THE FARM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 86, 4 January 1908, Page 3

THE FARM INDUSTRY.

'k PAGE rOU THE MAN ON. THE LAND.

: IN QUARANTINE.

_ ...... : THE PLEASURES OF FRUIT-PICKING j

- t THE STOCK ON SO AMES ISLAND. Soames Island carries a good numbor ;oi .pure-bred stock at' the present- time waiting a health clearance to the farms of their purchasers. . Particulars are appended •— MESSES. MUERAY ROBERTS AND CO., : agents: '■ 'Mr.-Ernest Short,Manawatu.—One shearling Romney ram, winner at-the last English Royal .show. One'bobtail sheep dog.' • • Messrs.. Chambers Bros., Kiwitea, Hawke's Bay.—One Hereford bull. B.yelands sheep: ; io ewes, 2( Tarns, and' one 'ram lamb. South 'Deron sheep;2B'ewes,'2 ram lambs, and.one two-tooth ram.- Romney sheep:'S rams, one ram lamb, and 5 ewes. . • LOAN' AND MERCANTILE 'AGENCY CO., AGENTS. '■Mr. .Charles Elgar, Featherston.—One four-tooth Romney ram. ' ' , . Mr. ■ W. G. Stend, .Kereru,; Hawke's Bay. —One-four-tooth Romney ram. • ''. Messrs. J. ! and T. Bowen, Palmerston \^6rth.—One Romney ram. MESSRS. DALGETY AND C 0.,. AGENTS. ; Messrs. Slack Bros.,'.Palmerston' North.— Two Black Sussex sows. One , Border i Leicester'ram. ' .

WORK FOR BOYS AND WOMEN. ; . ' : GIRL ORCHARDISTS. . ■ It' -is reported:' by :an .-' exchange that ■ Messrs'! Kirkpatrick- and f -Company,'-, tb©- • •.Nelson * jam - makers, ,advertised lately for forty ; girls. 'arid' twenty. boys to " work in their factory, and for a number of women to pick .fruit. The women were offered 20s. a'week/ Neither of the group' of vacancies" was -completely filled, and the firm is said to be Buffering,; in-common with ■ .other people, from the', scarcity of'-.labour; At" the Friniley.. Orchard.'similar- difficulty is reported. . .'Can: it. be; really possible . that there-are; some "New Zealand..boys," girls, . or. women •who 'would refuse a chance,;, to work—and eai,t—in an .orchard, , or. to make-' jam. in. a ' factory, ..orCtoV bqttle^poaches? '.AVe .think our contemporary must be mistaken, or that the owners of.' th'p delicious establishments referred to' did ; hot ,make their invitation known widely, enough. Wfe.do not .remember to' have sefin.»the . advertisements , in. - The Dominion.. But : now that our. thousands ■of boy,' girl, and Womin - readers who love fruit have become fijlly ; alive to . .the splendid opportunity: that .is.-open . before- them,.;m, Hastings' arid, Nelson', -we expect to 'hoar, of ,a tremendous rush upon. those., establishments ■and .'the engagement ofextra'clerks to. acknowledge the surplus. applications. There may be unpleasantnesses .about some other branches of .farming, but there: ar.e none about" orchard. ; work. Doubtless these; firms grew strawberries i last, month.; chance for., a- hungry boy! • Strawberry pickers are'never forbidden to -. cat all they can swallow., The old rule, " Thou shalt not muzzle the os' that tr'eadeth! out -the corn,' , applies to strawbe'iry -pickers. The .rule, .is Thou , snalt not make ~tho . strawberry pickers whistle street tunes while ttiey work. . The usual course is to turn the (■ rascals straight into an old; strawberry.-bed with- directions, .to /eat ...all they can stomach, tho expectation being that t-noy will surfeit .themselves, in one-feed.. ,Yet forty girls,- ! twenty boys,' and some women were applied ■ for in vain! 'When we were boys nothing, •picsised us better than to be perched in the top of a-big. 1 pear, tree filling a satchel 'with the fruit, or .to strip tho plums by doublehandfuls from well-covered trees; or to; bo | arranging peaches in-layers according to size in noat;shallow-' boxes;.:never, forgetting, to. oat,- the occasional bruised ones. Fruit-grow-ing, to us, wasValways a, : picnic from begin-: ning to * snd. , is roorovto* tho* 'point for. parents :: to work gives the youngsters .an insight into an'industry - .which ' is' pleasant,'■ immensely ■ healthy; and bul-Sting with money.. Earonts may well encourage in' the .minds of/their daughters a desiro to become orchardists. ' The work is lucrative:'- it' will;' yield' anything from £«0 to £250 per acre. Tt is; easy: tho'.'most'im-*. portant'work is'done with',the head, and—-a; small .pair of nickel-plated. pruning shears.; 'It- is- artistic: there'! is no . branch of- _the: farming business: that gives anything - like such * scopo for', the exercise of , good taste jas • does the growing-' and marketing of - fruit. It-is pleasant:- it'is a holiclay all the .year round.- And it -is a-business that costs ,very little .money : to, start; In a- nutshell,- tho. operations consist, of- tho .following:—Purchase' of laiid .(or..lease', with, a purchaso : right); draining of land, /at a small (cost, by a contractor, 'by means-of a drain plough, .to a depth of 3ft.-,or,moro; if the.soil is-not too stumpy or stony ; and;ploughing-of lahd ■to a depth 'of 18in.-by a subsoil plough. -These operations all havo to ho done by. hired men. - The' subsequent work of- planting; ' pruning, spraying,-' nailing 1 together of 'fruit cases, gathering of:?fruit,' .and.' .conveying Ho. the station,; can, be done by :the girls,' and possibly also the'summer cultivation. If not, the annual tillage of the .orchard soil-can bo bone cheaply by hire.! ' Beyond this thero aro : no heavy operations- that a girl: need shrink 'from. If things .'are,'all well'and correctly done, she will certainly ' enjoy, the heavy * operation of (jashing the cheque.

