FARMING NOTES

Te Puke Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 55, 21 July 1939, Page 3

FARMING NOTES

INCREASE OF “FINEST” There has been during recent years such a large percentage of graded butter classed as “finest” that any increase jn that percentage is praiseworthy, states the annual report of the N *\v Zealand Dairy Federation. The present season, up to the time of writing this report, evidences an increase in the percentage of butter graded as “finest” and a slight reduction in that graded as under “first grade.” The percentages for the past two seasons are :

Improvement in Cheese Cheese quality has evidenced a greater improvement in that the percentage of “finest” shows a very considerable increase, and the reduction in the percentage under “first” grade is substantial. Day and night temperatures have been lower this season than during the previous season. This has meant cooler and sounder milk and cream. Cheese curing room temperatures have been lower, and cheese has arrived at grading stores in the warmest weather at about ten degrees lower, in temperature than during the preceding summer. These factors have been favourable to higher grading points. The gradings of cheese during the past two seasons show the following percentages :

Weeds in Pastures CAUSE OF SPREADING RESULT OF “WET” GRAZING Some years ago, when a party of English farmers visited New Zealand, considerable comment was heard from them on the number of weeds seen in pastures on Dominion dairy farms, compared with similar farms in England. This criticism was probably well deserved at the time, and it is doubtful if the position is greatly improved today. Farming methods here differ so greatly from those in England that herein probably lies the real cause of the trouble. In England pastures are used mainly for grazing and hay, and all winter fodder is fed in stalls. In New Zealand, under different dairying conditions, the feeding of hay and supplementry crops is carried out in the paddocks. The result of this latter practice is the trampling of wet and soft paddocks, and this leads not only, to the loss of pasture plants by burying thus leaving vacant spaces for weeds, such as docks, thistles, rushes, etc., but also the ground itself becomes “air-locked” and natural drainage is slow, resulting in a cold in the spring.

If topdressing is delayed to| the spring, a small quantity of grass seed broadcast with the fertilizer will help to choke out the weeds and fill up the vacant spaces. A few sheep to clean up a paddock after cows has a beneficial effect as the sheep often eat weeds that cows will not touch.

1938-39 1937-38 Finest . 86.87 86.16 First ,.12.70 13.32 Under first...., .. .42 .51 Average grade ,.*93*491 93.466

1938-39 1937*38 Finest .... 19.38 9.61 First .... 78.59 85.32 Under first,.. .2.02 5.06 92.214 91.904