FARM AND STATION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21904, 3 October 1936, Page 22

FARM AND STATION

r !ADI>INOTON MARKET

BETTER FAT CATTLE SALES

EWES AND LAMBS WANTED The flooding of the fat cattle market for some weeks apparently has emphasised to fatteners the unwisdom of the practice, for this week there was a curtailment severe enough to constitute a decided shortage. Probably up to 75 head less cattle at present would supply the demand compared With, the middle of winter, but Wednesday’s entry was much too small. As a result the firming was pronounced, and there were a few cases of prime heifers making just On £3 a head more than the figure they were passed in at the previous sale. It would be wrong to base the improvement’ in the market on the difference in cases like this. However, there were numerous instances of whefe the advance was equal to 30s a head, but on an average the firming’ was covered by about 25s for most of the cattle, and a little more for the better sorts, of which there were very few forward. Altogether it was a very poor quality display, the 325 offered including less than a third of what might be termed reasonably good bodies. The following is a comparison with the values ruling at the corresponding sale last year:— Oct. 2, Sept. 30, 1935. 1936. £ £ ’£ £ Steers— Ex. prime heavy to 161 to 172 Prime heavy .. 12| to 144 141 to 164, Prime med. wght. 11 to 13 121 to 14 Ordinary .. ‘ 8 to 101 10 to 112 Light .. .. .. to 72 to 94 Heifers— Ex. prime ... , to 111 to 144 Prime .. .. 8 to 94 94 to 112 Medium ..... 6 to 7| 74 to 9 Light .. .. .. to 52 to 71 Cows— Ex. prime ~ .. to 124 to 132 Prtme .. .. 74 to 94 83, to 10J Medium .. .. 51 to 7 62 to 8 Light and aged .. to 51 to 61 Fat Sheep The surprise of the market was the manner in which fat sheep prices held up. A cause, doubtless, was the small entry of good beef, and the release of butchers from that section of the market to take part in the mutton sale. Some very fine lines were included in the entry, and all classes sold steadily until well on in the afternoon, when butchers who, had filled their requirements commenced to drift away, and in the final stages there were only two or three buyers round the pens. A few lines were bought at about a shilling a head less than in the main part of the sale) but the bulk of the last race was passed at auction. It is time some steps were taken to expedite the sheep sale. Some auctioneers waste an unconscionable time in repeating to an inattentive circle the price they had been Bid for a line. The number of times the price is repeated apparently is limited only by the capacity of the auctioneer's lungs to hold air, and there are some husky young fellows on.the rails. The time limit should be much more rigidly enforced, and it would assist in curtailing the loquacity of some of the younger auctioneers if the timekeeper were armed with a bell loud enough to subdue any vocal noise. At the National market. In the middle of winter, the last auctioneer did not get off ;the rails until 10 minutes to 9, long after many of the butchers had gone home. At present owners unfortunate to draw a position for their sheep in the last 25 per cent of the offering have little chance in these big pennings of more than, three or four buyers being present, and little chance of knowing the price the sheep made or whether they wefe sold, at all, if they want to. get .away at "-a reasonable hour. Thesuepessful ? salesman- is the one who : cam,bold, the Attention of buyers. To dwell unduly' over a line is to distract attention. The spring lamb entry was more than butchers wanted, and had the proportion of immature lambs in the entry been left with the mothers, the penning would have about sufficed. There were perhaps about 100 lambs that would have been hard to beat for quality, a number of them exceeding die 301 b mark. In not many cases did they exceed lOd per lb. S. S’. s. • s. Ex. prime* heavy .. to 352 to 444 Prime heavy .. 27 i to 314 34 to 37 Prime med. weight 25 to 274 30 to 33 Ordinary . . 224 to 244 274 to 29 Light .. .. to 22 to 27 Ewes— . , Ex. prime heavy to 334 to 362 Prime heavy .. 23 to 27 294 to 31 Prime med. weight 20 to 224 23 to 28 Ordinary .. 18 to 192 214 to 244 Light ■.. .. to 174 to 21 Store Sheep Several lines of station wether hoggets, numbering 200 and 300 head, comprised a big proportion of the entry in the store sheep section. There was not ,the buying capacity for them and the market receded by fully 1/6 a head. Adult wethers were also easier, and there were too few ewe hoggets forward to give much idea of the run of values in that class. The few pens offered maintained previous levels. Ewes and lambs, the comparative cheapness of which has been mentioned, 4$ -recent reviews of the market, were the only class to improve,’ and these appeared better by about 1/6 a head. Except in one case the ewes were npt impressive, but the disposals generally brought values more into relationship with those ruling for other classes of stock. 5. S. B. -S. Hoggets— Best |-bd ewe .. to 272 to 314 Best 4-bd wether - to 224 Ord. wether ..17 to 184 194 to 21 Merino wether ... — to 20 Ewes— . S.M, and lambs.. to. 14 S. and f.m. lambs 11 to 122 14 to 154 Ordinary s.m. .. Ex. good 4-th and lambs Wethers— • Good halfbred .. -i- ‘to 234 to 27 Ord. halfbred .. 184 to 21. 23 to 25

