CURRENT TOPICS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20026, 6 September 1930, Page 19

CURRENT TOPICS.

ADDINCKCON MARKET. A decrease in entries and the general high quality of the yardings were responsible for a very firm sale in all the major sections of the weekly metropolitan market at Acldingtoii on Wednesday. The store sheep entry totalled 1300 hoad, and included was a good sprinkling of young ewes of more titan average quality. With the remarkable spring in growth during the last few weeks and the consequent removal of misgivings m rogard to a probable shortness of feed, iuttcmerd were Icoenly in "'e market tor all good sorts of ewes. A big proportion of the yarding were ewos close to lambing. Prices, however, despite tho ilrm sale, make a very sorry showing when compared with those ruling during the corresponding poriod last jear, but it must be deemed a very satisfactory market after the record bad season that we have passed through. A pen of 42 extra good two-tooth ewes sold at 31s Gd, and the best sound mouth sheop were up to ~4s. Forward hoggets, no doubt in view of the good export market for two-tooths when tho season opons, were enquired for, and any available were snapped up at improved rate*. A comparison of values with the corresponding sale last season, is as follows:—

Sept., 4, Sep!..3, 10-I''. 1030. S. »• «■ Ewes — Extra good two-tooth C'orr. Extra good S.M. Kijinncy Extra good 4 and (3-th. xbd to 40 Extra good 2-tooth xbd. to 3GI - * Extra good t.m. halfbred to 36 —- Ordinary s.m, halfbred (Jood ... » r.n U-tli. halfbred Ord. 2 mid 4-th. Ibd. ■ — to --i l\ui. halfbred .. - to 0 Good 6 and 8-th. Jbd. Ord. 6-th. halfbred Good two-toctli Jbd. iledium 6 and 8-th. T.bd. Good xbd. hoggets —to 202 Ord. xbd. hoggot "5 to 2/ J to 17 J

Wethers — Good 6-th. halfbred Ordinary halfbred to 271 Good hoggets .. Halfbred hoggets Ord. Corr. .. 24 to 26 Merino .. 9 to 141 Ordinary Ibd. hoggets 18 to 20J ~

It was suggested in this column some months ago, that the spring demand for mutton should bo keen on account of tho probable scarcity of supplies- due to tho heavy export killing of forward wethers in the autumn and early ■wintor. At the last two markets there haß been a total rise in values from 3s to 6s a head, and supplios havo been below requirements to meet butchers' lieods at this market and tho one precelling it. The quality of the entry was the feature of Wednesday's yarding. The most outstanding lino was that of 162 Oorriedale and three-quar-terbred wethers sold on account of Simon Mackenzie (Otumarama), which made from 33s 4d to 40s 10d, and averaged 3Ca 6d a head. There were 109 that averaged 375. In tho opinion of one of tho most experienced butchers, aud one who has had perhaps the longest association with the market, Mr Frank Steel, the line was the best' that he had seen at Addington. Tho quality could bo taken as a strong defence of the Corriedale breed.

Wether*— . Extra prima •• to 32i to 41 Prime • • 40 to 45 olj to 30l Medium ..•33 to3S 20J to 30? I.ijht •• 36 t0 83 22 10 2o » EW Kxtra prime .. to 45J —to 331 Prime • • 34 to 80 *4 to *8 Medium •• 2? to 38 SO to Light •. 21 to 27 16J to 19 Hoggets— , . prim 6 V. 33 to 36 So| to M* Medium •• 21 to 271 23 to 261 Light ..

Boof values firmed a further. £1 a head for all classes, and in some instances the increase was £>l 10a• a head. Thus values have increased _£- 10s a head in two weoks, and the prico being paid per 1001b is the highest this season. A short entry accounted for tho spirited enquiry, and In addition the quality of it was, with the exception of that at the National Market, the host that there has been this year. Boot" values usually record a risp in the spring of each year, and this year has boen no exception. At tho corresponding sale last, year there was a remarkably sharp advanco : , to as much as £3 to £3 10s ed, and the best beef was mlwg ■ at 58s to 63s per 1001b. The best beef on Wednesday was making at from 46 s to o0 per 1001b, and in the case of a few oM beasts that figure was exceeded by a full 3s.

£ £ £ -2 SteersExtra . „ 7 3 to 251 heavy prima to 23 Heavy prime .. 10 - 0, * Medium . to 19 weight prime 21 o J5 Medium quality 17J t0 9 | t0 13 Light • • 10 Heifors— __ _ to 211 Show . •• to 21i to 19J Extra prime .. m u t0 16 Pnmo •• t l 6 nj to 13 flgr :: 8 toloi C °Extra .prtaio •• to ISJ Medium « to 16 J 10! to JS Aged , . . . ai to 13 7 to 10J and inferior 8J to DAIRYING POSSIBILITIES. The asset that dairying will provide in tho recovery of the province from slumps like tho present has not been given tho consideration to which it is entitled. There is not now the same attachment that there used to be to the theory that dairying can only be carried on succssfuUy on ?,*[£ ti * n ors ,, in the VhSre - a a rainfall in the winter sufficient to produce mud the winter » welcomes dry t0 the hocks. A co (]Qca any Qth / r conditions as o£ whloh animal, and Canterbury, and there is sojauc ideal stock which is a^ e possesses advantages water race :<y what we that offset thoEO p Tbig - s know as he y w(j consl der the questioned me ainm land for growof t hag been a j ing fodder crops.

