THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19994, 11 January 1927, Page 4

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

FORTHCOMING SHOWS. J January 8. —Blueskin. January 14.—Waikouaiti. January 21. —Palmerston. January 20. —Tapanui. March 16.—Lake County. March 31.—Geraldine. A story which concerns the strange rn.intake of a bench of judges at the big Palermo Show of the Argentine Burai Society, which this year celebrated its dia tnond jubilee, is reported in The Standard, of Buenos Ayres as follows: “Ihe first das--of Clydesdales, through some error, were considered as Shires, and the judges of thai breed placed the awards, but when the error was discovered the same stallions wore brought back and judged by the Clydesdale judges. It is somewhat amusing to relate that the difference of acceptance of the respective merits of the competitors resulted in the horse that was placed third by the Shire judges being placed in first position by the Clydesdale judges, while the horse placed in first position by the Shire judges was eventually left in the fourth position when the final awards were made on Clydesdale standards.” The report proceeds: ‘‘The writer is personally aware that there was in former years a difficulty to distinguish .between these breeds as represented by some of the entries at Palermo, though this, is the first occasion that their similarity satisfied the judges of the respective breeds. Mr K. L. Grant, of Methlick, Aberdeen- i shire, and Mr R. S. M'Wiiliam, of Gargustoh, R/OSs-shire, the respective AberdeenAngus and Shorthorn judges, made the awards in the Clydesdale section. In December, 1925, owing to the alleged presence of Mediterranean fruit-fly in the Dominion, the Argentine Government prohibited the importance of Now Zealand fresh fruit and vegetables into Argentina, this principally affecting the trade in apples. Owing to representations made the embargo was provisionally lifted last January, and it has now been definitely removed. This decision is taken to bo the result of the favourable report given by Messrs Trelles and Blanchard, the Argentine officials who visited New Zealand last summer. • « • • At a meeting of the Owaka A. and P. Society executive the secretary reported that the financial result had been very satisfactory. The cup presented for most points in the show was won by Mr A. MTntosh (Otekura); ' the weight of the fat bullock was 7641 b; and the weight of the fat sheep 80|lb. Appreciation was expressed of the work of the judges, and the secretary was instructed to write to them accordingly. • • • • The origin of the Suffolk breed of sheep is interesting. A Southdown ram presented by Lord Sheffield to a friend got by accident among a little flock of Norfolk ewes belonging to a tenant. When the lambs were drawn fat the butcher picked first every one sired by the Southdown. So writes Miss E. M. Prentice. Further matings of this cross were immediately tried, and there is ample evidence in the agricultural histories of the period of . the interbreeding of the Norfolk ewe and Southdam ram in the Eastern counties, particularly in Suffolk, during the early part of the next century, and of the fact that by the mating of these two breeds primarily was evolved the “Suffolk” of 1859, then a recognised distinct type. • * » • The death has occurred at Wellington of Mr James Stuart Holmes at the age of 80. He was a son of the Hon. Matthew Holmes, and owned the Awamoa Estate which, since he disposed of it, has been out up into some of the finest residential sites in Oamaru. The deceased was a prominent breeder of Clydesdales and produced some magnificent specimens which were eagerly sought by breeders in other parts of New Zealand. • • • • .Writing by the last mail from the Argentine the representative of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board says: A number of New. Zealand-bred Holsteins were offered on this market over a month ago when relatively few were disposed of at auction, and it has to be recognised that they appeared small when compared with the big well-grown representatives of the breed imported from the c r -ntry for origin, and with many show yard records to their credit. I am not aware how the Now Zealand owners fared, though I am in a position to know that the owners of the Dutch cattle lost around £7OO in their shipment. * » • • The value of seaweed compared with farmyard manure has been given as about two loads and a-half of fresh or one load and three-quarters of two months-old seaweed to one load of farmyard manure. Seaweed has the great advantage over the latter of being free from weed seeds. Some farmers make a practice of applying farmyard manure to grasslands and seaweed to crops. An interesting fact is related that at Noirmoutiers, on the coast of France, where large herds of cattle are kept it has beome the practice, for centuries, to collect the dung, dry it for fuel, and use the resulting ashes to mix with seaweed for manure. In many cases, shells are carried to the land with the seaweed with much advantage, from the point of view of liming. Another point in favour of its use is that it has a alkaline effect on the soil. The composing of seaweed with lime or stable manure has been recommended; it is customary to spread it in layers from fin to Sin deep with lime scattered between. The heaps are turned occasionally and are ready for use in two or three months. Precautions are necessary for the prevention of loss of ammonia. * • » * The period following New Tear is often the most critical period in the dairy farmer’s calendar. December sees most of the grasses reach maturity, and with normal summer weather the next few weeks show a marked decline in the production of Ihe pastures. This coincides with and tends to encourage the natural tendency for the cows lo dry off, or at any rate to markedly drop in their milk-yield,, and a good supply of succulent food coming forward as tho pastures decline will make all the difference in butter-fat production. Luerne, maize, Japanese millet, and earlysown soft turnips provide a very useful January feeding. Ensilage, too. acts as an excellent brake on the downward trend of # , The annual summer show of the Waikouaiti Agricultural and Pastorial Society .will be held on the racecourse at Waikouaiti on Friday of this week. This fixture is one of the most interesting of the smaller country shows, and visitors will be assured of a good day’s outing. Eentnes this year are well up to standard in all sections, and the executive has every reason to hon" that this year’s show will be as successful as those of past years. Lloyd George’s scheme for rehabilitating the British farming industry is thus described by one of his political opponents. “There is to he,” he said, a county agricultural authority, with the necessary officials; a land court, with the necessary officials; a county land office, with the necessary officials a central loan hoard, with necessary officials; the land commissioners, and their proper officiate; a valuation department, and its officials, a rural housing hoard, and its. officials: wages boards, and their officials; and there is to be a greatly augmented Ministry of Agriculture, with move officials. An exchange continues: “Lloyd Georae must have been told about what we are doing in New Zealand, where public officials to handle the farmers produce, bid fair to shortly outnumber the farmers themselves.” » * * • Colonial visitors to shows in England find a source of interest in breeds of sheep exhibited which would not be given paddock room in the colonies. One such is the Herdwick. a scraggy little customer that lags with surprising superfluity on the stage of British agriculture. The Herdiek. we are told, is descended from 40 small sheep which saved themselves from the wreck of a Spanish ship stranded about the perfed of the Spanish Armada, on the coast of Drigg. The ewes clip 31b of wool, hoggets and wethers 41b to 51b. and rams 71b to 81b. The breed has at least a romantic ancestry.

