FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 257, 9 April 1915, Page 2

FARM AND DAIRY.

Speaking to Mr Phil Wareing on the subject of wheat prices, a rcprcsensative of the Temuka Leader was informed that Mr Wareing bad just worked out an average of the prices ho had received for wheat for the years 1902 to 1011 (inclusive). He has not been growing grain for the past two years. The lowest price he received was 2s 7d, and the highest 4s (Id, working out at an average of 3s skl per bnshel over the period under review. Anybody who knew anything about grain growing, remarked Mr Wareing, would realise that there was no big fortune in those prices. If grain growers were getting 6s Cd to 7s once in a while, good luck to them," he said; "they deserve it. It only came once in a generation, and helped to make up for many loan years."

Some months ago (says a Sydney journal), the Dairy Farmers' Milk Company (N.S.W.) decided to try the experiment of paying for milk by test, in order to encourage the dairy farmers to bring! their milk up to or above the Government standard. According to the scheme inaugurated, milk testing 3.4 would be! paid y,d a gallon above standard rates, milk going below the Government standard of 3.2 to be subject to a corresponding reduction. The scheme has worked so satisfactorily, that the company has decided to continue it indefinitely. In past years, when there was a flush of milk in the spring, great difficulty was encountered in keeping the milk up to tfie standard of the Government, but since the nchcme of paying by test was started practically the whole of the milk received by this company has been up to the standard, and a large quantity above it.

If the proposals put forward for the 1 building of two more freezing works in North Canterbury come to anything, as it seems they will, the industrial should be well provided for in the near future —say, by the latter end of next season (reports the Cliristchurch Press).' For some time past it has been common knowledge that an effort, and, it is said, a successful effort has been made to canvass the North Canterbury district with the object of raising funds for the establishment of a frozen meat works, to be run on co-operative lines, at Waipara. A company is now being formed with a large capital, to establish works there in order to meet the growing requirements of the district. It is understood that the proposed company will be a non-buying one, but will offer special facilities to shareholders in regard to freezing space, and that arrangements will be made for space to be available to exporters handling shareholders' stock. Active steps have already been taken in regard to securing a suitable site.

One of the most serious features of the New Zealand farm seed position is the great shortage, of rape seed that will be experienced this year: As a general rule the low countries of Europe are our main source of supply, but at the present time .rape seed is more valuable for war purposes than for exportation. The Biologist of the Agricultural Department, Mr Cockayne, believes that it is doubtful if a single ounce of European rape seed will be available. The present wholesale price of rape seed—roughly, £BO a ton — a price higher than has yet been experienced, is likely to advance steadily. Farmers are, therefore, urged to procure, if possible, immediately their supplies for 1015. This shortage in rape seed is quite the most serious happening in the farm seed trade.