ESSENTIALS IN DAIRYING.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 42, 7 August 1924, Page 4

ESSENTIALS IN DAIRYING.

TESTING AND MANURING. | Mr. H. Poland’s Advice. i

Speaking- at the official opening of , the Norfolk Dairy Company’s new factory on Friday, Mr. H. Poland, '• M.P., urged the adoption of herd test- j ing and the more liberal use of fertilisers as being- important to sue- 1 cessful dairying. Showing the increasing xiopularity i of herd testing, Mr. Poland stated that in 1909 there were only 815 cows (other than purebreds) under test in New Zealand. In 1913 the number had increased to 25,000, in 1923 to 84,800, and in 1924 to 150,000. During- the past season nearly twice as many cows were under test than during* the previous period, but as there were 1,300,000 dairy cows in the Dominion it was seen that only a very small proportion of the cows were under test. During- the past season he had adopted herd testing* for his herd and he had seen for himself the value of testing-, without which it was impossible to ascertain which cows were the best butterfat producers. Testing- did not cost much and farmers must spend the paltry sum required. He suggested that perhaps the Government should test the cows free as it was such a great benefit to the country. Culling as the natural consequence of testing was certainly an expense to the farmer, but lie maintained that ultimately it was not

an expense. In advocating* the more liberal use ; of fertilisers Mr. Poland said that land at Hawera had been selling- at : £l4O an acre. This price was de- * manded as the land was milking a ? cow to the acre, this being- possible only by the great use of fertilisers. The cost of fertilisers was not ex- j cessive and he was told that the price was only 5 per cent, above pre-war figures.

A Voice: Is that correct? I Mr. Poland: I doubt it, but that is what Mr. Wilson, chairman of the Fertiliser Company, says. j In 1914 138,000 tons of fertilisers were imported to the country and last year 139,000 tons, only 1000 tons . more. During that period the num- ' ber of dairy farmers had greatly in- ! creased, and when it was realised that the country had imported practically no more fertilisers it was seen that the farmers had not been giving the land enough fertilisers to make production. All land, swamps or hill country, wanted fertilisers, and by so doing tire production of the country would be increased. By sub-division and more intensive cultivation the output could be further increased. The output of butter was actually less than that of the previous season but last season was the best year he had because he fertilised 30 acres of his land. The cost of the fertiliser was not worth consideration but railway freights were heavy. It would not do any harm if the Government paid the freight on all the fertilisers. When racing clubs demanded that race horses should be carried free one way— (Laughter.) “It’s a fact, and they’ll get it,” he said. It was i argued by the racing- clubs that such | a concession would be a tremendous ! indirect benefit to the railways as it j would increase the traffic. The argu- \ ment for free freight on fertilisers j was that it was a great indirect bene- | fit to the country in increased j production.

When Mr. Poland introduced the subject of cheap money there were murmurs of approval from the hearers. “ Cheap money,” he continued, “ is that which costs us nothing, but we can’t get that.” All sections of settlers were clamouring- for money not only to wipe olf mortgages but also for farm improvements. At present there was not one man in ten getting what he asked from the State Advances Office. Many applications had been made months ago and the applicants had not got the money yet. The department could not give a tenth of what was required. He considered that agricultural banks would be a great improvement to the dairying business and there was not the least doubt that they could not find money in New Zealand otherwise. Speaking in connection with the Dairy Produce Control Act he said

that' though he had not agreed to every item in it he approved of the principle and maintained that farmers should combine for the sale and transport of their produce. If all the farmers would combine they would have a driving 1 power so that effect would be given to reasonable requests.