FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 37, 9 March 1909, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

During the month of February 1,057,5771b of milk were received at the Kakaramca Dairy Factory. The average test was 3.79 and the highest 4.7. The butter-fat produced was 02,942.41b, and the total amount paid to suppliers £2485 14 7d.

The maize, upon which the fanners in the Waimate (South Taranaki) district ha've had to fall back owing to the scarcity of grass, is not having an appreciable effect on the dairy herds. "We are giving the cows plenty of maize," remaiked a farmer to a Witness reporter, "but neither the milk yield nor the test have increased. It is not helping us much at all," he added rather gloomily. It was his opinion that no substitute was equal to the grass for milk production and for test. The farmers ill the bush country are having all the best of the prevailing conditions, the grass there being green and plentiful. It is quite withered up or eaten down completely on the flat country. Things are not too rosy at the present time, and a steady downpour of rain is urgently needed. It i 9 considered in «ome quarters locally (writes the Palmerston North correspondent of the Wellington Poet) that the continuance of the present dry weatlier for a week or two will cause a shortage of butter during the coming winter. Most of the factories have either sold 1 or consigned tfoeir output up to the end of March, and with a continned daily decrease in the milk supply it may be a matter of some difficulty to manufacture sufficient for local consumption. Ordcm may also be expected from South Africa and Australiaabout that time, while the tendency to go in for cheese will also affect the local market- supplies. A peculiar development is reported from the Rangiwahia district, where a number of small farms have been bought up and converted into sheep runs, the owners tiring of the never-ending industry necessary to make cows pay. As a re-ult. the local factory's output is only 40 to 50 tons for the year. A few years ago Rangiwahia was turning out 110 tons of butter per month.