FARM AND STATION

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21400, 16 February 1935, Page 19

FARM AND STATION

ADDINGTON MARKET HEAVY SUPPLIES There were few sections of the market. on Wednesday in which the quality did much to maintain the reputation of the province for fattening. Most of the fat lambs were little better than forward stores, the fat sheep entry was preponderatingly ewes, most of these again indifferently finished, and fat cattle included a smaller proportion cf prime cattle than for months. The general lack of standard was also apparent in the store sheep pens, where many of the lambs were of medium to small growth and where the selection of good ewes was very limited. Fat Lambs The entry was again a large one, and as the detailed prices showed, many very satisfactory prices were rcalissd. Indeed, it was an indifferent lamb that did net moke more than 12:-:. The lops cf the well finished line::? ranged up to 3s or 4s more. Fatt.cncrs have some encouragement now 1o put weight on their lambs. The export rates of the previous week—73d per lb for all "firsts"—were fully maintained for prime lambs. At the corresponding sale last year the price for Sfi's and under was 7id, for 37-42's 7{ri. and for "overs" 6,? d. Comparative values a year ago and yesterday were:— I'Vli. 11, Feb. l:i. 1931. luas. Extra primo .. - - to 31 28 (o 30J Primp .. to 12.)J 2t to -7 Medium .. 20A to 23 21.', to 23J Light 17 to 20 17 to 21 Fat Sheep Aged and indifferently finished ewes coloured the entry to an unusual extent, and a great number of these sold at 13s or 14s a head and under. For the better sorts another 3s or 4s was available, so that for ewes that appealed to exporters the previous rates were maintained. The old ewes were down by a shilling a head. s. s. a. 3. "Wet hors Extra prime uoavy lo 33 - to 2f\J Prinifi heavy .. 21 to 2'! 23 lo 2-5 Prime med. 22 to 232 2L to 22 J Ordinarv and light 18 to 211 16 to 20 EwesExtra prime heavy to 26] - to 21 i Prime heavy 21: to 23-J 17 1 , to 20 Prime mcd.-weight 17 to 20i I t to 17 Ordinary .. I,IJ to l«i IB to 13 Light ■■ 11 to 14 8 1o 11 Store Lambs In spite of a lamb entry double the size of that of last week, there was a very free sale, and anything fit to put on rape was in good demand. The southern part of the province is still strongly in the market for this class. For the big proportion of indifferent lambs, however, there was a slight easing. fctore Lambs— Good rape .. - - to JP to I'V; Medium rope lo 1n 17 .13 to 15/ Ord. rrosabrcd ewe 35 tn — to Wethers - t'u!l - G to 'Jvj Store Sheep Most of the 5000 odd ewes forward were aged and in low condition. There was a sprinkling of good young ewes from North Canterbury farms and the Chathams, and these were keenly competed for at improved prices. The best of the two-tooths made to 28s 6d, and medium sorts to 24s 6d. A good pen of sound mouthed sold at 18s Gd, and medium to 16s 6d. Ewes--tiuod two-toalii A Lid • lo 311 lo M"'l. two-toolb ib<i 26 lo 28/. to2li Mod. two-tooth xbrl io 23 r i -- Mod. two-tooth Cor. to 22 <lo <d two-tootli Tor. Good s.m. halfbrod - to 19.', Ord. fc.m. halfbrcd to ICi AVr-thTS <;™,| .. - - to Jni to 10 Medium I*l to 17: 13 to M Fat Cattle The entry was far in excess of the demand, and was poor in average quality. The sale dragged throughout, except for the few pens of good steers, and these recorded easier prices. The entry included lines of store steers which would not have been in the market but for the feed position. They sold very cheaply, but there were few graziers in the circle of buyers who had feed to exploit the position. Old cows were almost impossible to quit at more than 50s a head. Some station lines of steers were passed at auction. Steers— X £ ii f JCxtra prime heavy to — to Prime heavy .. 0 to 10$ 8 lo !) Prime med.-■weight 8 to 0 ; J 71 io SA Ordinary nnd light ;>£ to 7 ;» fo 7 Heifers Kxtra prime .. - to •••• to 8 Prime .. 5 to 7 17 to (! 1 , 1 "Medium .. H l . to \\ in -t 1 : Lisrht .. to - fo 2;l i Cows — i Kx'.ra prime .. to F - lo 7 ! Prime .. *IA to f> Hto 51 | Medium .. M to i fo -1 1 Light, and n?od .. -- to "2\ -• to 2 { AUSTRALIAN MERIN 0 EXPORT i EMBARGO TO BE CONTINUED Strong representations that have been made to the Commonwealth Government resulted in the Federal Cabinet deciding recently to continue j the export embargo on merino sheep. I Prohibition of the export from Australia of pure merino sheep has been in force for some time, and it was officially- explained later that the I decision of the Federal Government I now reported merely continues the existing position. As heretofore, the prohibition has absolute application only to pure merinos. The export of other breeds of sheep such ca PoJwarths and Corriedales f.ould still be permitted, under the same conditions as already operating, the authority of the Minister for Customs, being necessary, and the sheep being subject to inspection for issuance of certificates. The Prime Minister said it appeared lo be beyond que:-11011 that if Australia refused to requests for Corriedales and Polwarths New .Zealand would secure the orders instead. thus bringing about a loss of business lo Australia, without any compensating gain. Before deciding upon renewal of the restricted ban. the Cabinet considered a report of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. The view of this body was that, if any ham accrued from the export of pure merinos from Australia to other countries. such as South Africa, such harm had already been done. To maintain a reciently-imposed embargo on exports was like shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted. In view of the evident dependence of such countries as South Africa upon fresh accessions of pure stock the council thought that, at. this stage, the prohibition of the export of merinos was of doubtful value. The Government, however, evidently weighed the economic considerations involved, and decided that maintenance of the ban was justified.

