FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 162, 8 January 1914, Page 7

FARM AND DAIRY.

t'OW-TESTLVG. - Some particularly goou returns haw su'Uied uy .Mr, i lio.s. itowe, of Xariirutangi, from lus herd 0 i M rows for the month of October, in ilie total number of cows in the herd, Ijt cows gave over oUlbs of bllLter-l'nl for Hie month,- ■>> -lOibs and 10 cows over juiii.-i, the lowest, a heifer, being 2S.",'i>lbs and the lugaesL o,'i.Sli. The lowest test was D.U and the holiest :<:>. XAUA.\AKI t HIiESE EXPORT. That the export of cheese from Taranaki is advancing very rapidly is fully recognised, but we doubt whether the average person realises its extent during recent seasons. Some indication may be given, however, ill the figures for the opening portion of the present season, lu'oiu ihe commencement of the present season lo the end of the old year, nearly Hit.lHKI cases of cheese have been exported from Taranaki, or over 1-2,0(10 eases, nforc than that shipped during the corresponding period of last season. A gentleman who considered that these figures would not adequately \ impress the lay mind with the large amount represented, has discovered (says j the Kltliam Argus) that, compared with so familiar an object as Titianaki's lonely sentinel, as Ml. Kgmont is often termed, they can be much better appreciated. He savs thai if Uiey were placed one on top of another they would form a column ■twenty-four times as high as Ml. Etiinont. or. otherwise, placed in a line, they would reach further than •from Kltliain to Ww Plymouth. This, together with the fact that the value is well over a quarter of a million, gives one some idea of what the dairy industry represents in this province.

HARVEST IN AUSTRALIA. From all the wheat-growing States of Australia come excellent forecasts ol the harvest. In New South Wales harvesting is now so far advanced that the ■'speculative element is almost absent from calculations." and the wheat yield is alreadv being described as

"phcmmienal." Two causes have contributed to (hi- result—a good season and scientific fanning. It would .be interesting to know the proportionate influences of each to know how much the wheat harvest owes to new science and how ninth to old Nature—hul such an apportionment is not easy to arrive at. It is clear, however, that the breeding of special wheats, the instruction in dry farming and oilier improved methods of soil-treatment, and the demonstrative work of the Government experimental farms have done a vast amount of good (comments the Timaru Post). The real value of science as a prop to the .fanner will not be determined till Nature has turned her back on him, and he is left to combat, with the aid of the new knowledge, a devastating drought. For the present, however, it is comforting to know thai improved methods make good ,-car- belter, and no one will be anxious to anticipate that time of stress when it will be prove'd that science makes bad v s not so bad. Two outstanding features ill Xew South Wales are the ".ood work now universally recognised of tjie Government experimental farms, and ihc inelliciuncy still universally .deplored of the railway transport and wheat-shipping arrangements. 'Herein lies an opportunity for the llol•lnan Government lo "make good."

i; I! NIVAL. Sheep arc bringing satisfactory prices at present (says tiie. Wintou Record). Two lines of lambs have be.eir sold ill the district at from 12s to 13s 6d, delivery in February. A nice line of hoggets'changed hands last week at 13s fid. and it is underst. 1 that '2OOO ewe liongets have been turned over at 17s lid. The llillersden estate, in Marlborough, is to be bnllolted for next month. It is anticipated thai there will be about 22 sheep runs on it. and considerable in-liTC-t is being taken in the disposal of the land. A parti is at present Icing organised in Timaru (says the Herald) for the purpose of travelling up and looking over the land prior.to putting in applications for sections. It is anticipated that the wool clip in the Mastertnn district this season will be the heavies! on record. The wool is said to be very clean, and particularly free from.hiil,uai. The latter weed has not proved such a pe-t as usual, farmers atlributiiig this to the fact that the wet weather prevent'd the burrs from ripening early. farmers in Ihe Waitara district have had to cut some of their oats very green during the last fortnight, owing to an attack of Hie caterpillar pest, which has made its appearance earlier than usual this year a> a result of the wet weal her.

Tin' new dairv built'some time :it lhc: State Farm at Wcreroa is a line, ail v building with a concrete lloor. The floor'has .. fall, iind cnii easily bo washed down. Evorytliinjr is kept scrupulously clean. Tlierc arc two cool rooms, Hie wnlls and ceilings of ivhieh lire Idled with pumice and are one fool thick, thus liisiuino' coolness in the warmest weather. A line large cheese room an',! Iwo curiiu; rooms have also been provided, and it is intended.- if the services of the expert ean b" permanently seemed, to take tip making faney cheese, such as Welsh anil cream ihee-e. ,\ la lot was nntde some lime iiyo ami forwarded to the Auckland Exhibition. A few were sent to Welliii»lon. where thev were so keenly appreciated that an offer has keen made to take all that mav lie niamifnetitred. There i- also a local demand for Hie liroilnet. Tn average seasons, owing to the drv feed at this time of the' vear, cow's thou- i. hie.- falling-oh" in milk, and the i-oiTcspiiiiiliiif:' _~!ii-ink:t<;i* in tin; milk clieipie is of serious concern to the dairy fanner. Various mixtures are sown for summer feed, and about live weeks ago Itillian rye grass and outs were soivii at the Experimental Farm al Wcreroa. It has made phi'i cinil growth, anil for the last few da., s Hie milking cows have been turned in on it, .for a few hours each day without making much apparent difference to it. I lorowiienua f'hronicle.