The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1904. DAIRYING PROSPECTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 207, 5 September 1904, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1904. DAIRYING PROSPECTS.

The prosoects of the dairy seasoi just beginning a re discussed by tin New ZoaJaml Times in its issue o Saturday. Those who are able t< speak with authority, says the Times predict that should the growth o grass be even a fair average one tho output of dairy produce wil considerably exceed that of last year Stock generally are in excellen condition, as the winter .has beei mild, and dairy larmers are i.onlid ently expecting a successful season While the prices obtained in Englant for New Zealand dairy produce an not likely to reach the high level attained two or three years ago, tlu view token by those whose busines: it is to watch the London market is that there is no reason for aim i.i on this score. The quality of New Zealand buitter has earned it a commanding reputation at Home, at recent cable messages have shown, and in spite of the competition from the Argentine and other quarters, this reputation ought not to culler whilst the valuable system o! grading established by the Governmi-nt is in force. Mr J. t!. Harkness, secretary of the National Dairy Association, who lately visited Taranaki states that advices show that there is an unlimited demand at Home for New Zealand butter for Is. This means that so long as producers arc willing to take ikl cash f.o.b. at Wellington, tlwy will have an unlimited demand for their butter. Thenis one question of vital importance which lias for some time engager the attention of those who wish well to tihe dairying industry namely, the necessity for the systematic improvement of the dairy herds. All authorities seem to be agreed that tlie time has arrived when this question must be faced in earnest by dairy farmers. Some farmers luiu already set about tliis duty tint men who conduct their business on scientific principles—but tho great majority have so fur neglected it. "It must bo remembered, when we feel inclined to blamo farmers in this matter," said Mr Harkness, " tiiai j the industry lias- grown so rapidly that the people concerned in it have had to employ cows of any kind showing a profit. For instance, about 100,000 cows are being milked daily in the Taranaki province, and you will see what that means when you realise that this is an industry which lias grown up within eight or ten years. But, admitting all this, it must be recognised-that the farmers ought now to set about improving their herds on some systematic plan. If this were done tlie output of dairy produce could be increased by at least one-third of the present quantity without any increase in expenses. The farinei ought to test every cow in his herd, and it is only the man who does that who gets the best results. If you want to see the eiTects of the present system, you have only to compare the number of cows supplying any particular factory with the total number of pounds of but-ter-fnt paid for a t tlie factory during that season, and this will at once show what the average is for each cow, and that it is considerably l>elow the standard." While congratulating tlie Government upon What it has done for the colony's herds by the importatioq of purebred Stock, Mi' Harkness is of opinion that tlie system of placing those cattle in various districts lor tin use of breeders in lliose localities is wrong. He suggests that the animals should be kept at the State fuims, and that the Government should breed stock 'and seil it cheaply to tlie farmers.