PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 14, 11 October 1919, Page 10

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES

LAST YEAR'S OPERATIONS ./AN INTERESTING SURVEY ' Tha report of tho Minister of -Agriculture for the year ended March 31 last has been placed beforo Parliament. It refers to many matters of goneri;! interest. „ .'•"Referring to the live stock position. Bays the Minister, "n very large increase in the 1918 returns brought the sheep stook of the Dominion to a record figuro, but this has been discounted by a- heavy fall revealed in tho 1919 returns. The faotors influencing the decrease may be stated as a reduction in breeding ewes, a smaller lambing percentage, losses due to tho abnormal snowfalls, iin'd increased killings .of freezing stock after April SO, 1918, which, but for a late season, would have been sent to tho works prior to that dato, and thus not hnvo appeared in the 1918 returns. However, tho flocks are still at a higher level than in any previous year except 1918. Cattle, including the dairy classes, have registered a satisfactory increase. It is regretted, however, to have to record another decrease in swine. Special steps are being taken by the Department to counteract this downward movement bv providing instructional and demonstrational facilities to farmers in pig feeding l , and management on up-to-date lines suited to the altering conditions In' tho Dominion in relation to dairy byproducts? eto.

.'/' Although new orchard plantings havo been considerably restricted owing to war •conditions, tho fruitgrowing industry has continued to expand steadily, the Jooal market still proving its capacity to absorb tho output. In view of tho extent of young orchardn coming into produotion ench year, it ig hoped,' however, . that the shipping position will qulokly allow of a resumption of export. . Poultry-kooplng has enjoyed a large mea6 j T ® °i success,, tho industry having adapted itself to the comparatively hi=fi prices of ! cercal foods, and demand 'being usually ahead of tho supply as regards eggs and table poultry. The honey market has experienced a considerable fall from the eitreme values reached in tho previous year, but remains at a remunerative level, and the beekeoping indusy h * 3 wory prospect of a' maintenance of prosperity. With regard to market gardening and potite culture generally, urban population of the Dominion affords a market which has frequently given evidonce of'underThe possibilities of tobacco AffMe receiving attention. , flkT-mllling (phormium) industry Ottawa some shrinkage in output, due to .several adverse factors,, such as fall in'' diseased leaf in some . districts,! B torag ?' With improvehowever great acS™? f promised. The chief handicap i jL MKl ? s tiy now labours under is the Wromely lugh ' mtes' of ocean freight aD( I tow. ifrnoultural development in all its ramifioatlons must undoubtedly be the Dominions chief concern for many years to come. Bettor knowledge, methods J 0 ■n£ rac oe i bonded resources and taoi 11 ties, and greater amenities of rural Me, allo&ll for study and practical aoJ , 'pta* oombined with ac;in land settlement—by breakinc* IB nGff country, developing the pofential of the poorer unocoupied lands, ftna further subdivision and ' improvement of older aroos—cannot fail to immensely stipulato production. The Department of Agriculture recognises. its meat responsibilities in this respect, and its duty to give a sound. lead wherever ■required. Tho neoossity for co-ordina-tion with other State Departments—Education, Expatriation, Lands, and Poresliy—concerned moro or less with, other P"? the same gTeat field, is also realised. Qood_ understandings have been established with theso authorities, and working arrangements are being evolved to avoid overlapping and secure sound results. With regard to returned eolfliaw, the Department is working in dose co-operation with tho Repatriation .Department, both as regards inetruction upon the State farms- and joint effort ripon special farms established for training purposes. The Board of Agriculturo -whose continued valuably advisory assistance is hero cordially acknowledged— will also find ample scope for work in COTneoUon with questions of post-war agricultural development."