FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1918, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

The dairy industry is increasing so rapidly in Canterbury that difficulty is found in securing storage accommodation, says an exchange. Mr J. R. Thacker, of Okain's Bay, speaking on this subject, stated that last year cheese producers entered into arrangements with the Lyttelton Harbor Board to supply extra cool storage at a cost of £SOOO. The producers agreed to pay £2500 of the sum. They collected it by a surcharge, and estimated that two years would be required to clear the liability. As a matter of fact, the surcharge «n account of the increased production, yielded £2IOO in the first year. A lot is written and said about improving the dairy herds so that the yield of milk from the present '< number of cows should be about: doubled in quantity (writes the Opunake Times). The advice is good, but we are certain that the greatest contributing factor to increasing the yield of milk is feed, and more feed during winter months. The milking herds are not getting the feed they should. Cows cannot be expected to do well after having to wait weary weeks for the grass to grow. There I are not three dairy farmers out of every five who supply sufficient winter freed for their dairy herds. If it were not for noxious weeds and native shrubbery inany of the dairy cows would i:ave to rub along between the wind and the sunshine, or else take to green-shaded spectacles. The average dairy-cow in Taranaki Ls a good, honest animal, and onlv want its sides pushed out with feed. There is no use improving the dairy herd with long pedigrees and short rations. Increase the winter feed and give the cows every chance and we are positive the milk yield per head in the herds of this Dominion will knock the spots off of any of Sir Joseph Ward's surpluses.