THE LAMBING

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21978, 30 December 1936, Page 4

THE LAMBING

SEASON'S ESTIMATES DOMINION'S INCREASE OF 1J MILLION Following are estimates of the current season's lambing, computed from estimated average percentages furnished by inspectors of stock in the various districts. .Corresponding figures for the four previous years, together with the actual numbers of lambs tailed, are also given for comparison. North Island

EARLY POTATOES TWO CROPS A YEAR For 60 years or more the hillsides at Church Bay, on the south side of Lyttelton harbour, have been noted for their production of early potatoes. The hillside faces receive the full benefit of the morning and mid-day sun, so that the early character of the production can be realised. The photograph on this page illustrates a second crop of potatoes raised before Christmas there this season—the first was lifted up to 10 weeks ago, and marketed. The seed, comprising four varieties, was planted during May and June. Potatoes from the resultant crop were lifted before the end of October, and secured most of the awards at the Little River Show on November 21. The area was immediately replanted in October, and the photograph, taken on December .21, shows the state of the second crop on that date, when potatoes as big as hen's eggs were lifted. The crop makes the fifth in succession in four years on this particular piece ol ground. Church Bay potatoes are about the first to find their way to the Christchurch market. CORRIEDALE WOOL AUSTRALIAN PRICES The outstanding success of Corriedale and Corriedale cross wool at the wool sales this season has been remarkable (says an Australian farm paper). During the first week in December, 1935, Corriedale wool topped the market in New Zealand, Adelaide, and Melbourne markets. On January 16 of this year, at Geelong, an Australian record for other than merino wool was made by the Barwidgee (Caramut, Victoria) clip. Two lots sold to 31d, 17 bales to 30|d. necks 28d, and broken fleeces 27|d. This wool was from sheep by Corriedale rams, ex comeback ewes. The Warrawidgee clip (Skipton, Victoria), a comparatively small one, made to 30Jd and 30} d for two lots. Other lots made 29Jd, and bellies 19d, the average over all being 26d per lb, This wool was from sheep by Corriedale rams, ex merino ewes. The latest Melbourne quotation for English malting barley* is 4s 7d a bushel. Large numbers of hill country farmers in the Gisborne and Wairoa districts are preparing to plant, subterranean clover early in the coming year, states the Hawke's Bay "Telegraph." This activity has followed excellent results achieved by areas already growing, but so far the extent of the planting has been small. Most of the seed which will be sown in the Gisborne and Wairoa districts will be of the midseason Mount Barker type, which is most suitable also to Hawke's Bay conditions. Aldworth Royal Prince, a Shorthorn bull, was recently purchased in England for a leading Australian herd, the landed cost being more than £2500.

Actual no. Est. Av. p c. Est. no. lambs Year lambing lambs tailed 1932 .. 89.16 8,177,657 7,988,569 1933 .. 91.23 8,502,050 8,389,669 1934 .. 88.70 8,447,643 8,555,477 1935 .. 83.68 8,114,361 8,500,075 1936 .. 90.50 9,322,476 — South Island 1932 ,. 88.42 6,978,494 7,027,059 1933 .. 88.14 6,955,252 6,889,128 1934 .. 89.88 7,232,750 7,134,015 1935 .. 89.45 7,259,281 7,196,542 1936 .. 90.10 7,539,576 — Dominion 1932 .. 88.82 15,156,151 15,015,628 1933 .. 89.82 15,457,302 15,278,797 1934 .. 89.24 15,680,393 15,689,492 1935 .. 86.31 15,373,642 15,696,617 | 1936 .. 90.32 16,862,052 -