FARM & DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1923, Page 15

FARM & DAIRY

DAIRYING INDUSTRY. NEW AREAS DEVELOPED. BAY OF PLENTY AND ROTORUA. The extension of the dairying industry in the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua districts has been very marked during recent years. Considerable areas of new country are being devoted to dairy farming, and there "has been a gratifying improvement in the quality of the herds in the different districts. THE WHAKATANE DISTRICT. The prospects of the coming dairying season are viewed with optimism in the Whakatane district, and a considerable increase in the output is anticipated. In the course of an interview Mr. Walter Reid, chairman of the Opoutiao Dairy Company, stated that as far as could be judged the prospects were exceedingly good. With regard to the output from the Opouriao factory for the coming season, Mr. Reid said there were indications that there would be an allround increase, particularly in cheese. In all likelihood his company would make 100 tons more cheese than it did last season, and it was satisfactory to know’ that buyers were prepared to give a payable price. Mr. Reid further stated that in the fertile Opouriao Valley the dairy farmers were improving their herds and culling out unprofitable tattle. Naturally this would have a great effect in increasing the output. The farmers were also going in for a fair amount of topdressing, whereas comparatively little was formerly done in this- direction. In previous years only about 20 tons of manure were obtained through the company for top-dressing, whereas now 100 tons Were obtained. The farmers were finding that it paid to go in for topdressing, no matter how good their land was. Work in this direction was going on extensively, and would naturally help the output of dairy produce from the Opouriao Valley. DEVELOPMENT OF RANGITAIKI PLAINS. On the Rangitaiki Plains also there nr- ind’nationc of a very considerable increase in the output of dairy produce, as many new’ suppliers are linking up with the Rangitaiki Plains- Dairy Company. To cope with its steadily-in-creasing business this company has just completed the erection of a new factory which has a capacity of 1500 tons. It is stated to be the second largest butter factory under one robf in the Dominion. As an evidence of the progress of dairying on the Rangitaiki it may be mentioned that tKe output from the factory in 1920-21 was 130 tons; 1921-22, 320 tons; and 1922-23, 575 tons; and there is every likelihood that the same ratio of increase will be more than maintained during the coming season. Moreover, there is a large area of land on the plains waiting to be broken in, and within a comparatively short period it is expected that the factory will have to deal with 1500 tons, its present capacity. In the factory building, however, provision has been made for additional machinery to enable the factory to deal with 3000 tons of dairy produce.

OPOTIKI FACTORIES. The dairying season at Opotiki promises well. There is not much green feed, owing to the frost retarding the growth, but where provision has been made for winter feed stock are looking extremely well. Most of the factories have kept going right through the winter, and the supply is increasing daily. On one dairy farm alone 12 cows came in in a single night. Several of the cheese factories have had offers for purchase of cheese up to October make at 9d, and one factory has disposed of its manufacture for these three months at this figure. If this figure could be maintained for the season’s output cheese would again show a handsome return. THE ROTORUA DISTRICT. The prospects of the coming dairy season are forecasted by the Ngongotaha factory of the Rotorua Co-opera-tive Dairy Company being threbled in capacity and Mr. H. Roper building a new butter factory in the Rotorua suburbs. Evidence supports this optimism. Notwithstanding the wet months of April and June and the cold winds of August stock have wintered well. There has been no boom in land or sensational influx of outside capital, ‘but a steady expansion of cultivated holdings. Farmers, encouraged by prospects of firm prices arc bringing in all their available land. Large areas taken up two years ago are now coming in and the dairying area enormously expanded. The settlement of the vast areas of endowment land will have a tremendous effect on production. Experts rate the large blocks of endowment, Crown, and native land south of Rotorua and to Atiamuri very highly. Reparoa, notwithstanding adverse publicity in uninformed quarters, steadily progresses. Not only is there increased effective occupation of land, but farmers are raising the standard of their herds. The industry is no longer confined to the Ngongotaha Valley, but is linking up with the coast through the lakes and to the shores of Lake Taupo. The 1923-4 season will see substantial expansion if indications count for anything.

CATTLE IN NEW ZEALAND. The number of cattle in New Zealand as at January 31, 1923, according to a report furnished to the House of Representatives at the request of the Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi), was 3,480,694, as compared with 3,323,223 in January 1922, 3,139,223 in 1921, 3,101,945 in 1920, and 3,035,478 in January, 1919. The Wellington Land District contained the largest number of cattle —678,932 head, Auckland holdinc 662,409. North Auckland 481,253, Taranaki 388,880, Gisborne 303 158, Hewke’s Bay 258.436, Canterbury Southland 184,063, and Otago 148,954.

The Wanganui Farmers’ Union-have under consideration a proposal by a qualified veterinary surgeon, who is prepared to offer his services provided a veterinary club of 200 members in the district is ‘formed, the subscription to be 33s per member per annum for three year*.

