THE DAIRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10680, 29 January 1913, Page 2

THE DAIRY.

NORTH ISLAND MOTES.

[F*«3M Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON,'January,2S. ' Rain is badly .needed everywhere.- A nico fall was experienced last* Tuesday evening, but it was quite insufficient for the dried up earth. Turnips, which have been planted, especially in Taranakj, on a more extensive scale than usual, are taking the blight. A good rain would 'ensure successful crops, as well as improved feeding on pastures. Last month the Mangorei Dairy Company paid out £4137 2s lOd for butterfat supplied, against £4llß 16s' 8d for the corresponding month of tlie previous year. It is gratifying to know that lucerne growing is being taken up by dairyiarniers in this island. Now that it is being conclusively demonstrated that this great fodder plant can be grown in almost any part of tho dominion—it is 'thriving even on pumice soils —it' is highly probable that it will yet become tho mainstay of the New Zealand milk producer. It is said that tuberculosis in'pigs is just as prevalent this season' as last, with the result that the disease is being desseminafced more and more throughout the country, to say nothing of the loss to individual farmers in pocket. The only means of effectually checking this fell disease on dairy farms is by means of pasteurising of factory ekimmilk, and it is regrettable in view of this—and the repeated advice to -this end by'the State veterinary and dairy authorities—that so many, of our dairy companies refuse to realise their responsibility in the matter. Until this becomes general nothing can be done ir> effectually check the spread of the disease. -

11l view of the unsatisfactory qiinlity of so much Australian butter, mado on tli9 home separation principle, it is interesting to note tbat Lome-separation butter in tin's country—rapidly on theincrease in the northern districts of the dominion—is of an surprisingly good quality. This is due-to the fact that tho Department of Agriculture has capable instructors in the field, who aro educating suppliers to a proper appreciation of their responsibility on the proper handling and care of the cream. A back-block Tarauaki factory,' that of Okau, which makes all its butter from homo-separated cream, is turning out an excellent article. . Its grade notes are running from 91 to points. Some of the cream isTaried a distance of twelve miles, and. the butter .has to be carted to Waitara, thirty-two miles by road. Instances such as these are' demonstrating the great possibilities.in home separation when properly controlled. . Casein manufacture is apparently, to become a considerable industry in this island. Raving the most up-to-date information on the subject--by the foresight of the Department of. Agriculture in sending a qualified expert to Europe to investigate the question—dairy companies are being encouraged to take up the business. . The'Midhirst company has the 'manufacture of casein practically under way, the Bnnnytliorpe company has decided to take it up, and a string of Taranaki factories are considering the 'question of amalgamated manufacture. At a meeting of the Stratford branch of the New Zealand Jersey Breeders' Association the other day, several resolutions were passed having for their objective tho' advancement of the Jersey breed. Two of these read as follows: " That- the Council of the Association urge the Government to carry out an economic cow breed test at one of their farms of instruction, six representative cows of each breed to be selected, a record kept of feed, the area pasture occupied and a daily record ot milk .and butter-fat; the test to be for a period of twelve months." "That in future the secretary of the Association send out to every member of the Association on March 31 in each year an invitation to enter for registration all his animals then under twelve months of age, andthat a further notice be sent a month later to' all who have not responded.;, and that it be a recommendation to the Council that the names of sires and dams of animals in register of merit be recorded in all future volumes." Various suggestions were made for tho encouragement of the breeding of purebred Jerseys, and.discouraging the use of grade bulls. Mr D. "Wat'kin'. of Huiroa, considered that a tax of £1 should be levied upon the vendor of every grade bull sold and each time.the animal is sold, the funds so raised to be paid over to the''Agricultural Association in whose district the vendor resides, for tho encouragement of breeding pedigree animals.