THE CHRISTCHURCH MEAT COMPANY, LD.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 200, 21 July 1903, Page 4

THE CHRISTCHURCH MEAT COMPANY, LD.

We have under review a small book of 54 pages, illustrated, issued by the Christchurch Meat Co., Ltd., entitled " Islington Fertilisers." The cover is a work of art, front representing Venus pointing to the Eclipse floating overhead (or through the pniverse), the brand given by the Company to their fertilisers, which they say will produce full crops everywhere. On the back is a typical Canterbury landscape, with a flock of half bred sheep in the foreground, the whole beautifully executed in colors. On the inside cover is a photo- j graphic view of Islington generally. Then.it states where they have works, and offices, what they do for the farmer, and how they do it. There are several short, pithy quotations and axioms, which if accepted in the light of educational matter should be an incentive to raise two crops where only one grew before, and in theory tells the faimer how to raise and fatten more stock with the same outlay he has at present. There are short essays on "How much Manure," ''Learning how to Buy Fertilisers," •'Ammonia," "Superphosphates," "Potassic Manures," •'Bacteria in the Soils," "Plant Food and Indications," "Something tor Nothing," "Selling Fertility." "The Land a Savings Bank," etc. which will pay for perusal. The fac-similies of the brands and grades for froz-.m mutton and lamb adopted at Islington and at Smithfield are interesting to the freezer of fat stock. The detailed statement of the various parts in pounds which make up the live weight in cattle, sheep and pigs is vetj' instructive. As the buying of sheep and lambs by the pound over all is becoming geneial the handy ready reckoner will be found very useful to quickly see values per head. The gestation of stock, with the tables of dates for lambing, calving, etc. will be acceptable as a reference. An article by Mr James Lorn* of England, giving the wonderful results achieved in Belgium on its small farms will be interesting reading, and should be emulated by every tiller of the soil. Photographs of the works, wondeiful turnip paddocks, etc., are exhibited throughout the book. "What farmers say" about Islington fertilisers should be an incentive to other farmei'S to go and do likewise. The book is the best of its kind ever issued in the colony, and we must congratulate the Christchurch Meat Company on the amount of thought and work which {has been applied to the issue. It should be an acquisition to any r farmers' library. It closes with a calendar for 1903 and 1904. We are informed the Company will post a copy to any farmer on application.