AGRICULTURAL ITEMS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 20 (Supplement)

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS

Professor Barker, head of the textile section of the Leeds University, believes that Mr. K. P. Jlellberg, a Swede, who has worked at the University for some months, has solved the wool pack problem. He has produced a pack woven from twisted paper yarn, which, though costlier than jute, will in the loug run be economical. It will prevent all contamination, either vegetable or fibres, dust or liquids, and is strong enough for all normal trade handling. Dr. Hellberg hopes to establish a factory in Yorkshire to manufacture the new pack.

A large consignment of Ayrshire cattle is being arranged in British Columbia for shipment to China. The standard set by the Eastern authorities requires a production record of at least 80001 b weight of milk, with a butter-fat test of 3.5 or over. Age of the cattle will run from thirty months to five years. The Shanghai IDairy, which suffered heavily during the SinoJapanese trouble in that area, is rebuilding its plant, and will need animals to replace those lost. Formerly that company had a .standing order with the British Columbia Holstein Association for monthly shipments from the Fraser Valley.

Here is a hint that will be found handy w r hcn tethering the bull, says a writer in the Melbourne Leader. Procure two rings large enough to slip over the horns and connect them with a short chain. Then slip one ring over each horn, and take up the slack of the connecting chain with a split link. This makes it impossible for the rings to come off the horn. You can then attach your long chain with a snap hook to the connecting chain. In this way the weight of the chain dragging does not cause any friction or chafing as in the old way of putting the chain round the horns. The long chain trailing has a steadying effect.

Rapid progress has been made in Victoria by the Australia Illawarra Shorthorn Herd Book Society. Formed in September, 1930, with a membership of 15, the branch has grown to an important, strong body in less than three years. The butter and milk production of the Illawarras has a high average, the animals are docile and easy to work and have a strong constitution. They’ also make good heifers. The remarkalkie increase in the number of Illawarras exhibited at country shows in the past three years is due to the enthusiasm of breeders and owners. In addition to the members having increased the quality of the breed has also improved considerably. The Herd Book Society of the breed is now one of the strongest in Australia, having a membership of 1200.

It is a remarkable feature in these times, when economy is the order of the day, that so many of the largest 1 farmers are turning to the purchase of factory-made compound fertilisers, instead of mixing their owji on the farm, comments the Fertiliser and Feedstuffs Journal, London. In former times, the needs of crops and differences in soils were less well understood than they are to-day. Much has been done by agricultural research stations to throw light on these subjects, and for this work, not only the farmer, but also the fertiliser manufacturer, has cause to be grateful. The farmer has learned that all crops require three main plant foods, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, and has been shown how fertilisers supplying these foods

can be mixed on the farm in certain proportions for each particular crop. The up-to-date fertiliser manufacturer has not been slow to profit by this spread of knowledge, and has laid himself out to beat home-mixing by producing a superior article at a competitive price.