FARM NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8061, 21 November 1906, Page 1

FARM NOTES.

Duriug the course of his aunual report to the New Zealand Government, the produce commissioner, Mr H. C Cameron, says:—l desire to impress upon butter-producers in the colony the very great risk that is ruu in damaging the reputation that has bten gained for New Zealand butter on the markets in this country by applying more than 0 5 per cent, of boracic acid to it when made in the colony.

As showing the superiority of the milking machine over ban I labour, the Carterton News mentions that Air Geo. Eaton wailed till the conclusion of the buck-jumping on the second day of the Carterton Show, then drove home to Kokotau, milked 6U cows and sat down to tea within two hours of leaving the agricultural grounds. A neighbour, who left Carterton earlier, and who has forty cows, had not finished by 9 p.m. by the laborious hand method.

How strongly the maternal initinct is developed in animals was forcibly demonstrated to a Victorian farmer near Wyuug recently. A heavy draught mare was beard squealing shrilly in a paddock, and running backwards and forwards between her foal, which was asleep in the grass and a spot twenty yards away. Every time she reached this spot the mare would rear up and hammer the ground heavily with her forehoofs. Investigation showed the mutilated but still writhing remains of a large black snake. A gentleman who has just returned from Australia, and who attended the Sydney Show there, told a Timaru Post reporter on Saturday that the Christchurch Show just held was far better than the Sydney Show or any other show in Australasia. He believed he would be right in saying further that the best of the big shows at Home could not excel it.

It is doubtful if within the history of stockbreeding in Australia the hides of cattle reached the prices they are doing to-day (says the Sydney Mail). By latest London advices the price is 8d per lb for best Australian bullock hides. This would mean for an average hide, 601b, 37s 6i. It is not so many years ago since hides were not worth more than from 10s to 15s each.

Ihe dairy farmer who exposes all milk utensils to the sun and air has little trouble from bad milk. Strong sunlight kills bacteria rapidly, and when a pan has not been thoroughly cleaned or a cruck is left with a little casein that will quickly spoil, exposure to the sunlight will, to a great extent, remedy the carelessness in cleaning. The grower of some of the new potatoes from Whangarei (north of Auckland), which have been shipped to Christchurch, says that for some time he fancied that a portion of the crop was badly blighted, but afterwards discovered that the appearance was due to excessive spraying. The strength of the mixture was therefore reduced, with the result that the remainder of the crop was perfectly free from either blight or spray burniug. The leaf discolouration has practically the same appearance in both instances but generally shows itself on the edges of the leaves in case of burning, whereas the blight is usually first seen in the centre, Ihe following circular has been issued by Mr J. G. Wilson, president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union:

It is evident that the Union are faced with a serious problem. The Land Bill, which has been dropped for the time being, is objected to by nearly every branch of the Union, and, and is against our platform, I need not go into the merits of the Bill, as that has been done by our newspaper, the Farmers' Union Advocate, and its principles have been condemned by nearly every member of the Union. Sir Joseph Ward has said "that practically the same Bill will be introduced next session," and Mr McNab has stated that he and the other Ministers will take every occasion in their power to discuss the Bill from the public platform. Mr Laurenson has stated he will devote his services during the recess to the promulgation of its principles and Mr Hogg, it is understood, will do so if he is required, and others have also offered their services. Much of this, of course, will be done at the public expense ;■ but the union, if they are to oppose ihe Bill by having the other side placed before the public, will have to pay the whole expense of so doing.

It is only right that the public should hear both sides, and we do not fear the result if this is properly done. If, however, the provisions of the Bill are put forward only by the supporters of the measure, the great objections to the measure are likely to be glossed over, and misleading arguments used to induce support. As soon as the Minister has begun his campaign it behoves the Union to put up a good fight for the principles we believe in and are prepared to fight for, even at a great sacrifice of time and money.

The freehold is being attacked ; the proposals in regard to leaseholders are unsatisfactory; the effects of limitation would cause most serious financial trouble to all; and socialism will prevail unless we make a vigorous reply. The Advisory Board desire to give every member an opportunity of subscribing to a special fund, to be devoted to the expenses of members of our Union speaking en our behalf. We believe that we have many who are able and are prepared to help us ou the platform, but we must have a fund for expensef- 1 shall be glad to receive, persoi illy, either from branches or individuals, any sum (large or small) they wish to ; subscribe for this purpose, to be placed to a special fund. The Advisory Board will then be in a position to direct the campaign.