THE OUTLOOK

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1929, Page 8

THE OUTLOOK

DODD FARMING PROSPETTS. Dll REAKES’S REVIEW. la a review ol‘ the agricultural aiul pastoral year and expression of opinion as to tile outlook of the current season, Dr C. ,J. Henkes, Director-General of Agriculture, says:— “The total niimher of cattle in the Dominion is shown as 3,2-73,789, as against 3,258.729 in 1927. ’the increase is entirely in dairy cattle, and there was, in laet, a slight decrease in all other classes, the 1 met ease in dairy cows amounting to approximately 50.009. Peel production has languished during recent years, hut with the hotter values now ruling, an improvement- in the position may be looked for, and indications of this are very noticeable.

••The returns of sheep and lamhs show a position of continued advancement. Sheep now number 27,133,81(1 in all (the highest ever recorded), and show an increase over the 11127 returns of 1,184,79-1. The estimated lambing for the year is 13,373,287. as againstan actual 12.883,819 n J 927. A satisfactory ieature of the sheep returns is an increase of 702.321 in the number of breeding ewes.

in connection with Lhe year's large increase of sheep, it is particularly interesting to note that by, far the greater proportion of this occurred in the South Island, the increase in Canlerbury being 437,183 and in Otago and Southland 731.928. it seems reasonable to believe that one factor in ill is is the great decrease in the prevalence of tiie rahhit post, which lias been noticable during the last year or {wo. The use* of top-dressings has also, no doubt, helped a good deal. SWINE.

“The swine industry has been well maintained, the total number of pigs m the Dominion being shown as 080. 89b. an increase oi 68,i55 pigs-over the 1927 figures, and the export trade in pork has increased considerably, this no doubt, being aided by the operation of the Government subsidy. During the year, advantage was taken of tlu opportunity to introduce fresh blood breeders importing from the Dominion of Canada pigs of the large white urecd. with a view to assisting in the development of more -suitable carcasses lor the export trade. WOOL. •‘The 1927-28 season of wool sales dosed with a linn demand for all classes of wool at good values, lhe present season’s clip is teaming out well—the mild winter experienced bong reflected in the good condition of tlu docks. The hulk of the dip coming forward is a good combing wool, am!., being fairly free from dust, is a kgk-.y-yiciding article. ’lbis is home out by the saisfactory prices these v.oois have been realising from the commence iueiit. of tiie wool sales. •‘One feature of the wool position is the quality of the lower cross-bred wools, an indication that iaimcis aic exercising greater cure in the selection of their rams. A further improvement noted is the increasing number o) farmers that now pay special attention to the skirting and classing of their clips. Tliis all helps towards keener competition and firmer values. “Altogether the sheep industry appears to he in a good position, and the indications for the present season aie encouraging. DA HIVING. “Taken as a whole, Hie past year has been a good one lor the dairy industry. The volume oi the chief dairy products surpassed all in previous records, and the general average quality was well maintained. Even greater production would have been I'.'on'.eu hut for the prevalence of unusually dry weather conditions in most dairying districts during a portion of the -umiiuer months. An important facioi <n the increased season’s yield lay in the extensive application of fertilisers to

pastures. Kvid cm ico ul the increased products of tlx* industry is shown !>y the hig figures of duly 31, the close of the dairy year. Butterfat production increased by 2.19 per cent, and for Hie period August 1 to Xoveinher 3d. 192* the latest figures available, the increase was 9.S per cent, over that oi the same period for the previous year. There has been a very keen inquiiy for this season’s butter and cheese at prices on a higher level than ruling last season, and the demand lor these products as being well met.