By Eusticus. ritems of Interest to those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits with a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be addressed to “ Rusticus,” Otago Dally Times. Dunedin.]

Young lucerne stands may require mowing towards the end of January or beginning of February. It is better to allow the young plants to strengthen than mow too early, unless weed-growth is likely to be troublesome. Provided the weather is dry, old stands should oe thoroughly cultivated to eradicate grass, etc., as opportunity offers after mowing. Young stands should be given light cultivation as they become better rooted, with the same object in view. Grazing of well-established stands by stock should be carried out in blocks, as lucerne will not stand constant nibbling. Lucerne may be sown up to the end of February at the rate of 101 b to 121 b in 7in drills, of 61b to 81b in 14in drills. On average soils a covering of Jin to Jin is sufficient, and even nn sandy soils the depth should not exceed lin. The failure of mauy crops to germinate well has been due to too deep sowing. ’ • » • * Investigating recently the prevalence of a severe scald condition in a line of Sturmer apples in a cool store at Hastings, the attention of an officer of the Department of Agriculture was drawn to the timber used for the construction of the cases in which scalded fruits were found. In every instance one or two boards of marcocarpa Cyprus were used. Further investigation gave conclusive evidence that these boards were responsible for the damage. A questionable case was selected from a number taken out of store for re-packing, and was opened on a side made up of two pieces of timber, one a 7in macrocarpa board, the other a 4in insignis pine board. Every apple in the three rows immediately beneath the macrocarpa was scalded, while those beneath the isignis pine were perfectly sound. In addition to the scald condition the fruit in close proximity to the macrocarpa boards was severely tainted, not only having a strong odour resembling that of creosote, but tasting equally strong. The miller of the timber,, however, stated that it had not been treated with any' such preservative. As there is no doubt as to the detrimental effect in this instance, it is clear that macrocarpa timber should not be used for fruit cases.

