FARMING AND COMMERCIAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 252, 23 September 1929, Page 5

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL

HERD-TESTING.

WORK IN NEW ZEALAND.

ORGANISER APPOINTED.

The management committee of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation has confirmed the appointment of Mr G. M. Hume, of Hamilton, 03 federation supervisor.

To secure a more definitely organised and more comprehensively, controlled system, the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. 6. W. Forbes, recently set up a new central body termed the herd-testing central executive, whose main functions aro:—(1) To direct the policy of the Herd Testing Federation and (2) to control the allocation and distribution of the Government subsidy to all herd-testing organisations, whether working under the group or the association system. This central executive is composed of four representatives of the federation, one of whom, Mr Dynes Fulton, acts as chairman, _ the chairman of the Dairy Board, the Director-General of Agriculture, the director of the dairy division of the Department of Agriculture, and the director of the Dairy Research Institute. It was decided to appoint a herd testing organiser, who would be directly an officer of the federation, but whose work would bo carried out on lines directed by the central executive, one of whose aims is to have the whole of the herd testing work so organised and carried out as to bring it more and more toward the point where it will bocome entirely self-supporting. Mr Hume will continue to have his headquarters in Hamilton. The central executive’s object is to improve the existing herd testing organisations, and to encourage the formation of new associations, especially in those districts where no such work is at present carried on. Mr Hume, who has been entrusted with the important organising work, is a Hamilton born _ man. In 1921 he was chairman of a special committee set up by the Farmers’ Union in Morrinsville to inquire into the improvement of the then existing system of testing. In the next year group testing was begun through the influence of the Hamilton branch of the Farmers’ Union, which acted on a report from Mr C. A. Magner regarding the group system in Australia. In 1924 Mr Hume was appointed general manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Herd Testing Association, which position he has held ever since. The work of the association has grown so that at the present time 69 groups are operating and'about 93,000 cows aro under test within this association. With Mr Dynes Fulton, Mr Hume played an important part in bringing about the formation of the Dominion Group Herd Testing Federation in 1926. Eight associations affiliated in the first season, and the membership has now increased to 21 associations, covering districts from Kaitaia to Southland. MIXED FARMING. DAIRY COWS PAY FOR TOPDRESSING. AID IN EFFICIENT SHEEP-FARMING. It is often advisable for a farmer to conduct two or perhaps even three different types of farming on one area, and thereby considerably improve both his security and his returns, states a writer in the Hawko’s Bay Tribune. lam thinking at the moment of the combination of shoop and dairy farming, and have in mind a farmer whom I knew a few years ago as a successful dairy farmer without any interest in sheep. With a change of farm this man transferred his herd, which consisted of a fine lot of deep milkers ol high test from rich alluvial flats to a bigger area of good quality hill and downs land. Here he found it advisable to carry a few sheep to clean up after the cattle, and these were so profitable that, as time went on, ho carried more and more sheep until they ultimately became of primary importance on the farm. Nowadays, his property is a sheep farm carrying a herd of some 25 dairy cows, and the combination is of tho most satisfactory kind.

With the aid of milking machines in an up-to-date shed one man manages the dairy part of tho business. After his -wages and keep, interest on thel and occupied by the cattlo, and on tho .’alue of the cattle themselves, is paid, there remains a profit of some £2OO odd in an averago year, and this is sufficient to pay tho cost of purchase, freight and application of a sufficient top-drcsssing on the whole farm. By means of this top-dressing the farmer in question can carry four sheep where ho could originally carry only two, besides which he can save sufficient hay and ensilage to carrry both his flock and herd through tho months of shortage in winter with a reserve for use should a dry spell in summer be encountered. It is seldom that butterfat, wool, mutton and lamb are all down 'in price at the same time, so this farmer is_ usuallly in tho enviable position of having one _or more of his produots going on to a high market.

