AROUND HAWKE'S BAY

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 71, 26 April 1930, Page 3

AROUND HAWKE'S BAY

PARAGRAPHS OF INTEREST TO THE FARMER I was on the property of a Hawke's Bay farmer the other day, who made some most useful troughs by putting halves of benzine drums cut down the centre into the necessary wooden framework. • * * I wonder what percentage of Hawkets Bay farmers go in for an efficient system of book-keeping in vespect .to the running of their properties. Keeping of farm accounts makes it possible to locate leaks and to delermine at what poiut your farm can be made more profitable. Many people do not realise the tremendous iniportance of knowing farm facts. * * * According to oue of Hawke's Bay's leading stock agents more black faced rams than ever are being employed in Hawke's Bay tliis year, whieh means that rape crops will be 011 the increase. * * # Turnip crops appear to be in favour with Hawke's Bay farmers this year. * * * Crutcliing operations are now proceeding on a number of Hawke's Bay properties. The dry weather is all in favour of this class of work, but most farmers would probably be glad of the opportunity of delaying their crutching for a week's good rain. * * # A few days ago a truckload of goats for ruiining on blackberry infested country was shipped up the East Coast Railway and unloaded at Tutira, where a number of settlers made a valiant attempt to draft the goats in some neighbouring sheepyards. They reckoned witliout the hurdling propensities of the "billies" and "nannies," however, and these cleared in every available direction. There followed considerable excitement and not a little vituperation until they were finally re-mustered and it was then decided to confme them in the woolshed and carry outthe drafting within four walls and under a roof. This project was more successful, hut even in a woolshed the goats gave a great deal of trouble be-v fore they were finally sorted out i;o satisfaetion. * -Ja * Hawke's Bay is shortly to liave a visit fi'om a party of farmers from North Auckland. Under the leadership of Colonel Allan Bell, a party of between 100 and 160 farmers will arrive in Hastings on June 24. Some of them will be staying in Hastings and some in Napier, and they will remain until their return nortliwards on June 26. * * * Wlien potatoes are used in pig feeding it is customary to reckon 41bs. as equal in tenns of food to 11b. of maize or barley meal. « * * Arrangements are at present being made _ by the Railway Department to organise a tour of 250 farmers from the Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay, Wairarapa and Manawatu districts to the South Island. The trip, which will extend over 16 days, will be undertaken in June. * * # "Sheep fed on crayfish." The average Hawke's Bay farmer would roar with laughter at such a suggestion, and yet it. is an aetual fact that sheep in_ South Africa recently were kept alive and healthy under dronght conditions by feeding a meal manufactured from the offal of a crayfish can-nei-y. * * * Hawke's Bay farmers are fully alive to the value of tree plantations on their property. A good method, which might be followed with advantage, is fco plant a complete square with from four to 16 rows of trees and erect a fence on the outside with a gate giving aceess to the centre of the square. The space inside will be sheltered and can be used in cold weather for ewes and lamb§^ _ The size of the square depends entirely on the number of stock kept in the paddock. These shelters sliould be placed in the centre of the paddock and, if possible, on eleva.ted ground, as stock invarlably camp on these spots. * * * No breed can travel very far without a herd book. ^ Breeders beyond the tbousands of miles of sea must have cattle of record and a guarantee that they can reproduee themselves. Pro-perly-read pedigrees are of as much value in pomting out the bad as well as the good. ... * * * Criticism may not ahvays be pleasant, but it may sometimes be useful. At any rate, whether always deserved or not, it can do no particular harm. A Canadian farmer who was over in England remarked that lie did not wonder that some British farmers found it dimcult to make both ends meet. There were two things, he said, which struck him very forcibly soon after the got there. The first had to do with the amount of timo spent by certain farmers at neighbouring markets. 'At different markets," he said, "you meet the sam© men time and again. Some of them must spend half the days of the week at markets, and, judging by the amount of time they spend talking to on© another about things in general, on© would imagine that farming to them was just a side-line, or a hobby instead of their real business in life." * * * Tackl© the question of marketing, and the price of oats, milk and pototoes. and, having elahorated a proner co-operative scheme, apnroach Parliament for comulsor.y legislation on rement for co'mpulsory legislation on refractory minorities, and then agricultackled. So says Mr Tom Johnson, to British farmers.