The New Zealand Farmer, A Century In Retrospect Part 6

The practice of stripping the cows after the machine had finished was finally tested by the NZ Dairy board in 1942.

They found that the abandonment of stripping made no significant rise or fall in production of any herd.

This saved many extra hours in the milking sheds and had taken over 40 years of discussion to come about.

[ In the 1950s I was taught by my dad to strip some of the cows that would hold their milk, but it was an individual case scenario.]

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At a herd testing training course held at Massey College [before it became a University] of the 71 people in the class, 66 were women.

It was during the war that the idea of herd testing being a job for women really took off.

In those days they also had to learn how to harness and drive horses because with wartime restrictions most of their travel between farms was by horse and cart.

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The next big thing for the NZ farmers was aerial topdressing. An article published in 1947 high lighted the progress to date.

In 1913 a Wairarapa farmer began plugging the idea that the aeroplane had a place in farming, and it said that the farmer had even written to Henry Ford about the possibility of manufacturing suitable aircraft.

In 1926 a Hunterville farmer wrote to his Member of Parliament, suggesting that aerial topdressing of the hill country from the air should be given a trial.

In April 1937 the Farmer reported that a large part of the rice crop in California had been sown by aeroplane.

Over 20 aviators and their planes had been employed over several weeks.

The planes were hired at a set rate per acre and covered 250 to 300 acres daily.

The Farmer didn’t report what was really the first piece of agricultural work done by air in NZ.

The sowing of lupins on Ninety Mile Beach in 1939 by Alan Prichard, a Public Works Department pilot.

He also spread fertilizer on the new Rongotai aerodrome [Wellington Airport now] but this went without notice as well.

The opinion of the magazine was that there was no reason why seeding, liming, and manuring by air could not be carried out successfully, that is with at least equal efficiency and certainly more economically compared with other methods, particularly over the rough hilly country.

Some of the hill country that needed top dressing, it had been done by hand prior to the advent of aerial topdressing.

From the early seed sowing/manuring in the South Island.

One of the pioneers in NZ aerial top dressing was F J [Popeye] Lucas, DFC and Bar, one of the founding pilots of 75 Squadron [Sqn] at the start of W W 2, he went on to complete his tour with the Sqn.

Later in the war, he returned to NZ to form the first transport Sqn flying C47 [DC3] in the Pacific.

After the war, he was very instrumental in getting civil aviation up and running in NZ.

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The original 75 Sqn officers in front of a Wellington bomber

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Outside No 3 hanger Ohakea with his personalized C47 [DC3].

The mechanic/loader driver waiting for the aircraft to return.

Doing the reloading of manure into a Tiger Moth about 1950, the hopper was made from two 44 gallon [50 US] metal drums, with spare fuel in the back of the truck.

During the Pacific war, some aircraft were modified so they could spray diesel fuel over the Japanese gardens on Rabul Island.

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The RNZAF was tasked with modifying a fuel tank into a hopper capable of holding 26 cwt, [over one and a quarter heavy ton], the initial test drop was down the runway at Ohakea, with measuring discs to see how effective it was.

This was successful so the RNZAF ordered the Bristol Freighters that were being made at the time, to be capable of being converted to aerial topdressing if desired.

At the same time, Mr. Pritchard was using a Miles Whitney Straight to sow 30,00 lb of blue stone onto 1450 acres of Hauraki Plains swamp land to correct a deficiency that had been recognized as a cause of lambs doing poorly on newly developed land there.

An experiment was also conducted spreading cobalt in liquid form on bush-sick land in the King Country.

To check the spread of the spray many meters of treated toilet paper were laid over the hills, unfortunately, a wind got up and draped the paper over all the surrounding trees. It is not reported if it was collected or left to nature to dissolve it.

While discussions were being held whether the RNZAF would provide a service to the farmers, demobilized ex-Air Force pilots in both islands, mostly with ex RNZAF Tiger Moths were busy initiating the aerial topdressing industry in the commercial form it was eventually to take.

In those early years there was some controversy whether the industry would develop using small aircraft working from farm strips, or, big aircraft operating from airfields and avoiding the transport cost from railheads, over the bad roads in the backcountry to an airstrip on the farm.

Mr. A E Gibson, Director of Civil Aviation argued strongly on the side of small aircraft and was one of the first proponents of ‘fast track’ solving some of the problems regarding Civil Aviation Rules.

By 1970 small helicopters were helping in various ways.

