FARM AND STATION

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22727, 3 June 1939, Page 11

FARM AND STATION

..La- 4 -. ~>tr7/i

ADDINGTON MARKET

DEMAND FOR PRIME MUTTON SCARCITY OF DAIRY COWS With a yarding that little more than sufficed local requirements, the fat sheep sale on Wednesday was one of the best of the year. It was feared that the reduction in the mutton export schedule would affect the sale of light mutton, but fortunately there was less light quality forward. In the meantime, also, there had been n slight increase in the ewe export schedule, although export operations on it appeared to be negligible. Turnip-fat-tened wethers from the heavier land arc now coming forward more freely, and there was a good showing of these on Wednesday, notably from South Canterbury. There was an all-round improvement in values, ranging at a little more than a shilling over the earlier part of the sale for good sheep, but in the vicinity of 2s in the final stages. One of the best features of the market was that light mutton is still saleable. Light wethers appeared to bring up to 14s 6d for the works. Values compare with the corresponding sale last year as follows: —

Pat Cattle Too many cattle were forward for the demand, and they met with a slacker sale. The condition of back country bullocks indicated fairly plainly the general feed shortage. The drafts wore for the most part well framed and well bred, but had gone back in condition in not a few cases. There has been little advantage this season in carrying cattle along into the winter, as the price was belter in the early autumn. There is little feed anywhere for winter, and half-finished cattle have been sold this season which ordinarily would have been carried along until August. Another depress ing factor in the market has ben the exceptional number of cows culled from dairy herds. More of these are being drafted into the fat pons Hum int the store. A few pens of exceptionally good steers were forward on Wednesday, the autumn grazing capacity of the West Coast being demonstrated by a truck lot that averaged slightly more than £l7 a head. Some good heifers were to the fore, but the proportion of realty good cattle was small.

RURAL RIDES

ALFORD STATION AN EARLY DAY RUN* (By H.A.M.) A school holiday the writer look close oh 45 years ago was recalled by a visit the other day to the foothill country of Ashburton County. Impressions are somewhat elusive in the crowded life of a school lad in his early 'teens, but a few of the early trip remain. The railway had then been constructed to Mount Somers, and every day or two a train ambled leisurely along the 25 odd miles from Ashburton on an elastic and obliging time-table. The writer remembers that on his return journey the train waded 15 minutes to pick him up—quite a pleasant gesture to a school from a highly tilled district the main impression left on the writer’s mind was that the whole ol the plain was a tussock "waste. Most of the talk was then about, closer settlement, and sheep runs and tussocks were not much in favour. I here wore few trees to interrupt the view over thousands of acres. Except for a confined area near the hills, where dairying was carried on, there appeared to be little change from the monotonv of the tussock. One of the matters he recalls being discussed by the eiders was the construction of the railway from Mount Somers to Methven, part of the fantastic idea that had been proposed to link Oxford with Mount Somers by a line along' the foothills, of which the Oxford-Shct-(icld link was the only one forged. Further down on the Plains, of course, there was a wide area devoted to wheatgrowing. Timber was being actively" milled from the Alford Forest, and development of the hill coal posits formed the subject of talk. The diamond "bubble" had not completely burst in the imagination of some of the old timers, who considered that the test which claimed that the stones wore useless had some sinister motive in the background. Although plantation belts wore few and far "between there was a good deal of talk of the necessity for (hem. The contiguity of the country to the ranges brought it within the range of very cold winds and heavy frosts—more than 20 degree's on occasions when the ranges wore clothed far down with snow. A number of stations had embarked on extensive shelter belt plantations, and Alford station was the one that the writer remembers was mentioned during