WHAT EVERY FARMER SHOULD KNOW The regular use of Sykes’s Drench ft calving time ensures a perfectly, healthy herd. Your mind is relieved of the worry of . bad cleansing, milk fever, mammitia, and kind: -d troubles which occur at calving time if -you methodically drench each cow at this particular period with Sykes’s Drench. Thoughtful dairymen who work to obtain fixe maximum of profit from their dairy herds know from practical experience that it pays to drench each cow Drench after calving. Neglect to this proved remedy at calving time leads to expense, and expenses are profits lost, so that in your own interests it will pay you to commence mis. season with Sykes’s Drench. Sold by a|l stores at 17s a dozen or Is 6d a packet Each packet contains two drenches. Mr E. > Griffiths, the ,well-known Jersey breeder, of Taranaki,, says:— "To be successful with cows, they must be kept healthy. I have tised Sykes’s Drenches and Abortion Powders for. 15 years with entire satisfaction.’* ~>2

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BENEFIT OF LIME

CANTERBURY LAGGING

STRIKING SOUTHLAND EXAMPLES

Former Southland residents residing > in Christchurch, and. who have a knowledge of Southland fanning, canont help but be surprised at the slow expansion of the use of lime ,in Canterbury. It is true that there has been a marked increase in the last few years, but measured by Southland standards the quantity v is really negligible. A Christchurch resident who thinks strongly on the above lines is Mr John Mac Gibbon, who retired some years ago from the managership of the Christchurch branch of the Bank of New Zealand. Mr Mac Gibbon’s grandfather was one of the first runholders in Southland, in- the latter end of the 50’s of last century. Mr Mac Gibbon was born on the land, and as a banker he was naturally brought into close touch with the inner detail of the. management of many farms, and is, therefore, in a position to know of many instances where lime has been responsible for the retention of a farmer on his holding. These experiences, extending for a period of well on to 50 years, are therefore most instructive. Some Examples In- a talk with "Straggler” on Thursday Mr Mac Gibbon mentioned properties which he has had an opportunity of revisiting in the* last few years, and the transformation from the cold, hungry, unproductive soil he knew of 35 to 40 years ago to pastures carrying sheep to the acre, instead of acres to a sheep, has been amazing. He instanced one property on the hills east of Mataura, which 30 odd years ago was carrying a small flock of sheep. He visited it two years ago, and was told that more than 100 bushels of oats to the acre had been harvested, and 120 per cent, of lambs had been tailed. The farmer mentioned that his ewe flock averaged 101 b of wool, a statement received with much scepticism by a Canterbury farmer who accompanied Mr Mac Gibbon on the trip. In the subsequent shearing the 900 ewes clipped an average of 10|lb. Lime only was used, but not in niggardly quantities. The ploughable land was turned over, sown to a white crop or roots, as the circumstances dictated, "and was then sown down. Part of the holding was carrying four to five ewes to the acre, and the best line of hoggets Mr Mac Gibbon considers he has seen anywhere, was on the place two years ago. A Well-Known Block The Morton Mains estate was another classical instance. Comprising about 3000 acres of sour looking tussock on the main railway line near Invercargill, when Mr Mac Gibbon first knew it about 40 years ago, it was on the market at 10s an acre. A Canterbury farmer, Mr A. H. Sheat, was one of the first to show the possibilities on it of liming. A Southland settler, a Mr Calder, was another pioneer in the handling of this unattractive block, and it was not a great number of years until he had turned some of this 10s an acre land into a property that sold at £23 an acre. Though the Edendale estate—or theMataura Valley portion of it—was always regarded as good country, it was not until lime. was applied that its real richness was revealed. As has been stated it was the lime that increased its stock carrying; capacity to such an extent that the Government bought it for closer settlement, and practically the whole of it was cut up for dairying. Dairying is still its main function, and probably there was no more successful estate settled under, the lands lor .settlement scheme than this famous property, Mr Donald Macdonald has frequently threshed off it more than 100 bushels of oats tb the acre. Light Land Results •' Pebbly Hills, in the Waimumu-Hedge-hbpe district, was generally regarded as about the poorest land in Southland. It eventually got into the hands of a man with capital and the freezing company. It is now sending numbers of fat lambs to the works. Waimumu, at one time not a great deal better lor stock carrying, is another instance. It was bought by Mr H. Friedlander, of Ashburton, and cut up for settlement by him in the late 80’s or early 90’s, Canterbury men being the original settlers. Not one made a “do” of it—they all had to go off. The next crop of settlers had the benefit of the Edendale liming experience. For years now Waimumu has been carrying good flocks of sheep, dairy herds, and has been growing excellent crops of turnips. The Waimumu of to-day cannot be recognised as the one-time stretch of sour downs that sullenly refused to grow anything more than stunted native grass and, under cultivation, the most straggly of oat crops and turnips no bigger than cricket balls. An Outstanding Example A few miles from Gore, on the edge of the Waimumu country, is another instance that perhaps is outstanding in New Zealand. Mr Erskine Bowmar, for many years prominent in local body life in Southland, took up a farm of 400 to 500 acres, on which the previous occupiers had done little good. Mr Bowmar sent a sample of Che soil to the Agricultural Department in Wellington for analysis, and the report he got back was to the effect that the soil was starving for lime. He