RURAL RIDES NORTH CANTERBURY PARCHED DOWN COUNTRY (By H.A.M.) The closely settled and intensively cultivated farm lands immediately north of the Waimakariri river do not proclaim by their appearance that they have passed through the driest period for nearly a couple of decades. There are plenty of evidences of production in the good sized stacks of wheat straw, of stacks 'of wheat sheaves and oats, some fields of rape and turnips, and patches of lucerne. It is when the traveller turns off to the downs that the full significance of the dry season strikes him. The writer has never seen the country through Balcairn behind Ambcrley en fo the Waipara look so dry. Rather is it graywhite. Apparently there was a good growth in the spring, winch stockwas unable to keep down, and when the rainless season developed this rank growth just went to dry stalk. The second evidence of the drought conditions is the state of the streams and rivers. The Waimakariri is (or was in the mid-week) eonfined to a narrow channel, and to see it meandering slowly along it is almost unimaginable that the control of it is costing every ratepayer for miles round something a year. The Ashley is as dry at the Rangiora bridge as the proverbial bone. The Kowai disappears very early m a dry season, but the Waipara puts tip a better fight. However, it is at present only a trickle, a few feet wide. It can easily be seen that the crops have been vcrv light throughout this area. Through the limestone countrv of the Wcka Pass and on to Hawar'den .the hills are very parched, but there is a fair area oft land turned over awaiting an opportunity for putting ■in green feed. The few fields of rape to be seen are already well grazed and are not a good colour. Turnips are patchy and much under normal, and although rain would benefit them greatly, they can scarcely reach much size so late in the year. A few fields are to be seen in the Waikuku-Woodend-Rangiora districts, where fattening feed is by no means exhausted, but for the Whole of the district from the Ashley to the Hurunui and into the hills the position is depressing. This belt of country has received the worst effects of the dry weather. Occasional showers on the coastal areas, and a good fall this week, will enable a good deal of seed to be sown there for autumn and winter feed. The acreage of stubble land turned over doubtless with this object appears to be fairly large—at all events more than normal. Stubble provided little grazing this

autumn, and po.ssibly it was put under the plough with little delay. Autumn and Winter Feed Some years ago the 'Virtues of black barley were stressed for autumn and winter green feed, but it has not gone far in ousting the traditional Algerian oats and Italian ryegrass. Black barley has to be grazed with some caution to secure the best results, and possibly this accounts for its failure to extend. The thought occasionally occurs that the sowing of oats and ryegrass for autumn feed is done somewhat casually. In a year like the present it is a matter of stern necessity to secure crops to provide maximum feeding. Stubble land which has just borne a wheat crop maybe depleted of much of its plant food, and the applying of some fertiliser seems sound policy. The area on the average farm devoted to green feed is not large, and it would not be a costly matter to apply fertiliser in cases where a crop has just been removed. Grain in Stack There appears to be a good deal of grain in 'North Canterbury in stack, of wheat as well as of oats. The former will be invaluable for winter feed for the ewes, and possibly most of it will be devoted to this purpose. In a season like the [ present, however, there has not been the usual urgency to stack wheat to ensure its proper conditioning. Possibly the extreme difficulty of securing mills for stook threshing during the rush and the shortage of sacks when the crop was ready for threshing have had something to do with it. The monthly increments are substantial enough to encourage the policy of stooking in any case. The Potato Crop Growers of potatoes should not gamble heavily on the assumption that the potato crop will be very light because of the dry weather. The crops undoubtedly vary, but there is a majority that appear at present as if they will yield'very nearly up to normal. Early crops on the lighter land will be poor, as

