FARMING NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 282, 12 March 1941, Page 2

FARMING NOTES

SERPENTINE SUPER

TOO EARLY TO JUDGE VALUE EXPERIMENTS IN WANGANUI Experiments, in the Wanganui district have not. yet revealed any significant differences in the effect of silico or serpentine super on pastures and crops compared with superphosphate, according to the instructor to the Department of Agriculture in Wanganui, Mr A. R. Dingwall. Experimental Crop Mr Dingwall, who is conducting the experiments, said that it was too soon to judge on the pasture trials, but the experimental wheat crop had been harvested and there did not seem to be any difference between the two fertilisers. However, it would not be possible to judge until threshing results were known. Even if the silico was only good as superphosphate the result would be considered worthwhile, although it was hoped that the serpentine would be the more effective, he said. Two crops of swedes had been laid down for tests, but it was too soon to judge the result, and no difference could be seen yet from field observations on crops of chou moellier. Topdressing Trials Further pasture topdressing trials will be made in the Wanganui district in the autumn, Mr Dingwall said, adding that there were only two experimental pastures in the district at present. Results from other districts had not yet been compiled, but he dor.stood that there were about 200 different experimental plots altogether. Mr Dingwall said he has sufficient silico super on hand for two years' experiments on the scale on which he has begun. No Acute Shortage

. Asked whether he thought that the destruction of plant for handling rock phosphate at Nauru Island would be likely to cause the Government to take steps to speed up production of silico super, Mr Dingwall said that although heavy seasonal orders of superphosphate were being handled there was not, in his opinion, any danger of an acute shortage, although later on there might be some delay in the arrival of island supplies because of the interference to working through the damaged plant. Auckland fertiliser works were still- turning out quantities of silico super, he understood.

SHEEP REMOVED

100,000 WERE EVALUATED MOVED FROM RISK AREA The United Kingdom, exclusive of Eire, pastures about 26,300,000 sheep. Considerable numbers of these were located in the coastal districts menaced by enemy a,ir forces and where the risk of invasion exists. Some time ago, under official orders, 100,000 sheep were evacuated from southern counties to inland districts, the Government paying for their agistment. Subsequently, because of the increased danger, numbers of farmers in the risk areas made private arrangements for the transfer of their flocks to safer localities. The stock were transported by rail to the Midlands. . The landholders providing grazing will secure their payment for agistment by being given 50 per cent of the next seas6n's lafnbs. The British Ministry of Agriculture has heartily endorsed this effort of self-help, which could be much more quickly effected than under official arrangements. The stock are a asset from the viewpoint* of wool and

It is of interest to note that, of all the Australian States, only New South Wales carrics more sheep than the United Kingdom. The totals for Australia arc: New South Wales 52 000,000; Queensland 23.500,000; Victoria 19,256.000; South Australia 10,000,000; Western Australia 9,177,000; Tasmania 2,620,000 —total 116,558,000.

HYGIENE IN PIGS

Suipestifer infection continues to be responsible for a considerable mortality in pigs in several districts, states the annual report of the Director of the Livestock Division. It would appear is if the organism became more virulent on some properties, the mortality l rate being so high. Losses in young pigs due to the disease are heavy, but on occasions the mortality in older pigs is quite a feature of an oufc-t break. A higher standard of hygiene in the piggery, including better and cleaner feeding, will assist in preventing outbreaks of the disease. Experiments arc being conducted .by field officers with regard to a ! special treatment of affected pigs. Although only limited trials have * been so far completed, there is some room for optimism. Further trials are being arranged.

SHEEP: MORTALITY IN CANTERBURY

Following the field survey of sheep mortality in Canterbury by veterinarians and agriculturists, it was considered that further progress necessitated intensive investigations on an experimental farm with a bad history, writes the Acting Director of the Animal Research Division in his annual - report. Such a farm has been leased in the Kirwee district as from January 1, 1940, and experiments have been initiated to study all ■ phased of sheep mortality which occurs in the Canterbury district, especially in wet seasons. Special attention is being paid to the effect of parasite control an|l various methods of sheep management and feeding. The role played by parasites must be closely studied, and regular chemical analyses of pasture and supplementary feeds .are being made. The Canterbury Agricultural College is actively collaborating in this work and is especially interesting itself in the digestibility of pasture and supplementary crops grown in Canterbury.

FRUIT WASTAGE

Apples and pears valued at thousands of pounds and paid for by the Australian Commonwealth may 136 allowed to rot on the trees this season. This is a direct result of the decision of the Federal Government to pay compensation for certain varieties of fruit excluded from the Apple and Pear Acquisition Scheme Some of the fruit for which compensation is paid may be used for feeding stock. The original apple and pear acquisition scheme, which has now been replaced, cost the Federal Government £750,(100 in its first year of operation. Some growers were paid large sums for fruit that was never delivered . First payments were made on estimates of production supplied by the growers before their crops were harvested. Officials in Canberra express the opinion that growers should take the first opportunity of replacing uneconomic varieties with fruit more acceptable to the market. This could be done over a"period of two or three years by grafting.