Here bringing in a fence line on crown land in Wangamomona. The only other way would have required a track cut through scrub and up the steep hillsides.

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In March 1953 the first ‘herringbone’ cowshed was reported on, it was in Gordonton, near Hamilton, the one major difference from the first to the latter sheds was the addition at each angle of the zig-zag breach rail was a calf bucket, positioned right behind the tail of each cow.

It didn’t take long for the milkers to realize that the risk wasn’t that great and future sheds did without the buckets.

The herringbone brought in a new design feature, now almost universal - the round yard with mechanized backing gate.

The main motive for the herringbone was to take the stoop out of milking.

Now there are rotary sheds where the milker stays in the same position, washes and fits the cups to the cows who are on a large rotating disc.

Initially, there was a second person to remove the cups, but he has largely been removed by automation.

This has been followed by fully automated sheds where, at any time the cow feels like it she can go to the shed, step onto the rotating disc, have the cups fitted and removed automatically.

The preferred time is about 2 to 3 am.

Just as well it is automatic.

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In 1954 the possibility using the ‘bobby calves’ for dairy beef was discussed. The chairman of the meat board wanted each dairy farmer to raise a few beef calves, purchased from the hill country beef farms.

The dairy farmers, wanting to minimize the huge waste of human food that occurs every year started to crossbreed for beef.

Dairy cows mated with good beef bulls will produce calves of potentially good beef quality has been proven in other places in the world.

Some farmers were using nurse cows to suckle calves and finding at the end of the year the profit margin was better than if they had used the same cows for milk production.

To the point where in 1954 suckled calves were at a premium compared to bucket fed calves.

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The magazine wrote an article on April 12th, 1962, headed ‘The new farm boss will be a computer’. It said that the electronic computer could plan the farmer's most profitable crop combination for the year, even before his ground is turned.

By November 1963 it was quite clear that computers had already moved into agriculture in NZ.

A series of articles in 1963 and 64 listed some of the uses to which computers had been put to.

These included analysis of whey - meal pig feeding trial results.

Analysis and profitability of irrigation and dryland farming in Canterbury.

The optimum farm plan for a mixed cropping farm near Hastings.

A comparison of sugar beet and other alternative crops.

Simulation on a grazing management system.

Least cost rations for poultry.

A small computer [desk sized] in 1963 could cost from 20,000 to 40,000 pounds [$40,000 to 80,000] to buy and 2.000 to 4,000 pounds [$ 4,000 to 8.000] per year to run.

A large computer could cost one million pounds [$2 mil] and a 100 pounds [$200] an hour to use on a rental basis.

By 1980 on farm computers had dropped in price to $700 to $2,8000.

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The first sheepdog trial was believed to be ‘ a friendly match for a fiver’ [$10] in the McKenzie country in 1869.

By 1870 organized trials were being held on Haldon Station and in the McKenzie country.

The Farmer was appointed the official organ of the North Island Trial Assn in 1911, and the newly formed South Island Assn in 1912, but the NZ Assn didn’t come into being until 1935.

For most of its life, the Farmer has had another side to its firmly practical agricultural function.

This was a country magazine catering for women and children and the home interests of isolated farm families.

This has only faded away since the 1970s. It had a very real purpose in the early days when isolation was a part of country life.

Steadily, as the century went by the need for a country magazine faded. Isolation diminished.

There came the telephone, the radio, the motor car, better roads, specialized women s magazines and television and now the internet web.

Improved communication and changing cost structures meant the end of such magazines as the Weekly News, The Freelance, the Otago Witness and eventually the Home Section of the Farmer.

The farmer being less pictorial didn’t perhaps quite gain the immortality of those other magazines as well as wallpapering for small farm outhouses, but no doubt made it to a few dunnies with a string through its corner.

Today when the Farmers writers visit modern day farms with perforated tissues they are pleased to see the magazine lying about in the toilet, a sure sign it is being read.

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From small beginnings as a column for women in the 1880s the home section grew in size and scope until the 1930s and 40s, when the magazine was weekly, it was at least a quarter of the magazine.

Three or more generations of children have written to Uncle Ned, and later Skipper to say ”I am 10 years old and I have a pet duck called Dandy.” and to know the thrill of seeing their letters and their names in print.

Uncle Ned was two different people through the first 30 years of the magazine and was, in fact, the editor of the time.

