NEWS AND NOTES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 333, 21 September 1932, Page 2

NEWS AND NOTES

GOOD-BYE WINTER It is gratifying to he ahle to report that the recent warm rains have had a splendid effect upon pastures in this district. Farmers have practically seen the last of tbe winter shortage and with the new spring growth stock are nowpalmost everyv/here, ahle to get along without handfeeding. This is a very satisfactory condition and promises well for dairy season. ❖ ❖ * Th© Department of Agriculture bought several fine pedigree Jersey bulls at the recent Claudelands sale. They are to build up the Ngakuru herds. ;j :fs %

A deal in calves made in February and March last hy the Agricultural Department serves to illustrate the opinions expressed hy practical farmers that the uplands of this district can be safely relied upon to winter stock if the proper methods of providing winter feed are followed up. The department bought nearly 1000 head of Jersey and Shorthorn heifer calves for the Ngakuru hlocks. The percentage of loss on such deals in the past had been very heavy and many farmers and dealers expressed the opinion that the department had acted foolishly. But events have ■ proved otherwise. Tha calves have been wintered through with nothing more than the percentage loss allowed for by the department and will be mated next month for tha purpose of stocking other farms in the blocks. ❖ * * * Someone, whose name has not been revealed, has made a gift of a fiveguinea cup for the champion hull at the sale of the Matamata Jersey Cluh. At a meeting of the cluh it was propused that the eompetition he confined to bulls bred by cluh members, but a motion that the cup be open to eompetition for any bull was carried. The cup will become the property of the winner if won three times in succession or five times at intervals. If the hull is not sold the owner is to pay the club an offering fee of £3 3s. * * A notice of motion regarding memhership caused considei-ahle discussion at the annual meeting of the Matamata Jersey Club. The motion which was tabled by Mr. R. K. Garland, was as follows: — "That the membership of the Matamata Jersey Club be limited to mem-

bers living within a radius of 20 miles from Matamata post office, or are not members of, or in the terrilory of, anotlier Jersey club. " An amendment that the club membership bo unrestricted was carried. :i: :J: :1s The programme of the A p'icu.ltural Department provides ior tne making of 1200 acres of hay and ensilage on the Ngakuru hlocks this seascn. An area of 360 acres of root crops will also he sown. The piggeries at Ngakuru have been strengthened recently by the addition of 14 Berkshire and Large White bi-eeding sows. The latter breed is finding much favour just now for export purposes; it is a lengthy type and provides a fine side for rolling. A couple of years ago there was no grass on Ngakuru — to-day the blocks are carrying 1650 head of cattle, ineluding 390 dairy cows. This is only a start. The fact that the Jei'sey oaks eompetition was not proving to he the success expected was made clear at the annual meeting of the Matamata Jersey Club, following a question on the subject. The chairman said that all subsidies to future oaks had been cut out by the New Zealand Jersey Breeders' Association. The secretary said only one beast was left in the second oaks, and only three, the property of one breeder, in the first oaks. In the second oaks, with two years to go, there was only one beast left in. Mr. Barker said that he owned the three heasts left in the first comp'etition and he thought one of the reasons why entries were not received was because of the rules. At present an owner was paying on the blind. If he could nominate calves, and accept later when he had testad them out, only accepting for the best, he thought more interest would he aroused. A motion was carried to discontinue the oaks eompetition and that a class for C.O.R. animals be held at the next show.

;Je j): * Undoubtedly many farmers make a success of dairy farming due to their skill in management and care of stock and not solely to heing financially sound. Others fail whose cash facilities — man, machine and horse-power — are equally as good. The good manager will look well ah'ead and arrange to have the necessary supply of food provided as far as it is in his power to do so, according to the number of stock he owns, and also have this food saved in its best condition, whereas the farmer with no managing ahility will not give the necessary consideration to providing this winter feed and will often start late to put in his crops or save his hay and 'ensilage. His costs in labour and time will often be as great as the other, but his supply will be less and of xnferior value, due to wrong periods of sowing crops and harvesting.