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER. SUPERIORITY OVER DANISH. A FINE TESTIMONIAL. At the time of the Auckland Summer Carnival promoted by the Auckland Advertising Club, a number of copies of the handsome souvenir programme then issued, were sent by the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co,, Ltd., to its London manager, Mr. J. B. Wright, 0.8. E. They were distributed by Mr. Wright to some of the leading produce houses in Britain, as indicating something of the nature of the country, from which so much of the produce they were handling came.

The interest in Auckland evoked by that programme is well illustrated by the following letter recently received by Mr. W. G. Goodfellow, Managing Director of the N.Z.C.D.C. from Mr, David Greig, who is the proprietor of 200 retail shops in London. Mr. Greig has ’been so impressed by this evidence of Auckland’s prosperity, that, as indicated in his letter, he hopes some day to visit this “beautiful country.” Mr. Greig writes:

Personally, I do not think there js any finer quality butter or cheese produced in the world than that which New Zealand produces, and when I say New Zealand I mean Aucklandj because from Auckland we obtain “Anchor” butter.

The great rival of New Zealand butter has been Danish, but this year the margin between “Anchor” and Danish has almost vanquished. Only the other day I was speaking to some Danish butter importers, and I asked them what they thought of “Anchor” butter. They told me they preferred it to Danish. I was rather surprised at this admission, and yet it is only endorsing what many other people are saying, and proving that “Anchor” ‘butter is the great and only rival of Danish if not its superior.

I feel certain that if New Zealand, in the future takes as great an interest in the production of her products, and as great a care in the handling and marketing of as she has hitherto done, then her products will lead the markets here in England as regards quality and price. The great advantage that New Zealand butter and cheese possess over any other butter and cheese we handle, is that the texture and quality is far superior to any of them. There is more stamina in New Zealand products. This is probably the most valuable testimonial the New Zealand producer has ever had as to the wisdom of applying the principles of big business to his produce. By eliminating over 20 competitive brands shortly after the amalgamation and concentrating the entire strength of the N.Z. Co-op. Dairy C*j., Ltd., upon producing butter of standardised quality under one brand it has been possible to develop a goodwill and recognition for that brand impossible by other means. Thia has also been secured because of the massed quantities of butter that have been available under this brand. By making it possible to secure this high quality butter in big lines the New Zealand producer has simplified the buying task of the London distributor. This letter suggests immense future possibilities to New Zealand producers. What has been done with “Anchor” indicates what could he done if the whole of New Zealand butter were standardised under definite recognised New Zealand brands, according to the three grades of quality, and pushed consistently and uniformly as “Anchor” has been. The elimination of surplus brands and concentration upon New Zealand brands would speedily place the Dominion’s butter in that position of superiority that the London trade admits it is entitled to. PUREBRED SIRES. A SCHEME THAT IS TAKING ON. The offer of the Wanganui Fresh Food Company to finance farmers in the purchase of purebred bulls is a step in the right direction, and has aroused a good deal of interest among those dairymen who have recognised in the scheme a genuine attempt on the part of the company to provide a practical and inexpensive means by which any farmer may be given the opportunity to build up a herd of highly productive animals.

In conversation with the company’s representative at Stratford recently, it was gathered that already a very encouraging number of men who wished to lift their dairying operations to a higher and more profitable level have made application for a herd sire of proved ancestory. If the company is impressed with the applicant’s ability as a farmer, he is allowed practically a free hand in the selection of his bull, but where through inexperience a fanner is likely to choose an inferior animal, the company is prepared to render all the assistance and advice possible. It will place him in touch with reputable breeders and see that the bull is of the correct type and pedigree, sound of limb and fitted to leave behind progeny with high butter-fat qualities. The company has been approached to assist in the purchase of grade animals as well, but this they will not undertake, as it would be defeating the very purpose for which the purebred sire scheme was introduced. Although the need for increasing herd averages so as to leave an appreciable margin of profit is readily admitted, it is a lamentable fact that many farmers in Taranaki are content to carry on year after year with the same scrub cattle. To the generous offer of the Fresh Food Co. should have a special significance, and if viewed from the angle of even purely selfish interests should commend itself to serious consideration. By increasing the average of his own herd, a farmer would also be contributing to the general wealth of the province and be helping to maintain the reputation of the Dominion as the Nation’s dairy farm.

A good suggestion for obtaining hot water without incurring any expense as far as apparatus is concerned was suggested by Mr. L. Harrison at the annual meeting of the .101 l Dairy Company on Wednesday. “Get a couple of kerosene tins, cut the top out of one, and place it on top of the other, and with the aid of a little 'boxwood you will have boiling water in a few minutes,” he said.

