GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 987, 30 November 1910, Page 10

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

The. buildings' for the lodging and the indoor instruction of farm studeuts at the Ruakura Experimental Farm are reported to be complete, and it is said that the conditions for -the admission of students will bo announced soon. At a meeting of the directors of the Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association, Mr. P. Cook was appointed managing director , and public officer, vice Mr. AY. H. Smith (resigned), says an exchange.. . That England'. will' have .to pay more for its imported .'meat is a fear expressed by tlie "Live Stock Journal." The reason for that opinion was that at r the time/of .'.writing the "Journal" considered that there were possibilities' of certain European. countries opening their doors to colonial and Argentine meat. One of the countries tlie "Journal" had in view was Germany, but tho German Minister ;f or"' Internal Affairs stated, a few' days ago, that the best way to ensure a satisfactory meat supply was-.to-build >up. a cattle-raising industry within the nation-by keeping out foreign competition.

I Du'riug the year over 2000 plant specimens were received and.reported on by the Biology Division of the Department of Agriculture. The Biologist, Mr. A. H. Cockayne, includes in his yearly report on the working of,-the Division a 'note'which it may :be:useful for farmers'to' know. "Correspondents must remember" (says Mr.- Cockayne) "that specimens, cannot be returned except under exceptional- circumstances, so that it is necessary to keep duplicates numbered in conformity;with those sent to this office. An exception is made with respect to" mounted collections, which .will' be narae'd and'returned; but this method" is riot advisable; as specimens are apt to be , considerably injured in transit. The work of identification is greatly' simplified "by having perfect specimens to ' deal with: the naming with .any degree of accuracy many of the fragments that are constantly being sent in is fraught with , the utmost difficulty.". ~-■;.;'.■„ ;f;:;-r:~: ... Welcome.' rairisr set-' in on Saturday, continuing ,''all ; Sunday,' giving tho gro'u'ndrwlia't - was' L i'greatly - needed —a thorough-soaking-(says tho Halcombe correspondent of an exchange). This rain will do an immense amount of good, coming in. the nick of time, and, although" retarding the shearing, tho crops and gardens will reap great benefit. Following are the results of tho weight-guessing ■ competitions held in conjunction with the show-.—Weight of cow, ;922£1b; —W. Apployard (Hawera), guessed the "osacfc- weight, and takes first prize"; K. Cloutt (Hawera) ' was second, with ' 9231b.; W. Appleyard, jun., T. F. Go'ddard (Hawera), J. Kissick (Kaponga) came third with 92311b., and A. J. Mundo (Ohangi) fourth with' 92331b. Weight of sheep, 302V1b.—W.. E. Marsom (Normanby) and A. E. Death (Hawera), 3031b., 1; H. Linn (New Plymouth), 301 lib., 2; J. Sinclair (Hufoa), 3011b.,'3; 6. Broadley (Stratford), 3001b., 4. Weight of pig, 1921b.— J. L. Campbell. (Inaha), 191J1b., 1; W. J.' Marsom (Nonnanby), 1911b., 2; C. Oliver (Ohnngai) and G. Roots (Normanby), Mojlb., 3. During tho period November 1 to 15 there was.exported from, Patea 3605 cwt. buttor (£17,667), and 4529 cwt. cheeso (£12,681).