Page 16 Advertisements Column 1

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20988, 17 October 1933, Page 16

AUCTIONS. H MATSON AND CO. MATSON and CO. FARMERS SUFFER BIG LOSS By LEAVING FAT ON DRIED SKINS. The faulty preparation of sheep and "bobby" calf skins for the market results in heavy losses to farmers. The principal fault is that lumps of fat and flesh are left on the skins, which deteriorate as a result, and it is stated that the loss on one consignment was 2s per skin. When prices for dried sheepskins were very low, many farmers and country butchers either did not bother to market them, or if they did, little care was taken in the "take off" and curing process. Now that higher prices are being obtained, skins are considered an asset, but they have to be properly prepared. and farmers will be interested in the following rather serious complaint which the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has received from England: PERSONAL ATTENTION PERSONAL. ATTENTION To every Consignment of Sent in to our Wool Shed for WRITE TO US FOR SKIN For Consigning Odd Lots to "MATSONS,"' CHRISTCHURCH. ENGLISH OPINION. "Many packers," states the English authority, "do not show sufficient interest in the pelt and its condition. So many skins come in the 'sound pelt' grade which are really seriously damaged—in fact, definitely secondary —for the reason that quantities of tat are left on the skins before drying, if the skins are dred and packed without being freed of fat, the result is not only that the pelts are damaged because of staleness due to decomposition where the fat is left on, but that the purchaser is buying a weight of substance at a price per lb which not onlv does he not want, but which is harmful to the goods he is buying. In cth-- the wchaser is 'buying trouble.' This could be avoided if packers would stioulat" that skins, at feast slaughtered ones, should be packed free. This operation is very simple and inexpensive if carried out directly the skin is taken from the sheep, by putting them over a beam and scraping the pelt with a flesher's blunt knife." In some cases large slabs of fat have been left on skins, often an inch thick, with the result that although the rest of the skin has dried out. the nortion beneath the fat is still moist. During storage putrefaction sets it. It is suggested that the following precautions should be taken in producing a skin of good quality:— (1) The opening of skin in flaying should be such as to ensure that the pattern is square and uniform. If the skin is folded down the back from the head both sides should be of the same size and shape. (2) The process of drying should be carried out in such a way that the skin is sheltered from rain and direct sunlight. Alternate wetting and drying allows bacterial action to take place, and the skin is damaged. The action of hot direct sunlight is to dry the skin too much, with the result that it does not soak back proaerly m the fellmongering process. This prevents the wool from being removed, and also such a skin does not make good leather. The chief value of a "bobby" calf is its skin, and if farmers and country butchers desire to obtain the maximum value for th» skin, the Department rf Scientific and Industrial Research officers advise that more care should be exercised in taking off. and more curing mu*' be given Tn a recent consignment of about 400 "bobbv" cr if cH n <3 v.'T? v-rv few good ones the eh""f fnun? b<:-'*vr. H) LarT t ,,;; c v;.,. rpi h-, r } H-v:n- vi:* '">vfe sc'- : •••a'- 1 "'' 1 eni ov . n "rv nv■■"ig? little over 51b, so that the loss to the farmer or butcher was approximately 2s per skin. BIG YIELDS PER ACRE IS ONE OF THE BEST METHODS OF OFF-SETTING LOWER PRICES. The Rent of Land and Labour Costs in preparation of a crop are the same whether a low or high yield per acre is obtained. A HIGH YIELD means that every unit of produce, e.g., each Ton of Potatoes, .is produced at a lower cost. AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN GETTING BIG CROPS FERTILISE WITH PROVED FERTILISERS FROM M A T S O N S. M A T S O N S. M A T S O N S. LOWER COSTS On THE FARM To-day the question of lowering production costs is of paramount importance in farming. In fact, it is about the only thing that a farmer can do as the price he receives for his product is beyond his control. How can costs be reduced? Firstly, it can be stated how they can be raised, and that is by getting lower yields Der acre. It is important to differentiate oetween more production and better production. If it is not intended to get a bigger output of a certain farm product, the best plan would appear to reduce the area devoted to any crop, and then by sound cultural methods, use of good seed, and by judicious manuring, get the yield from the lower acreage. , For instance, the cost of getting eignt tons of potatoes from one acre would under this method be less than that involved in getting the same quantity from two acres. For such crops as potatoes, mangels, chow moelliers, kale, turnips, etc., it pays to-day to use possibly a smaller acreage than formerly, but to secure by sound farming methods a higher yield per acre, thus reducing unit cost of the produce. . In this connexion wise manuring is essential, as manures return many times their costs, especially when used along with good cultivation method. The same principle applies also to areas for ensilage and hay. Even in an era of low prices efficient methods still pay It is penny wise and pound foolish policy to pay rent of land, have labour costs expended, and then limit the return because of economy in fertilisers. Experience has definitely shown in New Zealand that judicious fertilising pays, and it gives the best return where Eood farming methods are used. H. MATSON and CO. M 6735