IMPORTED MERINO RAM

FARM WAGES, ACT

DAIRY WORKERS’ PAY

NOW IN OPERATION

On Thursday, October 1, the Agricultural Workers Act, 1936, came, into force. This act applies to workers employed on dairy farms only, a dairy farm being defined as one where dairying is the principal concern and where 10 or more cows are milked. The act applies equally, whether labour is employed by farm owners or sharemilkers. Wages to be paid:— 17s 6d weekly, under 17 years, 22s 6d weekly, 17-18 years. 27s 6d w 'ekly, 18-19 years. » 32s 6d weekly, 19-20 years. 37s 6d weekly, 20-21 years, 42s 6d weekly, 21 years and oyer. Female workers are to receive the same rates as youths and men of equivalent age. where board and lodging is not provided 17s 6d weekly shall be added to these wages. A holiday of one month, at, a time convenient to the employer, on full pay plus half-lodging allowance, is due to a worker for each year’s service, or may be given as one week at the expiration of each three months’ service. Where a half-day off work is allowed weekly the holiday clause has been amended to provide that a two weeks’ holiday will be due the employee yearly, instead of one month’s holiday. The act covers persons employed for any period exceeding one week. Casual labour is not affected; Thus there is no regulation governing casual workers employed on. dairy farms for hay-making, fencing, draining, cropping work, etc. f There are no clauses governing hours of work, whether of weekly paid employees, or casuals. Regulations provide, however, for the accommodation of employees and it is understood that there will be insistence that this be satisfactory. quickly set about the task of regeneration, and it was not many years until the stock carrying capacity was much more than trebled, and everything was got away fat. On the Otaraia and Kaiwera hills, east of the town of Gore, further outstanding results have been secured. Much of the hillside country therp is too steep for the plough, but in such cases the lime was spread in the tussocks, and tine harrowed and a great spurt in growth resulted. A former South Canterbury farmer, Mr Tripp, is demonstrating what can be done with lime in that country, which, when Mr MacGibbon knew it years ago, was pretty stubborn material. In the Wyndham-Fortrose districts there is the far-famed Waimahaka estate, the' remarkable fertility of which and the health of the stock was built up on liberal dressings of lime. Immense quantities have been distributed in the last 30 or 40 years, and the success attending the work has had a wide influence over the farming practice in the districts immediately surrounding. Insufficient Applications Mr Mac Gibbon expressed the opinion that the quantity of lime frequently used in Canterbury was insufficient to secure results, and quoted a case brought before him in the south. Mr W. Ayson, of Waikaka Valley, whose name appeared in the papers the other day when he took an aeroplane trip from Dunedin to Auckland at the age of 96 years, and who has, therefore, lived long enough to know something of what he is talking about, showed. Mr Mac Gibbon a paddock on his farm some years ago, on which half a ton of lime had been applied. Considering it insufficient, he gave instructions for another half ton. After 18 years the pasture was still “going strong.” In an adjoining paddock of exactly similar soil half a ton had been applied, and it had to be ploughed up in four years to renew the grass. The result of Mr Ayson’s liming policy was illustrated in the quality of the produce. A report from London on his Corriedale wool was the best he (Mr Mac Gibbon) had seen in all his experience. There were many other instances, Mr Mac Gibbon said, which could be quoted to show what lime had done in the southern end of the Dominion. It was gratifying to see an increase taking place in Canterbury, but Mr MacGibbon thought that in most cases the initial dressings were too light. The following figures illustrate the striking progress made in the sheep carrying capacity of Southland in the last 10 years:— Southland. N.Z. TL 1925 ~ 1,470,531 24,547,955 1935 .. 