FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 173, 21 January 1914, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

I BLIGHTED POTATOES. SKVEKE OUTBREAK. IX THE SOUTH. A gentleman who last week travelled extensively through the greater part of the potato areas lying between Timarti and Malieno, speaking to a Lyttelfon I Times reporter, painted a very gloomy ' 1 picture of the crop outlook. Everywhere Hie tubers have been attacked with disease, and many crops are already beyond redemption, whilst the disease I is making rapid and alarming headway I amongst the later crops. In many cases all that remain in the haulms are the blackened stems, and in innumerable instances the owners, despairing of securing any returns, have decided to have the land ploughed as soon as possible. "The sight," he said, "is certainly a sad one, and it is safe to say that the returns from the W'illowbridge districts this year will be very small; indeed, it would appear that the crop \vill not be much more than siidieieiit for local requirements- 1 spent some hours on the famous Willowbridgc potato area, and was grieved to see that little remained hut bare stems. Scarcely a held remained where there were not distinct traces of disease. Spraying on an extensive scale is being done, but I am afraid these precautionary measures were taken in band much too late, as experience has shown that once the plants have been attacked it is dillictilt to stent the progress of the disease. GENERAL NOTES. As a ve-iilt: of the systematic culling that has been going on for some years past, comparatively little disease is to be found among the dairy herds of Masterton and (lie W'airarapa (according to tne. Age). A few cases of mammitis have been'discovered but the beasts affected have been isolated and will be destroyed or otherwise disposed of. A well-known Albury farmer, says the Tiniaru Herald, had grown an extraordinary crop of oats this year . In a 120 acre paddock the crop has grown to a height of six feet practically all over, and it is proportionately well headed. A similar crop is to be seen in tlie t'areora district. To good soil and the abundant rains of the early part of the season is attributed the abnormal growth. , The Sydney Sun remarks: While a yield of "nearly 42,(XK),mw bushels of wheat is a record for-New South Wales and will be of great value, it is only the fringe of our possible production. New South Wales has an area of 310,000,111)0 square miles, and grows •12.000,000 bushels. In Europe, there, is a little country called Koumania, with only 50,00(1 square, miles, or one-sixth the size of New South Wales, and its annual wheat yield is !>0,l!«!,(K)O bushels. Over the ' whole of Australia wheat production , is comparatively so Binall that this continent does not count seriously in the world's total. Tim Balkan Peninsula harvests nearly three times as much wheat as the whole Commonwealth. The popularity of the Corriedalc sheep, both for niuttoiil and wool, is in- ■ creasing annually, and every year a greater number of orders reach New Zealand breeders from' distant countries, as well as inquiries from prospective purchasers. Judging by the number of orders which reach the Dominion from that quarter, it would appear that the South American sheep-owner has been much impressed with this breed, ami every year's consignments from the Dominion's most celebrated flocks which find their way thither show a steady and marked increase. Recently Mr. C H. Elisor, of White Rock,, has filled a number of valuable orders from places overseas. These included: —Fifteen stud | rams at 2jgs. lo a breeder at Punta [Arenas, South America; 10 Hock rams at 3'/ags. to a Jlohart purchaser; 15 J ewes at ogs., 1 stud ram .at lags., and 10 flock rams at 4gs. to a .New South Wales client through Messrs Pitt, Son and Badgery, Sydney; 0 flock rams at (igs. to a client at Freniuntlo. Western Australia, through Messrs Dalgety and Co., and 9 flock ranis at 3',|.gs. to a New South Wales client. —Lyttolton Times. The quality of New Zealand produce is spoken of in the highest terms by the Conimertial Superintendent of uie Port of London Authority (Mr. J. 11. Estill), now visiting Auckland. "Yes," Mr. Estill stated in an interview with the Evening Post's correspondent, "I can say that the quality of your produce is all that can be desired. Your mutton and lamb stand unrivalled, and the same may bo said of your butter. New Zealand produce is regarded in England as second to none." Referring to butter, Mr. Estill sum that Danish had been boomed, and bad got a strong hold, but New Zealand brands were quite as good, and there was no reason why they should not command a leading position in the course of time. ' If New- Zealand could send Home apples and pears of as high a standard as its mutton, lamb and butter, the Dominion fruitgrowers could rely upon securing a good share of the trade. ; 'lt is, of course, necessary," he said, to grade and pack fruit properly, and if your growers do this and send their best, they are bound to succeed."