FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 175, 17 August 1909, Page 1

FARM AND DAIRY.

BRIGHT PROSPECTS AHEAD. GOOD PAYING PRICES. The dairying season lias commenced under happy auspices, the supply to the factories in the Auckland district being \ larger than in any previous August. The / prospects are for" u good nverage year, said Mr AV. Spragg. managing director of the New Zealand Dairy Association, to a Herald representative. Mr Spragg does not expect high prices nor low I prices, hut he expects a good paying figure. The output will probably be very much increased over last year if the weather is favorable. The supply is exceptionally early; there is plenty of grass—cows arc coming in in good condition) j' |an|l fin increased mnimlvr of cows are being milked. Especially m t'ae Waikato, a good many farmers are turning their attention from cropping to dairying, attracted by the high prices paid for butter-fat last year. During the past season the New Zealand Dairy Association paid an average of over lid per lb for butter-fat, giving a better return than would probably he obtained from cropping or grazing. The association is advancing lid for the present month, and the advance throughout fcU ■• season will be '9d, with the usual division of profits at the end. Mr. Spragge considered it rather significant that up to the present he had not heard of a single output being sell, whereas the buyer was usually liard at work by this time. Last year many buyers gave a good deal more for New Zealand butter than they got, and, in consequence, were rather shy of burning their fingers again. Indications were that buyers would be cautious, and that consignment would be more generally resorted to than usual.

THE CHEESE MARKET. CANADIAN OUTLOOK. Tis an ill wind that blows nobody any good. The Canadian output of cheese tliis year will probably show a decline on that of last season, and, ii consequence, the prospects for New Zealand cheese of the coming season are distinctly good. "There is a prevailing, idea," says a Canadian correspondent, under date of July Bth, "that the niaKe of cheese in Canada will lie less than that of last year. Up to the close of the week ending June 26th the quantity of cheese received in Montreal from May Ist was 379,053 boxes, against 387,182 boxes for the same period of last year. The flush of the season's make is now on, and it is thought by well-posted men in the business that production cannot overtake that, of 1907, in view of the hot and dry weather in a number of sections." A main reason for the Canadian shortage is that cows came to calve in many sections in very poor condition, and certainly not in' the necessary form to produce much milk.

Cheese is selling for export in Canada at ll%c. to ll%c, prices y s c. to %c below those of a year ago.

The amended Home representation scheme of the National Dairy Association has been so favourably received by dairy companies subscribing to the Association that its success is assured. The directors have, therefore, decided to call for applications for the position of London representative, in succession to Mr Charles Mackie. The new Kakaramea Dairy Company has made a significant move in the direction of establishment (says the Kakaramea correspondent of the Patca Press.) The tender for the main factory and machinery has been accepted, and a meeting w'ill be called at an early date to proceed with the erection of a building and plant for cheese-mak-ing. Produce buyers are expected along towards the end' of the mouth for the purchase of the company's output of butter. A poor 50 tons is all there will be to oiler, which will represent the output for September and October, after which cheese will be the chief subject ol interest.

It is often urged that winter dairyi ig should be more extensively engaged in than at present in the Auckland province. Mr W. Spragg, managing director of the New Zealand Dairy Association, savs that farmers find it more profitable to stop for two months, during June and July, dry off their stock, turn them amongst the turnips, aid thus ensure their being in good condition in August. The inconvenience of milking in the short, cold, and wet days is also obviated by this practice. At a meeting of the "Council of the N.Z. Jersey Cattle breeders' Association, held at Palmerston North this week, the following new by-law with respect to the Herd Book was adopted: —lf any inaccuracy be discovered relating to any entry, such entry may be cancelled by the Council, and the aninnl may be expunged from the New Zealand Herd Book. Should it at any time be proved that any entry is based upon any fraudulent statement or history, such entry shall be cancelled in like -manner, and tlie animal or animals expunged from the New Zealand Jersey Herd Book. i Talking of contagious niaminitis, Captain Young, of the Stock Department, says it takes a curious phase sometimes, and might be found in heifers who had not been milked at all. The first thing noticed in connection with the cow affected was that the niilk from one teat was oue day bigher in color than that from the others, in a few days it seemed to have less color, and a few days later it would become stringy, and this was followed by pus. In the acute stages the teat was very much swoollen as if there was a bit of cotton or something like that in it, about the centre of tne teat. M tile disease was overcome hy nature a little pea might form on the side of the teat. They should never try to remove that pea as it contained many germs of the disease, which if liberated might affect the. herd. Contagious niaminitis was chiefly spread by the hands of the milkers or by suekng calves, or by the cloths used for cleaning the teats. Miking machines had also been blamed, but he did not think there was any risk from machines provided they were kept properly clean. As to a cure, the only satisfactory remedy was the 4 per cent, solution of bora'cic acid. There was no chance of curing it if it was in the upper part of the udder. The best plan if only one or two animals were, affected was to keep them isolated.—Hawera Star. Y.\ the stallion section of the big Melbourne, sale there were sixty-two I New Zealand and forty-four Australian stallions. 'Die former realised £10,027 an average of ICIT(>, and the latter £4735. an average of £lO7. The comparison is even move striking when t.io sales of- the New Zealand mares arc considered. There were forty-five of these, and they realised £4074'/,., an average of £lO4, or nearly as much as the local stallions. Thus the 107 New Zealand horses realised .Cls,tiol'/ 2 . The highest price made by a. New Zealand four-year-old colt, by Pride of Newtown, which made «00 guineas for Caffrey and Murphy, ihe Victoria n dealers. Other good prices made by New Zealand stallions were : A son of Shepherd Lad, 385gus; a son of Tarn O'Shanter, 380gns; a son of Baron Graceful, 350'gns ; another son of the same sire, 325gns ; and a son of Yoing

Kelvin, 300gns. * Mr J. D. Mitchell, of Mannia, ton]

over four stallions and sold them_ privately before the sale came off at £ll3O. One of them, Knight of Waihi, was taken by the Dookie Agricultural College at 320 guineas. O'le of them, wliich he purchased in the Hawera saleyards at 70 guineas, sold at 250 guineas. A New Zealand mare also put up a record, realising 410 guineas under the hammer. She is a nine-year-old daughter of Shepherd Lad. It is stated sue was sold privately before the sale at 120 guineas. lAnother Niew Zealand marc, by Gladiator, made 380 guineas. Several others sold well. A daughter of Sandv McArtlmr went lo 2011 guineas, a daughter of Glemvye to 13!) guineas a daughter of Dictator to the .»amo r,-»re, and a daughter of Tarn O'Shanter lo U-t guineas. A. liastie, of Turanaki. soU six for 370 guineas, one of them being a daughter of Danger Signal.