FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1917, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

SMALL BUT COMPACT FARMING. 'Last week whilst at Midhirst the writer got in touch with sonic of the farmers there. Some of tlieni have been working the same gfounds for 20 years or so, and others, of course, are of rcecnt arrival. One of the latter is Mr. W. Pollock, who "has not long been a supplier to the Midhirst Company, but ifr one of those who does not believe in merely marking time. His aspirations do not lead to mopping up a large area of land but rather to make the best possible use of what he possesses. Having gleaned this information the news that Mr. Pollock' 3 holding only totals 37 acres may occasion no alarm, and in keeping with the area is the herd, 12. A herd of this dimensions is perhaps a little unusual, but, judging from results, it is very evident that the owner gets the best possible returns. An invitation was extended the writer to see for himself the farm, and in the hope that it may encourage others to "carve out a home" on the land these lines are penned. The homestead lies on the Ka.liouri road, and he has made the most use of the time he has had the place, and from appearances and intentions the land can be made to become much more productive. Those farming the land previously were content to allow the cattle to wander down to a creek often up to their bodies in sticky mud and weeds. Now a well has been sunk, a windmill erected, and with trough handy the stock has a quantity of water of the purest and no chance to pollute same. Naturally to get the best results a cow must receive the best food and as much as it desires, and this is one of the secrets of ■Mr. Pollock's success. He works each paddbek s}'stematically; consequently no' paddock is eaten bare. On the contrary, all pastures looked remarkably well, and the same may be said of the cattle. Before coming to the cattle it may be mentioned that the owner has great ( faith in basic slag as a fertiliser. Shown over some pastures that had been treated it may truly be said they were magnificent, showing plenty of clover and a good sols of grass. Slag is practically unobtainable now, but by liming and using other varieties of fertilisers the feed ►can be kept up to requirements. I made a careful scrutiny for weeds, etc., and ■was agreeably surprised to note that ■there were practically non-existent. No dogs are allowed to get into the paddocks and the cattle are only handled by Mr. Pollock. (By joining up each paddock the stock are never far away and Always on new pastures. In a .way the owner is fortunate in having a small patch of shelter bush so that if a south-, erly buster or a bleak Egmont gale happens along the stock can be turned here ■and browse until the storm breaks again. 'ln going to the cows it may be said that all looked in ideal condition, quite fit to ■do and give their best, and their best Compared with average returns from other herds are very flattering to Mr. Pollock's treatment of stock and 'judgment in buying and culling.

' This article would not be so valuable without some actual figures, so I was permitted to take a. few glances at factory returns, and whilst the owner does not desire to publish his net or gross retu I is, I am permitted to name one mojth at random when the value of milk received from 12 cows was £39. Going to the cattle my first inspection was of 'No. 3 on the list published. This was ■a black and white grade cow, and although not a pedigree, a heavy milker, I nvas pleased to learn that her worth at the cow-bail bore out- her looks. An animal that gives 4051bs butter-fat in less •than eight months is a good stamp of cow. No. 11 on the list bore a familiar •look to me, and I was not surprised to ■learn lhat this was one of Mr. E. Griffiths' Bell Block rearing. It was Belvedere Bilburv, and went to Mr. Pollock for HOgns. Just take note of her figures, and you will see that this cow comes ciose to a. milking machine. In less than seven months she gave 48(>lbs b.f. and is in rare nick for this season's milking. She went cheap to Mr. Pollock. A yearling heifer by her was running near by, and if shown in the competition riug should go near gaining championship honors. No. 0 is also a pedigree cow, Queeny Lass, and was bred by Mr. E. J. Linn of Normanby, and with a 7.U test and record of 3S£Vbs for less than seven months shows a- high standard. Yearling heifers by this cow also show quality all over." There was plenty in the cows to enthuse over. No. 10 itf a Wai-rarapa-bred cow and her value is little behind Belvedere Bilbury. Messrs Griffiths, Linn and Kagle will see by this that their cows are receiving _ the care and attention necessary to give them every chance of securing results. The first eight cows in the list are grade Jerseys, and the last three are pedigree. The reason No. 12 is omitted from this list was through being late calving her period at milking was too short to place beside the other cows. Here is the list compiled by the writer: —

Yield of fat Days in Cow. Test, since- calving. * milk. 1 5.2 377.6S 313 2 5.3 420.44 314 3 6.9 405.62 312 4 4.9 415.70 306 5 4.9 463.93 310 6 5.0 400.83 2«4l 7 6.4 444.71 277 8 7.2 360.43 21S 9 7.6 382,36 271 . 10 6.0 413.22 264 11 5.2 480.45 2-62 The field average of herd for 130 days was 4481bs milk, test 5.70, butter-fat 25.80; whilst the average figures for the total Association's cows Were 3151bs milk, test 5.88, butter-fat 18.52.