AGRICULTURE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1292, 22 November 1911, Page 5

AGRICULTURE.

DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL REPORT. SUCCESS OF THE REORGANISED SVSTEM. The annual report of the Secretary of Agriculture, Commerce and Tourists, which is supplementary to the amunl report of the Minister for Agriculture, laid before the recent session of Parliament, has now been circulated. The Secretary (Mr. F. K. l> o pe), referring .„ the reorganisation scheme, nivs that 111.SI s'"V loM(1 , ha ? h™ Hie first, complete fiscal year during which the Department Las worked under the scheme of reorganisation adopted in IiMWI, and it is gratifying to ho able to state lhat the now system has proved a thorough Mir, cess in almost every respect, tho advantages of the scheme being increasing evident in very many directions, while the drawbacks that were so positively predicted in some quarters have turned out to he either non-existent or of small importance when balanced against lhe great benefits resulting f rom the rearrangement. Tho leading features of the reorganisation referred to are as follow:— (1) The three Departments of (a) A°riculture Cb) Industries and Commorce, and (c) Tourist and Health Resorts were amalgamated into the Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists The many economics and other advantages accruing from this arrangement are ot coursj, obvious. ' (2) The eight divisions of which tho old Department of Agriculture consisted were, together with the other two former Departments, grouped into only 5 divisions; whereas tho old divisions, in addition to being so numerous, were in two cases of a decidedly heterogeneous character, and in several instances overlapped each other considerably, the five new divisions are (with the exception referred to below) not only quite homogeneous, but also distinctly demarcated. Among the improvements effected by this regrouping of the divisions may be mentioned ecouomv, simplification of control, greater opportunities for officers to specialise in the narrower range of duties allotted to them, and cessation of the friction that formerly resulted from overlapping of duties. At the first glanco it would seem that agricultural and tourist matters would not combine at all readily into one Debut it is found in practice that considerable bunefits are accruing to the tourist business through its associition with the expert officers of the agricultural services and he sees several directions in which further economies will be possible in the future as a result of the two branches being in the same Department.

The amalgamation of the old Industries and Commerce Department with the Agriculture Department was inevitable. It was found practically impossible to keep their activities distinct, seeing that by far the greater part of our industries and co.mincrcb air closely connected with farm products. More, attention has undoubtedly been paid to the commercial side oi the agricultural industries since the two Departments were joined. This increased activity has, however, been displayed not by the Commerce and Tourist Division, but by the four Agricultural Divisions, each in regard to its own particular industries, it is found that the grouping of the industries and commerce' work with that relating to tourist and health resorts is not altogether satisfactory, in the first place because the two classes of work are widely different- and consequently unsuitable for performance by the same officers, and in the .second place because it is quite impracticable to draw a line at which the agricultural side of many matters ends and the commercial aspect begins. For instance, moisture in butter is clearly a matter for the Dairy Produce Division, "but it is none tbb less one for the Commerce Division; similarly the vesed question of branding meat intended .for export affects the Live Stock and Meat Division as well as the Commerce Division, and so on in regard to scores ot other matttrs. Mr. Pope, therefore sug-

gosts that each of the agricultural divisions should attend to the commercial siilo of the industries with which it is concerned, and that such general cummerce work as cannot, oiring'to its affecting a. variety of industries, be assigned to any of the agricultural division.- be undertaken bv an officer on the Head Office stall'. The general work to which he referred included such matters as the Department's displays at exhibitions. market reports, contracts for steamship services, trade missions, and commercial treatifs. Tho adoption of this proposal would, give better results commercially, and would also remove n source from which friction is constantly Ihrejitcnmg to develop between the ('nnmuree Division on the one hand and the Agricultural Divisions on tho other. A matter that lias received a good deal of attention during the year ha- been Hie question of obtaining tin: services ot a man scientifically trained in agriculture proper. The assistance of one who has made a .speciality of the production .of cereals, fodder crops, and grasses on scientific lines would undoubtedly be of great value to the Dominion. Were such an officer available, Mr. Pope says he would propose to utilise him for the following purnoscs:— O.i To desigu and supervise experiments iu regard to cereals, fodder crops, roots, potatoes, grasses, etc., on tho Department's farms.

