AGRICULTURAL ITEMS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20105, 11 May 1935, Page 15

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS

BRITAIN’S IMPORTS LOWER Imports of butter into Great Britain from all sources during the first quarter of this year totalled 117,194 tons, compared with 131,411 tons for the first three months of last year, a decrease of 14,217 tons. Re-exports of butter from Britain during March were 411 tons, compared with 1138 tons for March, 1934. Feed Plentiful in Taranaki During the past few weeks (says the Taranaki Herald) there has been a wonderful pasture growth throughout North Taranaki. Speaking to a reporter, several farmers said they had more feed in their paddocks at the present time than for the past two or three months. One farmer said definitely that he was better off for feed now than at any time this season. Wood Alcohol F’rom Maize Negotiations with the New Zealand Government are proceeding for the production of wood alcohol from maize. The proposal originated with the Poverty Bay Farmers’ Union. The scheme dispenses with the shelling of maize and eliminates transport costs. Based on a 90-bushel crop to the acre, maize would return £65, the products including alcohol, cattle feed, yeast, salad oil and fusel oil. It is expected that a6d per gallon subsidy on alcohol fuel, as against petrol, will be available from the Government. Important Discovery Far-reaching effects arc likely to follow the discovery by research workers in the University of Leeds of an entirely new method of treatment for woollen fabrics. This discovery promises to do for wool what the discovery of mercerisation did for cotton, says an English paper. The structure of the fibre of wool has hitherto restricted all attempts to evolve new methods of treatment and the production of other than “straight” finishes. It has, however, been found possible to treat wool, before it is processed, in such a manner as to make it unshrinkable. World Hide Market

Reviewing the world hide market under date March 21, W, Weddell and Co., Ltd., London, states: “No one is in the mood to buy on anything like a large scale, although there is evidence of a shortage of raw material among tanners in most countries. Obviously, the tanners will not go on buying until world conditions become brighter. What is particularly wanted is some agreement between the United States, the gold bloc, and the sterling bloc toward the stabilisation of exchanges. This would be a step in the right direction, as it would give a good deal of confidence to international traders.” More Sheep Killed The figures relating to the killings for export show very little change in regard to beef, but substantial increases in mutton, lamb, and pork. The Meat Board’s figures are:—

The management of the pasture after it has been established will play an extremely important part in its subsequent life. In the main, it may be considered that it is better to graze pasture than to let it go for hay in its first year. On this point, Professor Stapledon states: “To establish a highclass grazing sward it should be grazed from the outset, and everything done from the beginning to encourage “pasture" rather than “hay” characteristics in the sward. For this reason grazing mixtures should be sown rather with rape than a cereal so that treading can be started at the earliest possible moment.” All The Year Dairying The dairy farmers of Australia are being urged to adopt all the year dairying, and the arguments being used in favour of the principle apply with equal force to New Zealand. If Australia does commence to make butter in the winter as well as in the summer it will have an advantage over New Zealand of great importance. One fact, that is encouraging the Australian dairy farmer to make butter all the year is the splendid propaganda work being carried out by the Australian Dairy Board in pasture improvement. Many Australian -dairy farmers are proving that it is possible to have grass in the winter, when rain can be depended upon, by means of nitrogenous manures.

Oct. 1 to Apr 15 1934-35 1933-34 Beef (qrs) 167,552 168,611 Wether mutton Cc/cs.) 815,674 644,756 Ewe mutton (c/cs.) 984,030 703,102 Lamb (c/cs). 7,116,202 6,560,800 Pork, porkers (c/cs.) Boneless beef 309,964 241,624 (frt. c/cs.) 112,926, 306,899 Sundries (frt. c/cs.) 199,807 171,590 Pasture Management