GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1085, 25 March 1911, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

A considerable portion of a shipment of Melbourne pears which were landed in Wellington yesterday morning were ill bad condition. Sonio lines were absolutely valueless and werp burned at the destructor. Tomatoes, which were glutting in the Wellington market lor several weeks, have improved in value. Some clioico samples have realised up to 45., but tho bulk, which aro overripe, aro selling at Is. Od. to 2s. a half-case. For*the month of February tho Normanby dairy factory is paying out at lOd. per lb. on 31,2491b, ol butter-fat, £1426 19s. 7d.; Mells factory on 30,309 lb. of butter-fat at lOd. per lb., £1262 17s. 7d., and Hawera factory on 9G,063 lb. of butter-fat at IOJd. per lb., £4224 os. 3d.' (says tho ITaweia "Star"). For the corresponding month last year Normanby paid on 38,7141b. of butter-fat at 10d. per lb., £1613 os. 6d., Mells on 29,3281b. of butter-fat at lOd. per lb., £1221 19s. 5d., and Hawera.on 107,010 lb. of butter-fat at lOd. per lb., £4458 10s. lid. The "Telegraph" states that tho Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society have just received two solid silver medals from the Royal Horticultural -Society for presentation to the l-'prson or persons who received tho highest number of points in the fruit and vegetable sections afc tho autumn slioiv. Both were won by Mr. J. Holdsworth, "Swarthmoor," Havelock North (E. E. Howard, gardener). Blackberries aro still being sent to tho market in Wellington. The price obtained thero is 2d. to 2£d. per lb. ■ Not tho least interesting feature of a -recent big Southland salo was tho keen bidding displayed for crossbred fcwes and lambs, a fact which demonstrated a recovery of the market as an outcome of tho recent rains. The Ayrshire Cattle Breeders' Association has just published the first volume of the Ayrshire herd book. The work contains.reference to 159 cows and 53' bulls, besides a number of animals enumerated in the appendix. Tho book contains photos of tho champions c-f both islands, and a judging table for animals of both sexes. Mr. J. Kyle, of Fitzherbert, is president, and the association has a membership of 43 ordinary members, of whom over a quarter reside in the Manawatu, aud three honorary members. . Mushrooms are selling at 7s. t-o 9s. per banana caso on the Wellington market. One of the most important and largest sales of sheep held of recent years in Southlaud was carried out this week on tho Birchwocd Estate, near Nightcaps, by Messrs.. Wright, Stephenson and Co. In all SUG sheep wcro submitted, 1409 being llomncy studs and 6707 Romney cross sheep. The Birchwood flock of Romney Marsh sheep was originated by the late Captain James Gardner, as far back as 1878. It is therefore one 'of tho . longest-establish-ed'* flocks in Nov/ Zealand. In 19C6 Mr. Rodger imported two rams from Mr. A. Finn, Kent, England, namely, "Wcstbroke, No. 84 of 1905," and "Westbroke, No. 7S of 1005," and these have been used during the seasons 19071910. What is regarded as easily a record., figure for Southland .was obtained in 7-S guineas per' head for ten two-tooth stud Romney ewes (by imported ' rams), wliiist ten four■ and sixtooth ditto-made qgns. each. Tho other stud Romney ewes sold proportionately well, and both tile rams and lambs likewise made high rates. The following are the figures of the sales 636 stud Romney ewes, £1585 12s. 6d.; 566 stud Romney lambs, £524; 147 stud Romney rams, £576 Is. 9d.; 2807 llock ewes, £2178 13s. M.; 3900 flock lambs, £1718 15s.:' total, £6393 2s. : 7d. Thirty-one horses realiVed' I £S4B : lss' f (£697- IOsT-for:-21 .draughts, and £151 ss. for 11 light horses}.. The gross receipts of tho sale amounted to £7741 17s. 7d. ' Bananas are being grown in Hawko's Bay. . Ripe specimens of .the fruit have been taken from a Napier orchard already this season. In an article on Holstein cattle tfco last number of the Agricultural Depart-; ment's journal said: "Several of the world's records are held by members of this breed. Colantha 'Ith's Johanna produced 098.261b. of butter-fat in 365 days. This'is almost 10001b. of butter-fat, and is probably equal to the production of .almost five New Zealand average cows. To Dekol Queen La Polka 2nd belongs the honour of most milk for thirty days, this reaching 3318.011);,'" whilo Grace- Faynes 2nd-Homestead produced a record with 28.44-lb. of butter-fat in seven days. _It is contended by some that cows giving large yields for a short period cannot maintain a largo production for a period of years. A number of breeders are now practising the yearly tests, and do not depend so much on tho shorter-period tests, and this is doubtless the right principle. A Holstein cow which claims attention in this-respect is Ivaty Gcrben. Starting as a two-year-old, during five successive yp-irs she gave an annual average of 16,3451b. milk, containing M8.481b. fat. This cow still holds the world's record for milk-and butter-fat produced in one year by a three-year-old.