FARM AND DAIRY.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8083, 20 December 1906, Page 1

FARM AND DAIRY.

Tbp high value ruling fur cheese is having a very disturbing effect on the dairy iudustry of tlie colony. Ever} factory in Tarauaki his turned Us whole attention to cheese, suppliers have broken away from butter factories to .supply cheese concerns, and in several cases where this has not heeu possible suppliers to creameries have established cheese factories, leaving suppliers of other di - ■tricts to thefacory to bear a heavier burden. Not only this, but several of; he leading fac ories of Tarauaki contemplate converting their bu'ie' - factories into cheese-making concerns. This geueral trend towards cheese would be a sound policy were there auy guarantee that cheese wou'd continue a more valuable commercial commodity thau butter, but it is to be feared that the natural re-ult will come to pass—increased production in all cheese centres, will a consequent fall in values. Late Canadian news to hand tells of greatly increased activity in the cheese business of that country, and that, with butter factories turning to cheese-making, the output next season promises to show an enormous increase. One bad effect of the present unsettled condition of affairs in our butter districts is that butter-making plants are not being maintained at a high state of efficiency, while the bu'.termakiug plants in the dual factories are not being improved by lying idle. Generally the butter industry is receiving a set-back instead of showing a healthy development. Of course all will be well should cheese continue to maintain an even level of values, but past experience does not favour this view.

In connection with its great scheme of rural education, the United States Department of Agriculture has issued many valuable publications, but probably none have been of more utility to the movement than "Agriculture Through the Laboratory and School Garden," by C. B. Jackson. The way in which this work was prepared, says the Sydney Mcrning Herald, is worth mentioning as an example of American thoroughness. After it had been capably written it was exhaustively overhauled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, being submitted in turn to the agrostologist, the physio logist, the entomologist, and so forth. Every point mentioned is carefully illustrated by simple experiments, to be performed by the student. It appears that dry cultures of nitrogen-fixing bacteria are sent out in convenient form, and at very small cost by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An ingenious experiment on geotropism, the tendency of the root to strike downwards under the influence of gravity, is mentioned. The glass front and hands are removed from a cheap alarm clock and a little block of wood fitted to the hour-band spindle. Corn is sown in a light shallow dish attached to the block. The clock is wound up and set in its normal position. The directive action of gravity is neutralised by the revolution of the dish : root and shoot therefore point indifferently in any direction. A useful caution is given anent school gardens:—•' Great care must be exercised by the teacher lest making the garden should become the sole aim instead of the development of the child." An excellent hint for making the schoolroom attractive is the window garden. According to the illustrations given, this means something very different from a few pots on a sill. We are also reminded, very needfally, that " a tree is a precious inheritance from the past, and should be transmitted to posterity with as keen a sense of its article value as though it were a famous picture or statue."