GENERAL FARM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 172, 10 April 1918, Page 8

GENERAL FARM NOTES

Splendid autumn weather still rules in the .south. ■ A conference of stud beef cattle breeders of Australia was held at tho Sydney Show under the auspices of the Stud Beef Cattle-breeders' Association. Mr. Arthur Bowman (New South Wales), who presided over a large attendance, oxplained that tho conference was convened for the purpose of discussing means by which closer cooperation could be established amongst cattle-breeders. He invited those who were not members to identify them- . selves with the association, and there was a ready response. The Southland" Executive of tho Farmors' Union has passed" a resolution asking that the Stock Department stamp an tho label of every tin of rabbit poison the date of manufacture. The Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association hold its niimial meeting on Saturdav. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £13 9s. Id., and outstanding subscriptions £16 10s. The receipts for the ten months ended March 31. 1018, were £61 55., and expenses £47 15s. 11(1. Officers were clerted as follow:—President, Mr. C. P. Taylor; vice-presidents, Messrs. G. AV. Anderson and H. AVyntt; committee, Messrs. J. Lonpton. F. Sisson. 15. Freeman, S. I. Flitch. C. G. Brookes, K C. Farr, awl J. AV. Shield. Mr. C. 11. G. Mnedonald, of Insilobnm, has (says a Sydney paper) sustained a severe loss by tho tlent-h of his chamnion Jersey tost cow, Brighton Vanilla 11, which took place at the Sydney Showground. This now was one of the two that last year, nndVr offioi.il test, exceeded the 10001b. buttor violrl in 365 days. Her record was 18.1f171b. milk, with an-average test of 4.70 per cent., equal to 8641b. butter-fat, or by computation 1011.921b. commercial but-

1 ter. Brighton y.inilla II held the Australian records in -"milk and butter production for the Jersey breed, and also the Australian record for 12 months' yield of milk for any breed. Sho was in the running for the Government prize of £100 for the first cow producing 10001b. of butter in 365 days, conditional upon dropping a live calf within 18 months after the first test, or (in her case) by May 17 nest. ''Dairymen in the- South Island are lagging behind the North in enterpriso in cow-tosting (says a Southland exchange). In the North Island there are over 110 cow-testing associations or individuals carrying on systematic experiments. In the South Island thereare ten. Whon the actual ca6li benefits which follow this work become appreciated by our southern dairymen, there will be a rush to come into lino. The dairyman who thinks it is too much trouble to systematically test his herd, not with a spasmodic effort, but straight on end, is paying 255/" for a sovereign for his neglect, and the longer ho delays the- greater his loss." ,