10 Jan., 1918.] The Road to Success in Dairy Farming. 15 



labour does not in the same measure reduce the returns as on those farms 

 where the cows are not tested and properly bred from. Here, then, lies 

 the solution of the labour difficulty on the dairy farm. The hours of 

 working cannot be increased, nor can the feeding cost per cow be cut 

 doAvn ; but the average production of the herd is possible of substantial 

 increase on every dairy farm by the combined system of testing, culling, 

 and breeding on right lines. Sooner or later this fact must be recognised, 

 and protracted delay means money lost in consequence. In this figurative 

 archway — but particularly in the keystone — lies the effective solution of 

 the labour difficulty on the dairy farm. 



FERTttlZERS. 



Untold Wealth in the Pacific. 



The difficulty of obtaining fertilizers and the high prices ruling for 

 same has caused for some time past much anxiety among agriculturists. 

 Mr. A. Harris, member for Waitemata, referred to the matter the other 

 night, and pointed an exceedingly attractive way out of the difficulty for 

 farmers, and at the same time an opportunity for Australia and New 

 Zealand to profit considerably at the expense of the Hun. 



The member explained that midw^ay between the Marshall and 

 Solomon Islands lies Nauru or Pleasant Island, and Ocean Island, 

 two of the most valuable spots on the face of the earth. The islands 

 are of coral formation, and for untold ages have been the rookeries of 

 sea birds, which have deposited guano that has impregnated the 

 limestone, forming phosphate rock 40 feet in depth. The estimated 

 quantity of phosphates is upwards of 500,000,000 tons, and the value 

 of this enormous mass of fertilizer is estimated to rival the famous 

 nitrate fields of Chili. In point of fact, said Mr. Harris, this Nauru 

 and Ocean Island phosphate possesses 85 per cent, manurial value as 

 against 27 per cent, for the best English, and 12 per cent, for New 

 Zealand phosphates — in other words, 1 ton of this island phosphate is 

 equal in manurial value to 3 tons of the best English and 7 tons of the 

 New Zealand product. 



Before the war these islands belonged to Germany, and Japanese 

 steamers took away weekly cargoes of the rock to Japan, where it was 

 manufactured into superphosphates, and large quantities were regularly 

 imported by New Zealand freezing companies to mix with their blood 

 manures. The Japanese paid 1 mark (approximately Is.) per ton 

 royalty to the German Government for the rock, and 1 mark to the 

 native owners. 



A few days after war was declared, the Union Jack was hoisted 

 over the island by the British agent at Christmas Island, and Mr. Harris 

 urges that representations should now be made to the Imperial Govern- 

 ment for the transfer of these islands to Australia and New" Zealand, 

 thus serving the double purpose of helping to keep Germany out of the 

 Pacific and of adding considerably to the wealth of the Commonwealth 

 and Dominion. He points out, moreover, that it would be possible for 

 the New Zealand Government to bring phosphate from Nauru and 

 Ocean Island, manufacture it into the highest quality superphosphate, 

 and sell it to farmers at half the pre-war price, — Farmers' Union 

 Advocate, 21/7/17. 



