FARM AND GARDEN

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15864, 8 December 1923, Page 22 (Supplement)

FARM AND GARDEN

AGasCULTUrfAL EVENTS FOR WEEK ENDSNG DECEMBER 15. , MONDAY. Stock Sale at Cambridge. Slock Sale at Ohinewai. TUESDAY. Stock Sale at Hamilton. WEDNESDAY. Stock Sale at Hikutaia. Stock Sale at Otorohanga. Stock Sale at Matamata. THURSDAY. Stock Sale at Tirau. Stock Sale at Morrinsville. Stock Sale at Pio Pio. Stock Sale at Te Awamutu. FRIDAY. Stock Sale at Ngaruawahia. A. AND P. SHOW DATES. December 7 and 8. —Auck'and. Feb. 27, 1924, Roforua. NOTICE TO FARMERS. Recognising the Importance of giving the farmer highly scientific advice, we have made arrangements for articles to appear weekly from the pen of a recognised authority on agricultural matters. Farmers are invited to address any queries on farming matters to "Practical," care of Waikato Times, and they will be answered in the succeeding week's issue. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENT. (By "Practical.") 11. Last week I dealt with the need for research and experimentation in New Zealand along sound lines. Work of this nature is essential if New Zealand is to keep pace with the more progressive countries of the world, and not merely to trail behind thorn. It was indicated that the scope was wide for those who were able and willing to undertake research and experiment. I would like to point to a few other directions in which there is a field for the research worker and the experimentalist. Cultivation Methods. ; The cultivation methods for pasture ' and cropping need testing experimentally. Labour is an expensive item these days, and old methods need investigation in the light of modern conditions. We have such a diversity of soils, that each requires its own treatment as regards cultivation. Waste Lands. The gum lands, pumice areas, "tarry" limestone soils and the PaJiihi lands of ihe West Coast needj more extensive investigation, because'i the time must come when they will be tackled and profitably occupied. Now Is the time to get the information for the guidance of settlers. Already some work has been done experimentally on these areas, and encouraging results gained. Irrigation. New Zealand has its dry belt. This would seem a paradox to most of the North Island settlers, who are accustomed to a copious and well-distribut-ed rainfall. It is true, however. As one journeys from Dunedin or Palmer 7 ston to Central Otago he is soon convinced of the fact that there is an arid region in this Dominion. Taking the railway from Dunedin through Middlemarch, Alexandra, and on to Cromwell, one is struck by the great extent of good country that is only producing a mite of what it would produce if water were made available. The mica-schist soils of Central Otago have been shown 'to answer every test as to their potential fertility. Chemical analysis 7 made by the chemist of the Department of Agriculture have revealed the fact that these soils are adequately supplied, for instance, with available phosphates—a deficiency in nearly all other New Zealand soils. These soils are fertile, but their pro- ' ductiveness is limited mainly by the ! one great factor, namely, water. ' After inspecting the Ripponvale fruit ' l settlement near Cromwell, and the ( Galloway Government Irrigation Farm, ' In addition to much of the irrigable f country of Central Otago and the Can- J terbury Plains, 1 feel convinced that ! there will be quite a big development \ in irrigation farming in these parts. ' Central Otago has its own peculiar problems in irrigation, and these need ( careful and scientific treatment. The soil, but particularly the sub-soil, is f better suiled lo irrigation than that ? of Yanco, in New South Wales, where | the great Murrumbidgee irrigation ; scheme was first started. At Yanco ; it was found, after many of the sett- . lers had railed, that the subsoil contamed a hard pan of nodular limestone ! which for such crops as lucerne was very detrimental. It prevented root ' penetration, and moreover made drainage extremely difficult. Good drain- c age is essential on irrigated lands. ' From what I could observe on the areas I visited in Central Otago, the ' 6i:bsoil was very free and presented ; no great obstacle to natural under- \ drainage. To-day in New South f Wales we find that the advice based f on careful experimentation conducted , by the Government on its experimen- ' tal areas is the settler's guide, and success is more assured. In Central '. Otago one sens excellent strawberries, apples, apricols, and other fruits ; growing under irrigation. Lucerne ! also is a great success. To the big sheep stations up in "Central" fifty or , a hundred acres of lucerne is a real boon.