it is too late for rain to benefit these much, but on the ordinary potato growing land, where the crop will be dug at the usual period, there .s time enough for a substantial improvement if showers continue such as have fallen during the week. Potatoes do not require heavy rains. A month or six weeks of growth with normal showers will make a very marked r ,; (Terence in the proportion of table potatoes harvested There is another point that should not be overlooked. Some wheat growers, with fields prepared in the spring for that crop, and who were prevented by the weather from sowing it, substituted potatoes. This was a last minute decision, and probably such areas were not included in the official estimates. These crops were of a necessity sown late, and the showers should benefit them at their most crucial stage. We have been producing too many potatoes for the market for many years, and it is for the grower this season to consider whether the reduced yield an acre this season will offset this annual surplus and the added area mentioned. The Auckland market appears as it u will require more potatoes than usual, but when the latter arc costing £7 or more a ton m that city consumption may go down. Anything over £4 a ton off the forks is not a bad price these times, and growers have had many experiences of the unwisdom of withholding potatoes from the market in the hope that there is going to be a potato famine and that prices will soar. The prospects of the Australian embargo being lifted to enable this season's potatoes to be exported are not very bright. Political chessplaying will see to that. I The 1897 Drought ' A reader of the notes on Saturday's Farm Pago, dealing with dry seasons of the past in Canterbury. remarked to the writer the other day that there are few middleaged farmers of the province who do not recall the disastrous season 0 f 1897—the year of two records—a "reign" and a drought. This particular reader does not require a singularity such as mentioned, nor a diary of the period, which he still keeps, to remind him of that rainless" year. There was not a shower of rain for months, and thousands of acres of crops were not reaped. In his district the wheat return was well below the general average of 17.95 bushels. His father, a practical Old Country farmer, was quite philosophical about it all. He considered that with the benefit the soil would receive from the dry weather and failure of crops they would have a bumper harvest the following season. And they did—the best on record. Reference to "The Press" files of the time do not give much information of the progress of that drought and the harvest. Bush fires in the North island and the intense heat at the test match in Melbourne,

1 ARMIiRS IN I lII'- MAKING

however, indicated that Canterbury was not in exclusive possession of a drought. The Ashburton correspondent told in his corner something of the position. Some good crops were to be seen at Flemington, he wrote, and, a "great crop" of rape on the river flat gave him scope for a few lines. But one "leading Plains farmer," when asked how matters were with him, "said he had 700 acres of crop, and you could put it in three nosebags." Apparently matters were worse then than now! The Ashburton writer went on to say that the very lengthy drought had again revived the question of irrigation. This was 37 years ago, and apparently the subject was not a new one then. He expressed the opinion that a vote, if taken now, "would be very largely in favour of some scheme whereby farmers would be able to at least irrigate some of the paddocks near their homesteads." "That it would pay most handsomely," he continued, "needed scarcely any argument, and in a district so admirably adapted as Ashburton is for irrigation, it seemed most incredible that the millions of gallons of water daily running down our rivers to the sea should not be utilised to an infinitely better and immensely more profitable purpose." We have not made much progress in irrigation in 37 years! The Ewe Market The probabilities are that if rain falls within this next week or two —and it cannot be delayed much longer—ewes will jump substantially in value. It is reported thai Nelson and Marlborough sheep—ewes, wethers, and lambs—are being shipped freely to Wanganui for fattening #and breeding on the West Coast of the North Island. The cost of shipment is smaller than it would be to the south, and the sheep arrive in condition very little worse than when they leave their home pastures. This new outlet is bound further to reduce the supply of ewes for Canterbury use, and once farmers here have their concern about feed relieved there is likely to be a scramble for ewes. i