THE SCARCITY OF LABOUR.

HAWERA' FARMER'S BITTER, PROTEST. The Hawera -branch of the Farmers' Union has accepted 1 with regret (says the " Farmers Weekly") the resignation of its president, Mr. Davidson,-and as two gentlemen, who 'were proposed-to fill-the vacancy, declined the : proffered-honour, the,election_of .a .now president has been : held . over. Meanwhile, the : following letter, received by the-branch from Mr. ,J. Druce,-of .Hawera, lias been : made public■ • , •' : "Unlbss the Farmers' linion can; do something practical for the farmers, it -might, as well not exist. . It has made' no effort, U stem the advancing tide of Socialism which ii having-a-: deleterious effect on- t-bis country Complaints are - colming • from farmers aju employers of .unskilled, labour, all over . tht country about the scarcity of suitable labour notwithstanding the servants-in' any avenue of employment.are paid higher wages; thai ' in' anv.other part of the. world. Millions ol ' pounds are . lost, every- year in New Zealanc because people have to do whait they car themselves and'let'the rest spoil on accounl of-the labour trouble. Tho 'Government ar< mainly to blame for - encouraging _ Socialism and they are against an immigration schemi for fear of, losing the' Socialists' rote.'Twelvi -million people-are-on the vergo. of starva tion in the.Old Country ■ because they, can •not' get work. Jlariy of'thess would wil : iingly work if they could get half a c'nanie •If .the Farraors' "Union cannot;. _ force ■' th< ' Governments - -hands to 'an immigrate ' scheme';, the' Union should consider the ad 'visability of-importations of. unskilled, labou on its own account; or do their: duty at'.th npxt election and -chuck'.,fche;,Goreriwien overboard. The colonial servant is gettuy 'spoon-fed and 'spoiled,' and too. independent The" colonial article, 'is -incompetent, unre liable and high-priced; quite the reverse v (he. Old Country. Canada, receives 200,00 'in. immigrants,'every: year.. Could' not Isoi Zealand absorb 10,000;?"

HON. MR. M'NAB AND THE DAIRY: ' ' , SCHOOL. ..