The Department of Agriculture is giving quite a lot of time and attention to experimental work. I had the privilege of seeing plans showing two very comprehensive schemes of irrigation. One was for Central Otago and the other for Canterbury. The instructor in agriculture at Dunodin, Mr J! B. Tennant, who lias been in touch with irrigation in Australia (and who is at present "over there"), has charge of the irrigation work of the Department of Agriculture at Galloway, in Central Otago. Ho is enthusiastic, and should blaze (he trail for the future irrigation settler. . Central Otago has already had a romantic history. The evidences arc there to-day of the palmy days of the gold digger. But though the soil has yielded up great wealth already in the form of the precious metal, by means of water it will yield further wealth and the desert should in the future be dotted with oases. The' conquest of arid NewZealand will indeed be a romance, and the central figure—the hero—will be the experimentalist.

Insects and Fungoid Diseases,

Our turnip and swede crops are uncertain 10-day because of the attack of insects and the fungoid diseases. In iact some believe . that the turnip is

threatened with extinction. Lucerm rr"ps on light soils get killed out witl root fungus.' Many similar case: could be cited. Must we give u] growing the crops? Many of th< farmers do. Is it good for the country to give up the fight? Certainly not. Remedies must be found, anc the co-operation of the laboratory worker with the experimenter in the iield is necessary. The Feeding of Stock. With dairy cattle particularly, many problems meet the farmer to-day in the matter of feeding. Pasture alone is not adequate because it does not produce profitably all the year round, Fodder crops must be grown. What crops and what varieties should be grown? In conserving fodder should ensilage, which can be made in spite :jf wet weather, supplement hay? If so, to what extent? Should the soft turnips be dropped altogether because they taint milk when fed to dairy cows? The turnip is an excellent milk producer, and is cheaply grown, where successful, but how can it be ted without bad results to the butter or cheese made from the cream and milk respectively? This needs investigation. Improvement of Crops. Plants can be improved by various methods. There is scope here for the plant breeder to bring about profitable increased yields with crops. I need only mention that Dr. F. W. Hilgondorf," at Lincoln College, has brought about an average increase of six bushels per acre in the wheat known as Hunters, by careful selection and development. Trials we have on hand at Pukckohe show that southern potato seed has given encouraging results so far, when tested against local grown seed. The above-mentioned are a few of the many problems facing us to-day, and the solution of which will mean a big increase in money returns to the New Zealand farmer. In the next article the difficulties and methods of the research worker and the experimentalist will be treated in a general way. AN IMPROVED PLOUGH SKEITH. Recently I attended a demonstration in ploughing at Papakura. The object of (he demonstration was to show an improved method of turning under surface growth. This was accomplished by means of a disc coulter, which cut in on the land side at an acute angle with the level of surface. This enabled the sod to be completely inverted without any trouble. The device is very simple and effective. Farmers will welcome the improved skeith, especially where turf is to be broken, turned down, and rotted for cropping. Also, where surface growth, such as weeds or an aftermath, is to be ploughed down. To illustrate the effectiveness of the improved skeith, it was attached to an Oliver plough with a short up- j right mould-board. With such a | mould-board it is difficult to turn the | sod over.

The invention is the work of a farmer in New Zealand, who has a good deal of rats-tail pasture on his place, and who has invented this device to deal with it. It does deal with it, but its usefulness has proved to be wider than he anticipated. The patent rights have been taken out, so that the new skeith is protected. It should be procurable at about £2 to £3. It can be attached to any plough.

JERSEY TEAM'S RECORD.