DAIRY JIKIID TKSTIXd. •‘There was a distinct revival of the dairy herd testing movement m 192i--28. with the result that almost 54,600 more cows wore tested than at the pro cedi up season. The total nitmbei tested was 221.130. witch is 27.280 more than in U!2-l-20. when the hitherto greater number in the history ot tin movement in the Dominion was recorded. The total is made up of 56,699 cows tested under the association system, 164.610 under the group method e:.d 2821 tested by dairy companies on behalf of their suppliers. “The official herd-testing scheme js showing a substantial increase in the number of breeders participating as compared with last, season, figures to date show 11!) of our C.O.K. brcedi rs are testing 1533 cows under the official herd test. As a corresponding date

last year the numbers were 109 breecru and 1118 cows. C Eli EARS“Tiie season 1927-28 proved an exceptionally favourable one lor the harvesting of the Dominion’s two main cereal crops, wheat and oats. “From statistical returns, the actual area of wheat, threshed was 280,987 acres, giving an average yield of 30.0 f: bushels per acre, as against 38.13 bushels for the .1920-27 crop. “The area threshed in connection with nates was rather lower than the previous season, the returns showing 88.223 acre’s with an average yield oi -13.8(1 bushels per acre, as against lastseason’s average of 42.0 S bushels. The barley crop threshed from •21,()9| acres returned an average y'cld of nearly 41 bushels per acre, which is slightly lower than the average 41.89 bushels for last season, which was the highest return recorded from this crop for many years. “Delinite figures for areas sown for the 1028-29 harvest arc not yet available. hut from estimates compiled by the Government Statistician, the area under wheat aproximates 200,089 acres oats 303,090 acres and barley 22.900 acres. These figures show a slight fulling off in regard to wheat sown, oats and barley. So far its the season nates and barley. So far its the season has gone, the prospects for good crops are promising. GRASSES AND CLOVER. “The yield of seed from grasses and clovers has generally been well rnaintanocl the quality exported amounting to 5791 ten-:, of which Cilewings Fescue and Brown Top comprised the two main varieties, and produced crops of excellent quality. In some cases areas have shown it reduction on the previous year’s figures, but a compensating increased yield of seed has been recorded. This is outstanding in the returns from White Clover, where the quantity of seed harvested is almostdouble {that of last year, although the area shows a reduction of some 1830 acres. Crested Dogstail also shows a considerable increase in yield over last year’s return, which was considered outstanding. “The area actually planted in potatoes for 1927-28 season was 21.893 acres, returning a yield of 121,402 tons

HORTICULTURE. “The 1927-28 horticultural season, was a satisfactory one, climatic conditions being favourable to the development of the fruit crop, and as a result heavy yield of apples and pears— especially apples—were harvested, while the returns of stone and small fruit was ijhove the average. “The large quantities of both apples and pears suitable for export resulted in a Dominion record in the quantity of fruit exported durng the year, the figures totalling 1,928,988 cases. Oi this quantity 887,710 cases of apples and -53,090 eases of pears were 'shipped to Great Britain: 87.157 cases of apples and 300 cases of pears to Smith America; 10.921 cases of apples to Honolulu and the Pacific islands. Prices realised were, generally speaking. considered to be fairly satislaetory. . indications, at the 'present- Time point to this season’s crop being r. good average one. although, uiifortunately the recent- damage done to some crops in the Hawke’s Pay district bv a heavy hailstorm is estimated to reduce the quantity available for export by several thousand cases.

“The total area planted in eoirimcrcial orchards is approximately 30.CE0 acres. The growing of grapes, both outdoor and under glass, is showing steady progress, and a good demand exists for both fruit and wine. 'lhe area planted in vineyards in some 32-' acres, and a gradual increase is noted each year in the number ol vine-lmus-cs erected. Wine produced from last year's vintage is csl minted at ib.O-M gallons, of a conservative value <1 830.499.

"in the main apple growing disum ts increasing attention is being given to the making of cider, a huge quantity of otherwise unsaleable limit ibeing thus profitably utilised. The quantitv if cider manufactured last season is estimated at 51).1)30 gallons, of an approximate value ol £12.,;00. “The quantity of phormium hem-i graded for the period from January to Xoveinher of this year amounted to r,7,.|51 bales, the tow graded during the same period ■amounting to 16.948 bales. This shows a falling-off as compared with the gradings during the mine months of last year. An officer specially selected lor his capability ns an instructor in lmmp-miliing is now detained to visit as many mills as possible for that purpose, and it is satisfactory Lo note a general improvement in the fibre coming forward from the mills already visited.”