AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18286, 8 June 1929, Page 14

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

NEWS rKOil NEAR AND FAR. INTERESTING STATISTICS. Fertilisers of a total tonnage of 153,851 were imported into the Union of South Africa during the nine months ended September 30, 1928; 103,244 tons were imported in the corresponding period of 1927. Thanks to the efforts of an energetic committee, funds have been collected to enable a start to be made with renovations to the tomb of Robert Bakewell and members of his family in the chancel of the ruined church at Dishley, near Loughborough, England. The money collected at present is only sufficient for repairs to the chancel and tomb, but it is hoped enough may be raised to allow further renovations to be made to the church. The annual report of the Christchurch Tomato and Stone-fruit Growers’ Association stated that there was a membership of 156. The balance sheet disclosed a credit balance of £3B 7s 3d. The following officers were elected:—President, Mr C. J. Fineran; vice-presidents, Messrs C. E. Pope and D. J. Falla; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. Firman; executive committee, Messrs F. Adams, A. S. Beckett, A. E. Bloxham, D. Montgomery and C. Fineran, junr. A return issued by the Canadian Bureau of Statistics reports that the number of cattle on farms in Canada on June 30. 1928, was 8,793,000, compared with 9,172,000 in the previous year, indicating a decrease of about 4 per cent. Sheep, on the other hand, have increased, the 1928 total being 3,416.000 or 153,000 more than in 1927. The increase in sheep has been progressive since 1924, the 1928 numbers being 731,000 in excess of those of four years ago.

The dingo rate in North and Central Australia for the year ending June 30, 1930, has been fixed by the Federal Minister for Home Affairs on the basis of one penny per square mile. The rate will apply to all land in those territories except town and suburban areas, unleased Crown lands, areas reserved for public purposes, and land used for cultivation. The bonus for the destruction of dingoes will be reduced from 10s to 5s a head after July 1.

At the quarterly meeting of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, the president, Mr C. H. Weston, referred to the Government’s embargo on immigration, remarking that he had been informed that the embargo applied to public school boys. It was pointed out that the chamber had been corresponding with the Immigration Department over the matter without success. The chamber was confident that it could place between 20 and 40 boys on Taranaki farms, and was anxious to know whether it could go ahead with its project or not. It was decided to place the matter before the Prime Minister.

The pest known as thrips which was recently found in Canterbury red clover, has been investigated by Mr R. McGillivray, of the Department of Agriculture.' He finds that it does considerable damage in clover, lucerne, and even in cereals by sucking the goodness from the plants, with the result that the seed is pinched. Thrips feed on plant juices, puncturing the tissues and extracting the sap, leaving white marks or streaks where the cells without their juices have dried. They attack stems, leaves and blossoms, in the last case often blighting them and preventing the setting of fruit. On the leaves of plants, the under-surface appears in most cases to be the favourite place of attack, and the insects do not move about much. With grasses and cereals, the stems, as well as the leaves suffer, thus checking the growth of the top and in some cases the kernels of the growing grain are also fed on. Ladybirds and other species of insects feed freely upon thrips, while hard and dashing rains exercise a good control. Some thrips suck the juice of the growing seed which thus becomes dried and shrivelled up. The National Dairy Show is to be held at Palmerston North from June 18 to June 22 next, both dates inclusive. In addition to the exhibition of dairy, farm, and general produce, an interesting and amusing round of entertainments has been arranged for visitors. On the educational side of the programme there will be several lectures on matters of great interest to farmers generally, the speakers being experts in their particular line. These lectures comprise bee and honey culture, orchard diseases, and a very educative lecture on farm horses. This latter is under the auspices of the Clydesdale Horse Society of New Zealand. The c.og trials are attracting a great deal of attention in the farming world. In addition to these attractions there will be the annua! championship exhibition cf the Manawatu Poultry Associa and a fine exhibition of dairy and other farm machinery. Entries for all classes close definitely on June 4. Those desiring a schedule should make early application. Schedules for the poultry show are also available.