GENERAL FARMING NEWS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1913, 22 November 1913, Page 12

GENERAL FARMING NEWS

The sheaf-tossing competition at the Wanganui Show again attracted considerable attention on Thursday, and 'for. both days about £12 was taken. Tho competition produced a, tie, I. Jefferson (of Marton) and F. M'Culloch (Wanganui) each tossing tho sheaf to a height of 25ft. 7in. A. Jefferson, of Marton, was third with six inches lower. . Seemingly the strike has/not to any great extent interfered with the workings of the local dairy companies, says the Wanganui "Chroniclc," as it is understood that most of them have mado their usual butter-fat payments for October supplies. On Thursday the Westmere Proprietary Dairy Co. paid out tho handsome sum of is. per lb., which, is the highest prico over paid by this company. Several Taraimki companies arc only able to advance 6d. per lb. for butter-fat. After viewing the root of a Californian thistle which was left the other day'by Mr. G. B. Baird, oE Bendemeer, it is evident (says tho "Lake County Press"-) why the efforts of tho biologists and farmers of New Zealand to eradicate tho pest have failed. The root referred to is lift. Gin. in length and appears to be as tough as whipcord. It was dragged out by the plough from, hard clay, and the breaking strain must therefore have been very considerable. Tho spread of settlement in 'tho Kaipara is responsible for over 300 oil launches being in conimission on tho several branches of the estuary. With its 900 miles of water frontage and lengthy -rivers, tne Kaipara 'furnishes splendid Seaways, and many settlers keep launches for their mode of transport just as farmers in other localities keep buggies. A meeting of tho directors of the newly-formed Hawke's Bay Farmers' Meat Company was held at Mr. Fraser's office, Hastings, on Thursday. A report was received from tho engineer (Mr. Mitchell, Wellington) stating that the plans of the buildings were' ready for the directors' approval, and it was decided to call for tenders as early as possible. The Railway Department lias approved of a siding at the back of the Whabatu station. A large amount of routine business was transacted, i and applications for £750 worth of shares wore dealt with. The company is now in a strong; financial position, over £40,000 having been subscribed to date. An unusual case was called on at the Hawera Court in ( which the apiary in- ' spector proceeded against Joseph Adams, of Tokaanu, for failing to comply with tlie inspector's instructions to take such measures as might be necessary to euro foul brood in bees. Adams pleaded guilty, saying ho had delayed tho work, as ho was negotiating for a piece of land in another locality, and lie considered it useless applying tho measures to cure tlie disease until he was quite ready for removal. Tho inspector explained that the existence of foul brood in one lot of hives was a menaco to the industry in tho whole district, and that he had come up specially from Wellington to attend to ithis case. His Worship inflicted a fine of 58., costs 75., and inspector's expenses £2 10s.