FIGURES UNDER S.O. TEST

Brief particulars of the "Alfalfa" 1922-23 S.O. test team of Jerseys, belonging to Mr F. J. Saxby, will be of interest. This team not only led for the Dominion, but established a new single team record for all breeds, on Iwice daily milking, fcr any one season. Six heifers commencing test at the average age of 1 year 358 days averaged 6011 b fat; a 3-year-old produced 7041 b fat, and a 5-year-old produced 8081 b fat, making an average of 64011) fat for Mic eight, including six junior 2-year-olds, three of which started test at 22* months old. A ninth produced 5251 b fat as a junior 3-year-old, and the tenth, starling at 18 months old, looks like finishing at over 4001 b fat. With reference to the six 2-year-olds, their average of 6011 b is equal to ar average of 8761 b fat at maturity on the S.O. basis of qualification, being 240-51 b fat at 2 years and 3501 b fat at maturity. The 2-ycar-olds referred to above include the first four daughters sired by Waipiko Masterpiece 5603, senior herd sire at "Alfalfa." With only his first four daughters old enough to have completed their tests, lie is the only bull in the Dominion that has sired one daughter that has produced 690.161 b fat (equal to 10021 bat maturity) ; two daughters that have averaged 6781 b fat (equal to 9801 b at maturity) ; three daughters that have averaged 6651 b fat (equal to 9701 b at maturity), or four daughters which have averaged 6301 b fat (equal to 9021 bat maturity. One of these heifers.started her test at 1 year 316 days of age, and produced over 6401 b fat. Therefore she is easily the youngest cow to qualify at over 6001 b in New Zealand. Alfalfa Pansy, the iieifer that produced 690.161 b fat, is the leading junior 2-ycar-old of all breeds on twice daily milking. She was milked twice daily until within 20 days of the finish of her test, and was not forced to her full capacity until this stage, when, with a newclass record in view, she was milked Ihree times daily, and given extra feed, with the result that, in* her last 29 days she exceeded her first full month's production by 131 b fat. Two younger daughters of Waipiko Masterpiece, which have recently started their tests, have started off even better than the first four. One in particular, which started at the early age of 20 months, produced over 601 b fat for November, and she will not be two years old until January 3.

It is claimed that the work of the four daughters referred to above is a world's record on twice daily milking for the first four daughters sired by any bull of any breed.

PAIL AND PADDOCK. NORTH V. SOUTH. (By "Bovis.") In the previous article comments were published on the stock appearing at the Manawatu and Canterbury Shows. In reference to the dairy cattle figuring in both of these annual fixtures it may be said that the Ayrshire cattle, at Christchurch never look the same in bloom as those seen at the early North Island shows, yet it is remarkable that a great many of the North Island champions are drawn from Canterbury herds. This year's champion at Palmerslon North —and she was a sheer winiu-r—was tired in Canterbury by Mr C. Morgan Williams, and many other Canterbury-bred Ayrshires have preceded her in winning leading honours. Although perhaps I to Hie casual eye there were not many | outstanding animals in this section at Christchurch, a closer examination re-j vealed that there is more than one; prospective champion coming on, and , higher prices were offered for indivi-j dual animals at Christchurch than! could be secured at Palmerslon North, j In point of numbers, the Ayrshires at ( Palmerslon North more than doubled ; those exhibited at Christchurch, but, had the individual winners met pro-1 bably the South Island would have! come out ahead.

