is being kept up by top-dressing, mostly super has been used. The stock has been 40 milking cows, mostly good crossbred sorts and have given a heavy yield for the year. An Ayrshire bull is kept and some good sorts of heifers are coming on to keep up the herd. 80 old ewes and a few killing sheep are kept, the lambs are sold fat from their mothers and the ewes then fattened are replaced the next year. The stock carried and the return from it shows clearly the condition of the pasture, the fences and buildings are suitable and well kept. There is a splendid vegetable and fruit garden well enclosed and sheltered and the flower garden in front of the house which faces the Main Edendale-Mataura Road is a picture of neatness. No outside labour is employed. I think Mr. Thomson has a big hurdle, in the valuation put on his place, there is no special rate of any kind, yet Mr. Thomson is called on to pay 8/8 per acre, only one other farm is so highly rated and that is in the same district and conditions, the rate being 9/4. Points:—l, 44; 2, 37; 3, 112; 4, 72; 5, 36; 6, 20; 7, 104; 8, 448; 9, 25. Total, 898. The second was Mr. Robert H. Dickie, Tuturau. This farm is 241 acres in extent situated on Tuturau Ridges. The land is undulating some rather steep and broken, the soil is sweet loam. The farm is in two parts and does not lend itself to a good layout but is subdivided into 17 paddocks in as careful manner as can be done in accordance with the lie of the land. Dairying is the principal business but ewes are also hept. The cows, 47 in number, are a very fine lot, being well bred and well fed. They arc Friesian cross mostly, and are big producers, while about 20 heifers are coming on to keep up the herd. These are bred on approved lines, sired by the best Friesian bulls procurable. Two such animals are on the farm and have a good butter-fat backing. Mr. Dickie has looked out well for feed to keep his cows going right up to the end of the season. He runs about 250 ewes and had very fine fat lambs, sired by three different breeds, but this did not show anything very conclusive. The farm is mostly in grass with some patches plantations and native bush but 25 acres are in turnips with a portion in Chou Moellier while a gqpd quantity of hay has been cut and well saved. The green crop is very good and with the hay will make abundance of winter feed. Mr. and Mrs. Dickie with their son have done about all the work on the farm for the year and one wonders how they have accomplished so much. The fences and buildings are suitable and well kept. Mr. Dickie is quick to adopt any little thing that is handy, and will save work and the whole thing is a credit to the Dickie family. Points:—l, 40; 2, 37; 3, 105; 4, 70; 5, 32; 6, 22; 7, 115; 8, 446; 9, 23. Total, 890. “Mr. Owen Sutton, Winton, was third. This farm is 200 acres in extent, situated in the Boggy Burn district. It is reclaimed swamp with’ a heavy clay soil. Much draining has been carefully done, ditches are good and well kept. The farm is well laid out, sub-divided into 10 paddocks by good post and wire fences, the boundaries being netted. A number of shelter belts have been planted, altogether this is one of the best drained, fenced and laidout farms in the competition. The buildings are suitable for the working of the farm. Mixed farming is carried on but the income is mostly from sheep, a few cattle being kept, a heavy stock of sheep is kept but it is difficult to control the grass with sheep as it is inclined to become foul. Mr. Sutton overcomes this to some extent by buying and selling. The crops grown are turnips, oats and wheat ami some grass-seed. Mr. Sutton spends a fairly large sum on lime and manure and keeps fertility high. Only a small sum is spent on labour. Points:—!, 46; ’2, 38; 3, 112; 4, 72; 5, 38; 6, 20; 7, 98; 8, 431; 9, 25. Total, 880. “In conclusion I desire to thank the competitors for the kindness shown to Mr. McGillivray and myself while inspecting the farms. It has been a real pleasure to meet them and to discuss with them the various problems relating to their occupation, while the women folks are splendid.” PIGS AND COWS. DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY. Generally speaking pig raising in the Dominion may be regarded as a by-in-dustry of dairying. It is therefore of particular significance that whereas the number of dairy cows has been practically stationary since 1924, the number of pigs has increased by approximately 25 per cent from that year. What may be regarded as the “saturation point” of the dairying industry in so far as its capacity for pig-raising is concerned is undefinable, but there appears to be a tendency in the Dominion to develop pig-farming quite independently of the dairying industry. The following table gives some idea of the relative positions of the dairying and pig-raising industries in the Dominion and Denmark one of our principal competitors, in both cases, on the Home market: —