With a reserve of winter feed the dry cows and young stock do a reasonable amount of cleaning up on the farm each winter, and it is not found necessary to keep any “bcefbred” cattle for this purpose. Such a system of mixed farming can be successfully conducted on many farms now devoted wholly to sheep. Topdressing makes this possible with safety. I know that many sheep farmers “can’t bear the sight of a dairy cow,” and just as many dairy farmers don’t understand and don’t want to understand sheep, but when all is said and done that is merely unreasoned prejudice. Running a mixed dairy and sheep farm is keeping all one’s eggs in the same basket. There is, I know, sometimes a difficulty in getting a suitable man or boy to take 6010 charge of valuable dairy cows, but this same difficulty is equality experienced with other farm hands, such as ploughmen and shepherds, and is no sound reason why a small herd of cows could not be kept. Good men, interested in their cows, are procurable and are worthy of a good wage. Another farmer whom I know keeps a small herd of 12 choice dairy cows which he milks by hand, the boy employed to look after them doing a certain amount of other farm work at the same time. After wages and interest are paid there is usually a profit of £IOO per annum; a. very handy sum to put in the bank or invest in manures for top-dressing, and this oil country which a few years ago would not have been entertained as dairying land. One great advantage that, follows dairying as a side-line on this sheep country is that to be successful the farmer must employ modern methods. He must top-dress and he must make provision for winter with hay or ensilage, and these two practices, so long neglected where sheep alone have been grazed, are the secret of success with modern farming. Ploughing, except that for green or root crops such as rape or turnips, preliminary to laying tho land down in permanent English pasture, is being dpne less and less in the North Island each year, and cropping as an extra string to the bow will not nowadays appeal to' many farmers. However, where a team and implements have to be kept for other work, it is surprising what a pleasing addition to tho annual cheque can bo earned from an aero or two of potatoes, maize, pumpkin, or othor crop which can be cultivated when the team would otherwise be idle.

BUTTER OR CHEESE?

INTERESTING COMPARISON.

THE RETURN FROM THE FACTORY.

(From Our Own Correspondent). MARTON, Sept. 20 ;

A topic frequently discussed by dairy farmers in this as well as in other districts is the question as to whether the yield of income from butter-fat supplied to cheese factories is greater than that available from butter manufacturing concerns. Your correspondent has come into possession of the following interesting com. parisons, which have been duly authenticated, and which should provide some food for discussion among readers of this page. Mr W. Glasgow, of Turakina, who milks three herds aggregating 300 cows, and who had until recent years been supplying a butter factory, ie emphatically of the opinion that it is moro profitable for him to send his fat to a cheese factory, as ho is now doing. He says that in tho 1928-29 season, when he changed over to the cheese factory, the extra butterfat credited to him was 73211 b. as against the total of tho preceding soason; and the extra butterfat obtained by supplying a cheese factory last year as against the best of the preceding five years when ho sent to tho butter factory was 47,7711 b. The extra butterfat obtained through the cheese factory as against the average for five years at a butter factory was 10,9231 b. Mr 11. Gower, of Upper Tutaenui, Marton, in the 1928-29 season milked 54 cows and supplied a cheese factory. Ho states that he was credited with 16001 b. more in butterfat than he obtained in tho previous year when he milked 60 cowe and supplied a butter factory. Very conclusive figures are supplied by Mr J. Murray, of Brunswick, Wanganui, for the seasons 1923-24 to 1025-26 inclusive. In the first year he supplied a cheese factory (Brunswick), in the second a butter factory (Okoia) and in the third year, again a cheese factory (Westmerfi). Tho figures are i — 1923-24. 1924-25. 1925-26.

Extra butterfat from cheese ... 1506 In the last mentioned case the herd was 48 in number throughout, and although the figures may not prove any definite assertion, they nevertheless will give rise to some comment. ALLOTMENTS OF SHIPPING SPACE. The following aro the allotments of shipping space for New Zealand produce up till the end of November:— , . Dominion. Approximately. Totals. Due ButSteamer. •’ Sails. From. U.K. ter. Cheese Sept. Nov. N ° rt berland 24th Akld. Ist 66,000 7,200

Piako • 23th Akld. 6th 40,200 16,000 The Karamea and Remuera allotments includo West Coast U.K. bookings. The Raranga allotment includes Halifax-Mon-treal bookings. Tho Corinthic and Piako are to be allotted further dairy produce. The Piano will probbaly cover the November loading for Halifax. PRICES ON OVERSEAS MARKETS. Tho New Zealand Dairy Produce Board has received the following market report from its London office, dated September 20, 1929: BUTTER.

