GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1132, 20 May 1911, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Around Tailiapo feed is. abundant, and both sheep and cattle are looking in excellent condition. In fact, for this time of year, thero is a record abundance, and prospects are very promising. Taihapo "Times." Many of the dairy factories in the Hawera district aro now "only working every other.,day, the "Star" reports. Hawera suppliers will bo paid at tho rates of lid. per lb. f0r.37,0031b. butterfat supplied in April. Tho total amount of the milk cheqno is £2600. Tho Normanbv directors are paying out at lOd. per lb. on 23,2051b. butter-fat, equalling £966; Approximately £848 will bo distributed among tho Molls' suppliers for 20,3631b. butter-fat. This pay-out will bo on tho lOd. basis. Some sheep which, had been running wild for somo years ou Wyndham Station were secured the other day. Tho fleeces were abnormally long, a sample pieco being 21in. in length, .says an exchange. At tho Ashburton stock market on Tuesday a lino of two-tooth fine three-quarter-bred ewes realised 16s. 4d. per head." The ewes were an exceptionally well-grown farmer's lot, and tho price proved conclusively that well-bred sheep can bo sold at highly remunerative rates, in spite of tho dullness of tho market, reports a South Island paper. A Ballanco farmer is reported to havo done well with tho by-products of. his milk.---. An. exchango reports that ho milked 48 cows, and from tho skim-milk reared about 50 pigs, valued-at £2 us. each,.which brought in £112 10s., and twolvo weaner calves at 355;; making a total return of £132 10s.

• ''Already crutching work is well advariced"rl/-. (writes'"!" r tho ; ' : '• 'Mastorton "Times's"i To Wharau correspondent), the general appearance '■ of ttock is good, although in somo instances tho maggot fly has" claimed its toll: especially is it noticeable among the hoggets. Since tho last warm rains, however, crutching and keeping tho fleck clean appears to bo tho only remedy to keep, tho pest off. Tho lato rains have dono no damage to our roads in this district. Feed is very plentiful, as a result of tho warm, humid weather wo have been having for tho present month."..

The To Wharau correspondent of tho "Wairarapa Daily.-Times" writes:— "Five young irien have started rabbit trapping, for tho Wellington market, on ono of. the largo runs in this district. To mako venture pay they must trap at least six hundred rabbits weekly—rather a big undertaking."

Tho milk supply to tho Tiri Piri cheese factory is now becoming very small, and it is only running on alternate clays. The factory will_ probably close down for tho winter in two or three weeks' time.

An American who has been about New Zealand a good deal lately thinks that tlie United States sheep-breeders could learn a good deal from the New Zealand sheep-breeders. Ho says he was impressed by tho use to which the New Zealanders put their flocks; they get more out of them than would be obtained by American methods.

Tho South Australian Government has for sonic years had a State butter factory in Adelaide. It is now proposed to extend tho system •to the country. As a consequenco the private factory owners at Mount Gamhier are petitioning the.Government against the proposal of the Minister for Agricultureto establish State butter, cheese, and bacon factories at Moorak.

Victorian officers estimated at tho commencement of tho season that the State's fruit export would, amount to 250,000 cases, or nearly 00,000 cases more than that of 1900, the previous best season. This estimate lias been already proved to bo below the mark. Tho season's export to United Kingdom ports arc 199,0-10 cases to date. To Germany 57,929 cases have been sent, to Northern Asiatic ports 7408, and to South Africa 300. In addition a new market has been opened by the export of 751 cases to Buenos Ayrcs. It is expected that this. South American market will develop extensively. The exports thus total 205,700 cases, and at least another 10,000 eases will bo sent away before the. season closes. It has been the best export fruit season experienced by Victorian growers.

An officer of the State Orchards Division reports:—"Whilst visiting Wade, I noted three Takapuna russet apple-trees (which variety, 1 believe, had its origin in the Kcinette du Canada). On each tree a. fair crop of Takapuna russets was growing", and a fair intermingling of lieinette du Canadas, both varieties appearing -on the same branch. I understand that this apparent throwing-back of the variety to the parent stock occurs every year. Both varieties arc well-grown."

To eradicate sorrel, the Chief Inspector of Agriculture in New South Waled, Mr. G. Valder, advises liming and cultivation as a means of eradication. So far, he says, the best remedy found is lime. Generally speaking, applications of lime, from 5 cwt. to 10 cwf. per acre, will kill out and keep down sorrel, as well as benefit the. soil in other ways. On no account should tiie sorrel plants bo allowed to seed. Plough and expose the roots to the frosts during winter, then plough in the spring, and sow a strong-growing fod-der-plant to smother out the sorrel. Lime should bo applied in the autumn, and crops can be sown on the land from a month to two months after it has been limed. It is expected that the Soulli African mealie crop will bo short this year. This year's Royal Agricultural Show in England is expected to prove the finest yet held. There will be six miles of sheds, and the show will cost its organisers at least 0:30,000. In the north of Victoria April was exceedingly dry, and residents are expressing fears that they are at last faced with Iho prosnect of a season of drought. Jlr. Hunt, federal Meteorologist, said there was no reason for pessimistic outJook ,and not the slightest present evidence that a drought was to be experienced in .Victoria,