2,504,302 29,076,754 Increase .. 1,033,771 4,528.799 This represents in the decade an approximate increase of 70 per cent, in Southland and 11 per cent, for \ the rest of New Zealand. It is a fair assumption that the export of fat lambs has increased in the same proportion. This has been done without the displacement of any other farm product.

The Canadian Ayrshire Breeders’ Association reports a new' Ayrshire record has been set when one family of cows—mother, daughter" and granddaughter—have each produced more than 100,0001 b of milk.'

NORTH * ISLAND PASTURES

VALUE OF TOP-DRESSING

SOUTHERN VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS

A South Island farmer, who spent most' of September in moving round the rural parts of the North Island, has returned more than ever convinced of the value of lime and phosphates in improving pastures. In a conversation with the writer he expressed astonishment at the amount of lime that was now being used, as during former visits to the North Island he had come across very few farmers who were using it. He had been told in the north that the use of lime was being reflected in better and healthier stock, in a greater carrying capacity, and m far better pastures. To a southern fanner, used to exceptionally good clean pastures, the Taranaki grasslands ■ were a disappointment The visitor considered that in many cases that came before him, weeds of all kinds were far too prevalent. Nevertheless, the carrying capacity of these pastures was high* so it was evident that even weeds made good stock feed when heavily topdressed. The foundation of most of the Taranaki pastures was laid with heavy dressings of basic slag, mostly imported from Belgium. Owing to the high price of slag, other phosphates in addition to slag were now being used, but most farmers pinned their faith to slag. Waikato Production The visitor spent some time in the Waikato and ih the North Auckland peninsula. The dairy production of the Waikato at this season of the year was remarkable, but here again many of the pastures were full of weeds and what is known in the south as weed grasses. The liming and top-dressing that were going on seemed, however, to have turned everything into good stock feed. Of the North Auckland peninsula the visitor commented little beyond saying that he saw some of the poorest farm land, with a few good fertile valleys. The climate was wet ana mild, and in years to come, it was possible that the North Auckland poor' land would be utilised because of its mild climate and abundant rainfall. The Best Pastures A visit to Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay enabled many excellent pastures to be seen. It was quite evident to the visitor that the best pastures in the ' North Island were in these two districts. , The good pastures comprised ryegrass, white clover, crested dogstail and several other minor varieties. Cocksfoot was seen in places doing very well, and there was a marked preference for certified seed from Akaroa. The burning question in Poverty Bay was the railway, and he was firmly convinced that the Gisborne district should have railway communication. Settlers up there were now beginning to wonder wh. they had not insisted on a railway being built 30 or 40 years ago. The visitor was very pleased with what he saw of the Maori land settlement schemes. He believed that there would be further development of Maori land settlement under capable and experienced Government officers. Most of the trouble in the past had been due to the management Of land and farm matters generally by persons without the necessary experience.

