DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1916, Page 6

DISTRICT NEWS.

MAJKETAWA. | (From Our Own Correspondent). The local factory and the Durham 'Road creamery started on the "every other day" basis from Sunday last. The milk supply at the Durham creamery is of the jumpy kind of order, but I'm thinking it needs just a few days of tough weather to about settle the supply for a month or so. At all events the splendid weather must be considered an important factor in keeping tho supply up as it is. Considerable difference of opinion is at times expressed as to the merits and demerits of "turnip feeding," and the strangest thing is that all seem unanimous that the quality of our production should not be muddled with. I would like to know how on earth suppliers are going to prevent such muddling if there are some who will surreptitiously feed milkers on the bulbs. That's no co-oper-ation, and it's that sort of thing that brings the principle into discredit. It has been asked what can we do to keep milkers up at this time of the year if turnips are barred? I say grow maize, and, in reply to the argument that it can't be grown on Durham road, can show at the present period' maize 10ft to 12ft high. One year maize grown in the open was so much blown about hy the wind that it grew in a "Z" fashion, but still it made good cow tucker, and to those who will argue that the wind is a deterrent I would reiterate what I have often written about, and that is "plant shelter." It seems ridiculous to me that men will remove logs, stumps, etc., and give the wind a clean sweep over their paddocks and yet make no provision by planting wind breakers, and it cannot be wondered at that in the fall of the year grass should he short. There's no unanimity amrajgst the farmer class, and until there % no stable improvement can be cxpecteil. As showing the complexity of opinions and diversity shown, the action of farmers regarding tjicir co-operative bacon factory is a fair example. When men holding a heap of shares in a cooperative concern will pass such concern by and supply a proprietary affair just because the latter for a while may offer a fraction more than the concern in which they have an interest, it cannot be wondered at that many people hold the idea that the farmers don't know what co-operation is or what it \v:i = initiated for. Notwithstanding the sudden change in temperature, the weather lately lias been of an exceptionally satisfactory order, and in consequence the drop in milk supply has not been so rapid as in past years. The creamery closed down last season on May 31, but present indications point to a continuous running, as I understand many farmers have cows coming to profit towards the end of •Tune. It is to be hoped the anticipations will be realised. A team of bullocks owned by Mr. L. Marsh has been busily employed for some time on Durham road farms in stumping operations and creek onlvortiug. For rapid clearing of ground it is hard to beat a well-handled bullock team. Parties of shootists -arc to be frequently met nowadays nn district farms, hut beyond a daily bag of a "pussy" or two, I have not as yet heard of a "longtail" being nabbed. They are few and far between in these parts, though quail are to be met with in very large conveys at times.