GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 813, 10 May 1910, Page 10

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

A meeting of dairy farmers was held at Clive, Hawke's Bay, on Thursday to discuss a proposal that the Herctaunga Co-operative. Factory should be requested to erect a creamery in the district. Eventually it was decided to take, steps to .erect an independent butter factory.

The Waipukurau County Ploughing Match Club held its first meeting last week, the two principal events resulting .as follow,: —Class A: Double-furrow ploughs, no cut, cast shares, only skeiths allowed, four entries—E. Meyers (J. A. M'Leod's team), 1. Class B: Doublefurrow ploughs, no cut, cast shares, only skeiths allowed, for competitors who . have never won' an advertised prize, eleven entries.—A. M'Kay (Mrs. Houston's team), 1. ,

At Hawora two men have achieved a refcord in milking. By the use of patent milking machines they put through 120 cows in 120 minutes. They i were timed by Mr. Greville, of "Tho Dairyman."

Wool-classing has received so little support in P&tea this year that tho class has been abandoned for a time.

One hundred acres of Mr. Maurice Mason's Riverslea property, situated on tho eastern side of St. .George's Road, Hastings, has been sold privately to Mr. E. Trou'tbeck at. £80 per acre. Mr. Troutbcck will probaljly timid there,

Mr. A. Macpherson, supervisor of field experiments, South Island, has (says the Christchurch "Press") been appointed to supervise the exhibits of the Department of Agriculture at the various winter shows throughout the Dominion, commencing with- the' Dunedin winter show on June 1. In the meantimo, Mr. Macpherson. is visiting the different experiment stations and selecting exhibits, and i,s-;arranging for oxhibits from the. various divisions of tho Department. - ' , '

At tho Taranaki winter show there will be an area ten thousand- square feet under cover, and, in addition, fourteen thousand square feet will be enclosed in marquees, tents for working exhibits, side shows, and other displays. The; whole show.. will cover an area of nearly .three-quarters of an acre.

A resident of Oamaru has been experimenting in the cultivation of potatoes, grown from the seed of the potato apple. From two shaws—which were of abnormal growth—measuring over three feet in height, over 170 potatoes were obtained, a large proportion of those being fit for seed. Ho intends planting these out this coming season, and will by this means most probably obtain a new variety.

Under the subject of i noxious weeds, field daisios were particularly mentioned at the Oroua County Council on Friday. One councillor thought it would be fatal to some landholders to compel them to eradicate all the daisies on their farms, as these weeds were so well established. Another councillor said he had daisies on his property twenty years ago, but he had no more now than then. He had 'ruthlessly fought the weed all tho time, and had instructed his men never to pass a daisy without pulling it ,up. Now, whilst other firms in the locality were smothored with white flowers in tho' season, the weeds on his property could be gatliered in one hand.

Tho wool class started under tho auspices of the Pahiatua Central Branch of - tho Now Zealand Farmers' Union has proved a great success. Tho membership exceeds forty. Mr. S. Wood, of Napier, is the instructor.

Tho Hawke'a Bay A. and P. Association has passed a resolution urging tho Government to arrange for regular cablo advices as to Argentine and United States meat exports.

Tho Inglewood Bacon Company paid' out £1081 10s. lid. for pork during the month of April.

Rabbit merchants (says the "Southland News") are disappointed at the small quantities coming forward, but are hopeful of an improvement in that direction. Prices at the present time are 6Jd- per pair, with half-prico for undersized ajid rejects. As soon as tho congested state of tho freezing works has boon relieved, merchants purpose raising tho price, which may have tho effect of inducing trappers to forward their catches in preference to skinning;

Lambing has already commenced on Mr. John Britten's .property at Waipawa.

