GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1976, 5 February 1914, Page 8

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Ihe question as to whether Lincoln sheep originally camo from England has been discussed frequently. Mr. W. lorry, the well-known breeder, of Masterton, has his doubts, and he told a meeting of farmers that when ho visited tho Forum at Romb ho saw a slab with figures'of a bullock, pig, and sheep, upon it The sheep was a true type of Lincoln, and, therefore, it seemed that tins breed must havo been in existence for thousands of years. A meeting of orchardists interested in tho export branch of tho industry, convened by the Waitemata Fruitgrowers' Co-operative Society, has decided (tho "New Zealand Herald" states) to mako trial shipments to the North Anierican markets, in addition to the shipments at present going to the Argentine. Some 2000 cases wero guaranteed for shipment this season at the meeting, and it is expected that fully 4000 cases will be available ultimately from tho Auckland Province. ■ Present arrangements aro that tho first shipment will.bo sent by the lonic, which leaves Wellington on February 20. The Government, it was stated at the meeting, is giving every assistance in the project of opening up the American markets to Now Zealand fruit. /

Owing to •Asliburton fanners being now in tho thick of harvest, slaughtering at tho Fairfield Freezing Works has temporarily slackened off. Large numbers of sheep and lambs were put through during tVe month of January, and those passed through tho works went forward in prime condition.

The rainfall at Pukekoho last week has completely altered'-the aspect of the country sido (states the Auckland "Star"). There was a widespread anxiety about the turnip fields, in many of which the seed had not struck. • The. grand soaking rains, however, have produced a "general strike/ , for which the farmers are more than merely thankful. With- reasonable luck now this crop, upon which so much depends to «ee milch cattle well through the winter, ought to be successful. The late heavy fall of rain reached the Taieri Plains in full measure, states the Dunediiv "Times." Tho cutting of oats and hay harvesting wtre begun last week,. and such operations had to be temporarily' ' The farmers who had their turnip and mangold seeds in wero, however, greatly benefited by the warm, steady rains. According to residents who know tho country well, Central Otago has never looked better than it has done at the present time. Tho rains which have been experienced have had the effect of bringing on the pastures splendidly, and the crops on the plains are looking exceedingly well. That the hardships' experienced by pioneers have not pas.sed away with the early settlers • has been, demonstrated over and' over again." Another case has just been*disclosed in Taranaki's hinterland, states a New Plymouth paper. Last winter it appears a settler was hard pushed for food, his household not having seen bread for a week or two. Tho settler had to walk into the nearest store, as he could not get his horse across an unbridged river. On arrival at tho store'ho purchased •a- 501b. bag of flour and trudged off homeward. The, most difficult part of tha journey was negotiating the river. It was, however, starvation for the household if ho did not get the flour homo, so ho tied: the bag of flour to hi 3 shouluWs.'riii'd cr'6ssedi, tho river hand over hand on a 'steel rope. ■ ■ ■ v

■ "It's goi ■to be done," said a cheese factory manager tlio other day. "Hero arc other factories installing "Victor , Vats, increasing their profits, and the productive quality of their cheese." Yea, Sir, keep in line and write Parton today for full particulars of the quality anil .profit-indreasing capabilities \ of the "Victor" Vat. Drop a lino now. Albert J. Parton. Plumber, Carterton.—Advt.