(2.) To act in a similar capacity in regard to tho co-operativo field-crop experiments which aie being undertaken by tho Department in conjunction with a number of private farmers, ings of farmers. ' (3.1 To give popular lectures to nicct(4.) To contribute .articles for the Department's Journal and its other publications. (a.) To instruct officers of the Fields and Experimental Farms Division so as to make them better fitted to ndviso settlers in respect to such matters. Tho secretary hopes to see such an appointment made as soon as a really suitable man can bo found. After setting out in detail the work done by the. different branches of the Department, the report proceeds to deal with the reports of the heads of the various departments. HORSE BREEDING. The Director of tho Live Stock and Meat Division (Mr. ('. J. lie.ikes), referring to horses, says that, speaking generally, tho breeding of horses on proper lines does not receive the attention in Xew Zealand which is necessary if hors/: of good type and class, and reasonably frco from unsoundness, are to bo i duced. An exception must be made, h'ov ever, as regards thoroughbred and draught horses, as we have in Xow Zealand ; number of breeders who do cam- out their operations on thoroughly first-class lines, and whose stock finds a* ready sale at remunerative prices. It is the general mass of farmers whose methods are open to criticism, particularly from the point of view of not paying sufficient attention to the type, conformation, and general fitness of the stallion whoso services they engage for their mares, i result being that fcr too many horses ol inferior class are produced. . Mr. Rcakcs is of opinion that there 13 an opening for the development of ; greater export traue to India in the shape ot horses lor the armv, as well as for private salo there. Now Zealand horses are liked in India, and, if of tho right class, bring remunerative prices, and the trade should be a paying one if properly handled. ■BEARING CALVES. In tho roaring of calves, says Mr. Kcakcs, many dairy farmers are extremely careless and lax-in their methods. The calves are improperly fed, often gcttirg nothing but skim milk or whey, wi'J; sometimes a small quantity of one or other of tho commercial calf foods, o linseed added, but frequently with no .addition whatever. Inadequate feedir." is not tho only difficulty with whieb th\ calves have to contend, a?, their food i too frequently given them in filti'v troughs placed in dirty surroundings consequently the animal's life for a few months is really a continual struggle against adverse conditions. Some of t weaker die, but the stronger pull through and reach maturity with their constitutions impaired by the improper feeding conditions to which Ihev havo been subjected in their youth. " In thoso cases

where daily factories have pasteurised Uic separated milk or vhey before returning it to the farmers, (he conditions have :wn belter, n.-s the pasteurised material lias proved a mue.i better food in every way fluin has the non-pasteuri-ed. Dairy iarino'-.s who have used it are practically unanimous on this point. JL is prapo-e'd tlurir.g the coiuii.g year to instruct Held veterinarians aim inspectors oi' --tisck l» make a special point of doing (heir best to ruliico dairy farmers to improve their methods as regards the general care and lceung ot calves, and also pigs. HEALTH 01' THE SHEEP. The general licallh of sheep has Ix'on good Ihri.iiglitml. (!„. n ,„ r ,t lv , ( | lr> p..,.,,,,. liiuinl dry slimmer and early mil mini in ip .\nrli Wand Imviiifj real I v placed I hem under belter iiulunil pundit inns as regards, muintcnntico of health than in norma! season>. The only oseoplinns have "(•on in eases where sheep have lieen null hie. In wiin access to water during Ihe long spell of dry weather. Among the-smaller owners thorn is a necessity for the exercise, of greater care in breeding in order to maintain a high standard of eliiciency both as regards lyp?, wool-production, and fitness for the export meat trade. The requirements of (ho Stock Act as regards the dipping of sheep have not m all cases been carried out thoroughly, arid several instances have occurred in Tvhlcb inspectors found sheep affected with lice exposed for silo, in public saleyards. This practice of exposing lieemfpi'tod sheep iu saleyards is one which is most reprehensible, and which Mr. lienkos says he intends (o spare no effort to put a stop to. In this matter he expresses bis appreciation of the assistance rendered by auctioneers and stock agents in keeping shcepowners up to the mark. TIG-BREEDIXG. _ The keeping of pigs is annually becoming a more and more important, factor in the operations of New Zealand farmer.-, especially those engaged in dairy-farming, and there has been a large increase in the quantity of pork exported, higher prices thau normal having prevailed in .London for some portion of the season. Tito development of an export trade has given considerable stimulus to tho pork iudustry, and seeing that, when properly maunged, pig-keeping in conjunction with dairy-farming is a profitable business, itit most satisfactory to note tho marked progress which has been made.

FIELDS AXD EXPERIMEXT FARMS. Mr.E. Clifton, Director of tho Fields and Experiment Farm Division, in giving an account of the year's work, says:— The agricultural year has been signalised by an abnormal duration of dry weather. Actually, in many districts, the absence of rain approximated to a drought. The continuance of thoso conditions presents the very serious aspect that the farmer is entering into winter deprived of the. usual supply of grass, and comparatively destitute of a reserve of roots, on which, in almost every season, he so confidently relies. This absence of provision for winter should acutely appeal to the farmer. It should be the inducement to him to secure an ample store of hay and of silage from the wealth of grass and of fodder crops that the New Zealand spring so regularly and so lavishly provides. It is appalling to see, year after year, the grass on acres and acres wasting and rotting in spring and in early summer. Tho condition of stock iu winter is evidenco that there may bo too great a reliance on Providence. Hay-ricks and tho ensilage-stack aro not prominent on tho farm. This condition must surely be remedied. The enhanced prices of land demand moro careful methods, and the increased value realised for stock warrants moro liberal feeding. If the causo of this diminished return from the farm be but appreciated, the lesson of a dry season may yet be beneficent.