FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 192, 17 September 1909, Page 1

FARM AND DAIRY.

It is gratifying to know that dairy I farmers in two districts at least art! I considering the question of amalgamation of forces (says the Wellington Times). Directors of the MuuriccviUc | Co-operative Dairy Company and the • Masterlon Co-operative Dairy Company , will meet to discuss the amalgamation | proposal. From Taranaki we hear of i the decision of the Hurwortli Co-opera-tive Dairy Company to amalgamate with the Co-operative Dairy Company, the former to lie run as a creamery of thu latter. The independent district co-operative concern is a very desirable thing, but independenet is a poor substitute for economiial working. To. conduct bultvr-making to the best advantage the supply must hi sufficient, and yven where there is, r decent supply it is often more profitiuli 10 be an adjunct of a large concern which can be worked with a minimum of cost than to be a separate organisation with the natural increase in expenditure. . Then, again, one of the great weaknesses in the dairy businesses in this country is the opposition of cooperative concerns i-;i the one territory. It is, therefore, a good sign that a healthier spirit in regard to co-opera-tion, which is at the root of the amalgamation movements referred to, :s being evinced. It may be news to somei distriut farmers to learn that there is land not far from Hawera that carries twelve sheep to the acre iyt about seven months in the yeah Needless to say, the pastures on the farm where this is dooe have been top-dressed (lime being used), and a more powerful argument for adopting this course could scarcely be brought forward. Farmers who go in for top-dressing are practically agreed that the land carries double the number of stock after treatment. Many people have the opinion that because land is not cropped it requires no attention, resowing i n grass or supplying the qua'ities the pasture- has been losing for years being unthought of. But an authority states that every 600 gallons of milk takes out a large amount (about 541b) of the three principal constituents of the soil, and even allowing for the manuring of stock, there is a constant loss of feeding value from a pasture. Taranaki soil is said 'to oe very rich, but short of lime. One local farmer,' commenced top-drc.-sing with lime,some .ten vears-ago/aml is quite convinced as to its efficacy. He says that not onlv does the land carry double the stock, but the herbage is much sweeter and the animals consequently in better condition, as they are enabled to get the lube from the soil that is essential to their proper development.—Star. Five buyers met representatives of Hawera Dairy Company and Melrose (Curie's proprietary) in Hawera. on Tuesday. It is- understood that 5%1 was offered for cheese, but the makers declined to close at that price. On Tuesday thirteen firms were represented in Waitara to meet North Taranaki and TjTuti directors, but "10 business resulted, both companies putting their article on firm offer at a trifle more than buyers would operate on. About one-sixteenlu of a pennv is the difference in both eases between buyer and seller.

A little soot spread over the sol before onion seed is sown will prove beneficial.

A proposal is on foot (says the Ekelahuna Express) for the amalgamation of Masterton and Mauriceville Cooperative Dairy Companies. The Ballancc Dairy Company lias indented 70 tons of Basic slag for the use of its shareholders for improving ther pastures.

The man who runs a dairy farm and raises pigs ivill*flnd that by good management the cows will pay'all expenses of the farm and the pigs will put money in the bank.

To iniike the animals comfortable illways means influencing the milk supply lavontlily. Cows must be kent from draughts, chills, an 1 wet. When a horse ij Hell shod the shoe anil the froj; should lie level with the "round surface; and it is an erroneous idea that if Hie frog touches the ground lameness ensues. The curl in a pig's tail is not a use! >.'.s drnnment; it indicates good health. When t.li« curl begins to straighten out iook for disease, and give medicine or a change of feed. "Considering tlie amount of capital invented, if well eared for there is no aniuiui on the farm that will liring in so good a return as the brood sow. Anybody can make money for a while by stealing the natural fertility out of the soil, but that is not farming—that is mining. Sueh a man should go to the diggings and handle a pick aid shovel.

If a farm will not pay when wetf farmed, it will certainly not pay when nor, farmed at all. So' with a cow U\ fciilk; if she will not pay for faiiiy generous feeding she will not pay 'on short commons. Lecturing to the South Canterbury teachers at tile Technical School (says tho Timaru 'Post), Dr. Ililgendorf explained that the buttercup was a poison to cattle. "For that matter," he added. ' all flowers are poisonous to cattle if eaten in sufficient quantities."

The Stock Department is now giving notice to landowners to cut and remove noxious hedge plants from their properties (says the Tapanui Courier). Thc'.e are overgrown hedges all over the district, and some properties with many acres of spreading gorse.

Drought in the Cape.—lt is reported that, on account of the prolonged drought in the Itarrydale district of Cape Colony, the farmers are in a critical condition as regards their ostrielL's and oilier stock.

"There is too great a tendency for tanners to value their wool at so'much per pound instead of at so much per sheep and' per acre,'' the Wanganui Chronicle reports llr. -T. T. Cabill to have said at the wool-classing demonstration.

It is not necessary to use i knife nil the time when skinning a sheep; in fact, it is far preferable to use the han-T. There is then less danger of the skin ibeino' damaged, and besides, it is taken off more quickly. 'Canada can now dictate her own terms in the matter of such raw materials as pulpwood. the American supply being practically at an end. And sign-- are not wanting that in the not far dist'int future Canada will command the world's wheat market.

Mr. Ernest Short, r>t I'aroiangi (save the Fcilding Star), intends to make'a trip to Die gnat international Exiiioinon in Buenos Ayres, the capital of the Argentine Republic, next year. Mr. Short will take a number of sheep to the exhibition. During last Jeafion 31 tons of chese was manufactured at tlie Kaitir.ia Cheese Factory, as against-24 tons the previous season. The output was graded first grade at a fairly high standard. Thig is the best season the'company lias experienced (reports the W.\irarapa Age). In the course of conversation tin' other day the Hampden correspondent of the l'almerstnn Times was Informed by a local farmer that lite milk clieiiuOi fo.- the year amounted to £284 15s Gd. This amount was produced by 24 cows, and <lid not include moneys received for the sale of pigs which were fattened on tin> skim milk.

In an elaborate report on the milking 'rials at the London Dairy Show, which appears in the Journal 'of tlie British Dairy Farmers' Association, a table * given of the number of cows coining up to the standard. Of pedigree Shorthorns 1") were tested and 10 were above the standard; ]]On-pedigree Shorthorns, 1!) and 10; Lincoln Red Shorthorns, fl

and 2; Jerseys. 10 and o; Guernseys, 5 and 2; Ayrehires.fi and none; Kerrws, b' and 2; and Dextcrs, fl and 1.