FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 200, 28 September 1909, Page 1

FARM AND DAIRY.

THE FIGIIT FOR OUTPUTS. IS THERE TO BE A CORNER IN CHEESE 1 SOME REMARKABLE OFFERS. In no past season las there been keener competition for New Zealand dairy factory outputs than is takin" piace at the present time (savs the \V»"Imgton Times). And while the li>l:t tor possession of the produce is strenuous, the tactics of some of the compet- , lug buyers are decidedly doubtful aid , certainly subvrrsive ol 'the true iutvrjestfi of the exporting factories. Disposal of butter and cheese on consigo- ! "lent through reputable firms is undoubtedly the best of all methods of catering to the markets and of ensnrine a legitimate return. But what do we find? Factories are consigning to speculating firms, are being captivated into supporting dealers by reason of impos I sible offers offers which in a weak market could never be fulfilled —and generally selecting the poorest channels j through which to market their outputs.

TIIE REPORTED CORNER. From reliable Canadian sources we gather that. there has been something like ;» combustion amongst certain English buyers of cheese. Color is lent to tills minor by the fact that only one firm, which has its own storage accommodation in Montreal. ] las been buvi™ in Canada, the other two large houses represented there having practical Withdrawn from the buying mark"Strange to say, the whole'of tJfc cheese tonght by this house is being paraffined and being put into cool storage Oo,i sidering the apathy displayed m conniption with cheese, and the low advances offered by some of our erstwhile regular buyers, iL is reasonable to assume that there is some connection between thi> action or the buyers of these houses operating on the Xew Zealand market and that of the representatives of the same firms in Canada. It would be tmH lor factories under the circumstances to see that one or two houses do not «"t the handling of the whole of the cheeec output of the Dominion. UNSAVORY BUSINESS.

_ A cable has been shown the writer—it reached Wellington on I'riday last—which slated (Hat a certain firm at present securing consignments in this country Is olTermg Xvw Zealand cheese in London, October to .Way., at 50s c-.i.f. and e. If this be so, what chance i„'there of the market advancing? It is certainly a clever move to keep competitors out. Butter is also being offered by the same firm-it is a stron* consignment firm for the time beinir f n this country-at IOCs c.i.f. and c., London. '

FANCY CONTRACTS. Remarkable contracts continue to be entered into, factories evidently behi" ntill under the impression that they ar* dealing with philanthropists who are visiting tlie Dominion to act the part of fairy godfathers to dairymen. One report states that an English firm represented on this market for the first true is oflering to do consignment business at 2 per cent, and to return prices equal to Danish! We have it for a fact, however, that one speculating firm is givin" an advance of 5 3-16(1 for cheese, with a guarantee ivithout recourse, and a furUier guarantee to equal the High Commissioner's highest cable. .Win another company is giving a "iiar-mtce without recourse of 10y,d f„ r anything obtained above this price to be shared between the factory and the 111-ill in the proportion of two-thirds ■ .1.1 one-third respectively, [f ean be easily unuvrtitood that while factories are wng offered these baits there is little nope of the open consignment firm conducting it« more legitimate business. THE JfOTSTI'RE QUESTION.

Only one ease is so far reported where the question of moisture is m miturned iu nil offer, 'file llakelaroa Company has been offered in la-Hid. the moisture content not to exceed 13 p.ir cent. The company is standing out for 10% d. '

WIIEX IS DKAIXIXC XECESSARY! 1. Whenever, after rain, water remains in the furrows or stump holes. 2. When tile soil sticks to yotir shoes o r horses' feet and farm tools" 3. Whenever you see water in the footprints of a. horse or other animals. 4. When animals sink deeply into the soil. 5. When the rays of the sun form a hard crust on the soil.

0. Whenever, after heavy r ain, tic little holes in the ground show ni n re water in them than in other parts. 7. If. after rain, a stick is put into the ground and taken out, water will rise in tile hole.

8. [f crops will grow 'better when land :s authored up into small ridges. In the first place, w c get" rid of the stagnant water, lwth on the surface and below it. Stagnant water has an injurious effect on vegetation, it is deprived of its oxygen, and while it remains in tile soil it prevents fresh wate r from taking its place. Water held in suspension is detrimental to plant life, and must be kept moving; it also opens the soil and lots the air in after it. Thus, draining resolves itself into keeping the water moving, to prevent its stagnating and souring the soil. Ko crops, unless perhaps rice, can prosper in waterlogged land.

It is stated that out of Mr. Kllison's normal salary of £IOOO attaching to the position of Home agent of the J\V tion.il Dairy Association, CliOO is for salary and the remaining C4HO for expenses. This salary of .COM U greater than the salary which the rioverninout pays to the head of Us dairying

The prosecutions which resulted in the conviction of absolutely innocent people are a splendid illustration of the truth of the old saying that "the la\ is an ass" (savs the Dairyman). It Is almost impossible \o conceive how sui-ft an idiotic, imbecile enactment got on tile statute liook as that: which permits the punishment of Jones for an oft'encc really committed by Ilrown. The >xlioiteis who were proceeded against < • New Plymouth had about as "much to do with the amount of the moisture in tile butter tiiev were charged with "attempting to export" as the "man in tne moon." But this slight circumstance, of course, had nothing to do with tlw authorities who instituted the prosecution. The Act makes iho exporter liable instead of the .producer, and as Ion" as this monument of stupidity is allowed lo remain on the statute book, the producers of dairy or farm-made butt-r must suffer. In future, exporters wil require an indemnity against prosecutions from producers, or, failinw that thev will g'nv up handling farni-made butter. For the benefit of those so situated that they must make up their own butter instead of taking their milk or cream to a factory, wc may say that the .'Kcoss of moisture is caused through churning at too high temperatures. The night before the cream is to be churned it should be either lowered down a well o r stood in a strong draught wrapped round_ with_ wet bags. Either of thos.' remedies will reduce the moisture eontent and prevent the loss of an exesa of butter-fat in the butter-milk. Incidentally, too, it will enable the fanner to produce n better article. In the meantime it is not too soon to sii»gi«<t that some of the new members ofT'arlianiont should bestir themselves to get tills saddle put On tile right horse, "if the Act is not altered the export of dairy buElir must cease, and this will cause great liardslilp to those l>nckl>loclt settlers who are most in need of a helping hand from the Dairy Division,