NOTES AND COMMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20784, 19 April 1939, Page 13

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dealing In Hay In anticipation of a substantial increase in the price of hay during the winter period, some men with an eye to profitable sales have been purchasing fairly large quantities of hay. Sales of baled hay from £5 10s to £6 per ton have been reported in the Waikato, and. if this is the current price level during the autumn, then it can be reasonably expected that winter prices will reach a record level. White Butterfly Prevalent Some disappointment has been felt in the Waikato that the Government's efforts to eliminate the white butterfly pest by the means of parasites have not been very evident in l*.e Waikato this season. The pest has become particularly noticeable in the district during the last month and root crops have suffered severely by its ravages. In view of the threatened shortage of hay and ensilage, the damage of the root crops is more serious than normally would have been the case. Farmers and Wharf Disputes A request to the Government that the farming industry be represented at conferences concerning waterside disputes was authorised at the annual meeting of the Poverty Bay and East Coast Sheepowners’ Union, when it was pointed out that the farming community had to face the increased cost of the waterside workers’ depends and. therefore, should have 3 voice in what they should be paid. Another Disease? It is reported that sheep in the Kai Iwi district (Taranaki; are being affected by blindness which lasts for a period of between six and eight days. A Waitotara County farmer, who reported the trouble, said that breeding ewes were mostly affected, and that the sheep had difficulty in feeding. They were often found at the bottom of gorges and cliffs, having lost their way. Stud Romneys for Windsor In a press message last week it was reported that two stud rams belonging to Mr R. W. Mathews, Waiorongomai, "near Te Aroha,” were to be shipped to England for exhibition at the Centenary Royal Show at Windsor. However, all Romney breeders are acquainted with the fact that Mr Mathews’ stud, probably the most famous IRomney stud in the world, is situated at Waiorongomai, Featherstone. Several in Waikato There are several rams from Mr Mathews’ stud being used in the Waikato. Mr F. C. Johnstone brought one for a high figure this year, while Mr E. H. Wayne is another breeder having rams from Waiorongomai. Mr Mathews has succeeded in producing an ideal, low-set, close-woolled type of Romney and sheep from his stud have been always in keen demand. It will be remembered that when Dr. John Hammond, of the Cambridge school of Agriculture, England, the world's foremost authority on animal nutrition, was in the Dominion last year he selected two of Mr Mathews’ rams to go to one of the most famous studs in England. Aviation and Agriculture Farmers have used aeroplanes for marketing, for sowing and dusting crops, and even for herding cattle. Now the market gardeners of Delano, California, are employing an aeroplane as a flying scarecrow. Despairing of controlling flocks of sparrows which were ravaging their lettuce crop, they recently hired a Delano pilot to roar over the fields for six hou»'s daily. The birds could not stand the racket and went off the lettuce dint. Cow to Bix Persons Allowing standard production over all cows, but making no allowance for milk and cream production on dairy farms, it is estimated that no fewer than 93,000 cows are kept to provide milk and cream for the population of New Zealand. That equals one cow for 18 people. To provide our butter and cheese needs, a further 216,000 cows are required, making a total of 309,000 cows kept for local market needs. That is, approximately one in six of our herd numbers, and each cow serves only six persons of our population. It means, conversely, that the dairy industry is 83 per cent dependent upon export.

Clearance of Bush The demonstration recently given in Westland in the clearing of bush and its subsequent cultivation for farming by the means of modern machinery has created keen interest in other ‘districts in the Dominion where the expense of removing standing bush and preparing the land for farming is too costly and long an

undertaking for the average producer. Representations have been made to the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, to have a similar demonstration at Auckland, but he has stated that he is doubtful if this can be done as it might be difficult to obtain a suitable area near the city.

Powerful Machinery The Minister, in describing the machinery used in the Westland demonstration, stated that the stumppullers and tree-dozers were powerful machines. He described the pushing over of a white pine 3ft in girth during the demonstration. This, he said, surprised many of the spectators, as it was thought that the task was impossible. He explained that if it bad been a green tree the doubts would not have been so great, as the crest of the tree, with its topheavy branches, would have assisted in the fall by upsetting the equilibrium. The tree tackled, however, was dead, with no top-hamper, and when it came down after several thrusts from the machine, the crowd loudly applauded. Sydney Royal Show Though ring events, which included sheep-dog trials, sheaf-tossing, woodchopping and jumping were as popular as ever, there was no lack of people to throng the exhibition halls, to admire Hie Hod Indian village, the placid, well-groomed dairy cal tie, the lioral exhibits, the side-shows, and the dozens of other sights which go to make up tV- show, comments the Sydney Morning Herald in reporting on the Sydney Royal Show. The first heat of the sheep-dog trials, which were included in the show for the first time last year, proved popular

with the spectators. To give a varied and difficult test to the dogs, specially selected shorn wethers were used,

who doubled and broke away whenever the dos allowed them the smallest chance.