GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1236, 19 September 1911, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

— : Two hundred and fifty-fivo'tons of Victorian butter will bo taken by R.M.S. Jfooltan to Europe—24s tons for the London market and 10 tons . for Marseilles, says the Melbourne "Age." A peculiar feature of the consignment for Marseilles is that it contains neither salt nor preservative. Whilo great markets for butter aro offered by France, Italy, and Switzerland, the Australian product has heretofore been excluded from tho field owing to the objection to the uso of preservative, and Denmark has held tho trade unchallenged. Tho present small consignment has been packed in boxes in ordinary use. Orchardists about Hastings aro reported to bo taking no chances against tho violent attentions of tho plains frosts this year, and cartloads of sawdust havo been deposited ill heaps around tho affected areas, and mixed with hay and other inflaniinnblc materials, ready for instant ignition on the first warning of the thermometer. It is reported that there has been a keen demand in Masterton during the last few weeks for seed potatoes. A larger area is likely to be put down in tubers this year than last, as tlie blight has not seemed to affect tho crops so seriously of lato as in'former years. The rain of the early part- of the week has dono an immense amount of good in the Wairarapa. Up to tho beginning'of tilt? week tho glass was dry and brown, but the young grass has now boon given a start, and prospects generally havo brightened. Another shower or two would do no harni.