8 June. 1908.] Farm Reports. 375 



water white honey as cheap as 23s. to 24s. and as dear as 35s. per cwt. of 112 

 English lbs. c. and f. London. At times you will have a struggle to compete and at 

 other times you will be able to compete and make a handsome profit. This will 

 vary from season to season and we shall be able to advise you in this matter 

 because we are in direct touch with California and purchase honey year by vear. 



There now remains to find out if you will be able to deliver fine honey of good 

 color, equal to samples submitted, regularly. It will also be necessary that the 

 honey is of the same flavor as the sample and quite free from eucalyptus and 

 tallowy flavors, because these are very much objected to at this end. As regards 

 the darker honey these also should come in casks and should on no account be put 

 into tins. Here, also, the prices vary according to supply and demand and we 

 cannot to-day give you a quotation because the market might have changed very 

 considerably by the time your information reaches the other side. Your honey 

 will find its level and you can rely on its fetching market value by the time it 

 arrives. We are doing a fairly heavy business in honey and we will gladly take 

 up your qualities as well and will go out of our way to initiate the business, as 

 mentioned to you this morning. 



If necessary we would be prepared to do the business for the first year or so 

 on joint account with your friends, until we have found the proper basis on which 

 we can work. If this is not approved of, may be vour friends will send us a few 

 consignment parcels in order to enable us to introduce the goods, or failing this 

 we would even be prepared to place an order with them if absolutely necessary ; in 

 case of consignments we would pay 75 per cent, of the value against documents on 

 arrival of goods, or your friends could draw on us for the amount. 



We are anxious to do the business if at all possible and you can rely on our 

 utmost support in this matter. 



Trusting that some good business will result in this direction, 



We remain, 



Yours truly, 



CosMELLi, Meyer & Co. 



FARM REPORT!^. 



Quarter ended 31ST March, 1908. 



Whitfield Farm. 



Tonplc .4. /. Smith, Manager. 



During the quarter this district has experienced the worst drought 

 in the past forty years. Added to this locusts in great numbers destroyed 

 the grass and many of the crops. Notwithstanding these drawbacks good 

 progress has been made with the farm crops and stock. 



Crops. — The hay crop of eighteen acres gave a yield of nearly 30 cwt. 

 of clean good hay per acre, and was harvested in good condition. This 

 has all been chaffed, a portion being sold, and the balance kept for con- 

 sumption on the farm. 



The millet crop was completely destroyed by locusts. The paddock 

 was at once re-ploughed, and maize sown as late as 5th January, with 

 excellent results. The maize was planted three feet apart each way, and 

 the hoe was kept going during the dry weather. The growth, considering 

 the dry weather, was good, the stalks being from 8 to 12 feet high, 

 and of thick sappy condition. Seven and one-half acres were sold green 

 for starving stock, and sent by rail to Springhurst. This is the first time 

 in the history of the district that green maize has been so treated. 

 Though it was more than 24 hours on the trucks, excellent silage was made. 

 The varieties grown were Ninety Dav, White Horse, and Svdnev Flat 

 Red, the last-named making far the best growth, with the White Horse 

 next. The balance of the maize crop was kept for the use of the stock on 

 the farm. 



