DOMINION DAIRY SHOW

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 298, 13 June 1912, Page 7

DOMINION DAIRY SHOW

HAWERA'S ANNUAL WINTER EXHIBITION. BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER. The third Dominion Dairy Show opened at Hawera yesterday. The weather was capital, and the attendance good. She -whole arrangements for the show, and the arrangement of the exhibits i* the various sections were excellent, the produce and industrial exhibits being shown to the very beat advantage. In a brief review of this big fixture it is impossible to give an adequate idea of all of its interesting features, but it is certainly a capital place _to spend a day or two, whether the visitor is agriculturally inclined or not. The dog fancier Will find a very representative collection of the most popular breeds, and there is an excellent poultry section. Art and needlework sections contain gome work of exceeding merit, and the stands are rarely without a number of interested ladies. There is this year only one district bay, that exhibited by the Okaiawa people. It is not equal to either of those shown at New Plymouth last week, but still it is a very creditable collection of the produce of the lands and homes in the district, and the stuff is well arranged. The collection of vegetables and root crops shown by the Hawera District High School must be mentioned. It is an object lesson of the value of agricultural instruction in the schools. Of the root crops in general the judges speak very favorably. 'A special feature of the farm produce section is the ensilage competition. As usual, the machinery hall is a centre of interest, but the agreement among the proprietaries of many of the milking machines to refrain from exhibiting at the shows has reduced the number of milking machine plants on exhibition. The puff, puff, of the engine in the machinery section 'is seemingly an indispensable feature of the winter show. The seedsmen are to the fore with the produce of their seeds and manures, and some of the stuff ought to have been placed in the competitive classes. There are pianos galore, and the one and only Pianola is attracting its hundreds. Lolly Btalls, fancy glassware stalls, and stands for the sale of pocket-lightening novelties are scattered here and there, and several of the leading retailers of the province have advertising displays. The exhibit of the Department of Agriculture is a show in itself, and the farmers and others arc taking a keen interest in the sections of it which are best suited to their needs, or in which direction their inclinations lie. There are several nurserymen with exhibits of trees and ornamental plants, some of which are mentioned hereafter for the benefit of intending visitors.

THE OPENING. The show was opened by Mr. G. V. Pearce, M.P. It had been originally understood that the Prime Minister was to be present, but the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie was unable to attend. Mr. A. W. Gillies, in asking Mr. Pearce to perform the official opening ceremony—a portion o! the show, by the way, in which the general public do not take much interest as a rule—referred to the great assistance given to agriculture by the Government. He especially thanked the Government and the officials concerned for bringing along the magnificent exhibit, and said the officers had more than fulfilled their duty in arranging it. Mr. Gillies remarked the benefits accruing to the town •from the holding of a show such as this, and appealed to the townspeople to give it their loyal support. The high price of land necessitated good farming'. and this was. encouraged by these displays of the produce of the good farmers pitted against each other in competition. Mr. Pearce jocularly remarked that be was taking the Prime Minister's place only as the sliow-opener, and not as Prime Minister just yet. Then he took the previous speaker to task for giving the Government credit for assisting these shows and assisting the farmers. He did not think the Government did enough for either, and contrasted the New Zealand Government's assistance unfavorably with that of the Government of Denmark. He advised farmers to bring their children along to the show, for they would learn more of use to them

in one day at the show than in a week at school. In this connection lie mentioned that a farmer in the Wanganui district had been haled before the court and fined under the school attendance laws, for keeping his children away from Bchool on the day on ■which he took them to' the Wanganui A. and P. show. Coining back to show matters, Mr. Pearce said the show was a credit to the people of the district, a district eminently suited for the holding of a big show, for Hawera was the centre of the finest dairying district in the Dominion. He then declared the Bhow open.

AMONG THE EXHIBITS POULTRY. Poultry classes were fairly strong. In a chat with the judge it was gathered that the American Leghorns, White Rocks, and English Leghorns were a feature of a very good exhibition, whilst bantams, though not numerous, included some good quality birds. The American Leghorns were one of the best classes that the judge had handled. The winners were of good type, and excelled in feather, the American Leghorn standard to-day requiring great length of sickle and feather. Among the White Rocks were some good birds, but they were badly shown, very dirty. Barred Rocks were mostly deficient in size. English Leghorns were generally good, but the best lien might have been in better show condition. Wyandottes were not up to standard. The utility classes contained good birds, and the Black Orpington classes were full of quality. In the Minorcas were two birds fit to be shown anywhere. The best bird in the show was Mr. A. W. Irvine's (Auckland) American Leghorn cock; reserve champion. Mr. E. T. B. Worthy's (Hawera) White Rock pullet, which was adjudged the best hen or pullet in the show; best cock or cockerel, one of Mr. {rvine's string. The best bird in the show for utility and show points combined was Mr." E. T. B. Worthy's exhibit. and he also showed the whitest bird in the show. The North Island championship, for the best American Leghorn, wasfcwarded to A. Irvine, of Auckland. Mr. "Johnnie" Walker, the well-known Auckland fancier, won the points prize in the poultry section, although he showed only sixteen birds. Mr. Walker showed some splendid bantams, and "downed" the opposition.

