GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1224, 5 September 1911, Page 10

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

An offer of an acre of land belonging to Mr.. S. Thomas, of Marton, has been accepted by the Agricultural Department for--orchard experiments. Tho land is to bo put under cultivation immediately, and tho trees will bo planted early next autumn. It is the intention of the Department to give experimental demonstrations of planting, pruning, spraying, etc., for tho benefit uf orchardists and farmers. The -Jlasterton Co-operative Dairy Company has decidod to appoint two directors each mouth to visit the factory and report on requirements. It is reported that pig-breeding on an extensive scale is being undertaken by settlers in tho Kopuarauga and Mauricevillo districts. , ■.. • The Hurleyville Dairy Company (Ha-n-era) is reported to have sold its output of cheese for tho incoming season at G 1-16(1., and it is stated that t'he directors intend to pay out Is. Id. for butter-fat straight away. Tho disposal of the-season's, output of butter has been considered, but no decision has been arrived at, says tho Hlthain "Argils." It is understood, however, that a parcel is being shipped to Canada which is'a new- departure as far as the Elili'ain Company is concerned.. Tho agricultural school course for teachers was to bo opened at Greytown yesterday afternoon and is to continue for a fortnight. Jt was expected that between 15 and 20 -teachers would be present. Tho ■president of the Farmers' Union, Mr. J. G. "Wilson, is strongly of opinidn that rural education in tho schools is a necessity as a groundwork -fo give a bent in the direction of• farming. Experimental work at the high schools—carried on where the farm work begins—to find out what suits the laud crops and climate ■best. Nothing the Farmers' .Union has done has, Mr. Wilson considorp,' been of such vnlno as the furthering of this education and 'experimenting. It had accomplished far more than he ever anticipated. They had only to look at the farmers' knowledge of crops and manures now, and tho intelligence of the masters and the boys in the schools, relating to plant life and then turn the thoughts back a. few years and think of the farming, and the lack of interest' taken in school gardens len years ago. The. honour of initiating tho policy of the Farmers' Union in this rural education and experiment was duo to.Air. IMwin Hall who was secretary of the first Dominion Conference, held'in 1901. Mr. Newton King's weekly stock report is as follows:—On Wednesday, August 23, a>t Mr. S. A. Gooding'3 role, at iluiakaina. there was a. good attendance of buyers. The cattle die! not look at their best,, juet having como o(T a long drive. Early 'carv-ers-made £7-10s. to £10 Us.: later, X 5 IDs. to £7; old, £4 .to £5.105.; empty, £4 10s.; springing heifers, .£5 2s. 6et. to'£B 12s. 6d.: 2-ysar heifers, £4 11s.; stallion Toiler, £40 On Thursday, August 24, I held a clearing salo at Toko on account of Sir. A. Oampbell, when there was a largo attendance. The suhdrta, furniture, and horses sold well, but there.was not such a keen demand for the heifers, which were not in pood condition. Atit that had been well done-sold. well. ' Cows in milk, £5 155.: heifers, calved, £5 to £7; 2-year heifers, riose to prolit, £6 2s. 6(1. to £10 55.; later, £4 to £6; yearling heifers, £3 95.; wcanors, 10s.: empty Uuifers. £4 125.-to £4 155.: mare, £28; 3-ycar filly. £25; 2-ytrar geldiiif:, £21 10a.; yearling colt. £11; old mare, £13; pedigree Jersey bull Specialwt, 20Jgng.; Scientist, 16Jgiis.; pedigree cow, Nelly Darling, 26Jgns. On Friday, August 25, j thoTe was a good attendance at Mr.. J. I liobson's clearing sale, at Pembroke Koad. Ths majority of the cows were aged, and sold accordingly, though anything young and forward sold well. Cows in milk and close up, £8 to £13;' old, £2 ss. to £0 as.: springing heifers, £6 ss.;.empty cows, £2 to £3 165.; bull, £5; heifers in calf, £3 11s. 6(1. to £4 Ss.: 18-montlis heifer?. £3 75.; yearling heifers, £2 os. 6d. On the same day. Bit Mr. 11. Putt's cleanup sale, at AVaiongona, there was a largo attendance, and the cattle, though mostly on tho old side, sold well. Young springing cows, £6 lfe. to £9 10s.; old and backward, £2 ss. to £6; pics and sundries at satisfaetor" prices. At Mr. P. Anderson's sale, at Tatar'aimnka, on Monday, there was a, good attendance of buyers. Bidding was kecu, and excellent prices were realised for (ho cows, which were a nice lot, and in cood condition, though a number were late calvers. Young springing cows brought £8 to £11 55.; old and backward. £3 15s. to £7: mare, £20 10s.: gelding, £14 103.; dray, £20 IDs/: cig. £12 55.; Onkura Dairy Factory shares. 7s. 6d. At mv fortnightly sale at Bahotu. on Tuesday. 1 had a fair entry, mostly of springers and young cattle. The demand throughout was not quite so keen for the young cattle, but most lines were quitted' at tho hammer at full market ratea. Yearling heifers made £2 2s. In £2 10s.: yearling stcer=. 30s. to £2 <s.: weainrs, 16s. to 255.; empty lioifcr?, £2 14s. 6d. to £3 195.; fat cows, £5 7s. to £5 175.: spriimiiic cows. £4 to £6; springing heifers. £3 19s. to £7 2-. Sd.; heifers in calf, and late, £4 to £4 Its; store cows, 265. M. to £3 11s.-