SHEEP FOR SOUTH AMERICA

FURTHER STUD SHIPMENTS Following on the recent successes of New Zealand stud sheep at the International Palermo Show, held at Beunos Aires In August, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., received from their agents in Montevideo and Buenos Aires urgent requests by cablegram to forward further consignments of high-class. Corriedales, Lincolns, and Romneys. To fulfil these instructions, 21 stud sheep from flocks in the Wairarapa and North Canterbury, districts were selected and dispatched by the Port Fairy, which sailed this week for Montevideo from Auckland. Included in this shipment is a stud Corriedale ram hogget bred by the New Zealand and Australian Land Company at Hampden, Otago, and purchased by Gibson Bros., Buenos Aires, on behalf of one of their clients. With a view to pioneering and opening up the market in the Argentine for Southdowns, a stud ram has been forwarded by Mr William Rayner, The Cliffs, Masterton, who has been shipping annually to South America consignments of stud rams of other breeds for some time. That his faith in South America as a market for New Zea-. land-bred stud sheep is justified has been shown by the high prices obtained for Dominion sheep. in that country, Mr Rayner having received excellent prices for sheep forwarded by him during the depression years. Mr Rayner has also forwarded a rising two-shear stud Lincoln ram, claimed to be a superior sheep to the one which was awarded the supreme championship at the Palermo International Show. Mr R. W. Matthev/s (Featherston) has shipped four Romney rams and from the Myella Stud (Masterton) Mr H. J. Rayner sent two one-year-old stud Lincoln rams.

The Canterbury portion of the Argentine consignment was selected'from Mr F. L, McGregor’s Corriedale stud at Dunsandel, four ram hoggets from these being included. The Corriedale is also in keen demand in Uruguay, and six ram hoggets are being shipped to Montevideo by the same vessel, three rams being taken from Mr D, Sidey’s Glenovis stud, and three from Mr O. T. Evans’ Taruna establishment

SHOW DATES 1936 October 20 and 21—Marlborough, at Blenheim. October 21 and 22—Hawke’s Bay. October 22—Ellesmere, at Leeston, October 27 and 28—Poverty Bay, at Gisborne. October 28 and 29—Carterton, October 30—Amberley. October 30 and 31—Timaru. November 4. 5, and B—Manawatu. at Palmerston .North. November s—Ashburton. November 6—Northern, at Rangiora. November U, 12, and 13—Royal, -at Christchurch, November 17—Waimate. November 19—Duvauchelle. November 20 and 21—Nelson. November 21—Courtenay, at Kirwee. November 24—Banks Peninsula, at Little River. November 24 and '2s—North Otago, at Oamaru. November 26 and 27—Clutha (Jubilee), at Balclutha. December 1 and 2 i —Gore. December 4—Wyndham. December 8 and 9—Southland, at Invercargill. December 11 and 12—Otago, at Dune.din. 1937 February 2 and B—Feildlng. February s—Woodville. February 16 and 17—Masterton Golden Jubilee. March. s—Kaikoura. March 13—Mayfield. March 23—Amurl,, at Waiau. March 29—Mackenzie Highland Show, at FaMie. , , April 3—Methven. ,

