FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 300, 28 January 1910, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

MONEY IX DAI'RYIXtI. That the land oil the Waimatc Plains is admirably adapted to dairying is a well-known fact, but the actual returns from some of the farms have not been disclosed (says the local Witness). The figures in some cases are almost incredible. A phenomenal sum has been yielded by a farmer on Sutherland road. He has a farm of 43 acres, with carrier a dairy herd of 33 cows and seven other animals throughout the year. Last year the return from milk amounted to •£447 4s 2d. ?r-' •.>?, calves, etc.. realising • £36 1«< i kl, brought the total up to £502 13s lid. This works out at approximately £ll per acre, and is a record which will take some beating. The present season, however, promises' to give even a higher return. The cows c in earlier and in better condition than in the preceding season, and the flow of milk in tile early pari, was more prolific. For the live months of this season, from August to December, the miik cheques have totalled £217 18s 3d, on a lfld a pound payment, excepting for lid in Align-t: while for the corresponding period last year, on a lid a pound payment throughout, tin: total foil short of this sum, it being £193 lfis 7d. Of course, in order to get results such as this it is necessary to make judicious' selections in stock and not to have any useless cows in the herd. The, farmer has factory documents to prove the accuracy of these particulars.

WIIAT CAUSES LOW TESTS? Eaeli successive Hairy season finds milk-suppliers' dissatisfied as to the accuracy of their -butter-fat test (writes '•Farmer'' in the liawera Star). This season there has been far more than the usual amount of grumbling. To what special cause the low tests may be attributed the writer has been unable to ascertain. There could not very -well be more favorable conditions than cattle have experienced since last autumn. The low-test complaint, however, has been fairly general, a number of dairy companies being concerned. At Ivapuui a meeting of the J oil Company's suppliers was held recently, the outcome of which was that a supplier can obtain a sample of liis milk at tne factory, if he so desires, presumably to have it tes'ted elsewhere. Also a supplier who was formerly engaged in the factory work is to be present at the factory testing in the suppliers' interests.

One feature worthy of mention is that instances brought to my notice of home testing show as near as pos'sible tne same result as given at the factories. Allowance has to be made, of course, for the difi'erence in conditions between the factory and a supplier's home testing, but those with whom I have clis'cussed the question express satisfaction with the factory figures. I may is ay that I have had some experience of the dairying business —at the factory —and have also had a laboratory eours'e as to milk-testing. On many occasions I have witnessed the testing operations, and at quite a number of factories, but hav« at no time seen any "faking" done. 1 have sometimes been invited to read off the butter-fat after the manager has entered his figures in the book kept for that purpos'e. For every variation in the test which happens to be of a downward tendency many dairy farmers run away with the idea that something is wrong at the factory. They begin to enquire into things at the wrong end. Probably a searching investigation into the conditions prevailing on the farm would prove more satisfactory. There are few factory managers who can, in my opinion, explain how it is that the three butter-fat tests in one month show such variation. '

It is said that at a certain district factory the setting of suppliers' milk to ascertain the quantity of butter-fat was vtry seldom proceeded with, and that the figures supplied were mere guesswork. I have known of occasional mWadventures whereby at one of the tenday periods a few of the butter-fat returns were of that nature, but I can scarcely credit that such practices arc followed wilfully and persistently. It is quite likely that the people who are making the most noise about the butterfat tests could not "give the test of the milk of any eow in their herds. Some people imagine they have good cows 'when they have not. Bt s'eems almost incredible that any board of directors in connection with a dairy company would tolerate unfair practices, even if they could find employees willing to follow s'ueh. .

I The 'Jj.nvy farmer is Just leaving behind liini uie ousy pC;'' 1 .".! J'ttU'' For the past few weeks he lias ueeu engaged with harvesting operations (chieliy hay, though a fair amount of ensilage and oat cropping has been doiie), ami the carrot crops, etc., have required some attention so as' to ! good start. Although the milk yield has shown a substantial decrease, as yet. there lias been little relaxation in reference to the milking, as there is still the same number of cows to put Un-fnigii. Many other matters incidental to da?*'y farming have also monopolis'ad time and labor. Despite the reduced price now obtainable for pigs, large numbers have been recently forwarded to the factories. Stock and pastures are at. present in good condition. The maize and other root crops for autumn and winter feeding have come on splendidly of late. Potato crop-; have for the most part been blighted, though in many cases not until the tubers were well grown. Oats have also been attacked by l'fist. Hut on the whole the 1<)0!I-10 season should prove satisfactory, for the dairy farmers whoso produce is sent Home on open consignment. it n still a speculative question.— liawera Star. . ■./ ' ;