FARM NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8061, 20 November 1906, Page 1

FARM NOTES.

The fiue display of Shropshires seen at the Exhibition Show is an evidence that this valuable mutton breed is rapidly advancing in favour in the South. Its growth in popularity in Australia since the initiation there of the fat lamb trade has been remarkable. On the smaller holdings especially they are rapidly taking the I place of merinos. Considerable harm | is said to have been done to the breed jby the use of cull rams, but the [ advantage of breeding from the beft types of stock is becoming more gpm • rally recognised, and the Shropshire now promises to become one of the leading sheep of Australia. Doubtless it will make considerable headway in this country, but probably not to the same extent as in Australia. The present season constitutes a record as far as the daily supply of milk is concerned (writes a Greytown c jrrespondent). The daily supply at present is 1850 gallons, and the supply is steadily increasing. The directors cf the Greytown factory have at present under consideration the enlargment of the making room to accommodate all the milk, as at present the plant is only able to work 1900 gallons. So far tests this season are very low, ranging from 3 1 to 3.7. The directors have decided to ihip on consignment to the London market the bulk of the (output, having only booked a limited quantity of cheese for the local trade. All cheese shipped Home is going through the same firm which has handled it in past seasons. With the splendid rain which has fallen during the last fortnight, the pastures are looking well, and shou'd we have a fairly good supply of rain for the next few months, the output of cheese in the Wairarapa will be the largest on record, as all the factories are getting a much larger supply of milk than in any previous year. Mr M. Murphy, F.L 8., referring to the growing cf lucerne for pasture, makes the following remarks in the Government Year Book ;—" This permanent fodder plant thrives admirably in most parts of New Zealand, provided the land is not waterlogged, yielding three to five cuttings in the year; and, if properly cultivated and well attended to, particularly in its early stage of growth, it will continue to yield liberal cuttinus for seven or eight years, or even longer. This is a most excellent crop for the small or large farmer, furnishing, as it does, an abundant supply of succulent fodder, in deeply-cultivated soils, during the drier months of midsummer, as well as in the early spring. All farm animals are partial to lucerne; pigs thrive upon it. No farm should be without a well-cultivated plot of this plant. In deeply cultivated land lucerne will yield four or five cuttings during the season, the weather may be. It is this drought resisting quality which renders lucerne such a valuable fodder plant in Queensland and New South Wales, where it is extensively grown for pasture purposes, and for hay, which is largely exported for use in other parts of the Commonwealth."