FARMING EN AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1967, 26 January 1914, Page 8

FARMING EN AUCKLAND.

(Ey TebKrarh.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, January 25. The Auckland Province, is experiencing the finest season on record. Mother Earth has never given more frooly of her bounties, and records are being established in every department of rural industry. January, so far, has beon a dry month, but the farmers have, been glad of the sunshine during the harvesting season, and crops have, been garnered and stacked under ideal conditions. Rain, warm and soaking, would now be acceptable, but there is, generally speaking, lio cause for anxiety. Up to the present, Cambridge, in fact, is the only district which has sounded a note of concern. Unless rain conies speedily, the dairying industry there will, it is stated, receive a great chock, for most of the. suppliers are running short of water, and many wells are almost dry. The intense beat of the past few days has caused the grass to shrink up, and consequently the milk supply is becoming smaller day by day. That the dairying industry generally lias not so fo,r received a set-back is indicated by the fact that last week's butter intake at the Government grading depot and farmers' freezing stores constituted an absoltue record in the history of the industry, tho amount received ■exceeding 20,000 boxes. This represents an increase of 1500 boxes on any previous week. When it is remembered that butter is worth approximately £3 per box, it will be realised what tho butter industry means to Auckland. Last week's production represented a return to tho provinco of 60,000 golden sovereigns. In addition, it is worth noting that the choose industry lias increased by leaps and bounds, and where n year or two ago Auckland was exporting a few hundred crates of cheese by each shipment, thousands arc now being sent away. Not only did last week's butter figures constitute a record, but the totals 'for the present week will indicate a very slight decrease. This is the period of the year when a natural decline is expected to commence, but the supply seems to be holding up better this season. In the case of tho city's milk supply, the effect of tho 'dry weather is beginning to be felt, but there is so far no sign of a shortage. On tho contrary, tho milk supply firms declare that tho quantity available is greater than. usual for this time of the year, and that in the reason why milk is nt present cheaper than is usuallythis period.