CHEESE. New Zealand — AVhite 93s 925-93 s Coloured 935-94 s 935-94 s Market steady. 935-94 s equals approx B£d f.o.b. Deliveries N.Z. this week, 15.160 crate®. In store N.Z. this week, 87,134 crates. Canadian— 1 White and coloured 945-97 s 925-94 s Market firm. Retail prices unchanged. English (fair demand) — Finest farmers, 100s-106s. lonic finished discharged butter September 16. Mahia commenced discharge cheese September 13, finished September 14; commenced discharge butter September 17, finished September 18. Note. —Owing to cable error, cheese stocks on September 13, should have been 92,791 crates (not 22.791).

STOCK MARKET.

Levin and Co., Ltd., report a email yarding of cattle at the Feilding sale on 20th instant. Fat sheep prices were easier than at the previous sale while store sheep prices were ion a par with recent sales. Black faced hoggets were in slightly keener demand. There was another good yarding of fat cattle, the majority being of prime quality which sold well.’ The store market was rather disappointing, the greater portion beiny passed at auction. Dairy cattle were selling well, heifers being in keen demand. We report the, following sales:— Fat ewes, 24s 6d to 32s 7d; fat hoggets, 22s 6d to 345; fat wethers, 33s 3d; b.f. hoggets, 22s 7d; ewes and lambs, 35s lid; fat steers, £l3 17s 6d, £l6 Is, £l7 7s 6d; fat cows, £7 153 to £l2 17s 6d; springing heifers, £7 to £ls; heifers in milk, £lO 10s; pedigree Jersey cow in milk, lOgns; springing cows, £ll 10s to £l2 12s 6d.

WELLINGTON STOCK EXCHANGE. LAST WEEK’S"BUSINESS AND PRICES. Tho sales recorded on the Wellington Stock Exchange on Saturday were as under: — Yield, £ s. d. p.c. English, Scottish and Australian Bank 8 8 0 4 9 0 N.Z. Guarantee Corporation (ord.) ' - 0 9 10- 617 10 Auckland Gas (£1) 1 4 8 610 0 National Insurance - 016 9 4 0 9

There wore in all 30 sales registered on the Wellington Stock Exchange during tho week as against 25 in the previous week, and most of these were of bank shares and breweries. Below is given a review of the market, and the operations of tho past week:

The volume of business transacted on the Stock Exchanges of tho Dominion last week was less than usual, and in many cases prices dropped. Beer and tobacco were the most favoured investments. Banks and Insurance met with restricted business, especially the latter. _ Financial shares were firm except the Building and Mortgage shares, which are more or less neglected. Coal shares wore fairly active. GILT-EDGED ADVANCE.

In the gilt-edged section Government securities have advanced under the continued pressure of buyers and these are now at peak prices. Business was done in the 44 per cents. (1930) at £99 7s 6d, and the 5j per cents. (1941) at £99 10s. The 5i per cents., which appear to be in stronger demand than the others, have advanced, and there were transfers of the 54 per cents. (1933) at £lOl 15s, and 54 per cents. (1936) at £lO2. The debentures of several local bodies changed hands, Mount Albert Borough £5 14s per cent, at £lO3 15s, Grey Electric Power Board 54 per cents. (1936) at £IOO, and Ashburton Electric Power Board, 51 per cent. (1934), at £lOl 10s. New Zealand Farmers’ Cooperative 64 per cents, 1940, were sold at £95 ss, and there were quite a number of sales of New Zealaud Breweries bonds at 30s to 30s lOd and 31s. BANK .SHARES.

