NOTES AND COMMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20495, 11 May 1938, Page 13

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Officers Re-elected I At the fTrst executive meeting of the Waikato District Pig Council since the annual meeting a fortnight ago, Mr H. D. Caro was re-elected chairman, while the appointment of Mr C. P. Harington as district was confirmed. Royal Show Support At the annual meeting of the South Auckland branch of the National Beekeepers’ Association in Hamilton yesterday, it was decided to make a donation to the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association toward the funds for the Royal Show. 111-founded Rumours With the present high incidenoe of facial eczema throughout the district there are not a few rumours in regard to the death of valuable stud animals. One of the valuable Imported Polled Angus bulls of Messrs Morrison Bros., of Tauwhare, was recently reported as having died from the disease, but the owners report that the rumours are absolutely unfounded. Green Pastures It has been seldom that the pastures of the Waikato have looked so green, but farmers are seeking bare pastures on which to put their eczema affected stock- Probably this is the fTrst time in the farming history of this district that such a thing has happened and early frosts, instead of being dreaded, will be welcomed with open arms. Australian Fleeces for Glasgow A representative collection of fleeces will be displayed in the Australian Pavilion in the Glasgow Exhibition, which opened on May 3. Each fleece Is in its greasy, natural state, just as cut from the sheep, and each is a representative of its grade and breed. The fleeces range in weight from 81b to 151 b and average 101 b. Decline In Pig Population The number of pigs in Northern Ireland according to the January census of 1938 was 523,087, as compared with 570,058 In the previous June, a reduction of nearly 47,000, but It is noted that on the whole year —from January, 1937—the reduction Is rather under 40,000Another Noxious Weed? A noxious weed known as Indian Mallow, ( which is a native of Asia, but is now well established in the United States, has been found in Whangarei. Officers of the Plant Research Bureau state that this is the first occasion that the weed has been reported in New Zealand. It has a reputation in the United States as being, once established and allowed to mature, a very persistent weed, bearing seed of strong vitality, surviving in the soil for half a century or more. It is said that the conditions In New Zeeland would make for the rapid growth of the weed. Growing of Rape In the Hawke's Bay and ManawatuWanganui districts trials made with certified giant rape and commercial broad leaf Essex have proved the remarkable superiority in yield from the giant rape. The crop of broad leaf Essex grew only knee deep, while the giant rape was waist deep. When fed off, the sheep, as in the case of other trials, showed a definite preference for the giant rape. Giant rape is the result of a selection made by the Plant Research Bureau, and certified seed of this variety Is now being produced In New Zealand. Importance of Looks We have been told often enough that beauty Is only skin deep, and that • looks” are not everything, and there is, of course, a great deal of truth in both contentions. In the buying and selling of anything looks certainly do count. In regard to live stock as offered for sale In our publio markets there is often an extraordinary amount of difference to be noted in this matter of appearance as between one lot of cattle, sheep or pigs and another. In one case we see a heifer or a bullock, or a pen of sheep or pigs, which have come from some farm where the Importance of “looks” is well recognised; in another case we see stock to which nothing has been done to make them look their best. It may be contended, perhaps that a buyer who knows his business is not influenced by what one may call “surface Impressions.” lie knows a good animal when he sees it, and does not care twopence whether it has a clean or a dirty hide. But the fact remains that whether he be conscious of it or not, the prospective buyer is influenced to some extent by what he sees at his first glance. Leafy Grass. The well-known saying of Dean Swift in praise of the man who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before, contains an underlying truth which is not fully appreciated by those who quote the saying, and. perhaps, it was not appreciated fiv the famous Dean himself. It should be noted that he, referred to • blades” of grass, not to grass in general. Arc wc then to reckon Dean Swift among the pioneers of modern grassland ideas ? Modern pasture management aims particularly at encouraging the growth of Hie blade or leaf of the plant rather than a general increase in yield or herbage. Research has shown that the feeding value of the leaf is much greater than that of the stem of grass, particularly when the leafage is young and growing vigorously. British Stock Arriving British stock, despite the embargo, continues to reach Hie Dominion. Recently a consignment of nearly 20 Soijthdowns—rams and ewes—from noted flocks arrived In New Zealand, via Australia. There are also a number of Ryeland sheep en route here, and later in the year flve head of Aberdeen-Aneus cattle will arrive. As the total number of this breed exported from Britain last year was only 35 head, perhaps British breeders will not he so bitter in the future about the embargo. After all. the \>w Zealand breeder has to pay Hie piper, for he pays in sterling when he |»„vs in Britain, and the exchange and all’ shipping expenses almost double the initial cost when tlm accounts are figured in New Zealand currency.