r The reverse was the ease with the d Jersey breed. North Island-bred Jerseys were very strongly in evidence, and outside the champion bull, bred in Canterbury from Mr 11. E. 15. Watson's noted strains, practically the 3 whole of the winners were North r Island-bred. If the winners in their " respective sections were to meet, 1 there would not be much hesitation in " arriving at a decision in favour of the s North. Taranaki-bred cattle were f strongly in evidence in the winning list 1 at Christchurch. A Manawatu cow ' was champion, however, and it, is ; noteworthy that the winning yearling L bull at Christchurch was out of the " champion cow at Pahnerston North. 1 Some rather extraordinary statements were made in the Canterbury papers • as to whether or not Jerseys were > capable of withstanding the Cantcr--1 bury climate. Jerseys have been ! bred in New Zealand now for more than half a century, and have long 1 since become acclimatised to all the rigors and variations of climate slock is called upon to exist under in the Dominion. The New Zealand Jersey of to-day is a larger and more robust type of animal than the early imported Jerseys brought from Jersey Island itself.' It was rather remarkable to note that at Christchurch four of the winners wen 1 selected in the North Island from various herds by Ihe one breeder, Mr 11. K. B. Watson. This successful student and authority on the Jersey has recently agreed to again art as honorary official demonstrator for the Dominion for the Jersey Breeders' Society. In this position Mr Watson is able to do very valuable work. The Red Polls. Interest in the Red Polled breed is growing, and there were 24 entries at Palmerston North and 16 at Christchurch. A point of interest in connection with the display at Palmerslon North was the fact that the championship for bulls was awarded to the recently imported bull, Gresham Masterful. This is an exceptionally well j formed bull, showing great charac-1 ter, and from his conformation should ! leave producers. This was the first j appearance of this 18-months-old sire ' in a New Zealand show ring, and his type and the fact that he carried off the leading honours indicate that the money invested by the State in his j purchase was invested to the best ad- j vantage. If Sir R. Heaton Rhodes is \ able to send forward to the Royal j Show a full representation of his herd i there should be a most interesting display made at Palmerston North next year. There were a large number of Fricsian cattle at both shows. The type! at Palmerston North is more towards, the special purpose dairy standard,! and under a judge of the present-day school the Manawatu winners would j defeat practically the whole of the j Canterbury representatives. In fact,j in quality the Canterbury display wasi not up to its usual standard, but during the past year some very fine animals have left these herds for South' Australia. In this connection it is I interesting to note that a Victorian: breeder is claiming to have beaten the : best performance of New Zealand with; one of his Friesian cows. This cow, bred in Now Zealand by the way, has' produced 11611 b of milk in 24 hours/; but instead of that beating the New j ] Zealand record by ljlb, as is claimed/; New Zealand's best is far and away'. ahead. This performance, a produc-j, Hon of 1321 b of milk in 24 hours, is,] to Hie credit of a Taranaki-bred Frie-jj sian. The Victorian cow was bred _ by the New Zealand Government, br-jj ing a daughter of their noted sire,! j Woodcrest Joe. The Friesian breed ' is making great progress in Australia,;,, and the majority of the cattle sent ; from New Zealand to that pari arc i

giving a splendid account of themselves. That the future of the breed in New Zealand is assured is the confident opinion of many authorities on dairy cattle. This opinion is also emphasised in the amount of capital recently invested in imported outstanding animals from America, the State being amongst those to invest. Their bull, whose dam in America produced over 80011) of butterfat, recently came out of quarantine, but at the present time few breeders have had an opportunity to inspect him. lie is, however, closely related to two of the greatest American champion cows, so should be of great value to the breed in New Zealand. To-day a comparison between the Friesians of the North and the South could hardly be made unless a visit was paid to the Southern, Waikato, and the principal Taranaki shows, for it is in these dairying districts that the breed is now seen at its best. Surprise is often expressed that Guernsey cattle have not taken on in New Zealand. In America this is one of the foremost breeds. Guernsey cattle are excellent testers, and they are heavier milkers than the Jerseys. A number of Guernseys as usual appeared at Christchurch, but it, is not possible for them to make headway unless the system of semiofficial "testing is availed of to illustrate to New Zealand dairymen their ability as producers. At one time the Guernseys held the world's butterfat record, and quite a number of cows of this breed in America have produced more than 10001 b of butterfat in the year.

IMPROVING DOMINION'S STOCK.