< THE ' CONCILIATION BOARD FIGHT.

KANGITIKEI SHEEPOWiNERS APPROVE. « [by teeegeaph.—own coebespohdent.] . Marton, Friday. , A.thoroughly, representative, meeting-''of . Rangitikei sheepowners was .held at Marton to-day) 'Mr. J. W. Marshall presiding. ■ Among those present were Mr. J. G. Wilson, • (presiucrtt of tho Provincial Executive of the I;armors' Union), Mr.' J. W. Birch' (chairman Marton branch), Mr. R.-K.. Simpson (chairman Rangitikei Council), and Mr. .R. C. Bruce (of Huntorvillo). The mooting was held'to "consider claims made by sheepowners to the Provincial Executive, and to,discuss the Shearers'dispute. Members of the.Press were 'excluded from the, deliberations,' but , brief particulars were given after the meeting. ■ . •Mr. Wilson explained the action taken by the . Provincial .Executive, after 'which the cause which led up to the resolutions', -arrived at on that question ,'waS . discussed. . The following resolutions - -we.ro arrved at:— -.' '* : . Proposed by Mr. Marshall: "That thismeet- ■ ing approves of the action of tlio Executive of the Farmers' "Onion in appointing ,a,'do- - fciuco committee to appear' on- behalf of.'tho sheepowners before the Conciliation > Board, 'and-endorses'its action in declining to bring ' evidonce .before tho Conciliation -Board, and i iri-.stating'its intention to.take ho case -to i' tho'.Arbitration Court." ■- 'Proposed by Mr. Birch: "That-. a' commit- ■ too, consisting• of Messrs. W. Marshall,. H., • Arkwright, R. K. Simpson, W. J. Birch, A. i Cameron, J. Johnston, i J.- M'Grogor, and , Edgar-Galpin,;be appointed tosoloct'witnosi; sos to appear before ■ tho; Arbitration -Court (if:- necessary) and to .go carefully through • tho demands of the shearers, and to forward•'a report; thereon to'tho Provincial Secrotary ,• at as early a date as possiblo." . . Mr. Wilson,, who explained tho attitude oftho Farmers' TJnion, received a hearty vote, ■of tlianks: ' The authorisation form ap--1 pointing Mr. J. C. Cooper to appear on .be-' ! half of tho sheepowners before-the Concilia-' {. tion,Board (if necessary) .and - Arbitrationi Court, was numerously signed: 'i THE MANAWATU MEETING. ' { v ." - 1. An important .meeting will' bo .held; at; f Palmerston North to-day in' connection with i- tho shearers'- domands,: .when -.farmers . for 3- miles around are expected to bo present. •' .While in- Kimboltim ; I was"-' informed i (writes- our Manawatu . correspondent) that : 7 there are scores of sheep farmers in the.back. ; country willing to .como forward and. attend the Court on' January .17 at Palmerston.' ■

MAKING'' FARMERS OF THEM.

' RECEPTION WAITING. It is understood' (says- our Manawatu ,cor-, respondent) .that tho Hon. R. M w W® in Feilding'inspecting the sito under offer lor tho Dairy School, will be--taken in,handJ>y ■Mr. Lethbridge, M-.'V.,...and-, > w,ll have, tho pleasure of enjoying a motor ride through tho district to Apiti. Without any desire. to frighten; him out' of. his trip, it .has to be stated . that, a few of the settlers along th,is road are waiting to discuss light, railway with him! •■ .. ..

. .While -visiting Kimbolton tho-other day/; our Manawatu representative ivas .taken by.; •tho chairman of the School Committee to see tho school garden, where an object- lesson awaits those who 'tako .'an interest in tho. art' of vegetable culture... Tho utmost rogu-, Ja'rity -has marked the designing of-tho garden, and tho plants aro well advanced, in spite'of-tho want of shelter.- The-garden isexposed to tho prevailing wind, but tho pro-' caution has .been taken. to plant- a shelterhedge. This is not yet far advanced. Tho children arc taking a keen interest in raising shelter trees from seed, and from this sourco a good deal of revenue is derived, as tho trees are sold, to farmers in the district. In-a cold climate like that of Kimbolton,- : it;-has'been found -.advisable, when growing-.trees from: seed, to cover tho plot with scrim, which not only' protects tho plants, but retains tho; 'moisture'.- Tho' results; are highly 'satisfactory. ■ y - : '

\ A POPULAR BREED.