WAITATI SHOW. MOST SUCCESSFUL DAY. QUALITY AND NUMBERS GOOD. Of late years the annual .summer show of the Blueskin Agricultural and Pastoral Society, owing to a variety ot causes, has been going steadily backwards. Last yea. neither entries nor quality were what they might have been, and in spite of the fact that the society boasts a good financial membership the attendance was lower. All this was changed at this year’s show, which was held on Saturday under extremely adverse conditions. Rain fell heavily ana steadily all the afternoon, but nevertheless the gat© takings wore SO per cent, in excess of last year’s, when comparative fine conditions prevailed. The entries this year were a great improvement on last, and the average standard of qualify was much higher. There will be many in the Waitati and neighbouring districts who will hail with delight the return to former popularity that was apparent at the Blueskin show last week. Even the rain could not damp the enthusiasm of a large crowd of visitors and exhibitors. The catalogue was not as comprehensive as some, covering as it did only horses, cattle, and dogs, but in the sections that were scheduled the number of entrants was most encouraging, and competition was keen throughout. In these columns last year was published an article deploring the lack of interest among members that had made the Waitati shew one of the worst for years, but this year it. is the scribe’s duty to congratulate the society, at the head of which are Messrs K. B. Ferguson (president) and W. Proudfoot (secretary). Events like that held at Waitati last week fulfil the primary aims and objects of agricultural shows, which are the improvement of standards per medium of comparison. A noteworthy feature of th© display in both cattle and horses was the almost total absence of purely stud stock. The surrounding district is not noted for its stud farms, but it has no mean reputation as Uic home .of good cows and horses The cattle exhibited were all fine dairy types, proved producers and of no ordinary breeding. All the horses in the draught sections had felt the chafe of chains and the knocking of swingletrees, and were quite feniiliar with the work of the farm. The utility stock was certainly a feature of the shew. . Show ring champions may be all right in their place, but tho solid worker is the best horse for the small farmer, and the heavy milker or fat producer is infinitely preferable to tho beautiful animal covered with red, blue, or yellow tickets. Tho show was a fair indication of the resources of the district of mixed farms. The three popular milking breeds—Jerseys, Ayrshiros, and Friesians—were well represented—tho Ayrshires best of all. In these classes the successful exhibitors were Messrs P. Ireland, G. Fox, M. A. Tubman, and J. W. Lament. Mr D. Wright scored many well deserved wins with his Jerseys and had a keen rival Mr W. Reid (Seacliff). Other well-known settlers also won prizes for this class of stock. Messrs F. J. M‘Don aid and Company, and T. Hewitt were responsible for the great majority of the Friesians, the quality and numbers of which were a marked improvement on last year’s. The entry of crossbred dairy cattle was small for some reason. The excuse cannot be offered that there are none about. There are plenty of splendid quality crossbreds in the district, house cows and milkers in herds of three or half-a-dozen. One is tempted to wonder whether some farmers are not under tho misapprehension that a beast is not worth showing if it has not a pedigree or is purebred. Both the draught and light horse sections were good. The two and three-horse teams and tho young stock classes produced keen competition and included some extra special quality animals. A lot ol good hard-working farm horses had a holiday in the Waitati district on Saturday. The honours in both classes of horses were very evenly divided. Last week’s show is a good example of what can bo done if an executive sets I itself out to get entries. Last year there were those who aaid the district was going back, and therefore could not be expected to supply tho same good entries year after year. This has been clearly disproved, and the Blueskin executive this year has reason to be proud of its effort. All the judges present spoke in terms of the highest appreciation of tho stock shown. The press owes the secretary and his assistants a debt of gratitude for the assistance rendered every year, and for tho promptitude with which all results are supplied. The Blueskin Society could teach many a larger and more influential body i a helpful lesson or two in this direction.

FARM ECONOMICS. WORK OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. At the last meeting of tlie Board of Agriculture, held at Wellington, the Director-general, Agrictulture Department, communicated to the board an outline of the progress which is being made by the Farm Economics Branch of the Fields Division in its investigations. At the present time the work in hand embraces—(l) A survey of mixed farming in Canterbury; (2) an investigation into the cost of producing wool and meat, and their relationship to each other; (3) an investigation into the cost of producing butter-fat. . In every ease an endeavour is being made to study the whole farm as a unit, rather than follow a detailed system of cost accounting. From such a study it is considered that it will be possible to ascertain the per-acre production of a farm, and that by careful study the cost may be broken up fairly accurately into its respective branches.

Good progress is being made in Canterbury; offers of assistance are being received from sheep farmers in _the_ North Island; the dairy position is being investigated in the Manawatu, Wairarapa, and Waikato districts. The board was advised that some farmers are rather diffident about disclosing their financial position. It therefore considers it wise to point out that the identity of the individual furnishing informaton is lost in the department, inasmuch as each form is numbered and the name of the person supplying the information does not appear on the form at all. In any case, all information is treated as strictly confidential, and the board therefore trusts that all those approached will assist the departmental officers to the best of their ability, as it is highly desirable, m the interests of producers as a whole, that accurate information concerning the cost of production should be secured and published.