MR BOWRON ON DAIRY FARMING

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1933, 25 November 1884, Page 2

MR BOWRON ON DAIRY FARMING

[Concluded.) For making butter, both quantity and quality, Jersey or Gnernsoy cows ara superior to all other breeds. A gentleman in New Plymouth at this present time has a Jersey cow which yields 211b. of butter per week, and an Ayrshire cow whose milking properties aie remarkable, and yields 161b. of butter per week, but these are exceptions. For all pastural purposes, none will suit New Zealand better ! than the shorthorn. With good feed, such aa you have, she will give from three to four gallons of milk per day, and if she does not milk well she will fatten, and they breed line bullocks — none better except the Devons. Another advantage connected with dairy fanning is this, that no other method of farming will populate a country so quickly. A sheep run of 2000 acres would only requiie one shepherd, and produce probably £1000 per annum. The same quantity of land divided into 10 farms would keep one thousand cows, sustain ten families, and (all hands told) employ one hundred hands, producing property to a considerable extent. A hundred cows will make 20 tons of cheese per annum, each oow rearing a calf and fattening a pig. The market value of 20 tons of Cheddar cheese, at lowest rates, would be £65 per ton, and that would be £1300 for each farm. The best dairies in England make from £74 up to £84 per ton for their cheese. In order to make success certain there are a few points that must be considered, and properly attended to. First build your factories without borrowing money and procure a proper plant, and then secure a person of skill and experience, to whom you may confide the whole management. The next thing wanted is a labour-saving machine to milk the cows, When that will come, and fiom what point of the compass, we must wait to see. Last, but not least, the freights must be seen after. The railway freitrhts are higher than they ought to be. Three factories for land freight paid this year £338. One factory paid for land and water carrage to Landon £14 10s per ton, exclusive of other charges. It costs the Americans only £2 10s to deliver their cheese in England, whereas in New Zealand all e\penses are £23 0s 4d ! One thing is clear, and that is great alterations mu<it be made in freights. If the Colonial Government were to fit up two or,three vessels for d.ury produce and deliver the goods in London, returning with loads of proper emigrants, low freights or no freights, no project would pay better, while New Zealand could complete with America or any country in the London market, and where the Government now tax thousands they would soon tax millions. The factories in America sounded the death knell of what was called the " truck system" — that is, a bucket of butter for an equivalent of sugar and tea, but no cash. Twenty-two years ago I met with married people who had never seen a sovereign in their life. They callep them •' pretty things," and be sure these pretty things marvellously stimulated the cheese industry. I could give a gieat many practical results of an encouraging nature. One gentleman, a land proprietor, let a small holding to a farmer, 50 acres for £4(5 per annum. The milk from his 18 cows, sold to a factory, realised £60 the first two months. He paid his rent, and had a balance of £24 and seven month s milk to the good. One gentleman said, " I bought 20 cows, and was astonished that I should get so much money in so shoit a space of time. Now, without using any flattering words, it may be stated that you have a splendid climate for keeping cows, and the pioduction of cheese, butter and bacon. On precious thing is you have no lack of moisture. Your hills and vales drink water from the passing- clouds ; your cattle quench their thirst in the living fountains of water, without stint or fear of exhaustion : you have bright skies, warm sunny days, and coi>l evenings. This brignt constellation of natural blessings aie important elements, which will greatly facilitate the prosperity of the dairy industry. No doubt you have vast stoics of mineral wealth treasured up in your mountains for generations to come, but the mohtenduiing wealth of this colony lies, on the surface, and you may have it without digging or delving. The cow is the first factor, and works with a will. She gathers up the giains of shining ore, and hands them to you in the form of pure milk. After the condensing process is complete you exchange the substance for gold, and hence the American proverb, " Cheese is gold." Dickens, the pieat novelist, designates the cow " the mother of all blessings. No doubt the cow creates permanent national wealth by turning grass into gold' and " money answereth all things." •We are greatly peiplexed at present for want of thoroughly experienced Cheddar cheese makers, but this difficulty may be overcome. There is one point we have not touched upon. We find there are people in tha citios who rather discourage than facilitate this new industry, but we feel sure the\ r do not clearly underhand the case, or it would be otherwise. The towns are of little value without the rural districts, so that every movement to einich the farmer will assist the merchant. The benefit is mutual. I have long noticed that in England the most flourishing towns are located in the prosperous dairy districts. To the city merchants who a^ist the struggling farmer, dividend or no dividend, the indirect advantages which will be felt would moie than compensate their pecuniary assistance in taking shares to develope the inexhaustible resources of these magnificent islands. Pig feedis an industry but little thought of, although the most profitable of d.iiiy fanning. With a proper breed of pigs and good management they will clear 400 per cent. Small pigs may be purchased at XX each, kept on dairy lefuse six months, and then they will weigh 1001b. This, valued at fourpenoe per lb is £2 13s 4d, so you have a clear gain of £2 3s 4d each for the outlay of 10s. But suppose you turn the pork into bacon and hams ; when cured the maiket weight would be 1241b, at 7d per lb, and thus yon receive £3 12a 4d, To this add 4s per 81b of chops, and 5s lOd for 141b of lard, and the value would be £4 2s 2d. This is a fine trade for making wealthy merchants. If bacon is cured for the London market the process is varied. The ham must be cured on the side, the process involving less labour during the curing pxocess. After 14 days' salting the sides are washed out, and pjaood four in a balo wrapped in coarse cloth made of flax and placed in a cool chamber. It would arrive in London in splendid condition. The price would be regulated by the quality and the season of the year, and would range from 65s up to 74s per cwt. The, greatest diffiulty we have to fear at present U the Jack of thoroughly efficient Cheddar cheese makers. The most effectual plan to meet the exigencies of the case would be for the Government to set apart 1000 or 2000 acres of land, and build a factory where cheese of various descriptions would be manufactured ; also make butter upon the most approved principles, aondense milk, and cure Wiltshire bacon. Through this school of agricultural young men would have to pass, and give proof of their capabilities to superintend tne manufacture of dairy produco. By the adoption of this m,ethod two great advantages Would be sequred. First, thnre would be managers to be _ relied upon, and second, every factory changing hands, or wanting more labour, could apply to this school, and men would be sent with proper credentials of approved ability. This school would be self-supporting. Pupils, younff or o]<J, would have fa give their labour for the instruction gwen, bo the principal part of thr. work would be done free of expense, and each factory would be expected to subscribe £5 per annum for the great privilege of being supplied with men when required. The Government of Denmark voted £;7QOQ for this purpose last year, If the colonial Government should not see it to be a great advantage to the agricultural interest of New Zealand, give me the land, and I will do it myself, taking all responsibilities, Or its success I hare not the shadow of a doubt.

A Little boy had been sent to dry a towel before the nursery fireplace. *' Mamma, is it done when it is brown ?" he asked, as the towel began to smoke. A Tipsy Scotchman was making his way home upon a bright Sunday morning when the '• gude " folk were wending tfieir way to the kirk. A little dog polled a lead from the hand of a lady and ran away from her. She appealed to the first passer-by, who happenedto be the inebriate, asking him to wKistle fbr her poodle. *' Wumman," he retorted, with that solemnity of visage which on 1 occasions Satan is wont to assume '! wumnjan , this is nae a dae for wHusfclin 1 ." ; * • -'•* Tenders are minted for painting S. 'M»r/i Convert, Hanjilton. _ - Tl)e prtvileges bf the Cambridge raoa mepting, will be sold by M??srs Wt J-tftynter au4 r C«., «n ' "'*^ J ' i '-'I ■ i