\!.'' •• Border.Loicesters are realising great.'prices in, Britain. . At ■the." Lanark' sale a draft;,of; twenty-five:- rams averaged £40 ss. Bd., three .'of'.'the prices being £16.0,, £105, • and £105. Tbo ;, Leaston • draft, of thirty -.averaged £35 18s;. 2d., : one'.of- these . being..the-ram Messrs; Little Bros.', .of Nga'para, Oamaru, -purchased "at 280, . guineas., .

' TELEPHONE FOR KIWITEA.

:*Tho"settlors'"in'' the Kiwitea 'district' are 'nioviiig (Writes our'&fariawatu correspondent) in- the direction .of having,. ?, tolopfjou© • exchange installed at.lKiwitcal'qst.Office:.. .

ECC-UAYINC' •'

' ' (B'Y TELEGRAPH—MESS ,ASSOCIATION) • Blenhoim,' January i?. •At the .•'Blenheim • -egg-laying competition the'wceVs tot's,l was 1904, and.the total to date,66,701.'■ The highest for the week were: —Edelston,-white leghorns, 34; Shaw,, white leghorns,- 32;•'• Scott/ ;white leghorns, 31 Adams, white leghorns, 30. The- highest to date; are:—Law, white;.leghorn, '901"; Treichart, -white leghorns,. 893;; Silcoek, - white leghorns, 803' Brown, white leghorn, "882 Edelston,' white leghorn, 881; .Hawk, white leghorn,- 88V. ■' The monthly results '.are:-r-December—Pen • 60, Scott, • white '' leghorn, .1<IS; pen 25, M. -Shaw,-white .leghorn,. 134;■ pen 96, Gregory, white leghorn, 131; pen Rex Dpdson, white leghorij,'l3o.

| KIM BOLTON'S RAILWAY.

4 A SCHEME AFOOT.. A' great .deal of interest is being taken (\rriUs our. Wairarapa corrosjioivjent) by settlers in the Kiwboltori district over the •prospects of a light railwnv line 'to K.imbolton, aiid. at the present time.-information is/being collected froin'.every'farmer .in; t.ne locality showing the.-amount .of stock and produce sent out ofy or brought into,.the district-.: every year. The return' is' expected to bo complete within a fortnight.

SHEARERS SCARCE. -

■»; FARMERS HELP ONE ANOTHER. Shearing in th 6 back countr,?. (writes our MaiiaTvatu correspondent) is still proceeding, and shearers are difficult to. procure. Small farmers are. combining and assisting each other to shear. In the sheds visited at Kiffibolton yesterday lambs suitable for forwarding to the freezing'works were being shorn, and generally the season in that district'..has proved an admirable one ' tor fattening. .

OUR DIARY. •

• WOOL SALES. Wellington.—Jan. 17, Feb. 21. iQhristchurch. —Jan. 8, Feb. 4. . Auckland.—Jan. 14, Feb. 18. Timani. —Jan. 30, Feb. 27. Napier.—Jan. 14, Feb. 19. Gisborne, —Feb. 20. Irirercargill.—Jail. 27, Feb, 11. ,'Biinedin— Jan..23, Feb. 14, March 0.. ' -p'-; •• SHOWS., ' '■Jail.: 16.—Taranaki A. and P. riding con--■/tests, New Plymouth. Jan..-25, 26: —Wairoa. ' ' ; Feb'. 4, s.—Feilding. Feb. 1 18, ,19.—Masterton. Feb;: 26.—Woodville. 4 March 4, s.—Waikato Central (Cambridge). March 25, 26.—Horowhenua (Horticultural), . Otaki. •'April- 18;—Ha'wke's Bay A. and P. April.—Taieri.