TARANAKI'S CONTRIBUTION

The present position of the dairy industry in the Dominion —its domination as an earning power—owes a great deal to the specialisation in that system of farming by the main body of settlers in the Taranaki province. In the "cow" province, the dairy animal has been bred to an exceptionally high standard, and for many years now

it has been possible for other provinces to draw upon Taranaki for foundation stock both for pedigree and grade herds. There are many wonderful dairy herds in the province. This is due to" the long years of experience (and experience, is the great teacher) that the dairymen of the province have had, and to their consistent use of pedigree and butterfat sires. The position is well exemplified to-day in the knowledge that both the champion butterfat cows of the Dominion, the great Friesian cow, Alcartra Clothilde Pietje, 11451 b of butterfat, and the now famous Jersey cow. Pretty's Flirt, 10101 b of butterfat, were bred in Taranaki. Or further than that, I it could be pointed c#ut that the re- ! cently deposed champion Jersey cow, Sultan's Daisy, 9681 b of butterfat, as well as the great majority of the 8001 b and 7001 b cows of that breed, were bred in Taranaki. Similarly, the great bulk of the 8001 b and 0001 b Friesian cows are cither Taranakiowned or by Taranaki sires. Further illustrations of the wonderful standard of Taranaki dairy cattle have just been witnessed in the two great dairy j shows held at Ilawera and Stratford.; At Hie latter show, completed last j week, in the dairy cattle classes there was the great total of 530 entries. In; one class no less than 34 heifers] came before the judge of Jerseys, Mr j W. H. Booth, of Middle Run, Carterton, and many other classes had more j than twenty animals forward. The j judging was a whole-day business, lasting from shortly after 9 o'clock in Ihe morning unt.il 6 in the evening.

The Friesian judge, Mr C. B. Robertson, of Wellington, had a formidable task in his adult classes, having two j rings of cows such as has never be-' fore been brought together in part of the Southern Hemisphere. Twelve of the females alone had butterfat records averaging 7501 b. ..Yni'ong these were many heifers, and two cows which had both produced over 10001 bof butterfat. No less than six of these animals received certificates from the judge in the ring, but it was fully one and a half hours before the linal verdict was given. The Eternal Question. The judging question is an eternal one, and the reversing of decisions J within a week is naturally the cause of much heartburning. There is gen-1 orally room for a difference of opinion, and this is the more apparent when the standard is high, as it was at the j recent Taranaki shows. The ambition of the breeder is lo produce an ani- j mal combining beauty of form with all Ihe outward appearances of constitution and heavy production. As j yet the perfect animal has not been | evolved, nor ye I the near perfect, j Some animals are endowed with beauty of form In a remarkable degree. Their| appearand' at once claims the alien- ] limi of Hie connoisseur of beauty.| Other animals have the evidences of! great constitution and capacity remarkably developed. In the showring the judge must weigh the one: with Ihe other, and it is only through long experience with the best thai he becomes capable of giving a decision | that will bold water. His decision given, the ring-siders are immediately critical. The one section favours j beauty of form or breed type. These \ are the "type" men. The others; favour those animals lacking finish or quality, but showing all the outward! evidences of Hie heavy producer. This ; class of animal comes under the definition of "dairy" type. The judge], ;iims to place the animals not according to the standard of either group, but in accordance with an ideal he carries in Ids mind, in which is combined in the highest degree the quali- ' '.ies of both type and production. The [ lairy cow is, however, essentially a ' itility animal, and lo continue success'ul as a breeder, the only firm foundition is that of constitution and per- , "ormanee. A cow may be sweetly L )retty, but if she cannot maintain herself in good health and return to her , iwner a good profit over and above ler keep, she can only be regarded as t robber cow, a term which is entirely r ■orrect. It can be readily seen, then, } ' bat a conscientious judge" faced with v ings of high-class animals has a most ;ifllcult task, and invariably a thankess one.

Royal Show Judges.