A comparatively small business was dono in Bank shares, and tho prices realisod towards tho wook end were easier in most cases. Australian Bank of Commerce changed hands at 35s 9d, then dropped to 34s 6d, finishing at 34s 9d; National Bank of Australasia, £lO paid, wero quitted at £l9 13s 6d, and £5 paid at £9 13s 6d and £9 11s 6d. English, Scottish and Australian Bank were steady with a couple of transactions at £8 9s 6d. Union Bank sold at £ls Is 6d at tho beginning of the week, but cased towards the week ond, a sale being registered on the Christchurch Exchange at £ls. Commercial. Bank were not in such keen demand as in tho previous week, but nevertheless maintained their value, changing hands at 30s. There was more bhsiness done in National Bank of Now Zealand than for some timo past, and sales were made, at £6 183 and £6 17s, most of tho business being at the latter figuro. Bank of New South Wales sold at £52 and £sl 15s; Bank of New Zealand at 635, 63s 3d, 62s lOd, and 62s 9d, and Bank of New Zealand long term at 28s 9d. Queensland National Bank changed hands at £9 16s. The last sale in these shares was made fivo weeks ago, and the buyer obtained them at £9 11s 6d. Financial shares wero stoady with sales of Goldsbrough Mort and Co. at 465, National Mortgago at 86s 4d and 87s; Wright, Stophenson and Co. at 265, and Now Zealand Guarantee Corporation, ordinary, at 9s 9d and 9s Bd. The usual moderate business was done in Insurance shares; National Insurance wero cleared at 16s 9d, New Zealand Insurance at 48s, and South British Insurance at 66s 6d. COAL SHARES FIRM. Gas shares were in fair demand, but thero was little business doing. Auckland Gas changed hands at 24s Bd, and Christchurch Gas at 26s 6d. Coal shares wero firm; Westport Coal sold at 34s 3d; Grey Valley Coal at 29s sd, 29s 4d, 29s fid, and 29s 3d; Taupiri Coal at 28s 9d; Renown Collieries at 16s, and Pukemiro Collieries at 76s 6d, cum dividend of 5s per share. Meat shares were dull except Gear Meat, which wore very firm, Cantcibury Frozen Meat preference wero transferred at 101 s, and N.Z. Refrigerating, 20s paid, at 14s 3d, and 10s paid at 63 9d and 6s Bd. Shipping, Woollen, and Timber shares wero very quiet, and no business was dono in them. New Zealand Breweries shares sold freely at 90s 3d, 90s 9d, 91s, 90s, 91s 3d, 91s, 90s 6d, 90s 3d, and 90s 6d. Staples and Co. also changed hands freely Beginning with sales at 525, they steadily advanced, closing with sales at 54s 9d. For the first, time thero is reported a sale of Queensland Brewery shares at 33s 9d. This sale was reported to tho Christchurch Exchange last Thursday. A very moderate business was done in the miscellaneous section, investors paying most attention to British Tobacco, which changed hands at 49s 6d and 49s 8d cum. dividond. Other sales were Electrolytio Zinc, ordinary, at 375, preference at 37s 3d; Holden’s Motor Body Builders at 28s 'and 28s 9d; Dunlop Rubber, at 28s 9d; Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering B preference, at 17s 7d; Farmers’ Trading Co., at 9s 5d and 9s 4d; Beath and Co., Is paid, at 9s lOd; Sanford, Ltd., preference, at 20s; Burns, Philp and Co. at' 48s; Colonial Sugar at £57 10s; Wairarapa Farmers’ preference, 16s 6d; New Zealand Drug, at 75s 9d; Now Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative B preference, at 70s; Robinson Ice Cream at 24s 6d; Wilson’s Cement at 445, and Mount Lyell at 455. SATURDAY’S QUOTATIONS. Movements based on Saturday’s buying prices compared with previous bids were as under: — Rise.

N.Z. Guarantee Corporation (ordinary) 0 1 P. and 0. Deferred Stock 0 3 Saturday’s buying and selling quotations on the Wellington Stock Exchange were as follow: Buyers. Sellers. N.Z. GOVT LOANS— £ s. d. £ *. d.

SALES IN OTHER CENTRES,

AUCKLAND, Sept. 22.