Skipper came into being in 1937 and he continued until the children’s pages were discontinued at the end of 1978,this was Beverly Macpherson who began at age 16 as ‘Peter Pan’ in the Waikato Times, ‘Pererkin’ of the Weekly News and Skipper in the Farmer, at age 60 she said goodbye to her readers with the close of the Farmers Children pages.

Uncle Ned of Victorian times was of stern stuff when it came to guiding children in the right paths, he had no mercy on grammatical lapses or any shortcomings in moral aspirations.

But it was he who may be said to have run the first talk-back show in NZ, long before commercial radio, or even radio was thought of in the home.

Even in 1890 women's rights were a large thing. Many letters on Women's rights and wrongs, wages and conditions were published.

Including, if a woman does exactly the same work as a man he will be remunerated half as much again, even though her work may be done in a superior manner.

It has been urged that men have wives and families to keep, whereas a woman only supports herself, but we know this to be sheer nonsense, as it is often one way as the other.

Not that I would condemn all men as worthless, on the contrary, I agree with that authoress who said “A good man is God’s most noble creation”, and I am sure all women who have known one will say the same thing, but they are like most other good things - very hard to find.

This was leading up to women getting the chance to vote in parliamentary elections. The first self-governing country in the world to do so.

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April 1887 had the following medical notes:

Face Powder: These should be avoided as much as possible, as being at all times very injurious to the skin as well as the complexion. Fine oatmeal is the least injurious powder that can be used.

Children sleeping with the aged: it is a great mistake of a mother to place one of the children to sleep with an aged person, no matter how crowded the home may be.

As far as it can be done give the children separate beds, even if two are in the same room. It is far better for health and more conducive to sound refreshing sleep.

Wash for the hair: Dark haired persons should use the yolk of an egg beaten up with a little bicarbonate of potash or borax and warm rainwater.

Some ‘brunes’ use red wine, the ordinary ‘vin rouge’ of Continental Countries, mixed with an egg and a very small quantity of soda.

Red wine owes its colouring to the skin of the black grapes from which it is made, and it contains, therefore, a large amount of tannin, which is an excellent tonic for the skin and hair roots.

Healing properties of water: There is no remedy of such general application and none so easily attainable as water, and yet nine out of ten persons will pass it by in an emergency to seek for something of less efficacy.

A towel folded several times and quickly wrung out of hot water and applied over the seat of the pain in a toothache or neuralgia will generally afford prompt relief.

This treatment in colic works wonders.

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1892 advert [ with the swimming suit]

Do not let this summer pass without learning to swim.

It is a healthful and useful accomplishment, and with the age of swimming schools, both old and young may, with very little teaching, become good swimmers.

It is dangerous to go in the water unless two hours have elapsed since eating, and it is not healthful to remain in for too long.

The strongest person should not bathe longer than half an hour.

The human form divine:
The proportions of a beautiful human form are the following.

The height should be exactly equal to the distance between the tips of the middle fingers of each hand when the arms are fully extended.

Ten times the length of the hand, or seven and a half times the length of the foot, or five times the diameter of the chest, from one armpit to the other, should also give the correct height of the body.

The distance from the junction of the thighs to the ground should be the same as from that point to the crown of the head.

The knee should be exactly midway between that point and the heel. The distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger should be the same as from the elbow to the middle of the breast.

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There was a good selection of recipes for things like Pumpkin pie, Rabbit soup, Brown bread, Delhi Hulluah. Treacle sponge and even soap making.

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A long article on “How to make a man happy” in September 1902 with the subheading “On the art of leaving him alone”.

Whether she admits it or not, the mission of woman in this world is to make one or more men happy.

In this. she generally defeats her object, because she does not understand that man is a naturally happy animal, who only becomes unhappy when he feels someone is doing their utmost to make him happy.

He wants to be left alone. That is all.

Leave a man alone and he is as happy as a baby in a mud puddle. Try to make him happy, and he is as uncomfortable as a small boy in a new pair of boots and a white sailor suit, in which he may not play for fear of soiling it.

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Rabbit skins were being exported to London and receiving, good to prime winter skins one shilling and sixpence [15c] per pound, fair to good one shilling and four pence [13c] per pound.

It was reported that from Cromwell 80 bales, containing 271,500 skins had been shipped from an area of 106.000 acres.

From Northburn, the adjoining station of 34,000 acres 115,100 skins had been sent.

To obtain these skins 50 men were employed in the summer and 90 men in the winter with a total cost for the 386,600 skins being 3,488 pounds [$6,944].

The September report said that 12,743,452 skins had been exported from NZ in a year.

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