Preparations for the display of tho 'milking machines in. operation during tho National Dairy Show week are being proceeded with at tho show grounds. No. 5. hall has been sot aside for the purpose, and a platform is now being built for tho accommodation of the cows to be milked. It will be J 4ft. deep, 60ft. long, and about 2ft. above tho level of tho ground. Bails will bo fixed up by tho different exhibitors of machines to suit their own convenience. All tho machines will bo driven off one shaft, tho association supplying power, and tho cows will bo milked at regular intervals daily during tho progress of •the sliow. To ensure tho quiet handling of tho cows tlioy will on each occasion bo placed in position before tho public are admitted to tho hall, and will be removed when tho hall is empty. A gallory containing soven or eight tiers of seats will bo built around the platform for spcotators, who will thus .bo afforded a splendid viow of the operations.

Mr. Hudson, Government orchard instructor, of Nelson, will judge the applo exhibits at the National Dairy Show, and Mr. Boucher, Government assistant director of orchards and gardens, will givo an address on apples. Mr. A. G. Palmer, of Masterton, has accepted tho position of judge of tho .horse-jumping events at tho : show.

Tho Ashburton "Guardian" is responsible for tho statement that 700,000 sheep and lambs have beeu slaughtered afc the freezing works in Canterbury during the past six weeks. There are eight freezing works in Canterbury with a killing capacity of 32,500 sheep per day.

Good progress is being made with tho erection of tho South Taranaki Winter Show buildings. About 320 feet of shafting is to be procured for tho "machinery in motion" scction. Applications for space have been received from all parts of tho Dominion. Entries for tho dairy section promise to exceed all expectations, as tney aro now rapidly coming to hand.

The grass grub is doing serious damage in Ashburton county, particularly on light land. Many early sown oat crops will havo to bo resown. A Dromore farmer states that of a 200-acro paddock which was- sown down last season, only about ten acres of tho crop have been left, and since harvest this area of land has been capablo of carrying only about eighty «heep.

Tho directors of tho Rexdale Dairy Company, Limited, Pahiatua, state that tho milk supply is being well maintained, and that they have decided to keep the factory working all through the winter months. A good offer for their winter output has been received, and the matter is now receiving their consideration. The manager states that he is at present making one pound of cheese from eight and a. hall pounds of milk.

Mr. H. Everett, of Riwa,ka, Nelson, has in his 50 acre orchard a row of 50 Rhymer apple trees from which he obtained 1250 cases of frnit this season. Two of the trees produced 91 cases of first-grade fruit. From an Epp's seedling tree, Mr. W. Rowling, sen., of Riwaka, got 53 cases, and five sacks of good apples besides a lot that wore windfalls. '

Fourteen shillings a pound is offered for 31b. of farmers' fresh butter as first prize at tho National Dairy Show, with twenty shillings as second prize, and ten shillings as the third prize. In addition there is a silver challengo cup of 12 guineas, to bo won three times. Tho entry fee is only 2s. for members, and 2s. 6d. for non-members. Tho premiums are tho largest offered in the Dominion, and a big competition is expectcd from all parts. A postcard to tho secretary, Palmerston North, will got you a copy of the prizelist and details about the many other valuable prizes offered to farmers. A tempting offer is held out to collectors of birds' eggs, a special prize of £2 2s. being donated to . the National Dairy Show for tho largest collection of tho following varieties: —Sparrow, thrush, ininah, and blackbirds: Entries close with tho secretary oh Juno 6,1910.

Information has been received by ths Qnccnsland Department of Agriculture to tho offect that potato disease has again made its appearance in ono of tho districts where it was observed last year. A spraying plant has accordingly been sent out, with a view of giving further instruction to tho fanners on the . most effective method of combating tho diseaso.

At the Auckland Winter Show in July three conferences arc to be held. There will bo 'one between the dairy produce judges and the factory managers .and but-ter-makers; a second general one of all persons interested in the dairying industry (which Mr. Cuddie, Dairy Commissioner, is expected to address); and finally a conference of delegates from the A. and I'. Associations in the provinco will be held to discuss matters such as the necessity for more vigorous land settlement, 'tlio' opening up of Native lands, the provision •of country telephones, etc. Tho various associations are.to bo asked to forward remits for discussion.

