EDITORIAL FARM NOTES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11580, 11 May 1903, Page 10

EDITORIAL FARM NOTES.

("Weekly Press and Referee.") nOW CA.V A FINE-WOOLLED FLOCK BE BEST MATSTAIXED? We have asked a number of well-known sheep-breeders to favour the "Weekly Press" with the results of their experiences and observations as to the best way jii which, a fine-woolled flock can be maintained. In asking them to do this, we have mentioned the well-known fact that tthe supply of halfbrcd ewes to be obtained from the large stations is totally inadequate to meet the requirements, and that it does not pay the smaller graziers and farmers to keep merino ewes from which to build up a halfbred flock. We pointed out, further, that halfbred wool appears to be the quality that will maintain the best average of prices from year to year, and halfbred ewes on country that will snit them are, therefore, one of the- mast profitable kinds of sheep that can bd kept for producing wool, fat lambs, and freezing sheep. Thinking it would be of great service to the sheep-breeding interest in New Zealand, we also asked to be favoured with the writers' views upon the following questions:— (1). Is it advisable to use Corriedale (inbred halfbred) rams upon (halfbred ewe~? (2). Is it advisable to use halfbred rams (that is, of the first cross between the longwool ram and merino ewes) upon halfbred ewes; tlie object in each case being to retain the ewe lambs and add them to the breeding flock, and thus raise a flock whose wool will continue to be halfbred quality? We (have received a number of replies to our request, the first of which we publish this week. We should also be glad if other sheep-breeders would contribute to this series of letters. We would like to point out, however, that we have not space to devote to the critical discussion of the letters that are published, but would like the writers to give the results of their own practical experience and observations, for we feel sure that a considerable amount of interest will be taken in the useful information that will be supplied. A MEAT TEST. The "Australian Meat Trades' Journal" reports that, an instructive meat test took place recently in England. The Halifax Workhouse authorities had cooked 201b of English beef and 201b of frozen beef as a test. In then' report the committee stated that the meat was submitted to them without any intimation being given as to which was English and which was frozen, and they were unable to detect any material difference. Tlie particulars of waste ascertained in the cooking were as follow: — Net weight of English beef on cooking, 151b 13oz, dripping lib lloz, total 171b 8oz; net weight of frozen beef after cooking, 151b loz, dripping lib 13oz, total 161b 14oz. Thus there was a. difference in favour of the English meat of lOoz. Whereas, however, the English meat cost lis 3d, tho cost of the frozen was 8s 3d, leaving the net gain on the frozen, after deducting 3d for the extra shrinkage in cooking, of 2s 9d. The committee mentioned that on the quantity of beef consumed in the workhouse—namely, 7001b per week—this represented a saving of £240 per annum if frozen meat were used. The Board subsequently considered tenders for meat for the uext it'uree months. Quotations for both English and frozen beef and mutton had been asked for, and a tender offering each kind was accepted, the quantities to be ordered under each head being left to the discretion of the House Committee. The prices in the accepted tender were:—Beef, English killed, s£d per lb; frozen, sd; mutton, home killed, 6£d ; frozen, sd. One member intimated that when the matter came b?fore the House Committee he should move that all foreign meats be used. The

Board's request for quotations for frozen meat had had the good effect of bringing down the prices for English meat. It would have been more interesting had it been stated from what country the frozen meat used in the test had come, and whether the tenderers for frozen meat were supplying 'New Zealand or Argentine beef and mutton.