THE FARM.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 131, 12 January 1916, Page 4

THE FARM.

After a long period of inactivity the United States has shown a big revival id exports ot cheese, butter and other butter fats. Butter usually averaging about 3,600,0001b annually in the export trade in the last tirancial year ended June 3U, 1915, went to nearly 10,000,0001b. Uurig that period imports of butter were reduced by more than half, falling from about 8,000,0001b in the previous twelve months period to less than 4,000,0001b. American cheese, running a about 25,000,0001b a year, went to c4,0()0,0001bs in the same fiscal period. Here, as in the case ot butter, the trade balance was transferred tu tli 3 axport side, for the yeai's imports of cheese last year totalled only 50,000,0001b, a decrease of 13,750.0001bs from the previous year. Exports of condensed milk, usually valued at 1,000,000 d. liars to 2,000,000 dollars annually in 1915 rose to 3,000,000 dellars in value, the quantity, U7,UJO,OOOIb, being double that of 1014. Imitation butter contains, in addition to

olemargarinc oil, some butter iVt. The exports of this article also doubled, rising from 2,500,0001b in 1914 to 5,250,0001b in 1915. England bus become the largest foreign market for butter, chesse and condensed milk produced iu the United States, having taken 3,333,0001b of butter out of a t tal

expo.t of lO,00O,000lb; 48,500,0001b of cheese, out of a total export ot 54,000,0001b; and 4,000,00'J1b of condensed milk out ot a total export of 4>37,000.0001b. The official statement points out that Canada, Cuba, Panama, Australia

and Venezuela, also take considerable quantities of American butter; while Cuba, Belgium, the Netherlands, China, Japan, Russia, Panama and Brazil take large amounts of condensed milk. Aus trails import d butter from America during the past year, a result due to the drought forcing our dairy herds out of commission, and the riaurea covering tbia new development, of course, would be in the official report issued at Washington. However, the txports from America to Australia were tor the past year only; there will be little room for an established trade in the future.

Lucerne in Australia.

(By 1' W Lonsdale, in "The Jour nal of Agriculture.") Lucerne has been so much discussed from various points ot view during the last few years that one may sometimes begin to doubt whehter there is really anything more to be said on the subject. Some fresh points, however, may usually be found in the experience of other countries, and a tew notes marie by the writer during a visit to Australia some two years ago may be of interest. The immense advantage of lucerns as compared nith many other fodder crops is forcibly demonstrated throughout Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. At the time of my visit to those States no rain bad fallen over large areas during the previous eight months; and yet lucerne, although not growing aa strong as under New Zealand climatic conditions, was flourishing, while other fodder crops were struggling for existence. Ordinary pastures were parched, and id numerous places many ot tfcc grasses were completely killed by the prolonged drought. On the Darling Downs some, thousands ot acres are devoted to lucerne, and it is the fodder on which the farmers throughout that district place their reliance. During May the sixth crop was being made into hay. la this district eume months later as much as £ls per acre was being paid for the right to graze lucerne lor six months, and at the same time ia parts of Victoria the rental was equivalent to £'li per acre per annum, specific casis, with names and prices paid, having been reported to the press. Of course, these enormous values were due to the protracted drought, leaving stockowneia no alternative but to pay for the grazing or let their sheep and cattle perish. lhus lucerne proved the salvation of many valuable flocks and herds. Doubtless It is again playing the same part in the severe drought which, unfortunately, is being experienced at the present time in large parts of Australia. Ihe Hunter River district of New South Wales is truly the home of lucerne in Australia, and all through the Hunter Valley there are beautiful fields ot this great todder. Under normal conditions eight crops per year are cut, and several owners of extensive areas informed me that the yields during a normal season were from 6 to 8 tons of hay per acre. After eight months of extremely dry weather the price per ton was £4 10s, but during a season whim the rainiall is satisfactory the price is about £2 10s per Jon. At the Hunter Kiver Agricultural chow, held at Wci-t Maitland, lucerne hay and lucerne chart' form one ol the principal sections in the produce department. Separate classes are ect ancle fir sweated bay atid chart, and green hay and chart"; and, judging from the exhibits, the Hunter Kiver growers are adept* at catering fur the stockowners.

It is still unknown to what depth the of ljcerne will pecetrate. At places along the Hunter Kiver the land has slipped away; and in one place the rcots of lucerne could be clearly traced 50 feet l'romt he surface, where they dieappeared and evidently descended into the river bed. la writing of lucerne in Australia | it must not be thought that the j grower has only drought to contend with. Besides weeds to combat, as in New Zealand, there are formidable pest 3 which at times compete ly destroy the crop. Foremost amongst thes6 are the grasshopper; also a small fly, something like a mosuqito, known to the growers as the lucerne-fly. The ravages ot these pests are, fortunately, not of j a very frequent occurrence. Not only is lucerne available in I the dry area*, but where irrigation is practicable it tv-lcls premier position among the fodder crops. On such irrigated land it is claimed that as many as eight dairy cows cau be kept throughout the year on 50 acres of lucerne. It addition lo the value ot lucerne for grazing and fodder, Australia exports annually a large quantity of seed. The bulk of this seed has been oi high quality, and it can be recommendtcl for sowing in New Zealand.