Among the papers to -be read at the National Dairy Association Conference at the .Winter Show at Palmerston will be ono by Mr. R. Ellison, tho association's London agent. The members of the Managers' Association are understood to be collaborating on a paper, and another, on the judging of dairy cows, will probably be read by a. well-known Manawatu farmer. .

Tho . landowners on a belt of South Australian country, totalling an area of 130,000 acres, were asked by the district council to make a united and systematic attack ou' the rabbit plague. They all agreed to do so for a year. The plan adopted was to dig out the burrows and destroy tho harbours. The result is that the wholo area is now practically free of the pc3t.

Last year the Australian sugar output was short of the local demand, which is approximately 200,000 tons of sugar a year; and it is expected that this amount will bo produced in the season now opening.

Southland oats are famed for their excellence, but one often hears the opinion expressed by visiting agricultural experts (says the "Southland Times") that Southland farmers pay too much attention to oats and neglect wheat. Another idea is that turnips, cocksfoot, and ordin-. ary grass should be more extensively gone in for less grain-growing..

The demand for land in Taranaki appears to bo exceptionally keen. Almost daily settlers from other parts of the Dominion pass through Stratford to inspect the possibilities of the vast hinterland.

Are sheep in Southland being too mu,cb red'ueed? A well-known sheep farmer put this- problem forward on Friday to a representative of tho "Southland Times." His opinion was that there was an unjustified scaro about feed falling short iu the coming winter, and that sheep were accordingly being got rid of on too extensive a scale. Supplies being so numerous had also caused a slight weakening in prices. Ho believed that prices were certain to rise, and that tho farmer who held on to his sheep would find the retention of them profitable in the end. Particulars of tho registrations of dairymen and cows in Queensland since the Dairy Produce Acts came into operation sliow that in the year 1305-0 there were 8053 registrations, the total ' cows being 166,776," of which 107,866 wej-o in milk. In 1909-10 there were 10,275 registrations, totalling 253,291 cows, of which 166,864 were in milk.

"National Provisioner," commenting on the agricultural developments of 1909, says: "A notable feature has been tho utter collapse, in tho supply of swine all over, the world. In bacon-curjng countries, such as Denmark, Canada, and the United States, tho supply is short of the needs of the trado by millions of sw;ine in the aggregate. In the United King-; dom tho shortage is also so great that tho prico has reached a higher figure at the close of 1909 than over before."

Important recommendations' in favour of bettor organisation in tho fruit industry liavo been made by a special cornmitteo of nine set up by the Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association. It is proposed that a canvass be carried out among the growers in Haivlie's Bay to ascertain what support will bo given the proposed co-operative jam factory and cool store for fruit. Tho amalgamation of tho 'Fruitgrowers' Company and the Walthnm Fruit Depot is also recommended, and the committee considers that support should be-given by the association to Mr. Wellwood's cool storage company now in proccss of formation. Finally it is recommended that Messrs. Irvine and Stevenson, ol' Duncdin, be invited to establish a jam factory at Hastings.

