Farming Column

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1933, Page 8

Farming Column

PLANTATIONS ON FARMS

THEIR VALUES RECOGNISED

That- farmers realise the value of plantations, especially in the open country, is evidenced by the amount of planting that has been carried .out in the past' few years, though not so

much .perhaps in the past year or two; when money has been tight. That Taranaki conditions are eminently suited to the growing of trees is at once evident by the growth that the various plantations have made. Visits to farms in almost any part cf Taranaki will show thiii in gulleys hillsides, etc.) on quite a number of farms extensive planting Las been carried out for the three-fold purpose of keeping down the weeds, providing shelter and providing for the future requirements ot the farm in posts, firewood, etc. With the supplies of native timber rapidly diminishing and becoming more expensive farmers are finding that they have to rely more on their own supplies, and the advantages of timber plantations are that mostly they can he grown on land that is often regarded as waste land on the farm.

to-day who have mature plantations of pine on their properties are now turning th-m into money, reaping the harvest that early settlers with vision sowed. These supplies, however, must be replaced, and it is pleasing to note that in many cases replanting i s taking place, though there is room for much more. Recent visits to fire beach country about the Oka to district show that a good deal of planting ha s taken place, and.that in a few years the settlers will reap considerable financial benefit. There are to be seen some fine plantations of pine, some a s high a s 50ft., after about 14 years’ growth, whilst imhcrocarpas are also growing remarkably well. So too, are gums of various kinds, also black wattle. One settler, Mr R. B. Gray, has a hollow on the banks of the Kaihihi planted with over 3000 black wattle, which, are now in full bloom, presenting a glorious sight, whilst their scent pervades the atmosphere for a considerable distance, especially ,n the early morning. The same farmer has a plantation of over' BOOO! gums alongside a clump of honeysuckles—pretty native trees now out in flower nvliich the plantation will protect. In tile Huirangi district a plantation of gums of various kinds shows how well these trees will thrive in Taranaki. Everyone in Taranaki is familiar with the work that has been carried out in Mr Fussell’ s model farm at Waiongona, where the plantations are the admiration of all passersby. v ' A: good deal has been done in the" past,- but much more must be done now and in the immediate future if Taranaki i s to supply its own future requirements in posts and firewood, not to mention timber for ' cheese crates and; other everyday uses.

FARMERS’ NEWS AND NOTES

•In New Zealand our farmers have to take the world parity price for their goods. The tariff can be of little advantage to them for their prices are fixed .abroad. They are not affected by what happens here a§ regards price, but their ccets of production .are materially increased by the artificial loading of protective duties. But we do not advocate that existing protectivetariffs should be removed “in toto” immediately, as such would result in internal trade chaos ; the removal should be gradual with the definite objective in | view of .having them materially reduced before the term s of the Ottawa agreement are next considered.

Dr Thompson; of Farh a m Royal, England, has been authorised by ‘the New Zealand Government to spend £3OO Zn the collection of while butterfly parasites for shipment to the Dominion. For spraying—especially c.abbage s approaching maturity—1 0 prevent ravages from white butterfly the two following reeipe 6 are worthy ’of trial (a) Two oz. .arsenate of lead paste (or 1 oz. soap powder) 2 oz. so?p and 4 gallons of water. Spraying with arsenate of lead carefully mixed with w.ater in which soap has been dissolved is quite efficacious, (b) Two oz. -soap to 1 gallon of water, or 2 oz. common salt to 1 gallon of water have been used with success.

Quite recently, His Excellency, Lord Bledisloe, forwarded a beautiful silver challenge cup to the Royal Agricultural Society for competition amongst Red Poll breeders at our Royal Shows. The challenge cup will be awarded to the breeder gaining the highest aggregate in all classes. His Excellency has also donated a challenge cup for the export baconer judged by experts at Smithfield as most suited for British trade. The three most, typical carcases will be sent back to New Zealand to be displayed at some of our shows to give our breeders an indication -of what to grow. . .**•** With her congenial climate for .farming operations, New Zealand concentrates on mass production of dairy ) I produce, mutton and lamb, with the consequent result that such New Zealand produce is put on the /British market at a price lower than that required by the British:'farmer. We therefore say that international trade between Great Britain and New Zealand is inevitable,/ ( .and as international commerce is only , a form of barter, the exports Qf one country .are used to pay for it 6 imports. If we cut off the market for imports, 1 we inecessarily in the long run cut off , ' jthe market for some exports, in other j