his visit. The area planted, lie learned the other day. was 500 acres. Sir Jno, Hall had already demonstrated that Canterbury would be a poor stock country if shelter were not provided, just as Colonel Brett confounded the sceptics with his water race proposals, but for which the close settlement of the Plains would have been impossible. A Notable Pioneer The plantation work at Alford was set in motion by Mr E. Herring, a pro- ; cssivc Yorkshireman who came out with money, good ideas, and a capacity to become acquainted with the strange conditions of farming in a new land. Mr Herring took over tiio management of Alford in 1882 for a company which acquired it, and of which he was a member. A look over the old farm buildings to-day, the picturesque setting of the homestead as he designed it. surrounded by a small forest of choice English trees, (ho creation of a small artificial lake which is still a sanctuary for wildfowl, show that Mr Herring was a man With taste, as later- years snowed he was a man with good farming ideas. The Alford station, the records indicate, was first taken up about 1854, at the same lime as most of the other runs between the Rakaia and the Rangitata. It was in that year or wi'hin a year or two that such wellknown runs as Acton, Westcrheld, Shepherd's Bush, Anama, and Winchmore were acquired. Alford then comprised about 20,000 acres. Originally it belonged to a well-known figure of the time (Deiamain) and three brothers, Kcnnaway. Deiamain, in a few years, secured the whole of the area, and a few years later it passed to the control of Thos. Rowlands and F. Tooth. There were other changes until 1882, when Messrs Grant and Foster look the property over, and Mr Herring stepped in. A Model Station Mr Herring quickly showed that he I -,d no intention of running Alford simply as sheep property. He built capacious accommodation for his employees, such as rarely existed at the time on other runs. A half-holi-day was provided for the workmen. Some of the old sleeping quarters and accommodation cottages are to be seen to-day, though in most cases the worse for * wear. He promptly set about breaking in the new country, his objective being to put; down 1000 acres each year to English grass. The ultimate idea was that the property would eventually be cut up into 1000-acre farms, each with a residence, and sold to farmers. Within a few years the property was carrying 16,000 sheep. Much of the heavy land was tile drained, all classes of crops, including wheat were raised, and when the plantation programme was completed, 10, miles of trees had been planted. The lake was provided by a concrete wall in a running stream with a flood gate. Besides a sanctuary for wildfowl it provided great sport for ice skaters. In the nineties it was a favourite rendezvous of Ashburton picnic parties. An AshbuHon syndicate purchased the property in 1904, the homestead block, comprising just undfcr 3000 acres, being secured by the Horsey family, the two brothers of whom were prominent figures in the farming history of the province. The surviving brother, Mr E. B. Horsey, died a few years ago. The death of Mr Horsey caused Alford to be placed on the market, and it was bought nearly two years ago by Mr Melville Turton, wha.se father worked on the estate in the early days as a shepherd. Mr Turton is embarking on a policy that should make Alford a specially attractive properly. It is singular of much of Canterbury that it is only when the traveller gets atvay from the road and into the fields that he is enabled to realise the amount of good land stowed away out of sight on many properties. Possibly the explanation is that the original roads or tracks followed the higher larld, which naturally is the lightest. Alford is not singular in this respect. Near the road a belt of light stony, but sweet grazing country meets the eye; alongside there is medium cropping land, then a good area of strong wheatgrowing land, and on the river flats land of bulldck grazing capacity. This variability enables practically every class of farming to be carried on. Last season (his first) Mr Turton had 700 acres under the plough, of which 250 acres were in wheat. About 70 acres are now u turnips. he wheat averaged just on 40 bushels, bats thore than 80 on dne paddock, and one extensive field of turnips is about the best the writer has seen this year. The farih has beisn lightly cropped for some years, but Mr Turton realises

