HIGH-PRICED DAIRY STOCK.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 836, 7 June 1910, Page 8

HIGH-PRICED DAIRY STOCK.

, A-STRATFORD PREDICTION. Prices for dairy, stock in this district, says the Stratford "Post," in tho coining spring promise to bo higher than they have been for some years, and already far-seeing dairymen are in the market' for next spring's requirements. •Several dairies havo been sold at ,£lO a head, .and there are numerous inquiries for bona fide herds. Good dairy heifers to calve in the spring are also in keen demand, and sales have been effected at ■£6 10s. Inquiries are coming here from both islands, principally from Hawke's Bay and Canterbury, as, Taranaki heifers have established, a reputation for their milking; qualities. Already three hundred have'been sent from Stratford to a Canterbury, runholder, who is cutting up his 6heep run into milking farms, and putting on sharemilk'ers. If the result is satisfactory he.intends, trebling' the number next season. The fact that this district sent some thousand two-year heifers to Waikato and Tauranga last spring has naturally had the effect of lessening tho available number of calvers for our local dairymen's wants. This rise in price may be a blessing in disguise, as with much higher prices ruling farmers will havo to see that they buy only the best, which, eo far .as dairy stock is concerned, is nlwaya the oheapest, irrespective of price.

The Norsewood Co-operative Dairy Company intend to make largo additions to their assets this -year, as the directors have- decided to put a creamery in the Eakautatahi Block, and also to buy out the Hawke's Bay Company's creamery at Garfield. This means that next season in addition to the main factory at Norsewood, thero. will be four other creameries connected with it.

A good many farmers in the >i\forvcn district, South Canterbury, have been complaining lately raf ' the ravages the grub has been making on the pastures, and quite a large area has been destroyed on some farms which cannot be spared,' especially when there is likely to be such a scarcity of winter feed. The grubs, writes a ...correspondent, ho doubt' will continue to destroy a certain amount of pasture until' the ground receives a good soaking-'of rain, .which- will :bring them to the .surface, and thou. all that is required to "finish them off is a good stiff frost. .

The member for the district is' doing a useful work, says the Taranaki "N,ews," in bringing home to. farmers the seriousness of the position witii which they are faced in regard to the blackberry,■''and in advising remedial measures. The time for maintaining silenca about the menace and discounting its effects "upon certain districts is gone. The time has arrived ,for recognising the seriousness of {In. curst and boldly grappling with it, if that is at all possible.