NEWS AND NOTES. A dairy farm of 84 acres, near Levin, has just changed hands at £79 per acre. Seven factories within a radius of five miles of Carterton paid out over £107,000 for butter-fat last year. The remarkable price of £2 16s was obtained for a line of fat wethers at the Wallacetown sale. The New Zealand Journal of Agriculture for August publishes a photograph of the Taranaki champion mangold crop for 1922-23, and the grower, Harry Betts, Okaiawd. The crop was 132 tons scwt. pel’ acre. One farmer in the Oamaru district who secured a yield of 50 tons per acre from a paddock of mangolds last year, had oiily 11 tons an acre this year (states the North Otago Times). The small yield was due to the wet weather. . • » • • . A farmer in the Oamaru district Wanted a man to de odd jobs about the farm for a period of six weeks. The man who applied for the job (says the Otago Daily Timees) asked 15s a day and. kept. The farmer intends doing the work himself. A consignment of pigs of a breed new to Australia, known as Gloucester Old Spots, arrived at Melbourne recently. During the pig boom in England pigs of the breed Were sold for 200 guineas and a half-litter realised 1055 guineas. The consignment of 32 sows and eight boars sent out to Victoria were selected from the best herds in England. The British Ministry of Agriculture estimates the total value of the farm crops and livestock of Great Britain at £400,000,000. The production in 1922 is estimated at £261,000,000, made up of farm crops, £47,000,000; livestock, £108,600,000; dairy produce, £77,000,000; Wool, £3,250,000; poultry and eggs; £16,000,000; miscellafteous, £K),000;000. The heifer calf to-day is the cow of to-morrow. Every penny spent on pea meal bran, linseed meal, and crushed oats for the whey-fed calf, or linseed ; meal, maize and crushed oats for the skim milk calf is returned with interest in the well-formed frame, healthy constitution, and extra capacity for milk production vested in these young animals. “I*ve got a Jersey bull which I registered in the Jersey Breeders’ Association herd book, and has a certificate; but to me he looks to be anything on earth but a Jersey bull.” So said a farmer at a meeting at Okoia recently. He wanted to know whither it was possible for a breeder to “ring in” a poorly-bred bull in place of a pedigree animal. “All the butter and meat consumed in the Hawaiian Islands is imported from New Zealand,” stated Mr. J. H. Edmundson to a recent meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce. He added that the people of the islands preferred our butter and meat to that of the United States, and it' showed that New Zealand had the goods. Once they got it into a country it was appreciated. A dairy farmer once said that the mistake of his life had been that ho had not travelled more and seen how the best men in the business manage*! their farms. “[ lost ten times the money it. would have cost me,” he said, “in blunders and unwise efforts that I need not have made.” He was right. There cannot be too much interchange of opinions and experiences amongst farmers. Most people are aware that pinus insignia kills the growth of all grass within a radius swept by its fastspreading roots. Not only does it kill the grass, but it kills the gorse, and anyone who is troubled with gorse has ohly to create a pinus insignis plantation to get clear of the prickly pest. This is what the Wellington Director of Reserves (Mr. J. G. Mackenzie) is doing oh the gorse-grown spurs at Day's Bay. Two dairy Shorthorn cows in New South Wales recently completed a 273 days’ official teat period with yields of 5001 b butter-fat or better. Molly 2nd Glenthorne, owned by Mr. W. H. Dudgeon, gave 13.7881 b milk, of 4.1 test, during the butter-fat yield being 5601 b. She was eight years old at the start of the test. The Darbalara heifer, Melba 20th, which is aged 3A years, produced 11,8261 b of milk, yielding 5001 b butter-fat. The effort which is being in** de in America to cross the buffalo with ordinary cattle -was refered to by Mr. W. D. Blair at Wyndham. “The buffalo is the only animal which faces a storm head on,” said Mr. Blair, “and it is hoped by the crossing to produce an animal that will face storms, instead of turning its back to them. This will assist the cross to winter better and give better results. I do not know whether it will succeed or not.” With a small outlay for practical experiments a farmer can learn more in ,a season regarding the requirements of the soil he cultivates than in any other manner, and the value of such knowledge will enable him to produce the largest possible crops with the smallest expense for fertilisers. He can dispense with such materials as he has proved to be not necessary on his soil. On the other hand, he can add an extra quantity of any ingredient which his experiments show to be especially necessary. Doomed was the fatted calf! A Fordell farmer had sold him to a butcher in a distant town, so one of the hands was deputed to lead him to the station, the only “packing” being an addressed label suspended from his neck. Two hours later the farmer was startled to see his employee strolling casually back, the calf walking placidly behind him. “Here, man!” shouted the angry farmer. “What on eaYth are you doing? That animal ought to have gone by train!” “ ’Tain't my fault,” said the farm-hand. “The brute’s been an’ et up where he was goin’l”—Chronicle. The occupation of a farmer is not only the most ancient and honourable one in the world’s history, but is to this day the most useful and independent one that can be adopted. The product of many other occupations can be done without, but the commodities in which the farmer’s labour results are of daily necessity, and without which the business of the universe would immediately cease. The prices of food products may fluctuate, but the use of them can never go out of fashion; therefore the farmer is not subject to the caprice of the fashionable world in regard to the commodities he has to out oa th. market.