words by shutting out foreign goods we must shut in home goods. Once ;a quota on a primary produce is 'imposed, it will be difficult to depart from such a policy. In erfei'ence with the natural run of trade always causes dislocation and uncertainty. This interference, although perhaps achieving a rise in prices, involves a Government in continuance of intervention, and impose on the producer a state of uncertainty from time' to time regarding the quantity of goods it may be prudent for him to produce. A s a result of quota restrictions imposed by the British Minister of Agriculture on standardgride Danish bacon the prh'e rose from 52s per cwt. to 83s instead of remaining round 70s or 75s as was, intended. .Confronted with the fact that prices might rise so high as to drive consumers to seek a cheaper substitute for bacon, the Minister has approached the exporting, countries with. a view of obtaining a temporary increase of gupplies.

Op'nions regarding the importation of stock from Great Britain ai'e somewhat varied. The N.Z. Farmers’ Union has consistently stood for the imposition of an embargo, whilst the Royal Agricultural Society at its conference im June last was not in favour of an embargo whilst the 'Royal Agricultural Society at its conference in June last was not in favoU r of an embargo being imposed provided the. stock passed through the quarantine station in London and through a quarantine station in New •Ze kind. .At its conference in July, 1932, the N.Z. Veterinary Association passed the following resolution : —“That the Association cognisant of the danger of introducing foot and mouth diseaee into New Zealand approves of the introduction into New -.Zealand of stock •from Great Britain which has passed ■through the quarantine station provided in that country and which has been subject to particular care im selection and .to every other practical precaution ; whilst at ibs 1933 conference in July it p.-.ssed the following;—“As regards the desirability of removing the restriction on importation of stock in c'onnectica with foot and mouth disease the Association unanimously reaffirms the resolution it passed at the last general ' meeting in July, 1932. Further that a copy of this resolution .and also that of last ye’r be forwarded to the Governor-General, the Farmers’ Union Executive, and the Royal Agricultural Society as an. expression of the considered opinion of the only body in the Dominion qualified. to express such an opinion.”

If New Zealand will not buy the manufactured "goods of her customers they will he compelled, in self defence, to take their business elsewhere, and we have ho monopoly. If Ve will riot buy Brittish goods and that a large hulk, Britain/ as a matter of ordinary business policy 1 , will he compelled to buy her goods in the markets where she sells her own exports, in order to give her. customers a motive to deal with her. If we make ourselves independent of the British manufacturer, he will likewise make himself independent of our raw materials, and what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Sign s are not wanting that Britain cannot afford to he as tolerant of the vagaries of her Dominions as she ha s been in the past, and that the day® of* the “spoilt baby’’ policy have passed. Britain is not only our best customer but she is a most dependable one. No substitute for her market could he found; if we convince the British manufacturer that we are endear during to shut him out from our markets and hold him up for the last copper on our exports, he will '(simply refuse to deal,with us, and let us stow in our own juice. In other words New Zealand must import more from Great* Britain if she wishes (to retain her goodwill and custom, and the deciding factor in maintaining that goodwill aiul custom would he the elimination of all protective tariffs on British made goods.

New Zealand cannot be self-support-ing, nor can Britain. The present methods by which we inter-change primary products for manufactured goods are the cheapest, safest and surest. Industrial independence is a dream, and a dangerous dream for a .country situated as we are. It is open to question whether a policy of preference to Britain and protection to home industry can be effectively pursued in conjunction. For if we shut Britain out, or nearly so, in favour of local industry, through a protective tariff, what is the value of the preference, and what inducement do we give her to keep on taking our products?

Whereas 5,799 males were registered witli the New Zealand Jersey (Society last year and 8,749 females there were five times as many females as males registered with the Australian Jersey Society.

** * # An English admirer of the Berkshire declares the breed has a supreme advantage for crossing in its early maturing quiality together with the fine grain and texture of meat and lightness of offal and bone. He says he has rarely found his Berkshire porkeiv lose more than 20 per cent. Berkshire lie says, are careful mothers and have plenty of milk.