FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 346, 23 March 1910, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

DAIRY PRODUCE SALES. THE SOUTHERN SCHEME. The full details of the South Island scheme for the holding of monthly sales of dairy produce are set forth in a circu.ar ura-.vn up by Mr. J. R. Scott, secretary ot the South Island Dairy Association. This has been despatched to all members of the association, with a request that they will give it their consideration 'before the annual meeting on June 1: j "1. Your committee, after due consideration of this matter, resolved upon a scheme as under, and if sufficient signatures are received it will be put into operation on or about October 20 of this year: Each factory signing to advise the Secretary approximately (say, within 1 10 per cent., more or less) the quantity of cheese or butter available for two fortnightly shipments, commencing in November. i "3. Each factory so doing to undertake to pay (for the first season, anyway) the sum of 2s Gd per ton to the' association on each ton of cheese offered for it, whether sold or not, (See clause 17). 1 "4. Each factory to have the right of fixing its reserve price at any time up to one hour before advertised time of auction sale. I "5. All sales will be made on Govern-' ment grade, f.o.b. Bluff, Dunedin, or Lyttelton—Butter, if second £rade, y z d per lb less, cheese, %d per lb less. "6. Weight to be correct as certified by the Government grader. "7. Butter—Half-pound per 561b box to be allowed tare.

"8. Cheese—Shrinkage allowance to be 2 ] /o per cent., .this being the London Produce Exchange rule. i "0. Insurance to be provided by buyer from factory door to London, though sale is f.o.b. "10. All cheese which may be unsold to be consigned by the Association to two firms in London to be selected by the Association as its selling agents. "11. Commission not to exceed 2 per cent. These firms to provide bank credits and insurance, available in every town at Bank of New Zealand, National Bank of New Zealand, and Bank of New South Wales. The Association to draw on these firms for advances made to factories on consignment. "12. Terms of all sales are cash against b.l. at bank in any town where bank account is kept. "13. Auctioneer for the Association to be appointed by the directors. "14. The secretary will make out all ■b.l. if requested to do so, and deposit them at sellers' bankers in any lowa within four days of each shipment. "15. The sales at first to take place monthly in Dunedin, as most central, and duly advertised and buyers notified bv circular.

"16. The expenses of carry in',' out this scheme are estimated approximately at —Auctioneer's license or salary, £SO; extra clerical labor and other expenses, £2OO, contingencies, say, £SO; total, £3OO.

"17. If the 2s Od per ton paid by factories as above proves over the expenses, any balance to be returned pro rata to the factories on the amounts they have so paid. "18. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the Association recommends a trial of this system for the whole of next season's export, beginning about October 20 next. "19. It lies with the factories themselves as to the success of this scheme, 'and, provided at first a reasonable limit is put upon offerings, the undertaking is likely to be most successful.

"20. The committee and secretary should be able to advise factories as to a reasonable limit. "21. Factories should let it be clearly understood that they will sell or consign ■only through the Association, and that consignments will only go to the firms appointed by the Association.

"22. The success of the whole scheme depends upon the unity of the factories using this Association as to the machinery to this end and supporting the scheme loyally. "23. The aeents appointed in London will send cables from time to time to the Association as to the prices and prospects, and these will be repeated as confidential teletrrams to the factories subscribing to this scheme only." GENERAL. Well-bred fowls cost no more to keep than mongrels. Exercise will render the hens healthy and rid them of superfluous fat. Many hens cease laying when they have plenty to eat and nothing to do. Hens that stop laying may be induced to continue their good work 'oy a complete change of food. In such case throw grain amongst straw or other light rubbish and let the hons find it.

Fat breeds laziness, and laziness is the handmaid of sterility.

Prevention of disease, not the cure of it, should be uppermost in a poultrykeeper's mind. Many milkers are spoiled by being allowed to dry oli' when they have been in milk about five months. It is impossible to make money out of mongrels; get into a good class and breed up. It is a fact which cannot be too often repeated, that breed counts for more than food in the production of values in milk. j The silo is the most economical means of supply" food for the stock during the hot, dry periods in summer, when the pasture is short. In England no stallion is allowed to compete "for the King's premiums who suffers from roaring, whistling, unsound feet, navicular disease, spavin, or cataract. The aim of the cnlturist should be to keep his farmyard manure from all sources from loss of quality, and to use it supplemented with the artificial manures. There is no better system of green manuring than that of ploughing in the foyuminous crops, which largely restore the nitrogen to the oil. Mr. Conlan, of Himitangi. near Foxton. has had 25 acres of oats completely stripped by caterpillars, which are said to be fearfully numerous in that district. Bathurst burr, ragwort, pennvroval. and tror«e have been declared noxious weeds bv the Woodville Count.v Council. It is said that pennyroyal tainted the cows' milk very badly.