GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1852, 11 September 1913, Page 10

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

During the past season tho Kaikoura Dairy Factory Company paid £9174 18s. 7d. for milk,,which, with the addition of another Id. per lb. for butter-fat, as agreed at last week's meeting, will bring the total up to £10,008 19s. lOd. A proposal for the formation of a co-opcrativo auctioneering'company for tho Lower Waikato was received from the Clevedon branch at.Tuesday's meeting of the Auckland Executive of the Farmers' Union. It was suggested that the executivo should approach tho Waikato Farmers' Auctioneering Company to ascertain whether they would extend their business to Lower Waikato and to the Auckland markets. After a lengthy debate, it was agreed by five votes to three, to obtain the information desired by tho Clevedon branch, i

Tho Matamata A. and P. Association, 'which has held three shows, is now purchasing land, for a permanent show ground.

The orchards at Ivaukapakapa, Auckland, aro stated to bo looking well, peaches, nectarines, aiftl plums being a mass of bloom, though it is rather early in the season to estimate tho fruit crop. The.winter lias been a particularly mild one, and tho milking cows are coming in iii good condition.

Tho weather in tho Kaitangata district of Otago last week was more than favourable,■"thereby affording the farming community an opportunity to prepare the land for cropping purposes. Owing to tho recent floods, however, it will not bo possible for them to sow wheat as the time is too late, although in timo for oats and other crops. Tho flood waters have now practically subsided on tho low-lying places.

Tho failure of tho potato market this season to return to South Island growers an adequate compensation for the labour and risk attached to growing is likely to ho keenly felt by many who based their chanccs of liquidating their liabilities 011 the prospect of obtaining good prices. The conditions attached to export arc such that South Canterbury merchants can scarcoly bo persuaded to accept potatoes as a gift, and even if they wore saleable, it is doubtful if the prico obtained would much more than pay for the picking over that is necessary at this stage of tJic season, and other contingencies incidental to marketing.

Tho Kincaid Downs property at Kaikoura, with the exception of the homestead portion, lias passed into tho possession of Mr. G. Edmund Parsons, who will also take tho stock at valuation.

The creameries around Matamata ill tho Auckland district arc 'now all in full swing, and tho quantity of milk being delivered daily is in .excess of tho average for this tiiho of the year. Grass is also more plentiful, and stock generally are looking well, so that farmers are looking forward to a very successful season.'

A branch of tho Farmers' Union was formed at Sefton, Canterbury, last week with an initial membership of seventeen.

Wild pigs have been getting too numerous to be pleasant at Wakamarina, Marlborough. The "I'elorus Guardian" states that Messrs. Crisp and S. Gardiner havo suffered loss among, thoir sheep of late in consequence.

It is reported that Mr. P. Clent, dealer, of Balclutha, recently sold a herd of 104 head of cattlo to a Dunedin man at £15 per head. This is believed to be a record salo for Now Zoaland for such a largo 'mob in one lot.

As showing what a carrying capacity land in the Levin district has it is of interest to noto (says tho "Chroniclo") that Mr. Butler', of Fairfield, this season wintered nine cows on five acres, and the cows, when taken off wero in splendid condition, and at present aro giving about four gallons per day per cow.

Since the beginning of the month the Huknnui creamery has been running every day. The supply 011 Saturday morning was 660 gallons, an increase of 174 gallons for the corresponding day of last year, which goes to prove that this season is far ahead of tho last.

Tho Rongokoknko Clieeso Company is expecting an increase in supply this Reason and provision is now being made for the installation of a scconcKwhcy vat of 1700 gallons.

Speaking at the opening of tho Opotiki Dairy Association's new butter factory last Week, Mr. ,1. P. Luke, manager of the Tc Puke factory, said he considered they were just on tho fringe of the output, and the Bay of Plenty :would in twenty years' time equal Taranaki's present output.

Following arc the statistics of the Hawera Dairy Company for tlio past season: —Milk received, 30,331,9471b.; butter-fat, 1,155,2151b.; average' test, 3.80. .User] for olieesc-making: Milk, 28,217,9381b.; butter-fat, 1,0G3,7751b.; amount of cheese from lib. butter-fat, 2.761b.; cheese made, 2,938,4621b.; amount of milk to make 111), of cheese, 9.601b.; average test, 3.769; cost of manufacture, .5Cd.; cost of manufacture, including depreciation, .64d.; cost f.0.b., 'including depreciation, .74d. Used for butter-making: Milk, 2,114,0091b.; butter-fat, 91,4401b.; butter made,,'97,2301b.; over-run, 15.79 per cent.; average test, 4.32. The pay-out from August to April was Is. 1 l-Bd., and from May to July Is. 2d.

One of tho first two bluegum trees planted in Kangiora was felled last week. The. tree was reared forty-two years ago from seed brought from Australia. The. tree felled measured 110 ft. iu height, and its trunk was 4ft. Gin. in diameter thrco feet from the ground.

The feeding of pigs came in for mention at the Kaupokonui Dairy Company's meeting. An experienced fanner said he would like to see everybody top off pigs with grain. He said that those who did not know it would be surprised to know the marvellous results attained by tivo weeks' feeding off on grain.

If you had an important message to send, 'would you ignore modern facilities such' as the telephono or telegraph? Of coirsc. you wouldn't. Some clieeso factory managers and directors utilise modern inventions in their office, but ignore them in the factory. "Victor" Vats aro the last word in vat construction,- and are as accessary to a well-equipi>e»l clieeso factory as its 'telephone. A "Victor" includes all tlio sood points that help to make better cheese and resulting big dividends. Send for particulars of Victor" Vats. Albert J. Partou, Registered l'lumber, Carterton—Advt.

TJio Government is 'at present making experiments with a branding tluid, which is said to cause less damage to hides than fire branding does, and to be equally dl'ective. Similar experiments in* Australia, however, resulted in favour of firo branding.