ON THE LAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3406, 9 August 1913, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

FARM AND STATION

NOTES AND NEWS. Tho demand for New Zealand cows for Java lias reasserted itself this year, Mr P. L. Mulder, who took a consignment of 29 cows from Auckland last winter, having returned in search of more. Mr Mulder told an Auckland ‘‘Star” reproter that he lost 12 of last year’s herd owing to rough weather on the voyage—one between Auckland and Sydney, six beJore reaching Sourabaya (Java), and five more within seven weeks of reaching their destination. He left with 25 more milkers by the YV immera on August 4 for Java, via Sydney. It may seem strange that the Javanese do not secure their cattle in Australia but they are forbidden to do so because of the prevalence of pleuropneumonia among the cattle of the Commonwealth. Consequently the cows taken from New Zealand are not allowed to even tread Australian soil, but have to be transhipped on lighters in Sydney, and on reaching Java have to remain in quarantine for twelve months before their sale is permitted. Owing to the intense heat in Java, the life of a milch cow is very limited, and its only utility is for the provision of milk for drinking purposes. The butter and cheese-making industries are practically unknown . Quanity more than quality is therefore sought after, which is to say that cows that will fill the milk pail to the greatest extent are thought most of. * * * Mr W. G. Foster, managing director of the Wellington Meat Co., interviewed by a ‘‘Dominion” reporter as to a market in the United States for frozen meat, said the question that remained to be thoroughly, tested was whether the Australia nor the New Zealand meat was best suited for the consumer on that side. The opinions of the meat-dealers in San Francisco had been in the direction of favouring Australia, for the reason that the meat was leaner, even though it might not be anything nearly so good in quality, and of course the price was relatively lower. “A greater step in advance,” went on Mr Foster, “has been made form the fact that America is now prepared to accept the New Zealand Government’s inspection services, which hitherto has not been the case”. Mr Foster does not anticipate that the American market will materially divert Dominion meat from the Mother Country.

The annual report of the Wellington Farmers’ Meat Company shows that the quantity of stock treated during the year ended June 30, 1913, was largely in excess of that treated in the previous year. The return was as follows, last year’s output being given in parentheses :—Sheej}, 139,915 (110,671) : lambs, 116,250 (79,137) ; cattle 2270 (1201). The net result of the year’s operations, after providing £4500 for depreciation of plant, is a profit of £7771 8s Bd, of which it is proposed to transfer £4500 to reserve and to pay a dividend of 6 per cent, on paid-up capital. During the year the scheme for the extension of the freezing and storage chambers outlined at the last annual meeting was put into operation and partly completed. The additions will be duplicated this year, thereby duplicating the original freezing block.

The Agricultural Department has been advised that the Fruitgrowers’ Conference will not he held in Wellington until the first week in September.

Bird trapping in the Methven district is stated to be carried out with good results, and several men engaged aremaking good wages, ranging from £4 to £5 per week. The Ashburton County Council’s depots are receiving a large number of heads of small birds.

Some idea of the extent o 3 drain ploughing necessary in Southland (says the ‘‘Western Star”) may be gathered from the fact that Mr T. Flynn, a well known Waikouro farmer, has this season already drain-ploughed 100 miles. The plough was drawn by horses, Mr Flynn contending that a more satisfactory job can be made by using a team of good horses than allowing a traction engine to enter the paddocks and cut up the ground going in and out, especially this season through the great amount of rain that has fallen.

At the annual meeting of the Manawatu A. and P. Association the 14th Mr F. S. M‘Rae was elected president for the ensuing year. The election of vice-president, over which there has been very special interest, resulted as follows :—Mr J. M. Johnston 645, Mr A. E. Bennett 454. The association has had a very prosperous year. The membership stands at 1600. New* buildings were erected during the year at a cost of £2OOO.

The popularity of the C'orriedale breed of sheep in Australia and South America may be gauged by the excellent sales made by Mr C. H .Ensor, of White Rock, while over in Sydney (says the “Press”). Twenty-five stud rams for Punta Arenas sold for £827 17s, and 183 flock rams and some ewes borught £BB3 13s, or a sum of £l7lO 10s for the 233 animals.