proved that lucerne will grow on most of our medium and light land—or, at least, the land can be made to grow it—and this, coupled with the provision that can be made in tho way of hay and ensilage feed and the shortening of tho winter months by the practice of top-dressing, removeb the bulk of tho disabilities —real and imaginary—* that have operated against the extension of dairying in Canterbury. We have high land values which it is not going to be easy to reduce to a very marked extent, as many holders would find their equities practically gone if such were to take place. It is an unpalatable fact, but it is no use ignoring its existence, and the compulsion thereforo arises of tho utmost being got from the land. Such being tho case, it may yet be found that if this land is to bear the burdens placod on it a class of farming that will provido tho maximum roturjj may have to be adopted. It is worth noting in this rospect that whilst other classos of production have increased in Canterbury dairying h>w declined rather markedly. In 1922. for instance, dairy cows in the province numbered 58,23G head, and in 1929 70,740. This is a rather striking decrease in the short space of seven years, and tho export value of tho industry is furtbor affected by the fact that the needs of the city are growing lii proportion to the increase of population.

A GOOD EXAMPLE. Tho foregoing thoughts are prompted by ono or two instances that have come before the writer of what is being dono on land that is far removed from the ordinary conception of ideal dairying quality. One instance con corns an 80 awe property —about 23 acres good medium heavy flat, and most of the balance a very light sandy loam, which dries up to "nothing," as the owner put it, early in tho autumn. However, thore aro 20 acres of lucerne, which supplies tho hay needs and the hand-fed green feed in the autumn, and, also, with oats, an fin.silnge stack. Tbirtv-five dairy cows are carried, besides a fow head of dry stock. The milk is sold for city dls tribution, at, naturally, o much better prico than would bo available from tho factory, but ns against this Is the special expense incurred in feeding for tho winter supply. It is vastly different feeding a cow to maintain good winter milking condition to what it is to maintain her dry, so tho net return would not show a very pronouncod difference. In tho case tinder notico over £750 annually is taken from the herd of 35 cows, and there is scope for the herd to be incroased. Tho 80 acre farm would probably be worth £25 an acre situated where a factory would have to be relied on: but fully equipped with the right kind of feed the dairyman was confident that 45 to 50 cows could be run, and with a good grade herd producing 2751b to 3001b butterfat, even at tho low price of Is 3d a lb, a gross revenue of over £BOO from cream alone should be possible. On a capital value of up to £2OOO this compares with any other branch of production, more ospooally as labour costs would bo at a minimum. A PRODUCTIVE CORNER.

From the dairying possibilities of medium land to tho realities of heavy land may provido an interesting note. The other day the writer had a run over the small corner of about 8000 acres of flat adjoining tho Kalkoura township, which is largely devoted to milking. In appearance it is more like tho dairving country of the Manawatu or Waikato. During the "boom" days sales of it wero nado at £IOO an acre, but in tho present bad times farmers who know it estimate its valuo at, over £6O. Howover, from this rich pocket and other dairying land in the district the local dairy factory put through £44,000 worth of butter last season, this, in addition to the cream collected by a lorry for transport to one of the Christchurch factories. The distribution of this £44,000 has an important influoncc on the prosperity of tho town of Kaikoura. HOME STOCK PRICES.

A correspondent forwards from Lotdon a copy of "Tho Times" of July I4tb, which contains reports of the annual sheep and lamb fairs held at various centres in the Midlands and South of England. Underlined by the sender aro some of tho prices secured, and it is obvious that fatteners require a solid figure for fat stock to recoup the prico paid for owes. At ono centre draft ewes made up to 75a 6d, wcthor lambs 60s to 70s, and two-tooth ewes 74s 6d. At Bury St. Edmunds, prices wert about ll>a a head better than the preceding year. A lot of 80 first cross lambs sold at 80s to 80s, and others 50s to 575. At Halesworth there was also a 10s advance on last season. These increases may be taken as an indicator of higher meat values later on. Suffolk fat lambs made to 87s for wethers, smaller to 70s 6d, ewe lambs making 69s 6d. Some Suffolk shearling ewes sold, at £5 Bs. At another sale store lambs made 40s to 50s 6d, and fat sheep 60s to 71s. At this distance one is prompted to ask what is wrong with the British pastoral industry t

DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. At a special genera] meeting of Christchurch dairymen it was unanimously decided to employ on organising secretary with » properly equipped office to look after the interests of the Dairymen's Association. It wag alio decided to supply a quantity of free milk to schools and charitable institutions duriax Health Week. The annual horse parade of the Canterbury A. and P. Association is to be held in the Show Grounds, Addiugton, on October Ist, Substantial prise money is offered in three classes for Clydesdales. and light horses will also be accepted for the parade. Entries close on September 24th. In Holland excellent silage is made with surplus potatoes. Alternate layers of pasture grass and potatoes ore made into stacks and then covered with soil. No special treatment is necessary and the silage appears to be excellent in quality and palatable to stock. A full account of the process was eiven in the Journal tho British Ministry of Agriculture for January, 1930. from which it would appear that successful experiments under similar conditions have been conducted in England. The arrival of the prizing season will And many thousands of ton" of potatoes still in cits, and it >* suaeested In England and Scotland that some attempt might be worth making to utilise them on the lines suggested above.