Who will judge at the Royal Show is a question already filling the minds of breeders. The general opinion is that, where possible, the judges for the "Royal" should be drawn from outside the country. Among the dairy breeds, there are several men in Victoria whose appearance in a New Zealand show-ring- would be welcomed by Ayrshire breeders, and Milking Shorthorn men would undoubtedly welcome the great Australian breeder of the "Media's." The Jersey and Friesian breeders are not so fortunate. V, is even suggested that some leading American judges-fur in that country judging has become an art—should be brought lo the Dominion to officiate. The Royal Show will certainly provide a remarkable display of dairy cattle, and no effort roust be spared on the part of Hie authorities to bring forward adjudicators of ripe experience.

Among the Winners.

At a Taranaki show the Jersey breed provides an exhibition that is not rivalled outside of that province, although in the Auckland province the standard is rapidly being raised. The Royal Show should, however, settle differences of opinion in that regard' because at the first "Royal" every province is bound to make a special effort to lie, represented by its best Among the Jerseys at Stratford two new champions appeared. The champion cow, Mr 11. Stonnex's Rewa Maize, showed beautiful type. This high-priced cow was bred in the Wairarapa, being by Ironmaster of Meadowbrook, a Watson bred sire. Reserve to her was Mr 11. B. Lepper's noted producer, Elf's Beauty. Bred from famous old Taranaki strains, this is the province's second heaviest Jersey butterfat producer, she having a record of 800-Mb of butterfat. Among the males, the champion was Mr A. Uhlcnburg's 5-year-old, Leighurst's General. Bred in Taranaki by Mr \v V Darkness, this bull is the son of a former Stratford champion in the Jersey Island bred sire, Rozel's Sultan He was typical of the breed. As at former shows this year, the youngerclasses were notable for the consistency with which the progeny of Mr R. L. Horn's sire, Owler of Puketapu, appeared in the prize list, and at the end of the day the Manawatu breeder was declared to have won, for the second time, the cup valued at lOOgns for most points. Mr Horn won no less than four of the heifer classes, was first, second and third in yearling heifers in a class of 34. It was a remarkable evidence of consistent breeding, all three being by the one sire.

An Innovation

A successful innovation at the Taranaki shows in the adoption of an American practice of awarding senior and junior championships in each section might be adopted by other societies who enjoy competition on an extensive scale. The system is to

award junior championships and reserves to both the best bulls and heifers competing in the 2-year-old classes, and in the younger classes. Similarly, senior championships and reserves arc awarded each for males and females in the older classes. All the champions, both seniors and juniors, then meet and the grand championship is awarded. Invariably the senior champions will win, but the system is an excellent one, as the best youngsters are brought into prominence. Other excellent classes were for breeders' groups, a bull and thvee females over two years of age, and the junior group of a bull and three heifers, all yearlings. Friesian One Thousand Pounders. In connection with the great parade of competing dairy animals at Stratford, an* interesting item was Ihe announcing, per megaphone, of the breed, name and owner's name of each champion animal as it passed in procession before the grandstand. There were also paraded three Friesian cows whose records averaged over 10001 b of butterfat, the performance of each being retailed over the megaphone also. Included were the two heaviest producing cows of all breeds in New Zealand, Alcartra Clothilde Pietje, 11451 b of butterfat, bred in Taranaki by Mr Newton King, and Hilda Minto Dc Kol, 10461 bof butterfat. The latter Canadian-bred cow made her record at Whangarei, North Auckland, and was in Taranaki for the purpose of being mated with a son of the former mentioned champion. The appearance of such wonderful cows, although both are now well up in years, created much enthusiasm. In addition to these champions, other great Friesian producers competing included the notable young cows, Jessie Monona Johanna of Oakview and Coldstream Pontiac Wayne, which, when tested as junior two-year-olds, produced respectively 7271 b and 7141 b of butterfat; the imported cow, Queen of Canada, 8491 b, the Taranaki-bred cows Pontiac Princess 8311 b and Knownot Pride 7001 b, the Manawatu cow Dominion Queen Elizabeth 7111 b of butlerfat in 265 days, and many others of ilmost equal notoriety. The judge dated that the display easily provided he best ring of mature cows ever irougbt together in New Zealand, and herefore in Australasia. The chamlionsbip, after most careful consideraion, was awarded to the young cow. lessie Monona Johanna of Oakview, ired and owned by the Manawatu ireeder, Mr 11. R. Green. The reserve champion was Mr V. Marx's iged cow, Alcartra Clothilde Pietje. soth cows had previously won many diampionships, including on separate j iceasions the North Island champion- j hips, so that it was a case of age iiiccumbing to youth. The Taranaki•red sires triumphed in Hie contest for nale championship, Mr J. O'Shea's 3-ear-old Galatea Rozinc Segis winning he senior and grand championships, nd .Messrs G. A. Marchant and Sons' 'oplarvale Galatea King the reserve. Soth these bulls arc of similar breedrig, and Ihe dams of each are great iroducers. The junior championship vas awarded to Mr 11. R. Green's 2-ear-old Woodcrest Posch of Oakview, nother sire of great butterfat breeding. Two classes that provided magillcent displays in this section were hose of a pair of cows, and the recders' group, consisting of a bull nd three females. Six magnificent roups appeared in the latter class. ;oth classes were won by the Mana,'atu breeder, who also scored by a irge margin the 100-guinea cup for lost points. The display of Friesian attic was a remarkable one. Two f the competing breeders bad teams f 24 head apiece entered, which peaks for itself as far as the quality f the Dominion's herds are concerned. n examination of these cattle gave luse also for thought as to what is ie ideal environment for Friesians. he Taranaki cattle have not the same )bust appearance as those reared on eavier soils, but they undoubtedly *e producers, a fact which is emlasised by the knowdedge that a aranaki-bred Friesian is the leading dfer in the £SOO Derby contest, Inch is decided on production alone.

