FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 260, 13 April 1915, Page 2

FARM AND DAIRY.

If you are going to sow wheat on /and now in grass, skim plough at once. Wheat does not do its best on land newly ploughed out of grass.—From the Agricultural Journal. A total of 170,580 acres of Crown land is being thrown open for selection during the present month.

A special correspondent of the New Zealand Times,' who has been mixing with dairy farmers in the lower Hawke's Bay district, writes that there is much complaining at the low rates that are being paid* for pigs and the high charges maintained to the public. Pigs are the small farmer's chief sideline. The price the breeder receives at present is 4'/od per lb, with various severe deductions for "(lead weight," while the retail .price to the public is Is a Hi, and sometimes a higher figure still. A little while ago pigs were in keen demand; now, owing to the heavier breeding, the demand is not so great, and a lower figure is offered the farmer. By some commercial arrangement fhe price has not fallen to the public; The farmers, in their comments, say that the Reform Government are extremely active in matters affecting the breeders of sheep and cattle, who arc-mostly big land-owners, bupt have no eye to the interests of the small men. If they had they would observe the great discrepancy in 'prices referred. to, and enquire into the causes, giving this matter the j same attention they gave to wheat, oats and sugar. |