THE SHOW SEASON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 982, 24 November 1910, Page 8

THE SHOW SEASON.

A TABLE OF DATES. The following is a list of dates of A. land -P. Shows up till February -■ next. (Many South Island shows and some ,in the far north of this island are 1 omit. ,-tcdf-. r •■■■-.' '" November. ' 125-26.—Auckland, at. Epsom. 29-30.—Nelson,v.at Richmond Park;; • 60-Dec. I.—Taranaki, at New Plymouth, December. ■■ v . . ;7-B.—Stratford, at' Stratford. ; January. x2s—Bush Districts, at WoodviUe, 122.—Eketahuna, (Fanners' Union). . February. .. I.—Central Hawke's Bay, at Waipnhurau. 1. Eorowhenua, at Levin. .J-B.—Ffeilding, at Feilding. B.—Dannevirke, at Danuevirke. 10-11.—Pahiatua : Akitio,' at Pahiatua; , .14.35.— Masterton, at Masterton. " .; 16.—Waimaririo A'., 1 P.,.H.,.and 1.-Associa-tion,, at Kaetihi. '

Sbme..time ago the Wanganui Educa--tion' Board brought" under the notice .- of •the Taranaki Executive .of the Farmers" 'TJnion.a scheme for a proposed University .•scholarship for.'boys taking' 4 a secondary I ', agricultural course at district "higtL schools,.- One of the conditions that would-govern/the scholarship was that the students,, after they ; had finished their course, would have to become special instructors. At the last meeting 'of the executive, 1 Mr;' Allhusen' said the Kaponga' "branch would not support the proposal while that condition .. was stipulated. Eventually Mr.'Allhusen moved, That,the j Wanganui Education Board be asked to ! alter the conditions of the agricultural scholarship to the effect that a student winning the scholarship .be offered the position as instructor, but that the acceptance by the student shall be optional. The • motion' was carried. The executive further-' instructed its secretary to ;ad•viso the board v that if. the compulsory acceptance: clause Vbb. retained it might; prevent reasonable support;being accorded to the scheme. In the course of the discussion,' Mt. Hunter -pointed out that .the .board desired, to get'competent instructors to take the various " agricultural classes. 1 Members agreed that this was a laudable object; but thought -it was riot right that : the students should become compulsorily instructors. Some students might desire' to take up the position as an instructor, or on the other i'ahd to go back to'.the ..farm.

The .total amount voted in the Budget of the French Ministry' of Agriculture for" the year 1010 was <£1,986,347, or an increase of .£55,387 over the amount , in 1909. Tho main items were:— Grants in aid of farmers and' subventions to agriculture, £121,600; indemnities, for the destruction of diseased "animals,' .£60,01)0 ; Btud farms, £273,371; and encouragement of'horse breeding, £53,040. The principal increases wero £8000 for indemnities for the destruction of diseased animals, and £6000 for stud farms.

A farmer asked tho "Breeders' Gazette" (U.S.A.) how serious a fault pigeon, toes were' considered to be in draught horses. The reply was: "Pigeon toes are an objection, as they are almost surely accompanied by an •tuisightly swinging of the fore feet, in action. Still many wide-chested horses and those which have seen long, hard ■use in the harness allow their front ■toes to visit when they stand and swing ibeir feet out when they trot. This is not so bad a fault from tho standpoint of utility as of appearance. It Makes tho horse awkward and unattractive in action, and accordingly reduces lis value."

In England there is an important revival of interest in the milking strains of Shorthorn cattle.

There is a heavy slaughter of calves in America this, season, and, according to reports by tho last mail, somo agriculturists hold that the result will be a heej' famine.'