FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 205, 4 October 1909, Page 4

FARM AND DAIRY.

factory; outputs. Several dairy companies havo settled the question of disposing of their outputs during the past few days. 1M following transactions arc reported:— Oaomii consigned through Oollett and Co. (J. H. Cruickshank); Opunake, consigned through Lonsdale and Co.; Melrose, consigned through Lovcll and Christmas; Mcrcmere, consigned through R. Davidson and Co. (Newton King); Midhirst, consigned half through Messrs Collett and Co. and half through Messrs R. Davidson and Co.; Waitui, consigned through Davidson and Co.; Tarata, con-signed-through Collett and Co.; 'Stratford, consigned through Pearson and Rntter; Mells, consigned through J. B. MaeEwan and Co. (A. MacEwan); Kaupokonui, consigned through Lonsdale and Co. T. L. Joll Co., consigned through Lonsdale and Co.; Eltham, consigned through Weddell and Co.; Ballance, consigned through Mills and Sparrow (E. Griffiths and Co.) Nathan and Co. have found buyers for Pihaina, Maketawa, and Uruti Valley at the directors' figures, which ' arc not disclosed.

Messrs Lonsdale and Co.'s representative, Mr. Turner, claims to have establihsed a record in securing the output of the two largest cheese factories in the Dominion, viz,, Kaupokonui and Mi' 1 T. L. Joll Company, in the one season. Their output is estimated at 4200 tons this season.

Supposing (says the Pastoralists' Review) that during the year ending on the 30th June next Australasia exports 2,400,000 bales of wool, and that the average value for same amounts to £l3 per bale, which at current rates would be a moderate estimate, the gain in wealth to Australia and New Zealand from wool alone would amount to £31,200,000! Mr. Ellison, the new Home representative of the National Dairy Association, ; will not be able to leave for London till the 17th.

The weather in the Auckland province has been unfavorable to fruit-growing and fruit generally will be a month later than usual. Strawberries have suffered most, and will be a late and medium crop. It is stated that heavy losses with Indoor tomatoes are being experienced in the Auckland district owing to what is declared to be suspiciously like the Irish potato blight. One grower was only able to save 700 plants out of 1500. When in Melbourne Mr. J. G. Harkncss met Mr. J. A. Gilruth, the Dominion's first Chief Veterinarian. Mr. Gilruth's many friends will be pleased to hear that he is delighted with his present work and with the treatment h* has received at the hands of the isovernment and the University.

"I would not advocate growers of wool paying more attention to weight than to the quality of the staple," remarked "Mr. Thomas, of the London wool-broking firm of Thomas and Coo'*, who is on a business visit to Wnirarape, in the course of an interview in New Zealand. "At the present time there arc far too many poor Lincolns, and this fact, is acting detrimentally on the general standard of wool from the Dominion. We had the greatest difficulty imaginable in disposing of at any price large consignments of this soniple of New Zealand wool. The sooner some of the wool-growers of the Dominion ses the fallacy of straining after weight Et the sacrifice of staple the better it will be for them. Of course, judicious attention should be paid to both staple and weight." The following appointments to the positions of assistant directors under ; the Agricultural Department have been made:—Live stock and meat, Mr. J. L. Bruce (Diuiediu); fields and experiment ' forms, Mr. J. Duncan (Auckland); or- ' chards, gardens and apiaries, Mr. W. A. 1 Boucher (Auckland): dairv produce, Mr. ; \V. M. Singleton (Wellington). ' Says the Pahiatua Herald:—A buyer representing a firm of dairy produce ex- ' porters was in Pahiatua on Saturday, j and met the representatives of sonic ' butter and cheese concerns operating in Pahiatua and adjacent districts, 'but .10 business resulted. The factory companies and proprietaries are "playing a waiting game," some of the cheese farI tory proprietaries being desirous of get- ' ting a price that will enable them to 5 pay milk suppliers a fraction over one shilling per pound for bnttcr-fat. ' The past season bus been a very poor one for farmers who go in for cropping, 1 owing to the low prices ruling for oats. 1 chair and potatoes, but even at these prices it pays if the crops are properly handled by the grower (writes the Pukekohe correspondent oif the Auckland Herald). The following return was taken oft* a farm of 125 acres at Pukekohe owned by Mr. William Adams:—

Creamery cheques from 22 cows, £250 4s Oil; calves anil pigs. £4O; poultry, COO 10s; onions (three acres), £274; potatoes (nine acres), £181); chaff (40 acres I. £3OO 12s Oil; grand total, £llsO 7s 4d. In addition to the above-named crops. Mr. Adams grew six acres of wheat, which was consumed by the poultry, and he retained enough onions, potatoes and chad' to last him until the next crops come in. It is computed that weeds and rabbits cause the farmers of New Zealand more losses than all other sources of agrarian trouble put together (says the Dominion). The loss from stock disease is trivial in comparison. A strong staff of skilled Government officials, at good salaries, is employed, it is true, to deal with stock disease questions. And that is essential because without intelligent \ lgilance tic stock diseases could speedily become serious. But, the weeds question What of it! We are, of course, gradually beginning to realise that the control of noxious weeds is a matter that calls for special ability if the farm lands of the Dominion ar'e le be saved from what one might tru y call "confiscation." The. approval by the Minister of a scheme for classing tho country's lands in three groups—one (tho hopeless class) to be abandoned to weeds entirely; another to bo subject to measures to prevent the spread of weed seeds; and the third to I>e cleared and kept free-shows that tho difficulties of the problem in regard to the woist iands have daunted even the Scottish "mdomitableness" of the Minister. Exactly what provision will be made for lessening the weed and rabbit evils under the re-organisation scheme has not, yet .been made clear, but it is to lie hoped that the consistent references o f the farmers' unions to the seriousness of these evils will be responded i;o. " ays and means, no doubt, arc difficult matters to determine, and here it ii where farmers are entitled to expect assistance from the Department. Thov look to the ..fillister and his stall' of ,'Xpevt advisers to find flic way