THE PIG INDUSTRY NEW ZEALAND'S OPPORTUNITY A LIBERAL QUOTA i (FROM OLR OW» COR*EBPO)!DEHT.) LONDON, January 19. New Zealand producers will no doubt, express their gratification that their interests have been so well sponsored by the High Commissioner (Sir James Parr), Mr David Jones, and Mr R. S. Forsyth (representatives of the Meat Producers' Board) at the numerous conferences which have been held in London with Mr Walter Elliot (Minister for Agriculture), and other officials of that department. They have used tact and judgment in advocating the cause of the Dominion | [farmers. • ; One remarkable result is evident in ! the figures relating to frozen, chilled, and boneless beef. Doubtless, the perfecting of the chilling process has been a great factor to New Zealand's advantage. The position of mutton and lamb is also interesting, as New Zealand's proportion for the first quarter of 1935 will be 800,000cwt against Australia's 450,000cwt. Agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture and the countries concerned has been reached on a basis, in the case of the principal sources of supply, on the average of the quantities of beef, veal, mutton, lamb, and pork imported in the first quarters of 1932, 1933, and 1934. Baconer l'igs and Pork New Zealand has been accorded the ! very fine quota of 250,000cwt of pork I lor* bacon purposes for the calendar year 1935. It is important that the producers of Now Zealand pigs should bear in mind that the pork exported tor bacon-curing purposes is a type of meat different from frozen pork that is to be eaten as pork. Moreover, the | demand for irk as meat is in this country only a seasonal one, confined jto a few months of the 12 in the I year, and the aggregate of that dcinand is very small compared with the ! great demand every day in the year I for bacon. i New Zealand could in time produce baconer pigs of quality sufficiently good to compete successfully against the big output from Denmark. Danes, of course, have, after years of study and experiment, produced the ideal baconer pig that is assured of a market here all the year round. Statistics show that landings of .Danish bacon in England during 1934 were 214,392 j tons. This bacon always commands j highest prices. Dutch bacon, too, is of excellent quality. Sir James Parr pointed out in the course of conversation to-day that the increase in English pigs has been enormous during the last two years, and has been mainly responsible for filling up the gap due to reduced bacon imports from Denmark. Even so, Denmark gets the huge sum of about £20,000,000 annually from the English consumers of bacon. Indeed, she gets more money here for bacon than for butter. In 1934 Danish landings of butter totalled 124,290 tons. Warning; Against Delivery Shortage Sir James Parr expresses concern because the quota allowed last year for New Zealand baconers was not reached. This year, as a consequence, the English Government Department authorities proposed a reduction in the quota. It was only after considerable 'discussion that he and the representa- | fives of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board were able to arrange for the amount of 12,500 ions of baconers this year. They hope that this position will be appreciated by (he pig industry, for, if the quota is again short-delivered, it is possible that the English Government may ini sisf on reducing the New Zealand allo- ! cation. Producers, therefore, would

be well advised to consider this position, and to bear in mind that a temporary porker market, which may or may not be favourable, bears no relation to the establishment of a steady market for baconer pigs. The present time is opportune for New Zealand to secure a substantial share of the British bacon trade, but these chances may disappear unless they are fully used and developed. New Zealand at present treats the bacon industry as a sideline, but she is a dairying country, with the requisite fodder for the baconer pig as well as facilities for research regarding breeding and other details, all of which are very important. Increase of Porkers Mr David Jones, referring to the | allocation, remarked:—ln view of the large increase of porkers weighing 60 to 1001b, it may be difficult to get a sufficient quota to carry the whole of New Zealand's increased production. It is, therefore, necessary for this point to be guarded against, and the New Zealand pig farmer may be I asked by the authorities in the Dominion to stop the killing of porkers if they are too numerous in order that j they may be fed longer, and made ! into bacon, for which the large quota has been obtained. It is pleasing to be able to state that the quality of the Dominion pig meat and its excellent grading arc recognised and appreciated throughout Great Britain. Mr Ronald Vestey, of Vesteys, Limited, has confirmed the report of the purchase by his company of 2300 acres of freehold and 10.000 acres of grazing leasehold land, known as Bajool, ni central Queensland, for use in connexion with their meat works. Mr Vestey, who inspected the company's property, including the Lake's Creek meat works, near Rockhampton, said that fully 70 per cent, of the cattle of central and northern Queensland, should be exported chilled, and not frozen. He added: "We are satisfied we can ..make a success of the chilled beef export business if we are allowed to, but we do not know what amount we are going to be allowed to export!'

