FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 131, 25 May 1908, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

While New Zealand butter has been selling at and above Danish on the London market—due, of course, to shortage of supplies of our butler at certain times—Siberian has been quoted on several occasions at rates equal to Danish and above Australian. The agreement arrived at between the Tarnnnki Butter. Creamery, and Cheese Factories' Industrial Union of Workers and the companies in August last has a currency of twelve months, and consequently will expire at the end of July, says the Kltham Argus. Negotiations will shortly lie opened up for a lresh agreement, which in all probability will ■show considerable alterations on' that

now in force. For many years past, (reports the Patea Press) farmers in this locality have had reason to believe that sheep-steal-ing on a small scale has been going on. Amongst those who suspected (hat the diminution of his (locks was not entirely due to nature, was Mr. L. Bremer, (if Whcniiakura. Two years ago over 411 of his sheep disappeared and lo the present day no (race of them has been found. On Monday he came across a native named Takatua taking Some skins to (lie fcllinongcry. and identified them as his property. Takatua pleaded guilty in Court lo theft, and was lined Ills trill, Court costs, and was ordered to pay Mr. Bremer £l, in default ■seven days' imprisonment. Although the development of Hie Argentine butler export trade has so fat been only moderate, the industry is one of great potentialities. According to Air. Reynolds, formerly of the Wuikato, but now manager of the Progreso factory, as reported the Buenos Ayres Standard,' the Argentine Republic is capable of producing as much butter as Australia and New Zealand combined. There arc any number of cows in Argentina, which is one of the finest grazing countries in the world, but the present methods of milking and calf-rear-ing discount the possibilities of the busi-

ness to an enormous extent. The method of allowing the calf to be brought up with its mother is wrong. Cows and calves are not separated; the calf lives on its mother and gets the largest part of the milk. Until the system is put on a proper footing the induslrv will never go ahead. The "lanibero" or "estniiciero" will never think of gelting rid of a calf, even though it costs him iiUdol. to lilldol. in milk for feeding purposes, and that at the end of that time he may possible gel as much as 20dol. for it-a clear'loss of from sodol. to 40dol. There is only one estanciero in Argentina at the present lime that is carrying on this industry in iV proper and scientific manner, Mr. Moliner, of "New Palmira," who is carrying it on on nn up-to-date system.