FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1921, Page 8

FARM AND DAIRY.

RAPID STRIDES IN DAIRYING. PHENOMENALLY INCREASED PRODUCTION. After an extended tour of the North of Auckland district, Mr. T. Brash, of the National Dairy Association, has returned to Wellington greatly impressed with the phenomenally good season experienced by dairy farmers in that territory, and with the big strides made by the dairying industry there in recent years—the last twelve months ih particular.

Speaking to a Dominion representative, Mr. Brash said that from his observations he was convinced that north of Auckland the production of dairy produce was going to continue increasing considerably for some years to come. The country was somewhat poorer than the land in the older dairying districts, but the farmer had bought in cheaply, and they were beginning to learn something about working their holdings properly. Dairy farms were springing up in all directions. He felt sure that there would be a bigger increase in dairying in this outlying portion of New Zealand than in any other part of the Dominion. SIGNIFICANT FIGURES. Mr. Brash backed up his statement with a few figures as to this year’s production in the north. At Dargaville one factory had this season increased its output of butter from SOO to 1200 tons; the Ohaewai factory from 180 to 2po tons; and Kaitai factory from 180 to 230 tons. Other factories in the north which he visited had increased their output this season to the fallowing dimensions: Kaipara Company (Helensville), to 650 tons; Whangarei Company ('Whangarei), to 400 tons; Hikurangi Company, to 600 tons. Away north at Hokianga —a district which a few years ago produced np butter foy export—the production of the local factory had increased to 350 toqs.

Going clown the coast he also met With encoqragipg reports. The Te Puke factory, for instance, had increased its make of butter to 55Q tons, and the Opouriao factory at Taneatqa produced during the season 450 tops of cheese and 115 tons of butter, while at Wai mana the make ran into 250 tons of -cheese, and at Opotiki 380 tons of butter. AH these points, he remarked, were away in the outfields. The wonderful increase in butter production north of AUpklapd and ip the outlying 4’StFiots he had mentioned pointed clearly to

the fact, he stated, that the north was coming into her own. RE-STOCKING BELGIUM. Three hundred head of cattle were forwarded in the first consignment to Belgium by the Agricultural Relief of Allies Committee. They have all been distributed among peasants in the war zone. The 20 bulls were entrusted to the more substantial farmers, who could maintain properly; and the other recipients may have their heifers served by these bulls at a fee not exceeding sf. The heifers were allotted to those who before the war had possessed a small number of cows, not exceeding 10. The names were drawn by lot, and when there were more applicants than heifers a further Hat was drawn by lot, to whom the first calves will be allocated. Recipients of heifers have to keep them for three years at least or forfeit five times the value. In every ca-se the animal is a free gift. An assoeiatiop is being formed of recipients, and a show is to be hold in the autumn at each centre, at Which prizes will be given for the bestkept animals. . .