FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 312, 11 February 1910, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

RICH DAIRYING LAND.

When it was reported some time ago that a farm of over 2UO acres on the Sutherland road, close to Manaia, had been sold at £(io per aeif, many people received the statement with a certain amount of incredulity, and in the remarks that were passed the opinion was freely given that the" price paid was excessive (says the Waiinate Witness). The annual proceeds from the farm worked out at about £lO per acre. Airother property in the vicinity,

that of Mr. Bert Cuily, of 45 acres, has just chanpvl lumds at the same ■figure ( £OS per ;.;re), the buyer being Mr. M. Joyce, a young and practical farmer, of Auroa. Recently (continues the Witness) we published figures showing the handsome return of £SOO oft' the property during the 1908-09 season, or approximately £ll per acre. This return, Mr. Candy assures us, was obtained without hav-

ing to depasture on other land during the season, with the exception of ten cows being away for a month. As a matter of fact, the property has never been grazed to its fullest, capacity. At

the present time Mr. Candy has 42 cows and 7 weaners grazing on the 45 acres, and yet the grass in several paddocks

has gone to seed. Mr. Candy estimates that £GOO a year could be got off the

farm, and had he retained possession he would have "run it up to the hilt'' to make good this calculation.

A NEW BUTTER-BOX.

JfAXEJNX UAKDiSUAKD JL'ALKAUJi.

A Wellington cardboard box manufacturer, Mr. R. D. Haworth, has invented a butter-box out of cardboard which presents the most satisfactory substitute for the white pine package we have seen. It is declared to be waterproof, colorless, and unbreakable, while presenting an excellent appearance. The box is built up' of several layers of various grades of cardboard, which are joined together by a special cement and under great pressure. The outside is waterproofed and the inside is coated with paraffine wax. The boxis held together by special metal stays, which are embedded in the board, at tne corners and therefore do not come in contact with the butter. It is' altogether a most presentable package, and is as .solid as the ordinary wooden box, while it has the great advantage of not being liable to split with rough handling. It weighs about 81b, against the 91b or over of the wooden box. The cost is estimated to be not more than Is a box. Expert* who have inspected this cardboard box have expressed themselves surprised at its rigidity, good appearance, and apparent suitability.—Times.

There is a very luxuriant growth on the Taieri plains (Otago) this season, and dairying men, as well as owners o fat stock, ar>» said to be prospering. The "cow cheques" average over £2 per cow per month, and one small herd of 15 averaged £2 Is Gd for the month of December. The owner of this lot reckons upon taking £ls per head from his cows for the year. This, however, includes his anticipated returns from pigs which are fed on separated milk taken back from the factory, topped off with crushed grain. This season's butter output will constitute a record for the Auckland province, and already the increase over last year is equivalent to 1000 tons. For the season to date! (says the Auckland Star) Auckland has exported over 4000 tons of butter, which may be valued at £400,000. The butter shipped for the fortnight ending on Tuesday last tdtals 14,850 boxes, or 371 tons, as' compared with 13,034 boxes, or 325 tons, for the corresponding fortnight of last season. At present ruling prices the shipment is worth about £40,800. The farm attached to Lincoln College i's 785 acres in extent, and varies in quality—light land overlying shingle, 150 acres; good strong medium land, 300 acres'; strong stiff soil, about 150 acres; and the balance of deep rich land of highest capacity. The scheme of cropping for 1909 was as follows: Wheat 131 acres, oats 102 acres, oats and wheat 19 acres, oats and vetches 0 acres, rape and mustard 34 acres, j kale 24 acres, kale (1908 crop) 20 acres, mangels' 10 acres, turnips 20 acres, pota-

toes 2 acres, peas 12 acres, self-sown oats 24 acres, . Italian ryegrass, first year 9S acres, second, third, and .permanent pastures 220 acres, orchard, plantations, and grounds 45 acres'. The glowing anticipations regarding the harvest entertained in the second week of the new year will not now be realised (says the Christchnrch Press). The yields for North Canterbury are at the present moment as much below the average as the estimates formed were above the general average. Instances' are to be met with where sprouting has begun in the heads of the grain, and for this reason in some of the fields no attempts are being made to turn the stooks or change thenposition. The grain has been discolored [ and .put in a condition where ripening may take place unequally. Though the heavy rainfall has perhaps disheartened some of the farmers', and they are leaving matters to take their course, majiv, on the other hand, are making a strenuous effort to dry off their crops and obtain the best results possible. The keenest interest will be taken in watching the threshing returns, and these in a few instances may lie lmit-li bettor than is' at present considered probable. Everywhere sheepowners and dairymen are satisfied with their prospects. The first harvest reaped in New South Wales was cut at Farramatta in December. 1795.

The breeding of the ■ best types of heavy horses is still a profitable indusirv m (ii'eat Britain.

The more malignant form of smut is making its appearance in s'omc of the wheat crops in the .Uasterton district. Mr. Stein, an English sugar beet enthusiast, estimates the return for the grower from a crop of beets at £5 to .-EG per acre. While Great Britain produces less than a quarter of the wheat she consumes, she still furnishes' the bulk of her home-used barlev and oats.

Phosphoric acid is found in every part of plants, but accumulates more especially in the seed. It is also the .principal constituent in the bone formation of man and animals, and where it is wanting in the, soil plants grow feebly and animals' do not thrive.