DOGS. The dog section contains many dogs of excellent type. The entries in this section are not numerous. Among the successful northern exhibitors Mr. W. «T. Morrison (Ngaere) showed the second prize pointer puppy, and Mr. E. B. Stohr's Sea Spray won in the pointer bitches with a nice little animal, though not in the best "nick." Mr. Thos. Kirkwood, of Stratfo\l, showed Rack-a-Rock in the open English Setters, and added another to his list of wins. In bulldogs one of the most admired was Mr. C. E. Seabright's (Midhirst) Truro Major. Mr. F. Cramer's Stratford Nell was first in smooth-haired fox terrier bitches. Mrs. ■J. C. Montefiore had a big win in the pug classes. Miss Carroll's exhibit in the open class won the North Island challenge class.

AMOJTG THE TRADE DISPLAYS NEWTON KING. Newton King's Stratford branch made a great display of Sterling manures and seeds, and backed up by the warranty of good germinating power by showing turnips, mangolds, etc.. grown by Taranaki farmers from these well-known seeds. Mr. King, whilst not giving a warranty as to the germination, gives the actual results of analysis bv Government officials, and the "Sterling" seeds have established a record for germination of which the firm is justly proud. The 'Sterling" manures are balanced for all kinds of cropping, and there are special mixtures for special purposes. A central feature of the fine display is a test patch of the seed, which sets out in growing words the reason for the growing popularity of Hie "Sterling" seeds and manures. W. 11. H. YOCNG AND CO. Swedes are not ornamental flowering shrubs, and they are not usually classed on account of their attractiveness, but

Mr. Geo. Bond, who is in charge of Messrs. W. LL H. l'oung and Co.'s 'exhibit of Carton's seeds, for which they have the Stratford agency, has managed to make the firm's exhibit of swedes very attractive. The "flat" display has beeni abandoned in favor of a system of showing on tripod pe^t™ 1- vliilst there are art'itie cards statin tbr results of the crop from which the specimens are taken, and photographs of the fields themselves. The exhibit consists mainly of specimens of crops grown from Garton's seeds in all parts of Taranaki, but there is also a fine collection of swedes from the same firm's warranted seeds grown in Otago. Tli" Taranaki swedes (ire better shaped and of just as good ►quality, but the southerners are heavier. It should be stated here that these swedes are not grown under special conditions in kitchen gardens, but are taken from the fields. A fine sTiow-case of Garton's seeds is the central figure in the exhibit, which is of particular interest in a district which depends so largely on good winter feed. Garten's seeds were sown in the first, second, third, and fourth crops in the Toko Farmers" Union competition, and were first in the Tariki Horticultural Society's competition. Mr. Were, of Toko, grew 45 tons to the acre'from 10 ounces of seed to the acre, and Mr. 0. Tiavlv's eron, which srave 41 tons to (he acre after 1200 lambs and calves had been fed of it for a month, was grown from nine ounces of "Garton's Superlative" to the acre. "Bibby's Calf Meal" is also shown.

HOFFMANN. The Steck pianola piano is telling its own glad story of the mastery of music bv people without musical training, and this sweet instrument always draws its crowd of hearers whenever played. Mr. Hoffmann is in charge. THE RED POST. 1 "You can get it cheaper at the Red Post." If there is anything finer in the furniture line than the bedroom suite in rimu and puriri shown by the Red Past Furnishing Co., of New Plymouth, then it is worth going to see. The firm also show.s a fine range of velvet pile carpets, and some pretty stencilled bed curtains. MORSIIEAD NURSERY 00'.,. The TTawera public recognises Mr. Francis Morsbead, who has been in charge of nursery exhibits at this' show each year. This time he is not well placed, but he has certainly' inaife the l ) best use of the corner allotted to him. The pot plants are very tastefully arranged, and the ferns include some o.f'the. choicest American varieties,'among jhese being the nephrolepis ferns,' and the well-known Para-Te-Whiti' (hbtseshoe) ■ ferns. Then there are palms! 'a-'varied : selection of ornamental, shelter, and flowering trees and shrubs, and jfrrtit: • trees. 1 ; ... . McMillan and fredric. Dairymen and factory, managers! fi'ijd''' much to interest them at Messrs.: McMillan and Fredric's (Stratford), exhibit' of the "Sinus" weigher, regenerfitiVg, heater, separators, and weighing..apfyi-" nnces. The -firm represents Paash, iLar-,' sen and Petersen, of Denmark. whd.Ve' reputation is world-wide.' ; '" ;/ "a'.W.r: ' ' •" | The "A.W.R." milker is again attract, ing much attention, and dairymen} ar? . much interested in the latest commotio.) sense attachments. \ ''