FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 225, 21 March 1912, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

(From Our Waitara Correspondent). In spite of tiie apparent unseasonable weather, the milk supply in the North Taranaki districts is keeping up well, and the output of butter exceeds that ■f last season. Ample provision in the Mb-pe of hay, turnips and mangolds is provided for winter feed, but the maize crop generally is not up to the usual supply, in many cases being a complete failure.

The Waitara Road Dairy Co. has long been noted for the excellent standard of its milk, and have always shown a test that will bear comparison with any other factory in the Dominion. During the last week in February the record of tests is something suppliers may be proud of. There are 29 suppliers at the | main factory, only two of whom were below a 4.2 test, the rest running from that to 5.1. The average of milk supplied was 28751bs per supplier, and the average test 4.43. The North Taranaki Dairy Co. is still receiving a good supply of milk, showing an increase as against the corresponding period of last year, turning out an additional five tons of butter. At the monthly meeting of directors last week it was decided to instal a new two-toil freezer, an additional 300 gallon cream vat, and an engine capable of driving the additional machinery needed to cope with the increased supply promised for the next season. Messrs J. B. MacTCwan and Co. have been entrusted with the work. A deputation of settlers from the Okoke road met the directors in reference to supplying cream, and satisfactory arrangements have be<"i made. The milk from some 200 eo" was then in sight, and since the propr was mooted and arrangements nv others in the vicinity and on the Pik road are desirous of coming in on tlu: same terms, and no doubt the directors will view the matter in a favorable light, the result of which will be that in all probability the number of additional cows will be some 400. The recent change of ownership in a 500-acre farm adjoining one of the creameries attached to the factory means an increase in the supply at such creamery, the new owner bringing his heard of 100 cows with him from South Taranaki. Taking all these matters into consideration, the directors are well advised to increase their plant to practically double its present working capacity to deal with the increases mentioned, and the fact that most of the present suppliers will more more cows this year augurs well for the prosperity of the district. '

The Waitara Road Dairy Co. made some two tons more butter last month than the February of 1011. Settlers in the Tongaporutu and Okan districts are losing no time in getting their preliminaries for the formation of the new dairy company under weigh. Messrs Chapman and Scott have, on behalf of those interested, made arrangements for the registration of the company, and instructed Mr. W. E. Percival, of Inglewood, to prepare plans for the building and plant. It is proposed to take only cream at the factory, and some 22 suppliers have agreed to send the cream from about 300 cows. It is hoped to be able to start early during thf coming season, although many difficulties will have to be surmounted, mainly the bad state of the roads. However, settlers of the hinterland of.Taranaki are full of grit and resource and will overcome their troubles in some way. Several sales of large areas of land to the north of Urenui have taken place during the past week. Mr. A. E. Watkins' Mimi and Pukearuhe farms were r>f to * unntleman from Canter? bury, who intends cutting up the latter into small farms. Mr. Gleeson disposed of his 500-acre place at Waitoitoi to a Hawera settler, who intends to milk some 100 cows, which he is bringing with him. • -

GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRY IN AUCKLAND. ■ Auckland is now the big dairy provimce of New Zealand (says the New Zealand Herald). It attained that prominence about two years ago, and to-day the number of active dairy farmers is greater than ever. The visitor may go to villages and small townships far from railway lines, and he will seldom fail to find a dairy factory or a creamery. When the timber gave out in many of these out-of-the-way places, and trade flickered almost to a dying stage, the dairy industry stepped in and prosperity followed. ' The dairy farmer, if he knows his .business, can succeeil others;'fail. Up-to-date methods of cultivation have improved the prospects for the future of the industry in a remartable. fashion, and those competent to say so predict record returns for the present" season. The present season, Air. 11. E. Pacey (general manager of the New Zealand Dairy Association) informed a reporter, will certainly be a record oijjv both in production and in the prices Svfuch will be obtained. Owing to the drought last autumn and winter, the season did not open well. Milk was short in quantity, and of poor quality. The summer conditions, however, were favorable, and record yields will be recorded at the end of the season. This, with .the English high prices obtaining, will make a satisfactory season for those-engaged in the business.

According to the latest official figures published by the Department bf Agriculture, Auckland exported, during the first fifteen days of February, £120,410 worth of butter, as compared with the export of the whole Dominion of £236,348 worth. In butter and cheese combined, Auckland exported for the same period £131,878 worth, and the whole of the Dominion £360,843.

An Ohakea dairy farmer considers he has a claim for a good milking record. | From a herd of 23 cows he has for the six months ending February, drawn a I cheque for £356 5s 2d. November's cheque was £63 13s Id. Six of the herd were in milk all through the winter. Owing to the much more favorable weather, his six months' takings are £l5O more than for the same period last year. The pig industry is assuming large proportions on the East Coast. The Okitu bacon factory at Gisbome recently landed over 100 very prime bacon pigs, which were purchased in Taranaki. Further similar shipments are daily expected. Almost every goods train passing through Palmerston North has two or three, trucks of pigs in its loading, the consignments sometimes bound north, and sometimes south. The slump in pigs, which was noticeable a few months ago, has evidently passed away, and those farmers who pinned their faith to pig raising are now benefiting financially by adhering to a line of agricultural industry which some of their neighbors considered absolutely unprofitable.