WEST COAST NEWS GREYMOUTH HOSPITAL BOARD (SPECIAL TO TUB I'EESS.^ GREYMOUTH, February 15. There was little but routine business for the monthly meeting of the Gi'ey Hospital Board, over which Mr R. McTaggart presided. Important recommendations from the hospital committee were adopted, as follows: That suggested alterations to Petrie Ward be covered in next yeax*'s estimates; that the chosen site for the tubercular shelters be excavated and all necessary preparations made for the building to be carried out forthwith; that artificial pneumothorax apparatus, throat instruments, rectoscope, and fracture appliances be purchased. Accounts amounting to £2914 13s were rati/icd, and accounts amounting to £1097 lis 8d were passed for payment. It was decided that tenders be called for the alterations to the hospital and that other banks and financial institutions be approached regarding the taking up of the loan for the work. I Municipal Band The Greymouth Municipal Band left to-day for Timaru, to take part in the Dominion brass bands' contest. The party comprises 26 bandsmen, the conductor, Mr L. Francis, and the manager, Mr William Garth. In the quickstep competition the band will be in charge of Lieutenant Logan, of the Invercargill Civic Band. Cycling Keen racing was seen at the weekly series of cycle races on Victoria Park, i conducted by the Greymouth Sports j and Cycling Club. Results were: i Half-mile cycle: J. Larking (15yds), I 1. p. Duffv (scr) 2 J. Daniels (15yds) 3. Won by a length each way. Time. Imin ssec. Junior mile cycle: D. Morland (scr) 1. .R. Lewis (20yds) 2, A. Honey (40yds) 3. Won by two lengths. Time, 2min 31 3-ssec. Boys' half-mile cycle: F. Knott 1. M. Deterte 2. Won by six lengths. Time, lmin 22sec. Basketball teams' relay: Technicai Old Girls 1, Blaketown 2. The only competitors. Won easily. Time, 2min 0 2-ssec> Three miles cycle: D. Clark (300 yds) 1/ .J. Taylor (380 yds) 2, M. Malonc (380 yds) *3. Won by a length. Time, ?min 3 3-ssec. l'lowcr Show The annual St. John's summer (lower show and garden party were most successful, there being good entries and a large attendance. The stalls conducted by the women of the church did good business, and the church funds will be benefited considerably by the effort. The aggregate prizes were won as follows: —Cut flower section, Miss J. Craig (Matai); decorative section, Mrs F. M. Dennehy; decorated table, Mrs J. Hambleton; vegetables, Mrs George Wilson. Personal Drum-Major O. McLean and PipeMajor D. Cullen- left yesterday for Christchurch, to represent the Runanga Pipe Band at the Dominion contest at Timaru. The Rev. Father V. McSherry, who has been visiting his parents, left today on transfer to Sydney. „ Mrs J. Collogan and Miss F. Collogan left yesterday on return to Christchurch. Mrs T. S. Brobner, of Christchurch, arrived yesterday on a visit to Greymouth. ! Miss N. Woodward left yesterday on return to Christchurch. Mrs M. Quinlan and Miss M. O'Donnell left yesterday on a visit to Waipukurau.

REEFTON PERSONAL (Pl'ErlAt, TO THE PSEES.t REEFTQN, February 15. Mr C. McCarthy (Christchurch) is visiting Rcefton. Assessment Court A sitting of the Assessment Court will be held in Reefton on March 14, when.objections under the Rating Act, 1925, will be heard. District High School The results of the annual school swimming sports were as follows: Learners' width (under 10): Boys, R. Hindmarsh 1, A. Chettle 2; girls, J. Yellowlees 1, E. Hindmarsh 2. Secondary, 25 yards handicap, boys: L. Sara 1, E. Prentice 2, C. Coxall 3; girls, D. Cleaver 1, J. Barnett 2, M. Stevenson 3. Primary diving, girls: J. Osborne 1, E. Hindmarsh and P. Palmer, equal, 2; boys, G. Watson 1, R. Hindmarsh 2, J. Osborne and K. Pratt, equal, 3. Width, under 12, girls: R. Yellowlees 1, J. Cleaver 2; boys, G. Willis 1, R. McKenzie 2. Secondary diving, girls: P. Pratt 1, S. Richdale 2, J. McKane 3; boys, L. Sara 1, R. Chettle 2, C. Coxall 3. • Length, under 12, girls: R. Yellowlees 1. J. Watson 2, J. Yellowlees 3; boys, R. Hindmarsh 1, R. McKenzie 2, J. Bartlett 3. Cork scrambles, girls: R. Griffon 1, N. Earl 2; boys, D. Kearns 1. W. McKenzie 2. Secondary boys' 50 yards handicap: L. Sara 1, C. Coxall 2, E. Prentice 3. 100 yards handicap: E. Prentice 1, C. Coxall 2, L. Sara 3. Girls' balloon race, primai-y: I. Clarke 1, E. Hindmarsh 2. Secondary: P. Pratt 1, D. Cleaver 2.