FARMING MENTIONS

Shannon News, 14 September 1928, Page 3

FARMING MENTIONS

Notes From Elsewhere

The Irrigation Committee. The Committee of Inquiry set up by (he Government to go into the problems and difficulties confronting irrigators in Central Otago, has again started work on the report which it is expected will, be presented to the Government in a very short time. Tho Cromwell Development Company's position in regard to its land was put before a meeting of the committee on Saturday at great length, and the standpoint of a certain faction of the Matakanm settlers was commended to the committee' recently, when that body needed to urgent requests on the part of settlers, and paid a visit to the district.

Farms Soiling. There is keen activity in the farm sales market in Te Awanmtu, and it 's estimated that fully 20 farms, ranging in aren from 30 to 250 acres, have found new owners.' In some eases properties have been subdivided and sold at reasonable prices, the purchasers being in the main men from outback districts. Some of them have capital that will enable them to proceed at once with improvements that will cause butter-fat production to increase apprec'ably next season. Pirongia seems to be especially favoured, but. all parts of the extensive Te Awanmtu district are affected. Lambs in Southland. Lambs are to be seen in various parts of Southland already, although the season has not yet commenced in earnest. Except for the past few days the weather has been congenial for the young lambs. Blown Cattle.

A complaint which has caused loss to most dairy farmers was touched upon, and a remedy given by Mr. G. V. Daynes, Government veterinarian, in a lecture to the Morrinsville branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. The ailment was gas in the rumen (first stomach). The causes, he said, could be traced to the cows lying prone, eating succulent wet clover, or roots or getting a swede or turnip stuck in the throat. The danger in the use of the usual drench was when the cow was too tight. If the cow was drenched when too tight it was possible that the beast would die. The life could be saved by puncturing where tho distension was most marked. A pocket knife eourd be used, but it was necessary to turn this in the wound to allow the gas to escape. A drench could then be used to check further trouble. A good mixture a pint of linseed oil * and two tablespoonfxls of oil of turpentine.

Dairy Produce Shipping. The National Dairy Association, which for a great number of years has attended to the shipping of dairy produce from the North- Island and latterly has been doing that business for the Dairy Produce Board at toe ports of Auckland and Now Plymouth, has been advised by the board that that body in future will do the shipping from all ports. The South Island Dairy Associa tion, which attended to shipping busi ness from all ports in the South Island, has been similarly advised. Demand for Dairy Cows.

There has been a great demand during the past month or six weeks for dairy cows, and these have sold at an average of from £lO to £l4 per head. These prices are quite reasonable for cows of picked herds with good but-ter-fat averages, but are on the high side for unlisted or unguaranteed cows There is also a good inquiry for ewes, particularly young sorts, but yery fc-.v are offering for sale, and anything good commands high money. Canterbury A. and P. Society's Report The annual report of the Cantcrbun A. and P. Society, a copy of which i.just to hand, is prefaced as follows: "It is distinctly pleasing to record for the year gone by a season in which a decided improvement in the net results, of farming operations eventuated. Compared with the two previous sea sons the 1927-28 farming year was distinctly more profitable, and the healthy improvement in the export values of primary produce will soon make itself felt upon the economic conditions of the Dominion. What is quite as satisfactory is the fact that the outlook to-day in spires "'much more hope for the future than was the case a year ago.'' Tho report deals exhaustively with the agricultural and pastoral year as it affected Canterbury' and the whole Dominion, and is full of information as to the work of the society during the year just passed.

Prime Canterbury Lamb. "Our Canterbury friends are worrying about , the quality of their fat lambs and are being driven to admit that the North Island is producing a better article," said the president (Mr. G. H. Perry) at the annual meeting the other day,, of the Mastortou Agricultural and' Pastoral Association. "Some have been alleging that this state of affairs is due to their exporting their best Southdo'wns to the North Island and taking old ewes in return. We are breeding three and a-half times a-; many Southdowns. in the North Island as are being bred in the South Island. I agree with the South Island people that our lambs are of better quality than others. Only the other day a high authority in the meat trade told me that, on their merits, the best Wairarapa A lambs should bring a rarthing a pound more than tho best that Canterbury could produce. Why, then, do they still get a price from one penny to .a penny halfpenny better than, we do. The only reason I can s\iggest is thajyi,' fictitious significance attaches tswfi§£-term 'prime Canterbury.' This is a* matter in which we have_ a lot to gain, from making the truth known as wMely as possible.'' Poverty Bay Stock Market. "Generally there ,is a yery fair in-

quiry, but sales are hard to make," remarked a Gisborne stock agent recently, when discussing the prospects of the coming season so far as stock were concerned (reports the Poverty Bay Herald). The inquiry was .or forward delivery. There were few sales, he said, because those who had lock were ask.ng prices which were considered too high for the prospective buyers. Most of the demand was for wethers off the shears, but he was unable to say that many lines had changed hands. There was also an inquiry for cattle, chiefly for male stock but most of the farmers were now down to their winter Capacity, and they were not going to dispose of their cattle and make their sheep do the work of the cattle. When reviewing the market for beef it had also to be considered that there was an improved tone in the market, and graziers he thought, were going to hold on to their cattle and see what number they could fatten.