Sales. —Bank iof New Zealand, £3 2s 8d; National Bank of New Zculand, £6 17s; Auckland Gas, £1 4e Bd. LONDON MARKETS. (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, Sept. 21. The following prices for the raw materials specified are quoted, last week’s prices being given in parentheses:— Cotton. —Liverpool quotation for American middling upland, October delivery, 9.95 d (10.02 d) per lb. Rubber.—Para, 10|d (lOJd) per lb.; plantation and smoked, 10 5-16 d (10id) per lb. Jute. —September-October shipments, £3l (£3l 10s) per ton. Hemp.—No business is being done. The nominal quotations for highpoint fair Sep-teniber-November shipments is £35 per ton. Copra. September-October shipments, £23 (£23 ss) per ton; plantation, Rabaul, £23 5s (£23 2s 6d) per ton. Linseed 0i1.—£46 (£46) per ton. Turpentine.—44s (45s 3d) per cwt. FROZEN MEAT. (Australian Press Association). LONDON, . Sept. 21. Sheep : Canterbury, 6 5-8 d; medium 6id. North Island, medium 6d, New Zealand ewes, 4 5-Bd. Lambs : Canterbury, light 8 7-8-1, medium Bid, seconds 7 3-4 d. Other sclecteds, light 8 3-4 d, medium B|d. North Island, firsts, light 8 3-Bd, seconds Bd. Frozen Beef: Australian, hinds, 54d. Chilled Argentine, fores 4 3-4 d, hinds 7 7-Bd. Others unchanged. Tho New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received tho following cable from its London office, dated 20th September, 1929, advising Smithficld delivered prices averaged for week ending that date as follow, prices for tho two previous weeks being also shown in parentheses:— N.Z. wethers and maiden ewes: Canterbury quality, sclented brands, 56-under, 6|d (64d, 64d); 57-64, 6id (6£d, 6d); 65-72, s|d (s|d, s|d) ; other brands, 56-under, 6£d (64d, 6|d) ; 57-64, 6d (sgd, 53d) ; 65-72, 53d (53d, s{jd). N.Z. ewes: 64-under, 4£d (4jd, 4id). N.Z. lambs: Canterbury quality, 36-under, B£d (83d, Bjd) ; 37-42, (Bj)d, 8d); 43-50, 8d (Bd, 7|d) ; seconds, 73d (7jjd, 7£d) ; selected brands, 36-undcr, 83d (B£d, 8^d); 37-42 B£d (Bd, 7£d). Other brands, first quality, 36-undcr, Bgd (S^d, 1 B£d) ; 37-42, 7|d (7§d, 73d) ; second quality, 30-32 average, 8d (7£d, 73d). Australian lambs: New season’s, Victorian, first quality, 36-under, B£d (Bid, 2id) ; 37-42, not quoted (—, 73d). Argentine lambs: First quality, 36-under, 7id (7id, 73d) ; 37-42. 7d (7d, 7d). N.Z. beet: Not quoted. Argentine chilled beef: Ox fores, 4|c (4jjd, 4gd) ; hinds, 7| (7jjd, 7|d). Austra lian frozen beef: Ox crops over 1001 b, 4ar (4d, 4d); hinds over 1601 b, N.Z. frozen pork: Porkers, 60-80 lb, Bjc I (Bid, 8id); 81-991 b, BAd (Sd, 8d); 10u- 1 120 lb, 8d (Bd, 8d) ; baconers, 121-1801 b, 8d (Bld, 83d). Lamb: Market firm with hotter trade. Mutton: Market better for lightweight wethers and owes. N.Z. porker pigs: There is a good demand with colder weather. N.Z. baconer pigs: Quiet, owing to lower prices for bacon. Levin and Co., Ltd., have received the following cablo from their London agents, dated 20th September, 1929 Frozen meat quotations (prices on a delivered basis, i.e., including storage, charges, cartage, tolls, etc.) :—Down lamb, 28-42, none offering; best North Island, 28-42, Bid per lb; ordinary North Island, 28-42, Bgd; second quality lambs, 7jjd; best North Island wethers, 48-64, 6id; 64-72f&j53d; ordinary North Island' wethers, 48-64, 6d. North Island i ewes, 48-64, 4|d; 64-72, 4jd. New Zealand prime ox beef, 160-220, none offering. As compared with last week’s quotations prices aro unchanged with the exception of second quality lamb which is id per lb higher, North Island ewes, 48-64’s, id per lb higher; 64-72’s id per lb lower. Tho market for lamb is quiet but steady and for mutton shows a hardening tendency.

lODINE AND LIFE.

AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT.

< (Contributed). lodine is known to most of us in the form of a tincture used as an antiseptic for wounds. It was used for this purpose by most troops jn the Great War with a resulting low mortality. But valuable as it will always bo for this purpose research has definitely proved that life could not normally continue without this essential element.

Small quantities of iodine are being con. stantly introduced into the human and animal body in the food consumed and it is stored and made use of by one of those mysterious glandular bodies—namely the thyroid gland. This gland situated in the front of the throat has two lobes lying one on each side of the larynx,, each of which vhas a definite work to perform. Tho thyroid gland in tho course of its work, which is not yot fully elucidated, takes in the iodino ingested into the body and manufactures, by its complex machinery, a fluid which contains an active principle—very aptly called thyroxin. This compound contains two-thirds of its weight of iodine. Thus it can he realised that if an insufficiency of iodine is taken into the body the thyroid gland cannot perform its work because one of the essential ingredients is lacking. lODINE AND GOITRE. And this is frequently the case. Its results can be seen any day in the street in the form of goitre which is a pathological or diseased . condition directly resulting from lack of iodine. This lack manifests itself in the enlargement of tho thyroid gland. On tho other hand an over-active thyroid causes a disease called cxopthalmis goitre which manifests itself by a curious bulging of the eyes, wasting of tho system, and palpitation. This condition can be produced by excessive intake of iodine 60 that proper medical advice is imperative. WHAT IT DOES. But what purpose does this secretion of tho gland serve? Tho following statement by Dr. Bar wise, Medical officer of Derbyshire, briefly and effectively gives tho answer: — 1. It is necessary for effective metabolism—i.e., the constructive and destructive changes in the body—and specially promotes respiratory exchanges and physical growth. 2. It promotes efficient mental development, a. severe shortago before birth resulting in cretinism—stunted growth and mentality, even imbecility. 3. It is specially required in the- pregnant condition both for the mother and the child. 4. It is necessary at the age of adolescence for tho devolpment of the reproductive organs, paiticularly in the female. 5. It is needed to keep the skin and its appendages in a healthy condition. A dry skin and falling hair mean thyroid deficiency. 6. It is essential for efficient digestion, assimilation and combustion of fats. When a shortago occurs the fat cannot be satisfactorily dealt with and it is stored in the tissues, thus causing obosity. 7. It is required for the efficient assimilation of calcium, one of the. most important bone-forming minerals. 8. It is necessary to enable tho system to resist the invasion of microbes and to render harmless tho poisons they produce. In this direction iodino in tho blood performs much the same functions as it docs externally as an antjsoptic for wounds. Thus the iodine in the body has many duties to perform in the economy and metabolism of life and as there is a constant loss throught excretion the store must be renewed for tho efficient working of the delicate machinery. In many parts of the world there is a deficiency of iodine in the soil, so in the pasture, and so in the food consumed, because it must be remembered that all the food we consume is produced from vegetation which itself coines from the soil.

lODINE AND DISEASE. It is probable that many of the diseases to which humans and animals are subject result from deficiency of iodine. Indeed it is possible tiiat in view of the effect of the thyroid secretion on all the other similar organs the terrible scourge cancer may be caused by iodine deficiency. The story is a fascinating one, and deserves more publicity than it has had. Apart from its fundamental importance to human life there aro as.-ociated problems of great economio importance being investigated. Thus the production of milk from the cow is controlled by the thyroid secretion; tho efficient production of beef is affected; the vield of meat and wool from sheep is involved; a deficiency affects the growth of pigs and tho size and health of the litter; fowls cannot effectually produce eggs without its help. These few facts will servo to shed a little light on iodine and its effect on life.

ELECTRICITY AND THE FARM.

DEVELOPMENTS pending in

ENGLAND.