COMMERCIAL ITEMS. .the stock exchange. Tli© Wellington Stock Exchange and tlic ofliccs of all the members of the Exchange wero closed yesterday owing to the death of King Edward YII. Tlio Aucklaud Exchange was also closed. N.Z. PRODUCE EXPORTS. In Leaflet No. 87 the Department of Commerce gives the figures for the twelve months to April 30, and these compare as under with those for the previous year:— 1910. 1909. Butter 1,713,751 1,506,203 Cheese ' ... 1,238,621 924,117 Beef 580,578 43d, 657 Mutton 1,032,160 1,196,365 Lees and pieces... 62,516 57,385 Lamb 1,82*,-Jul 1,681,323 Wheat 316.467 3.0C9 Oats 442,951 133,627 Potatoes 3,<05 1,830 Hcinp 416,758 259,660 Rabbits < —.... 64,896 5,117 • Tow 25,299 18,338 Kauri gum 552,13!2 4^0,612 Grain and pulse 86,933 <0,287 Hops 17.982 5,898 Hides 229,034 169,310 Skins 826,221 605,118 Tallow —740,913 529,016 Timber ........ ....... 358,710 370,236 Wool 8,124,930 5,676,677 Gold 2,034,775 1,944,306 £20,709,213 £16,055,491 The total for the past year exhibits an increase of £4,753,722 as compared with the previous year, and it is to this expansion that is mainly duo the dispersal qf the depression. A.M.P. SOCIETY. The business of the Australian Mutual Provident Society continnes to expand. Foi tlio second year in succession the new business exceeds five millions sterling. The number of new 'policies and the new assurance for the past four years show as under: — Policies. Assurances. No. £ 1909- 19,789 5,166,653 1908 19,117 5,042,351 1907 17,797 4,863,553 . 1906 17,122 4,585,436 There is steady growth in tills, but whal perhaps is of greater interest to tlic policyholders is the annual expansion oj the bonus additions. The amount distri buted for oach of tho past four years, to gether with the reversionary bonuses the several amounts represented are shown be low:Bonus. Reversionary. 1909 _... T0.491 1,370,000 1908 732,444 1,300,000 1907 700,812 1,265,0C0 1908 664,692 . 1,200,000 There were on the several registers at the •close of 1909 policies numbering 237,875, and the sum assured totalled £65,750,786, the bonus additions represent £13,304,155, while the annual premiums aggregate £2,136,257, The 6© figures apply to thu ordinary branch only. Tho distribution of this business i£ shown below:— Register. Policies. Sum assured. No. £ s. New South Wales 67,796 19,382,088 1C Victoria — 66,174 16,444,158 C New Zealand ............... 39,193 10,767,995 Id Queensland — 22,063 6,778,943 10 South Australia ......... 20,264 4,990,565 1C West Australia 10,579 jj'SMn }r Tasmania' 8,787 2,498,450 1C London - 3,019 1,513,863 0 237,875 65,750,786 C CUSTOMS REVENUE. Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £1188 3s. lOd. LONDON WOOL SALES. By Teleffraph—Press Association—Copyright London, May 8. At the wool sales there waa brisk business. Tho top price for Tiraumea clip was lid., the average being 9£d. There has been catalogued to date 130,119..ba1e5, the number sold being 121,991. Messrs. Levin and Co., Ltd., have received cable advicefrom their London agent* that'tho following clips liavo been 6old lit the sales now current, on their account the prices named being the average priccE realised for tho fleece wool in oach instance:—Marua, Wanganui, 10 l-16d.; Pine Hill, Wangauui, 9 15-16 d.; JM over WHU ; Mastcrton, 9d.; Weka,' Bulls, 85d.-, Waita tapia, BuHs, 8 3-16 d.; DC over Glendliu East Coast, 9 13-16 d.; Lake Meadows Poatherston, 10 l-16d.; Avondale over M Mastcrton,. 9 13-16 d.; Hillend, Masterton 9 11-16 d.; WH over Pram, Paraparaumu 9d ■ NMK, Masterton, 10Jd.; Ruatca, Alfred ton, 93d.; Glenoids over AW, Carterton 9Jd • XAL, Masterton, 9Sd.; W and T, Mas terton, 10 5-16 d.; W in circle over LW. Waiouru, 9 9-16 d.: Pirinoa, Martinboroush 10 3-16 d.; I-P, Manriceville, BJd.; , Burtor Fields Tenul, 10 7-16 d.; Broadlands, Mana, watu,' lid.; WA (conjoined), over Linton Manawatu, 103 d.; WA (conjoined) over IS Carterton, lid.; Neapopatu, Tenui, 9jd. PRE over T in diamond, Ma-ngaliao, ! 15-16 d.; MB. Paliiatua. 9 9-16 d.; T over I arrow B, Wanganni, 83d.; JOB over Pihsu tea, Featherston, 123 d.; MV (conjoined) ovei BFM, Tonni, 9 11-16 d.

