FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 156, 27 July 1909, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

TARANAKI CONDITIONS. GRATIFYING ADVANCEMENT IN DAIRYING.

It is unnecessary to repeat that the rural conditions in Taranaki have been ideal that stock are in magniliccnt fettle, and that the fodder conserved for the winter (roots, hay, and ensilage) is m many instances untouched (says the,. Wellington Times). Milk production, in consequence, was never more popular. There has been nothing like the number i of clearing sales as in past seasons, and j more country is going into dairying, so fair is the prospect for the producer of butter-fat. Dairy cattle are at a premium. Ordinary milkers are averaging from £0 to £lO in big lines. Last week a herd of some ninety co\vs< averaged £■!), and this for the whole line, which included empty cows and blind "teaters,"

A striking instance of the feeling in Taranaki in regard to fouttcr-fat production is afforded 'by the history of the sale of the Jersey herd of Mr. IV Linn, of Mangatoki, the other day. His eighteen Jersey cows averaged £33, live purebred heifers £11), five two-year bulls £2l), ten yearling, ibulls £lO, fourteen nine or ten-months heifers £5, and thirty-three grade heifers £l3. Mr. Linn, who is going to take a rest after a strenuous dairying experience, has leased his farm of some 200 acres at £2 10s an acre, and this to a man who has been milking on a farm about four miles away, and therefore should be in a position to know what he is doing. The most satisfactory feature of the position is that new milking-sheds are being constructed all over the district, and they are affording a, complete answer to the Jeremiad critics of the dairy regulations, in that they are, with hardly an exception, being provided with concrete floors, while the majority of them arc connected with the yards by concrete races. A fact which makes this satisfactory .recital quite complete is that an ndequate water supply is being provided wherever possible: : ,i : a water, supply is even more necessary than the. concrete floor. All this is the result of the oducativc system of, dairy inspection which has been in vogue for some years past in the district.

ARGENTINA'S SPLENDID DEVELOP-

MENT,

SOME STARTLING FIGURES. Argentina lias long been held up to New Zealand as the rival it has most to fear, and the prognostication, is being verified to-day in a very unpleasant manner. British capital and largely British brains have brought ahout in the vast and favored South American republic a development of a live stock industry never before witnessed. Tbv best blood of Britain has been drawn upon to found the flocks and herds. British capital has been poured out in developing the country, and British brains (with a good sprinkling of colonial) have led the way in successful stock management. In other words, Britain has provided the quality '""1 Argentina the numbers! and numbers which, according to a recently-taken census, show that Britain has been educating tHe Spanish republic'"'only to create an overpowering rival to her own colonists on markets which should he theirs by every right. The most striking figures in the census are those dealing with cattle. These show that the numbers are'increasing by hundreds of thousands every year. The number in the whole republic has increased by nearly six million head, while horses have shown an advance of nearly 2'/ 2 millions. In one province alone, that of Buenos Ayres, the cattle number close on 18% millions, horses i'fc millions, and slice]) 34 1 /, millions. A very extraordinary thing about this census is that the sheep are, .shown to have fleet-eased by 18 "millions. It is explained, however,, that the trend of the sheep industry for some years has been to tlie south, and that when,the exact returns from this quarter are made up there will be no serious.shortuge. That there should be any shortage at all is remarkable considering that during the last two years the export of mutton and lamb, especially the latter, has shown remarkable development, having nearly doubled in'the last twelve months. With the prodigious supplies available in Argentina the American trust will find it a very easy matter to cripple the mutton trade of this country. MISCELLANEOUS.

If stock are permitted to breed indiscriminately they tend to revert towards their original types with amazing rapidity. To be successful in our various branches of farming we'must use pencil and paper, and figure out this way and that way and learn' from tlie e'xperi dices of others as 'well. Our breeding stock'"cannot he too perfect in any quality. Young stock that is Jieing kept and raised for breeders, whilst needing no pampering or coddling, will yet need careful attention. Too much hay at a time is never good for a horse. "Better feelr a-fair ration of hay and a-litlle more grain. As a class, fanners can tic, a great deal'by. organising, not only for the purpose of discussion an'd education, but also to obtain- the recognition which the importance of the industry deserves. At a meeting at Opunake on Wednesday last pf.dairy factory-representatives from Ralmtu,Ouoniii,-Piliama and Opunake, to consider the re-appointment of a Home agent, vice .Mr. Mackic (resigned), it was decided: 'That this meeting approves of the scheme in the appointment of a Home agent as suggested by the National Dairy Association, a,nd strongly recommends factories to join h the proposal." The motion was proposed by Mr. R. Lambic, junr., and secomled by Mr. A. F. Chapman, The outlook in- Victoria in connection with the grain outcrop lias not been so good since 11)05, the lambing promises to be an excellent one, and dairyiii" prospects are good. ° ■ A young boar or sow that is intended for breeding purposes should be eared for well and kindly treated.

If u horse avoids whole grain his teeth need looking a ft o r. Have them filed at once. Don't bungle the job; get a man who understands the busiTliere should be mi smoking about where the milking j s done, or about the milk at any time. Jlilk absorbs the bad qualities of, tobacco smoke quickly.

In using the currycomb' see that the teeth are not bent. Such a comb is an instrument of torture. , Teach the hoys to use it gently, as .many horses are given ugly tempers by cruel and enrebss currying. We do well to always remember that our best-pedigreeil pigs come through a long line of ancestry, which have been very carefully fed and handled, and that their progeny will deteriorate when neglected. frcam should be run over a small cooler immediately after separating and fooled as low as possible on the farm. The reducing of temperature immediately firms the fat globules, prevents early souring, and gives improved texture to the butter.