FARM & DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, 25 June 1921, Page 10

FARM & DAIRY

THE GRADING SYSTEM. AN IMPROVEMENT NECESSARY. Writes our Wai-toi-toi correspondent: The grading of cheese and butter, introduced by the Government Some years ago with a view to improving the standard of the produce exported from the Dominion, though admittedly a necessary and wise measure, presents some rather curious features as at present carried out, and some further light was thrown on the subject as the result of inquiries made from Mr. Maurice Nathan, managing director of the firm of Nathan Co., one of the largest Home buyers of New Zealand butter and cheese. It has been known amongst many factories in Taranaki for some time past that an article which has been classed as first grade in the cool stores here is not necessarily any better (and in some cases not so good), when opened up at Home than that which has been considered second grade. This is also borne out by Mr. Nathan’s experience in England, and he specially stressed that the full flavored, rich, meaty cheese would always secure the most attention from the consumer. The factory managers are aware of this, as well as many directors of dairy companies; in fact, everybody seems to recognise it. with the exception of the grading authorities, who no doubt may be and are thoroughly conscientious in carrying out their duties, but are only following the lines laid down for their guidance by those above them. It is no use the factory managers saying anything, as if they wish to retain their positions they have to turn out an article which will secure first grade points, but the producers themselves have no troubles of this kind, and Mr. Nathan’s advice on this matter with regard to combining is well worth considering. and no doubt if the matter were thoroughly investigated, a more satisfactory state of affairs could be arrived at without undue friction. TREATMENT OF PHOSPHATES. A matter that is causing discussion both in this and other districts, is the question as to whether raw phosphates finally ground are not of equal value to those whch have been treated with sulphuric acid (writes our Wai-toi-toi correspondent). From experiments conducted in Great Britain, the British Ministry of Agriculture gives the opinion that where basic slag is not obtainable in sufficient quantities, it is worth while trying numeral phosphates providing that they are sufficiently finely ground, and that there is every reason to expect that they will prove useful on heavy clay grazing land, where the herbage is in poor condition, and also that they may prove useful for the growth of swedes and turnips. They also state that from outside communications received they should also be useful on sour soils that are deficient in lime. Now that we are receiving large shipments of the Nauru phosphates this question of treatment means a great deal to the farmer, and upon this point that practical and sensible writer, Prim- , rose McConnell, in the N.Z. Farmer, gives an emphatic opinion in favor of finely ground raw article. After asking when and where NauiXi phosphates were experimented with, he gives as the result of his own experience that lime must be the basis of all successful top-dressing, and that one can never make a mistake in applying a phosphate manure such as basic, super basic slag, ephos phosphate, and he lias every confidence in the raw ground phosphate, providing the grinding is sufficiently fine, and that cost for cost he lias always had better results from the use 1 of either of the above than from a ‘'special” pasture manure. Mr, O’Connell is also of opinion that the continued use of superphosphates has a deteriorating effect on the soil.

PUNGAREHU DAIRY COMPANY. Writes our Pungarehu correspondent: The prospects of the local dairy factory for the future never looked brighter than at the present time, as there is every prospect of the supply being increased by some 250 extra cows, whilst a number of the present suppliers have expressed their intention of adding to' their herds. This is very encouraging, to those settlers who had the enterprise to erect a commodious and up-to-date building in the first place, instead of (as is of.en the case), putting up a cheap show just sufficient to meet previous requirements, and finding later on that they have to re-construct the whole concern. FARMERS AND POLITICS. The determination of a certain North Island Provincial Farmers’ Union to form a farmers’ political party distinct from any of the existing political parties does not appear to be finding much favor with the majority of farmers in other provinces. The objection most of them urge aganst the step is that the definite entrance of the Farmers’ Union into party politics of any color would be bound to create dissensions among the members, and ultimately result in a loss of membership. The policy of the farmers all over the country, one of the coastal farmers said recently, should be to join heartily in pressing their' legitimate demands upon the Government of the day, by whatever name it might be called, but to scrupulously abstain from threatening ministers with the terrors of the ballot-box. This policy has given good results in the past, and it would be time, he concluded, for farmers to talk about other means of getting their rights when this one failed. THE SPREAD OF NOXIOUS WEEDS. The spread of noxious weeds was again referred to at the recent conference of the Taranaki Farmers’ Union. It is considered necessary that the attention of the Government be drawn to the rapid spread of noxious weeds, and that they be urged to take more drastic steps to have them kept down. Since the passing of .the Pure Seeds Bill, there has certainly been a distinct improvement, because, while it does not prevent the merchant selling weeds, it compels him on the other hand to state whether any weeds were included in the seeds. It does seem strange that while we have a number of noxious weed inspectors, they do not seem to be able to check the spread of weeds. Not until the Noxious Weeds Bill all ready to be submitted to Parliament, is passed will this question of weeds be severely dealt with, to the lasting satisfaction of concerned. Thirty years ago noxious weeds were not known in the country, but now the nines was getting over-run with them.

THE FRIESIAN COW. SOME SPLENDID RETURNS. The following returns from Friesian cows will be of interest to dairy far-

BUTT ER AND CHEESE PRICES. Writes “Director” to the Haw era Star: As dairy farmers and others are now making lheir arrangements for next; season the following information will probably be of use to many in helping them to estimate what their position is likely to be when this season’s returns are all in. The papers publish the price of cheese on the English market from day to day, also butter; but as butter was sold outright to the British Government at a price that will pay out about 2s fid per lb of butter-fat the butter quotations will not affect their present position. The cost of manufacturing and marketing cheese is about JO Ad per lb butter-fat, and from lib of butter-fat content 2Jlb of cheese are made and can be figured up thus: Cheese at 112 s per cwt. (Is per lb) in London equals 2s 6d per lb of butterfat, less 104 d per lb for manufacturing and marketing—ls BJd pay-out to the farmer here. Cheese at sfis per cwt. (fid per lb) would equal Is 3d per lb of fat, less IOJd —4£d pay-out. Cheese yesterday was 100 s, which will pay out here about Is 4d per lb butter-fat. To compare with the price of Iff]2, which was onr last normal year, the London price ranged about 655, and the pay-out here from Is 3d to Is 4d per lb butterfat. Silty-five shillings to-day would pay out about 7%d per lb butter-fat. The cost of manufacture and marketing in 19-12 was about IJd per lb butter-fat, against IffAd per lb to-day, an increase of about 700 per cent, on costs. Factories have already sold from one-third to one-half of the season’s output at a price that will pay-out over 2s, and this will help to save the situation.

mers:— Burkeyje Sylvia Posch .. 26,226 983 Westmere Princess Pieterje 24,199 939 Mutual Pearl of Rock .. 25,648 903 Manor Beets Daughter 2nd of Ashlynn 18,733 863 Alcartra Cloth ilde Pietje 23,011 842 Oakwood Rambder 23,952 820 Netherland Princess 4th 19,621 805 Dutchland Colantha Mercedes 19,387 75G Holland Queen 20,629 755 Woodcrest Johanna Tehee 21,483 754 Salma Johanna Lyons .. 21,439 730 Domino’s Friesland Belle 19,630 724 Waihi Lass 19.554 722 Rosa Posch of Oakview .. 19,515 718 Grace Fayne of Ashlynn 17,934 716 Bainfield. No 2 20,506 709 Friesland Tirania 21,007 706 Belle Fayne Segis 19,568 702