In recent years a notable change has been brought about, in English rural districts by the development of mechanical transport, whereby the country side now finds itself in closer touch with the towns —and the towns with the country. Moreover, the improvement effected in roads not only enables tho fanner to reach his markets more easily, but it is leading to a spread of population from the towns to more open and healthy surroundings. This, in turn, has led to a quite natural demand that, as far as practicable, tho amenities of town life —good drainage, efficient lighting, and a ready water supply —should.be made available in rural areas; and in all these directions marked progress has to bo recorded. The supply of electricity to rural districts is being extended at the present time at a rapid rate —a development mndo possible by the magnitude to which the public supply of electricity has attained in industrial areas. In these developments, experience has been gained of the most economical method of distribution in thinly populated areas, which i 3 of vital importance, because the larger part of tho cost, of supplying electricity for intermittent uses, such as lighting, is the cost of distribution, says the Yorkshire Post.

In rural districts the only economical method of distribution is by tho use of overhead lines, and it is apparent in all parts of the country that this method is being largely used. The electric power companies whose operations cover a large part of the country outside the largo cities have, in particular, devoted their attention to this development. Seventeen rural districts in Yorkshire are now being served and tho next area to be tackled is northern Lincolnshire. >

For lighting, electricity is, beyond question, the most satisfactory and safest method; tho advantage of being able to light farm buildings without the risk of fire is a great one. Good lighting is of value to the farmer, to his men, and to the live stock. In the dairy it reduces tho spilling of milk and aids in cleanliness. Electric power appliances in modern dairies are not only labour saving but clean and economical. For poultry farms electricity is tljo best way of heating the incubator and “foster mother”; its regulation is automatic, and there are no fumes detrimental to the young chicks. The lighting of the laying houses in the winter mornings and evenings is found to encourage the hens to greater activity and feeding. As a result it is claimed that egg production may be increased by 25 per cent. The farmer also finds many uses for electric power in driving machines used for chopping and crushing, wood cutting and pumping, but it has not been found generally economical to replace horses and carts, nor the motor lorry and the motor tractor, by an electrical machine up to the present. New uses are, however, being developed day by day, and there is no doubt that, as in every’ other industry, once a supply of electricity is made available more and more advantage is taken of it, and new applications found from time to time, adds tho Yorkshire Post. The application of electric power to agriculture will undoubtedly follow the same course as its application to industry; that is to say, the heavy manual labour in the ordinary operations of the farm will be done by machinery; the output of work per man will be greatly increased and farming will be carried out more cheaply and economically. To this end co-operation between tho farmer and tho suppliers of electricity and those Government and educational bodies who are interested in agriculture should produce more and more benefit. The active development of agricultural research is of vital importance to the country as a whole and it is hoped that although the electrical engineer is a comparatively newcomer his assistance will be of substantial value in this field of research as in others. It can be said to-day that tho general supply of electricity improves the amenities of rural districts, encourages the development of rural industries and assists towards the prosperity of agriculture.

Cheese. Butter. Cheese. Oct. b/fat lb. 1764 1692 1824 1984 1750 2049 1954. 1719 1901 1718 1587 1640 Feb 1493 1279 1540 March ... 1432 1246 1336 April 1080 851 907 May ...... 486 291 561 11,911 10,405 11,758

Oct. 21,500 Karamca 5th „ 7th 42,000 Rotorua Pt. Mel19th Wgtn. 24th 51,350 17,800 bourne 19th „ 27th Dec. 50,000 17,300 Raranga 29th Akld. 12th 138,000 14,500 Tamaroa 30th Wgtn. 3rd Nov. 70,000 31,800 Rcmucra 9th Napr. 15th 60,000 24,000 Corinthio 20th Wgtn. 27th Jan. 6,000