WINTER DAIRY VALUES. PRESENT PRICES NORMAL. STABILITY OF THE POSITION. COMPETITION OF AUSTRALIA. When reviewed in the light of past experience, and having regard to the normal annual trend of the world’s dairy production, the relatively lower prices for New Zealand dairy produce which have ruled for some weeks past give no cause for concern. There is every indication that they will at least be maintained until after mid-winter. The 1927-1928 New Zealand dairying season is now closing with the approach of winter, but a mild autumn ‘ has sustained production better than was hoped for after the dry summer. The balance of the season’s butter and cheese will have to face competition with that of the Northern Hemisphere. “Probably the new season’s product of the Irish creameries is now being marketed in England,” said a dairy produce exporter when discussing the position the other day. Naturally the tide of dairy exports from many dairying lands on the other side of the world would be flowing strongly toward the United Kingdom, and for the next few months values would be governed by Continental conditions of supply and demand. “I do not expect any appreciable increase on current quotations for some time to come, but believe they jvill be sustained, and if that is so there will be little cause for complaint,” said the exporter. He emphasised that cheese remained firm at a payable level, and would certainly show a satisfactory average price for the season now terminating. Another exporter, traversing some of the factors against higher prices for New Zealand butter and cheese at this time of the year, touched upon the remarkable late inincrease of production in Australia. It was stated Australia was effecting substantial forward sales at cut rates to dispose of its autumn butter and cheese while meeting the competition of Northern Hemisphere production. He had learned of transactions in the Commonwealth on a basis of 151 s to 152 s c.i.f., which, taking into account the benefit which Australian producers received from the Paterson export bounty, brought the value of the sales about on a parity with current quotations for New Zealand supplies. Under the shelter of the Paterson scheme Australia was enabled to undersell New Zealand on the British market, and be reimbursed, as it were, by the export bounty, yet he believed there was no reason to assume that New Zealand butter and cheese quotations would suffer further. The existing position was normal so far as prices were concerned, and in respect of stocks on hand, statistically sound. One element which tended to prevent any further depreciation in New Zealand values was the desire of some Home importers to maintain, as far as possible, their supplies of New Zealand of New Zealand dairy produce to retailers who had developed a trade in the fern leaf brand. As the season on this side of the world tailed off, the demand for New Zealand butter from such sources would have a sustaining influence. When current quotations of up to 166 s for New Zealand salted butter are compared with those for the corresponding period of the past three years, it is seen that the position is very nearly normal. At this time in May of last year, the London market was quoted at 159 s to 160 s. In May, 1926, quotations ranged from 169 s to 17is through the month, and ini the previous May from 167 s to 171 s. FARM TERMS. SOUTH AFRICAN SATIRE. He certainly may be an incurable pessimist who penned the following satire on South African farming conditions, still there is sufficient of the truth in them applied to New Zealand to appeal to the humorous side of readers of these columns. Though written by someone with more than a fragmentary knowledge of farming, they must not be taken, however, as a true indication of South African farm life. Settler.—A person suffering from a peculiar form of delusion who leaves his native land with its comfortable gift of an old age pension, and comes to South Africa thinking he can make a lot of money by farming. Farm.—A conglomeration of stones, old iron, sand, snakes, pot clay, mud huts, odd bits of barbed wire, rotten wattle poles, burr weed, cut worms, blue ticks, grass taggers, kaffirs, and innumerable other evils. Chiefly used as a burial ground for cattle and sheep. Another 'common name for it is “A splendid proposition.” Milk Cans. —Vessels used in factories as dumb-bells, footballs, sledge hammers, musical instruments. Branding.—The process employed by a farmer when stray cattle and sheep are found on the farm of making them his own. Bar.—The place where last week’s, this week’s, and next week’s farming is done, and where all the latest information is obtained not about farming. Overdraft. —One of the bulwarks of the country. The diseelboom of the farming industry. The source of all fairy tales, (see Bank Manager.) Dipping Tank.—A large hole half-filled with dirty water through which cattle are driven when inspector is in the district. A few dead ticks are thrown into it to give an air of realism. An accepted cause for perjury, false swearing, perversion, and prevarication.

