FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81891, 20 November 1906, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

The vigorous growth of vegetation n Norili CanUiiiury is giving good evidence of the beneficial eliects of ■ae recent rains. t lie crops are in a satisfactory condition, and the grass is making good headway again the early potato crops are looking i.ial.iiy, and, so far, ilie presence ot cligiu has not bei-a reported. Shearing operations will be in full swing mu most of the souther stations next •leek.

The sale of wheal is reported from l'imaru of a line of 4000 sacks of prime milling, principally Velvet, at j i, f.0.b., sacks extra, >*s brokerage. This is equal to about 2/11S at country stations direct over the line 10 the ship's side, or to 3,, ex sfote di Timaru.

A gentleman who has just returned nom Australia, and wno auendtd tnc Sydney Show there, told a Timaru 'l'ost" reporter that the Christchurch Show just held was lar better than the Sydney Show or any other show -u Australasia. He believed he would ue right in raying further that tno ir-st of the big shows at Home could jo! excel it.

It is doubtful if within the history of SLockbK-eding in Australia the .ndes of cattle have reacued the price ihey are now doing (says the Sydney "Mail''). By latest London advices >he price is <;d per lb for best Aus.ralian bullock hide?. This would mean for an average hide, 6olb, yz 6. It is no' so many years ago since hides were north not more than fiom 10 to 15, each. The dairy faimer who exposes all milk utensils to the sun and air has lUle trouble from bad milk. Strong unhght kills bacteria rapidly, and when a can has r.OL been thoroughly cleaned or a crack is left wi'li a little casein that will quickly spoil, exposure to the sunlight wi 1 in most cases remedy the carelessn.oo 111 cleaning. The I'icton Freezing works, which nave been a mainstay to farmer- of S arborough and Marlborough generally by providing a reliable market will probably re-open in Det/ember for the reception Jjf lambs. The number of lambs offering in Marlborough this year (says the Wellington ''Times'') is expecfc'd to b<- a large increase on that of any previous year, owing to the increase of nearly So,ooo head of sheep since last ytar

M. Murphy, F.L.S., referring to the growing of lucerne fur pasture, makes the following in the Government Year Book:—-'This permanent fodder plant thrives admirably in most parts of Xew Zealand, provided the land is not waterlogged, yielding three or four cutting': in tje year; and, if prjperly cultivated and we.l auended to, particularly in 'ts •-•arly s age of growth, it will continue to yield liberal cuttings for seven or eignt years, or even longer. This is a mo?t excellent crop for the -mall or largfi farmer, furnishing, as i does, an abundant supply of succulent fodder, in deeply-cultivated soils, during the drier months jf midsummer, as well as in the early spring. All farm animals arc partial ;o lucerne; pig ; thrive upon it, Xo sarin should be without a well-culti-vated plot of this plant. In deeply cultivated land lucerne will yield four or five cuttings during the season, no matter what the weather may be. ft is this drought-resisting quality which lucerne sucil a valuable fodder plant in Queensland and New South Walts where it is exten-

-ive y grown f.>r pa-:ure purposes, and lor hay, which is largely exported for u>e in oilier pai'-s of the Commonwealth.''