AGRICULTURAL ITEMS

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8062, 23 November 1906, Page 1

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS

Speaking to a Farmers' Weekly representative, Mr A. A. Thornton, the Government Produce Grader, was enthusiastic over the prospects of the dairying industry this season. The quality is increasing, he says, and wi'h the fine rains we have had, there is no doubt that the industry is going to boom this year. In quality there is a noticeable improvement all round. Rnd what were classed as low second grade factorie-flast year are well up to tie standaru this season. The only thing Mr Thornton finds to regret is tha f there is a large increase in milled butter coming to the grading stores ; if the majority of this had been sent in as finest creamery butter, there would have been more monetary value accruing all round. Of late years low temperatures have been advised for churning. Where conditions are right, butter can be churned at 52 to 53 degrees in sum. mer and 54 degrees in the winter. Cream churned at a lower temperature produces butter that requires a minimum amount of washing and one that is firm and verv desirable.

The last two weeks' output of butter from the Auckland district constitutes a record, and amounts to 326 tons, valued at nearly £35,000, When feeding grain of any kind to a flock it should be scattered over quite a 9pace, so as to insure opportunity for all the fowls to get a suitable portion. Fowls are like human beings in many respects; some are hoggish, others ill natured, some domineering and some exceedingly meddlesome. When the allotment of food is spread out in a small space some of the fowla exercise all their undesirable traits to the annoyance of others. When the food is properly distributed these busy bodies have to attend to their eating or lose their chance by running around, and they soon recognise the situation, so that the result is the whole flock can eat their rations in comparative quiet. Reviewing the beginnings of Agricultural Societies in Australia, the "Farmer and Settler" states that the first agricultural society in that part of the world was inaugurated in Tasmania in 1822, its professed objects being the protection of flocks and herds from the depredations of thieves and irresponsible nomads, and (so it is quaintly reported in the newspapeti of the period) for .the encouragement of better moral habits among the population. A few months later the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales was formed, and at the first anniversary dinner held during the following year (on July 3rd, 1823) specimens of hemp and New Zealand flax were exhibited.