Implements.—Playthings provided for kaffirs. When an unbreakable implement is invented the kaffir race will become extinct owing to race suicide through breaking their own hearts. Mealies.—An ornamental plant grown by farmers to feed cut worms, top borers, neighbours’ cattle stray kaffirs, rats fowls (see Farmer’s Wife), and weavils. The staple diet of farms after three years of farming. Bank Manager.—A sceptic, or “Doughting Thomas,” to whom all faftners show the greatest politeness when they meet him, but about whom they strain their vocabulary behind his back. His sole work is to listen to fairy stories, (see Overdraft.) Cow.—A female bovine animal used chiefly to decorate a farm. An enthusiastic collector of ticks and has a voracious appetite if kept alive by copious inoculations. Has been known to produce milk and an occasional bull calf. Bull.—A cow’s husband. Work.—An- abstract quantity. That which is supposed to be done. That which should be done. That which is not done. The chief topic of conversation between farmers when they meet on Saturdays and what they spend their time thinking about all the rest of the week. Farmer’s Wife.—A female helpmeet. One who is under the impression that the farm is run solely to keep a few fowls alive, and to grow flowers for the sitting room. Ohe who employs all the farm labour on the kitchen garden. A fruitful source of rebates on the income tax. Farmer.—An incurable optimist. The source of the country’s income, and also of everyone in it but himself. Income Tax, —A trophy of the income. A full statement of a farmer’s outgoings, made out annually on numerous sheets of paper. A return giving the correct number of wives, children, dependents, and life insurance polities. No postage stamp is required, as the place for it is reserved for a complete statement of incomings. Arable Lands.—That portion of a farm which is unsuitable for grazing, and which is used chiefly to exercise oxen. A burial place for bolts and nuts, oil cans, and spanners. A place where “ten bags to the acre” will be grown next year. Next Year.—One of the chief reasons why farmers keep on farming. The good time coming, which, like to-morrow, never comes. Auctioneer.—One who sells something to a farmer for £2O, and then sells it for him for £5. A dispenser of marvellous bargains, splendid propositions, and grand opportunities. His chief occupation is teaching ladies to wink. Wool Pack.—A receptacle for cannon balls, milestones, old iron, burr-weed, kraal manure, mutton and wool. Sometimes filled with hay and conspicuously marked by farmers who send a waggon load around the town when credit is bad.

THE PIG. ARGENTINE BLOCK TEST. The annual block test, organized by the Argentine Pig Breeders’ Association, to i determine the most appropriate type of pigs for the export trade was carried out in Swift’s La Plata freezing plant recently, when there was a good entry of a very appropriate and most desirable stamp of pigs for the present day requirements of the trade. The president of the Argentine Pig Breeders’ Association (Mr J. C. Campion) referred to the lessons and advantages obtained from such a competition which demonstrated the present day requirements of the freezers and which also revealed the radical evolution that has been brought about in regard to the qualities a pig ought to possess. Only two years ago there were as many types of pigs as animals exhibited | and it can be realized that in order to correct the defects of such animals it would have been advantageous to have placed their heads behind as their hams were poor in contrast to their prominent shoulders. The inversion would have more appropriately represented the present day preferred type for freezer requirements. The first prize was awarded to a pen shown by Mr J. C. Campion that averaged 93 kilos, live weight. These pigs were Duroc-Jersey.

New Zealand. Year. Dairy Cows Pigs 1920 893,454 266,829 1921 1,004,666 349,892 1922 1,137,055 384,333 1923 1,248,643 * 1,312,589 400,889 1924 414,271 1925 1,323,432 440,115 1926 1,303,856 472,534 1927 1,303,225 Denmark. 520,143 Year. Dairy Cows Pigs 1920 1,195,733 1,115,992 1921 1,271,514 1,429,908 1922 1,310,893 1,899,019 1923 1,339,357 2,854,854 1924 1,368,548 2,868,139 1925 1,312,589 440,115 1926 1,479,812 3,122,328 The founder of the Belgian Boy Scouts Jean at 58. Corbisier. has jjust died in Brussels