FLOCK EWES

HORORATA COMPETITION For the third annual flock competition, arranged by the Hororata branch of the Now Zealand Farmers’ Union, there wore 15 entries, two more than last year. The judges, Messrs A. F. Marr and R. J. Low, of Mcthvcn, stated that they inspected some very fine flocks ana congratulated the Farmers’ Union on the running of the competition. Later comment by the judges was to the effect that they knew of nowhere in New Zealand where such a number of largo and excellent breeding flocks of sheep could be found within a comparatively small area. A following of about 30 farmerrspent an instructive day. The president, Mr F. O'Rorkc, in announcing the awards, thanked the judges for their services and Mr G. H. Grigg for providing refreshments. The maiden award, in Classes I and If, for an exhibitor who had not won a link in the competition before, went lo Mr F. While. The Challenge Cup for most points in the competition went to Mr T. D. Jarman, with Mr F. White runner-up. Results:

dispersal of dairy HERD HIGH-PRICED HAY Thoro is no complaint about the value of two products of the iarm at the present time, T.icsc arc dan 5 cows and the feed for them iho value of dairy cows Ims been demonstrated at the Addington sale-yards tor some time, and was further emphasised at the clearing sale held during the ireek on the farm of Mr Coo. Hassall, of Clarkvillo. where, also, hay feed sold at prices which are raielv secured in Canterbury. The real complaint, of course, is from the man who lias to buv the cows to commence wun and the feed to carry (hem along The interest taken in the disposal ot Mr Hassell's Friesian herd was indicated by the attendance of 1 armors from ail parts ot the Island fi oni Blenheim to Invercaryill. Canterbury farmers attended in exceptional numbers for the offering of other stock, and the reserves of baled lucerne and other hay. The attendance was one'of the largest for many years at a Canterbury dispersal. The sale was conducted bv 11. Matson and Compan.v. Baled lucerne hay of ordinary qualil y— the best grade bad already been sold—made from Iks to 4s a light bale, estimated by some' to be round aboiu £7 a ton, if not more. Meadow hay, some of it threshed, sold at 2s ad to ■>s tld a bale. Dim and Cartons oats mid at 2f)s a sack. The Friesian registered cattle sold at up lo TPgns and voung heifers, to two years and a half, at no to la guineas. Rome of (he purchases were for Southland. Bulls made up to ha guineas. Grade springing heifers made from £9 lo £l2. A feature of the sale was 7.a registered Devon and grade Devon pigs. 'The boars made up to (it guineas and the sows to C guineas. The disappointing section was draught horses, of which 25 were offered. Horses have slipped badly in value this last 12 months, and Mr Hassall's teams sold well in comparison with market prices ruling recently. The top price was £2l. The sale was brought about by the expire of the leases of Mr Hassall’s Clark ville and Oxford properties. There was an exceptionally full equipment of implements and farm inachinorv. These sold at satisfactory, prices in view of the conditions prevailing. DOG TRIALS METHVEN COLLIE CLUB YESTERDAY’S RESULTS T)io annual trials of me Melhven Collie Do" Club were continued yesterday on the properly of Mr R. C. Todhuntcr, Blackford, Mclhvcn, with the heading, bringing back, and yarding event The weather was again ideal, and there was a large attendance at (lie trials. Fifty-nine dogs took part in the event, to which GO, points were allocated as follows;- —Heading D, bringing back 20, pen fi, command 10, work and yard !). The results were:— , r M Wilson’s Fly, heading la, bringing back 19), pen fi, command 91. work and yard !), total 59 .. •• 1 R. M. Wilson’s Hope, 14, 19, 6. 9,9, total sfi •• •• •' A, E. Benbow’s Crib, 14, 18, 6, 9. 8). total 551 •• ° J. Logan’s Dark, 14, 18), G, 8), 8, total 55 .. • ■ .• • „ •• 4 The work shown was again of a veij high standard in the early part of the day, but the dogs run later did not snow the same standard. , , , . „ The trials will be concluded to-daj with the bun tawny and slew event, lor which there are 48 entries. The result of the maiden and, district event, which is run in conjunction with Ihe other events,, will be announced early next week.

the value of adequate tillage, liming, and fertilising. One 20-acre paddock of first-class pasture was pointed out to the writer which had been reclaimed frern a heavy growth of brown top. The mower and lime and super worked this transformation. An unusual crop for Canterbury was pointed out on another part of the farm--an area of fescue, which had yielded a heavy crop of that valuable seed, Mr Turton inherited an expert knowledge of sheep from his father, widen lie has extended by his own experience, and his flock of 2500 young breeding ewes, is one of the best for quality and condition the writer has seen for a long time. The basis is being laid of n well bred herd of cattle, as lift - Turton subscribes to the belief that to get the best farming results cattle grazing with sheep is essential. The old lay-out of nearly 60 years agb needs little alteration to enable proper control of the grazing—-the subdivision' was on the best lines; the property is well watered; there is abundant shelter, and in a few years Alford should be the model farm contemplated by its pioneer manager,

June I. May 31. 1938. 1939. Wether?— s. s. s. s. Ex. prime heavy to 37.{ to 274 Prime heavy Prime medium - 274 to 31 23 J to 254 weight 231 to 27 214 to 23 Ordinary 201 to 23 17 to 20 Light Ewes— to 20 to 104 Ex. prime heavy to 27 to 23 : | Prime heavy Prime mediurn20 to 224 18 to 204 weight 1G.1 to 19 14 to 174 Ordinary 14 to 16 10 to 134 Light .. to 131 to 94

£ £ £ £ Steers— Ex. prime heavy Jo 16,1 to 17 1 . Prime heavy 12-1 to 141 13 to 14.' Prime mediumweight 111 to 127 11 (o 12.1 Orrthiarv y to 1IU 9 to 101 Liuht to «3 to 81 I-IcilctK — Ex. prime to 11 9 to 13.1 10.1 Prime 7] to !),i to Medium to n G to Light to 6 to 5;i Cows--1U Ex. prime to 101 to Prime 7 to B3 7.1 to 8 Medium 5 to 61 5 to 61 Light to 41 to 4.1

Class I—Ewe Carcase and Hoggets Type and cvenTl. tution. Wnol. ness. R. F. White 37 3(3 18 01 T. D. Jarman ‘! 36 37 10 89 G. H. Grip;; .. 35 30 10 87 Six entries. Class II —Two-tooth Ewes T D. Jai'innn .. 30 37 18 01 R F. While .. 35 35 10 80 T. F. Hip lit .. 33 30 15 84 Six entries. Class 111—Ewes, Four-tooth ami Over T D Jarman . 30 35 IB 80 G, H. Gripp 34 35 10 85 T. F. Hi phi 32 33 14 79 Three entries. Possible points 40 40 20 100 Challenge Cup tor Most Points T. D. Jarman i F. While 2