FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1922, Page 8

FARM AND DAIRY.

The Hauraki Plains are looking particularly well just now, and there is every prospect of plenty of feed for the winter months. Unfortunately (says an exchange), during the past few weeks the settlers have been much concerned over the prevalence of disease among stock, due to the presence of minerals and acids in the soil interfering with the water supply. The settlers are doing their best by way o-f testing to combat the disease, particularly tuberculosis, and have also formed a veterinary club which has for its purpose the prompt attention to farmers whose stock is afflicted. By this means a good many animals have been saved. Judging by the appearnace of the pastures, however, there is little to show that the occupiers are passing through such an anxious time. In the course of some notes on the past wool season the Sydney Morning Herald says: “The ‘Wool Kings’ are often spoken of. To-day they are hardly more than a name. In 1913. of flocks exceeding 100.000 head each, New South Wales possessed only three. At the close of 1920 there was only one flock exceeding 100,000 head. Flocks of 5000 and under numbered in 1920 25,'513; or 56 per cent, of the State’s flocks; whereas in 1913 flocks of 5000 head numbered 23,466, equal to 44 per cent, of the sheep holding of the State.”