DAIRY CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1916, Page 3

DAIRY CONFERENCE.

SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

INTERESTING PAPERS. (From Our Special Reporter). Piilmcrston, June 21. the National Dairy Conference was resumed to-day, the president (Mr. A. Morton) in the chair. Mr. J Brown, director of the Fields Division of Agriculture, delivered an address on "Some .Factors in Farm Management," dealing with soil constituents and the need for taking the fundamental factors in fertility into consideration. Humus and mould were necessary to plant production. In the North Island there were many lands deficient in humus. The importance of grazing stock cn land deficient in humus might be gauged from the fact that each head of cattle contributed to the land grazed upon some 12 tons of manure yearly. Systematic liming was necessary'in the North Island. He knew of many- cases where various methods of fertilising had been used without effect owing to deficiency in lime.

Mr. Brown adduced figures to show l bat the production of root crops in the North Island had remained almost stationary. Crop areas only constituted ■!'/; per cent, of the Taranaki district. Stock could not be maintained on speci-ally-grown fodder crops at a profit. On poorer lands a rotational system of cropping; along with proper methods of fertilising, was advisable. Experiment's v/ere being made at the Wcraroa Experimental Farm in rotational cropping, and the means had been devised to arrive at, the necessary data. Farm management in New Zealand should go along the following lines—good pasture is the mainstay of the North Island farmer; periodic application of crushed limestone; inlerior pastures to be renewed by liming, cropping and regrassing on light lands; where lucerne can he grown the maximum profits cannot be obtained without

Various questions as to the application of lime, etc., were asked by delegates and answered by the lecturer, who was accorded a vote of thanks.

IMPRESSIONS OF CALIFORNIA. Mr. E. Clifton, the New Zealand representative at the Panama Exhibition, gave an address on "Impressions of California." There was an enormous difference between the cliirtate of New Zealand and that of North America. The difference was all in favor of the Dominion, the climate of which was its finest asset. The dairy stock had to be housed and fed during a t large part of the vear. Lucerne was the>chief mainstay of the American farmer for foddpr. There were 12,000,00(1 acres under lucerne in America. America could not supply its own wheat and wool requirements, and attempts were being made to increase the production of live stock In dairy districts special trains were provided for lecturers and their equipment, which included a cow for demonstration purposes. He advised New Zealand dairy farmers to take steps to renew their pastures, i he Guernsey cow was the favorite in California, and he should like to see fliem in greater favor in New Zealand. The, Holstein was seen in gnat perfection in. many American States. The Ayrshires were somewhat larger and better grown than those seen in the showring in New Zealand. The American Pure Food Act hail to some extent affected New Zealand butter, but this had been fairly dealt with on the whole.

Referring to the Exposition, Mr. Clifton said that, the success of the New Zealand Court was largely due to the dairy farmer, whose exhibits were highly appreciated' by all who saw them. The' report of the jurors, composed of professors of agricultural colleges, was very satisfactory. The evenness of the New Zealand butter was most appreciated. Their exhibits numbered 24, and the prizes •>,"/. (Cheers). There was some dismay when it was found that New Zealand had won Urn Grand Prize against America and Canada. The Philippines had beaten Xcw Zealand in the fibre exhibit. The Dominion trade with Canada was likely to be affected by increased production in Vancouver and America. Second-grade butter was being sold in Vancouver, with the effect that the butter was not held in such good repute ns il might he. He advocated putting up the butter in graded packages. The New Zealand producers should prepare for opening up trade with the eastern ports of America, where there was an unlimited market.

' HOME SEPARATION. "Points on management under homo separation" was the title of an instructive address by Mr. J. M. Valentine, Auckland. He said that there was difference in opinion as to methods of home separation and gave a number of useful hints as to management in regard to testing, churning, proper percentage of moisture in butter, and many other points, This concluded the conference.