New Zealand — 20/9/29. Prev. week .. 176s-182s 175s-180s Exceptionally . 184s .. 176s-180s 174s-180s First whey 164s Second whey . 163s 160s 176s-182s equals approx. Is 5 3-8d, f.o.b. Deliveries N.Z. this week. 900 tons. In store N.Z. tk s week, 6500 tons. Australian — Salted .. 172s-176s 170s-174s Unsalted .. 176s-178s 171s-176s Argentine— Unsalted .. 168s-172s 166s-172s Irish — Salted .. 176s 173s-174s Unsalted .. 178s 175s-177s Danish, I92s-19i5s f.o.b., 196s-200s spot, 187s-192s-194s. Dutch —Unsalted .. 196s-198s Esthonian — Salted .. 174s 1703-174s Unsalted 172s-176s Latvian — Salted 168s-172s Unsalted 170s-174s Siberian — Salted .. 166s-168s 362s-166s Unsalted Polish — Salted .. 145s-162s 148s-158s Unsalted .. 150s-164s 158s-162s French — Salted .. 160s-166s 162s-168s Unsalfcod .. 170s-176s 164s-169s Market firm. Retail prices unchanged.

N.Z.' Breweries’ bonds s. ... 0 d. 2 National Mortgage ... 0 3 Gear Meat ... 0 1 Ward and Co ... 0 4 Colonial Sugar ... 5 0 Electrolytic Zino ... 0 1 Fall. Australian Bank of Commerce ... 0 6

44 p.c. Ins. Stk., 1939 100 0 0 — 44 p.c. ditto, 1938 ... — 100 5 0 54 p.c. Ins. Stk. and Bonds, 1936 101 15 0 — 44 p.c. Bonds, 1941 and 1939 100 0 0 — 44 p.c. ditto, 1938 100 0 0 100 7 6 DEBENTURES— N.Z. Breweries (bonds) 1 10 9 1 11 0 BANKS— Australian Bank of Commerce 1 14 0 1 15 0 English, Scottish and Australian — 8 9 0 National of N.Z — 6 18 0 National of Australasia (£5) 9 11 0 — New South Wales — 52 0 0 New Zealand — 3 3 3 Ditto (long term) 1 8 9 — Union of Australia .... „ 15 1 0 Ditto (Melbourne register) — 15 2 0 FINANCIAL— Goldsbrough Mort .... — 2 5 9 Equitable Bldg. Co. . 8 13 6 — National Mortgage ... 4 6 3 — N.Z. Guarantee Corp. (ord.) 0 9 7 0 9 11 Ditto (pref.) 1 1 6 — Well. Invest., T. & A. 0 10 11 — GAS— Christchurch — 1 6 9 Ditto (contr.) 0 13 3 0 13 8 Wellington (ord.) 1 13 6 — INSURANCE-*-National 0 16 8 0 16 11 MEAT PRESERVING— Gear 2 3 10 — Canterbury Frozen Meat (ord.) 8 5 0 — N.Z. Refrigerat. (Hi) — 0 14 6 Ditto (10s) — 0 6 10 TRANSPORT— Huddart-Parker (ord.) +2 5 0 P. and 0. def. stock .. 2 17 3 — WOOLLEN 1 - TCaiapoi (ord.) — 0 14 0 Wellington (ord.) — 6 17 6 Ditto (pref.) — 7 0 0 COALHikurangi (ord.) 0 1 9 — Westport 1 14 0 — Waipa 0 13 4 — TIMBER— Bartholomew *1 0 0 —

BREWERIES— Crown 0 ■ 0 — 9 New Zealand 4 10 0 4 10 Staples and Co — 2 15 0 Ward and Co 1 10 4 — MISCELLANEOUSBurns, Philp and Co. — 2 8 0 British Tobacco (Aust.) (ord.) 2 9 6 *2 10 0 Colonial Sugar 57 15 0 58 5 0 D.I.C. (ord., prom.) . 0 13 6 — Electro. Zino (ord.) ... I 16 11 1 17 3 Ditto (pref.) 1 17 0 — 9 Howard Smith (ord.) — tl 4 Newton King (pref.) 0 13 0 — 9 Taranaki Oil — 0 5 Wairarapa Farmers’ (ord.) — 0 5 0 Wellington Cordage .. — 0 14 0 Wilson’s Cement — 2 4 6 MINING— Waihi — *0 13 6 ’'Cum. dividend. fEx dividend.