FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1921, Page 8

FARM AND DAIRY.

GENERAL NEWS. A good idea of how ridiculously low •the market is at present for mixed Wools can be gathered from the following: A Wanganui farmer told a Herald reporter that the value of his mixed wool would not cover the freight Home. His banker the other day offered to pay the freight on the wool if the farmer would put up a guarantee of £2OO against any loss that might eventuate. Ot course, the wool will remain at this end until matters brighten. In view of the generally uncertain outlook for farm produce, a reporter made some inquiries at Sandon regarding the farmers’ plans for the coming season. One farmer said it was impossible to guess what would happen next season with oats, and he, therefore, intended to put in at least one field of wheat. Other Sandon farmers said there was a good inquiry and advancing prices for oats, particularly Algerian suitable for feed. One farmer stated that a little time ago he had sold oats at 3s 6d, and a few days ago he had received 4s 3d for a further consignment. “If the farmers of this country had used cattle on their pastures more systematically in the past, instead of so many sheep, we would not have utuwai and other pests to the extent that we now have,” remarked Mr. A. H. Cockayne, of the Agricultural Department, addressing a meeting of farin Masterton on Wednesday afternoon.

Sheep have never been so low in price as they d»re to-day since 1898. In that year, according to a South Wairarapa settler, and for years previous, he dealt largely in sheep for boiling down purposes, their value being the skins and the quantity of fat that could be extracted from them. In 1898 he agreed to purchase 2000 sheep from a wellknown Martinborough squatter, the price agreed upon being Is a head. When he went to lift the sheep the young farmer wished to revoke the deal, as he was told that a bigger price could be obtained at the Masterton stock sale. The deal was cried off, and 1500 of the 2000 were duly offered at Masterton, but failed to elirit a biffi They were ■sold privately aferwards at 9<l per head, taking them to his boiling down works on the East Coast. "For the skins of these sheep,” he said, “I received 4s 6d each, beesides getting their fat. From that year onward prices increased, but to-day, when the increased cost oft everything is taken into consideration, ' sheep are worth little more than thi»y were in 1898.”

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. AN IMPROVEMENT UItGED. Speak’ihg at Eketahnna recently, Mr. Cockayne, of the Agricultural • Department, stated that the dairy industry in New Zealand could be improved in many ways, mainly in the feeding of the cows, which on the whole was quite inadequate. This point was insufficiently realised by the farmer. The improvemont of conditions could only be effected ! slowly. The cows were not fed to ensure their maximum production. • The increase of production in New Zealand could easily be gained by growing extra 900,000 acres of food. The heavier the cow the more upkeep was needed. About tep tons of grass yearly was neegssary for the upkeep of a now weighing approximately 1000 lbs. About eight tons of this was necessary for its production, and with an extra two tons it would increase its production about (i 0 lb. When considering the production of butter-fat they must study ‘the maintenance. The economy of feeding is. only effoL'tive w'th efficient cows, pnd ■ this ks what gradually helps to buildhip . a good dairy herd. One of the most 1m- j. portant things to consider when rim- i ning a dairy herd/is not to overstock the land. This was a failure of nuiny ffiiiry farmers. The question of feed lin Ifie respective seasons was one -of nc IHtte iffiporUnce. Fpr three qr ftiir inontlhs of the year, whan thg cow dry, it is necessary for it to have abtffit 600 lb of grass per day providing it is ir. fair condition. The production of butter-fat was mainly between the September to December months, when about of vho butter-fat was oblaipejj and fPF remaining months one-third. Tils? farincr imposes too jquph on the growth of griu-.s in Nw Zealand —ia £hzi- finac-t—Ln—tlm—uinidd—L expo dre? gro Dec duct 10 1 duel, sible ary t be coi of the of food after c <> than wh to put c all riip L duction ing in the ; .is foi time 1 to D ' the g tiie I mate in ci age part of b.’ . the j feed! is th: of tL Mil 1 !