NYDFA MEMORIAL CUP ■

POINTS FOE COMPETITORS (Continued.) The following short explanation of the programme of the Nydfa petition to be held at the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Show, together with some suggestions for training the mounts of competitors, is offered to those interested!" When in the saddle y° u ? £f& d ! s c ?he trol the horse’s forehand, which is to_ part in front of his girto.andyouriegs control, his hindquarters, so.that in every movement your horse shouia re ceive some indication from your IS as well as from your hands. H you do you will get him to move nis whole body collectively and to unisonUse your voice to your horse quite freauently. It saves hauling at his mouth and thumping °^3H r rlb undeS helps to much T b ®Jter uira* standing with him. to start forward, to step “whoa” to stop, and ‘stand to stana. quite still. Say the word, give the horse time to obey, before you 'apply the aids. Soon he vrtH begin to do things on your .word, and toe aids will need only very gentle applies tion ’ Part s—-Manners of Mount (a) Balance at all paces. A home has his own natural balance. Some horses, are balanced too forward, and are inclined to . hang heavy on the rider’s hands cpnsequ^m& These horses can be xmproyed by good hands, combined with, a bit that suite the horse. •Their to bn raised, and their .hochs brought xiiore .under them. Other' horses are balanced too far back. These generally carry their heads too high, and ® martingale may help you this. Also, use your legs to make nun throw his centre of gravity more forward, and to step out. . . In the third category are the horses whose centre of gravity is just in toe right place. These are toe sort vw all like to own. In schooling tnein you start with part of the J°b a lready done.' A horse’s balance is like a see-saw. If the centre of gravity is in the wrong place, the *ide r must use his hands, his legs, an ,^,^ s .°s? centre of gravity to correct toe fault. (b) Willingness to change from extended canter or gallop to collected canter or trot: A horse is at a collected t pace when you have reined him in until his balance is slightly throwir bacfc and hi? speed Jt jnghtiy checked. He is carry-, ing himself weU, and is ready to my crease his pace at, once when asked. To get an extended pace you ease your reins, let the horse throw his balance more forward, and increase the speed. A well-schooled horse should increase or decrease speed at all paces promptly, yet .smoothly, when called upon by his rider. . • > (c) Steadiness at mounting, standing •tiU indication to move is given Jay toe rider. Teach your horse to stand like a rock while you mount or dismount. Vaulting into the saddle while the horse is in motion is right at gymkhanas; but in toe show ring and in this competition you will be out to show that your 'horse has perfect manners. A quiet word, something like “hup," to set your horse in motion is good. Ease your reins, then say toe word, and a brief pause to give him time to act oh it, before you press your 1 legs on. Part 4-^obooUng (a) Half passage at walk, trot, or canter. It is best to teach toe home to half passage before* you teach toe full passage. The half passage is a diagonal movement, the horse moving forward (but at an angle of 45 degrees) by half crossing bis togs, to order to half passage to the right, first coUect your home, and, at a walk, bend toe head slightly to the' right, by feeling the rein on this side, and close your left leg strongly to make him half cross his legs. Sufficient pressure of your right leg must be maintained to keep him moving forward, though actually in a diagonal direction. Also use both reins as required to direct toe home’s forehand in the right direction. To bring the horse to a halt, close the right leg and feel both reins. Reverse the aids in order to half passage to the left; £nd .merely increase the impulsion to carry it out at a trot. (b) The full passage is done far toe Same way, with this difference—that the movement is direct to one side, with toe horse’s forehand slightly in advance of his hindquarters. So the aids must be more accentuated than‘in toe case of the half passage. The home’s first lesson in passaging can be given by the rider dismounted. Hold the bridle in one hand and tap lightly with a switch on the horse’s flank. For toe first .lessons mounted, put your horse’s head towards a wall or very high fence. That will show him that no forward movement is expected, so that his brain will more readily take the idea of moving sideways. (To be continued.)

American wheat production this year is unlikely to exceed - the internal needs of the country. Less than 20 to 25 years ago the United States was far and away the greatest exporter of wheat in the world. To-day. as the result of droughts, bad seasons, bad prices, and reduction of area, it is—temporarily at all events—a factor of no importance in the international wheat outlook.