It is understood (says the Wyndham “Herald”) that the Wyndham Dairy Factory Company has sold its cheese output for 6.jd on trucks, Wyndham. This is the best local price so far.

A line of 2500 fat wethers from one of the stations in the Mangaweka district was disposed of the other day at 25s per head, the deal representing £3125. A pastoralist also sold 28 fat steers at £ls per head, representing £420. • * # Butter is being retailed at Is 5d per lb in Blenheim. I » * « “It is posible that farmers are not aware that there is as much of a wheat plant under the earth as above it,” said Dr. J’. W. Hilgendorf during

an -address to farmers at Harewood on Friday last week. The roots, he explained, had been known to penetrate over oft into the sub-soil. Mr C. S. Brangiu, ihc- Agricultural Department’s inspector stationed at Ashburton, has just returned from a visit to tho back country (says the “Lyttelton Times.”) Mr Brangiu states that the back country is wonderfully free from snow for this time of year. The Cameron and Arrowsmith glaciers are but lightly covered, feed is fairly plentiful, and all classes of stock are doing well. * * * A much larger area is being put down in root crops in the Masterton district this year than in former years. In the Waihou district (writes the Te Aroha correspondent of the “Auckland Star”) there is something in the way of an epidemic among the dairy cows, quite a number having calved prematurely, while in each case the calves have been still-born. One owner has recorded 35 such cases, while lots of 10 and 12 are frequent. No reason has yet been adduced for the losses, which are considered to be serious. *

The Pongaroa butter factory, after having been'closed for some years, is to commence operations again in the coming season.

PACIFIC COAST MARKETS. Farmers in South Canterbury say that they have never know a better season than the present one for getting in tlicir crops. Winter-sown whea't is showing well above ground, and is looking uncommonly well. According to Mr W. F. Crichton, representing Messrs Weddel and Co., who lias been visiting Canada and the United States, the demand for N.Z. cheese in Canada was increasing rapidly, and it is generally believed that if the increase in population continues Canada will cease to export cheese in about five years’ time. The United States are drawing from Canada, and while Vancouver was, in the meantime, obtaining supplies from Eastern Canada, Vancouver merchants are beginning to inquire about New Zealand cheese as they begin to see that this is the source from which they will be compelled to draw supplies. Mr Crichton believes New Zealand’s geographical position will enable her to supply the Pacific Coast more easily than the eastern part of Canada. Mr Crichton says Quensland must be regarded as an important competitor in the cheese trade. Several lots were sent during the season, and the quality was pronounced excellent, which is more than could be said for tho New Zealand cheese forwarded. As regards butter, Mr Crichton says that Vancouver butter merchants, having lost rather heavily last season by making early contracts for supplies are, determined to get back a little of their own if possible, and will not enter into contracts covering the season, but buy from steamer to steamer or month to month. They are well satisfied with the quality of the New Zealand butter.

MARGARINE. The competition of margarine in the United Kingdom is, according to Mr Crichton (Mesrs Weddel and Co.’s representative), who has just arrived in Wellington, certainly a factor, “but,” he added, “there would always be a good demand for high-grade butter, provided it could be got at a reasonable price. The British public was now educated up to realising that good butter could be bought retail under Is 2d per lb. When the market was forced up and the price artificially raised, then even the better class of bu yers were compelled to use margarine, but generally speaking, margarine was ousting the second-grade butter off poor flavour. New Zealand must maintain a high standard of quality, and if it did so, it need not fear the competition of margarine. The margarine manufacturers at Home,” said Mr Crichton, “were employing firstclass chemists at the salaries of Cabinet Ministers, and they were producing an article which so closely resembled buttre, in color, texture and flavor that even experts were puzzled to distinguish the difference. Furthermore to encourage the consumption of margarine, the manufacturers delivered to retailers in small quantities several times a week, so that the product reached the consumer fresh and sweet, and with the aroma o 3 butter. The margarine trade,” be added, “was growing.”