Further Importations Arriving.

There are in the Dominion many men of progressive ideas who are anxious to assist the stock-breeders of the Dominion to improve upon the existing standards of our breeds. To raise the standard to-day of many of our breeds requires not only fche great skill which a good proportion of our breeders have proved themselves to be possessed of, but we want also an infusion into our herds and flocks of the blood of the best strains other countries have developed. The action of the shipping companies in granting free freight from Britain on cattle, sheep and pigs has stimulated a keen desire to import both male and female slock, and to such an extent has the movement grown that some apprehension was being fell, that, importing would bo overdone. This uneasiness will now disappear because the authorities have found it necessary in Brilain to prohibit the movement of stock owng to Ihe prevalence of foot and mouth disease. This prohibition may last indefinitely. [fc cannot be overemphasised that only the best is needed in this country. The average animal will not bring about improvement in our stock, therefore, if importing is to be resorted to, the best must be secured, and that class not only costs money but is worth it. The Old Country can send us stock we need, but to secure it we must pay the price, because the best is needed just as much in the Northern Hemisphere. The following extract, taken from an article by the agricultural correspondent of the Yorkshire Post (August 21, 1923) bears this out:—"While it is true that our llocks and herds are many of them the finest in the world, and to which the world resorts periodically for the improvement of its inferior strains, it is also true that our pedigree stock is in a minority considered in relation to the whole, and that far 100 much of that whole is sadly inferior. The general standard of breeding in this country is seen not at shows where a selected few of the best are or view, but at the live stock marts, and here it is undeniable that ' the average of merit—or demerit ■ ' leaves much to be desired. In other ' words, the popular phrase about our being the 'stud farm of the world' is ' only half a truth; the world sees only our best-—the worst would be scorned 1 in any company." Of the stock lately imported we certainly are getting l what is required. Such high-class ' animals as some of the recently im- i ported Clydesdales for the South t Island, the Scotch Shorthorns for i Bushey Park, Otago, now in quaran- f tine, and the shipment of Southdown ] rams made by Messrs Slack Bros., and I just released from quarantine, are right up to the highest standard.' But ] these animals were not only selected with extreme care, but the prices paid i have probably never been exceeded in i this country before. Such enter- • prise is not only a credit to the coun- ! try, but will bring the owners a just reward.