FROZEN MEAT. Hy Tclccraph—Prcas Association—Copyrlcht. [ London, Hay 8. The Frozen Meat Trade Association's Smithficld market quotations for the undermentioned classes of frozen meat aro based on actual sales of not less than ono hundred carcasses of mutton or lamb, and twenty-five Quarters of beef of fair average quality. The quotations aro Dot for selected lines, but for parcels fairly representative of the bulk of the shipments now on the market. The prices which follow aro on an average a farthing per lb. more than the value ex ship, this difference representing an average cost in expenses, handling, conveyance, and selling the meat:— April 30. May 7. Mutton— d. d. Canterbury, light 4 31 Canterbury, medium 33 35 Canterbury, — 3$ Southland — — North Island, best 33 311-16 North Island, ordinary 3g 3 9-16 Australian, light 32 33 Australian, heavy 3 7-16 35 River Plate, light 3§ 31 River Plate, heavy 33 3J Lamb— Cnntorbury, light 53-16 51 Canterbury, medium ....... — — Canterbury, heavy — — Southland 5 51-16 North Island, selected .... 5 5 North Island, ordinary 42 42 Australian, best 42 43 Australian, fair 41 4i Australian, inferior ... — — River Plate — — BeefNew Zealand, ox fores ... 33 33 New Zealand, ox hinds ... 4} 41 Australian, ox fores 33 33 Australian, ox hinds 41 41 River Plate, ox fores 33 33 River Plate, ox hinds ... 41 41 LONDON MARKETS. London, May 8. Rabbits are in fair demand, and prices unchanged. Arrivals include many damaged hides. There is small supply and limited business. ' Nominal quotations are:—Sydney, heavy ox 7d., light oi 6£d., cow 62d. Leather.—None offering. Bamls unchanged. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE. The Commerce Division' of the Department of Agriculture lias received the following "cablegram from the High Commissioner, dated London, May 7:— .Mutton.— I Tiui market is weak, with a poor local demand. Average prices: Canterbury, 32d.; North Island, 3Jd. per lb. Lamb.—The market is firm. Thero is a good demand for all descriptions. Average prices: Canterbury, Sid.; other * New Zealand, sd. per lb. Bnef.—Tho market is firm with improved demand. Stocks of New Zealand -beef on hand are light, and supplies of American chilled are small. Average prices: New Zealand hindquarters, 41d.; forequartera, sgd. per lb. I Butter.—The market is dull with a down* ward tendency, and supplies are increasing. Average prices: New Zealand choicest 1095., Australian 1055., Danish 1175., Siberian 107s. per cv/t. Cheese.—The market is quiet.with a tendency in favour of buyers. Average prices: New Zealand finest white 595., coloured 58s. per cwt. , Hemp.—The market is quiet, but rather steadier. Prices on snot: New Zealand good fair £25', fair £24, Manila fair current £25 per ton. Forward shipment: Good fair £24 10s., fair £23 10s., Manila £24 per ton. Tho week's output at Manila was 28,000 bales. Kauri Gum.—The market is steady and a fair business doing. Stocks on hand 362 tons. Current priccs arc as follow:—Ordinary to fair three-quarter scraped £8 10s.« fair half-scraped £5 2s. 6d., brown pick* ings (common to good) £2 55., bush fair to good pale and amber scraped £8 10s. per cwt. Wheat.*= The market is dull and unsettled. ' Oats—The market is slightly weaker, with less demand. . Peas—Tho market is nraoh weaker, with less demand. . Beans—Tho market is steady and prices well maintained, but buyers aro cautious. Cocksfoot seed.—The market is very dull, and there is scarccly and demand; New Zealand bright clean 171b. Beed, - on spot, averages 60*. pei cwt. Wool.—Tho market remains firm.. LIVE STOCK SALES. Reports of live stock sales'will be fountf on page 9 of this issue. x MINING NEWS. » Mining news will bd found on page 9 of this issue. ___