FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1916, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

MANGOREI COW-TESTING ASSOCIATION. J The following are the returns for the Mangorei Cow-testing Association for the period ending October IS, 191:'!: -Q •? IO O O j-, » w cr. ■& ",«OB»liSa id "3 -*f £oi irs rti oc o ~-l i'j si §■» o £ H ™ "' « " « » ra ■* £ -""SISS *! n lft '° llS M *s *d _ £S -g 41 t, U« * T(i 16 ■*' rf •^H* ,a ""ja M —• K ,;§ 2ooinis qiu a ~ j*!s im iq -fl; ce q q » « n•«mieo«> wm •* jj j3«>S>coc-£3!<s 3! S _ o OirJtoiM()aHs The best herd gave 89fllbs milk, 4.2 test, 38.021bs fat. Worst herd. 6711b9 milk, 4.0 test, 27.00 lbs fat. Best cow, liasibs milk, 4.3 tot, 50.95 lbs fat. Worst cow, SlSlbs milk, 3.8 test, 11.97 lbs fat. Average Association cow, 8162*03 milk 3.8 test, 31.801bs fat. BELL BLOCK COW-TESTIVG ASSOCIATION. Tlie average 'Association cow for the Bell Block, Association gave, 7°2lbs fat, 4.1 test/ 33.2Hbs fat. ; notes - * It seems quite clear that if the best results bre to be obtained in the imparting of agricultural scientific knowledge to farmers, that there should be a further co-operation between the Education Board's agricultural instructors and the Agricultural Department's officers, and the local committees of agriculture could very well assist in bringing this about. If this were organised there need be no conflict of work; on the contrary, the officers of each Department could carry on very useful wdrk of a distinctive chairactcr by working in unison on general principles. Farm trials and experimental plots could best be carried out by the Department of Agriculture, jn co-operation with local committees of agriculture; individual farm instruction work could be left to the Education Board instructor as at present. It would not be possible, for instance, for the Agricultural Department's officers to visit individu.il farms, instruct and advise thereon, a< Mr. R. S. Browne has been doing in Taranaki during tlie last year or so. It would in- j volve more time than they could spare, J certainly under present conditions, but it has proved to be mo3t useful and practical work. On the other hand, it is clearly the function of the Agricultural Department; to conduct experiments and experimental and demonstration plots, and this, too, is a very valuable factor in agricultural instruction. The local committee of agriculture will probably give this matter some consideration as soon as they settle down to their work.—Hawera Star.

The most has been made in the public press here of the reports of rust damage to wheat in North America, to explain the present and likely high prices of this food commodity. Of the various authorities, however, speaking on this question, Messrs Bathgate arrive at the conclusion that, bMring any further damage in North America or elsewhere, the prospect of the supplies is not at all a bad one, leaving entirely out of consideration any shipments that may be obtained from Russia and amy of the minor exporters. We are reminded that in the first place last year's crop exceeded all previous records, and to that cop there had also to be added a reserve of 12,500,080 quarters carried for.vard from the previous season. To these v - e have to add a total crop for North America of 150,000,000 quarters. The home requirement's of Canada and continental U.S.A. would be -70,000,000 quarters; exports last season amounted to 00.000,000 [quarters. It will be found that the reserve of wheat ha.i by high prfe? been increased by, say, 3,500,000 quarters ' more than the theoretical quantity. About £1,000,000 a week is sprafe directly or indirectly in trying to check the ravage of insect pests that prey on the crops in the United Stile.?. The pests eat, according to Government estimates, about £100,000.000 worth of Mod annually, which brings their cost up tc over £200,000,000 a year clear loss. In every State effective war is waged on these pests. Every weapon known to science h employed. But no sooner is a particular pest con quercd in one part of the country than it appear.; in another. Emphasis has bc3n placed in recent years on insacldestroying birds, said these a:j being protected in all kinds of way;. Lsws against the usi of bird feather.* on hats are part of this protection, and in many States forest ireas have been established a.s bird refuges. New Clydesdales frequently figure in the prize-li?t at the Victoria Royal Agricultural Soculy's show, and for the first time in the history of the society the mares were subjected to veterinary examination. This iii.-.peclion caused ten "mares in the draught horse section of tlu show to be rejected either for side-bone or ring bono. In throwing oui thev> rcares, the veterinary officers stated that only whore the defects were so nvnifc-st that in most cases the owners have been aware of them was the extreme step taken. First prize and championship honors went in Invcrmay (Baron Winsome, imported—lnvermary Dinah), who was also the champion stall ion at Sydney this year, and was purchased by Mr. Alexander Colvin, jf Mosgiel. when only a foal, four months old. The lirst piize three-year-old eolt was by the New Zealand stallion Black Knight, taken over to the Commonwealth by Messrs Mitchell and O'Brien some years ago.