THE WEEK

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23493, 22 November 1941, Page 6

THE WEEK

THE SEASON The province has been undergoing one of the most continuous bouts of hot, drying nor’-westers for years. Strangely enough, at the same time, some of the hill country has been passing through practically winter conditions. This week, as an instance, the ranges and hills fronting Malvern county had an exceptionally heavy visitation, for so late as November. The hills in the more northern parts of the province escaped the recent visitation, but they had their bad turn in August, when the snowstorms took a heavy toll of flocks. As lambing is now well on in the hillg a better idea of the August losses can be obtained, and there is no evidence to suggest that the previously estimated losses on the high country in North Canterbury were exaggerated. On some of the higher stations estimates of 30 per cent, of the ewes to nearly 50 per cent, have been reported. Since August, moreover, the snowclad ranges created intensely cold conditions, with slow growth of feed. The intensity of the nor’-westers on the plains is having a steadying effect on the growth of feed, but now that it is hardening, it will be an advantage in topping-off early lambs. This is all to the good in view of the season opening next Tuesday, a fortnight earlier than usual. The luxuriant growth of fattening feeds, such as subterranean clover, will bring many fatteners into the circle of early fat lamb suppliers, instead of, as in normal years, late January contributors. In view of this, and the penalty on heavyweight lambs, and also the effect the drying weather may have on feed later on, the decision of the freezing companies to open earlier will be generally welcomed. The earlier date will also assist the compunies to clarifv the position in regard to labour. This is rarely very clear in ordinary times, but with the war the difficulties may be intensified. The probability is that many less ewe lambs will be slaughtered in Canterbury this season on account of the winter losses, and the encouragement of lighter weights may substantially affect the lamb tonnage from the province this season. LIME NEEDS An idea prevails in some quarters that the need of lime on light land in Canterbury is a comparatively recent discovery. This is far from the case. Thq need was established more than 20 years ago, and was strongly suspected even before then, as articles in “The Press” at the time indicated. Occasional reference has been made in these columns to a survey of the soils of Canterbury and North Otago carried out in 1919 and 1920 to ascertain the lime requirements of the area. The survey was undertaken by the Christchurch Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, and it revealed an astounding lime deficiency in the great bulk of the soils. Both topsoil and subsoil samples were taken, on light, medium, and heavy lands, extending from Parnassus in the north to Herbert, North Otago, in the south. Some of these samples were secured adjacent to high-grade limestone deposits on the hillsides, only a few hundred yards away in cases. The acidity revealed in these particular cases emphasises what has been maintained by experienced lime men, i.e., that limestone deposits have little bearing on the acidity or otherwise of the adjacent soils where leaching has been in progress for years. For some reason this valuable contribution on the lime requirements of Canterbury soils has not been preserved in its entirety, a laxity or carelessness that has been largely responsible for the slow wake up of Canterbury to the value of lime. Some of the analyses were preserved privately, however.' 'The fragmentary list shows such a variety of lime-lacking soils that they are-still most informative. A number of results are published below. In the survey, both topsoil, and subsoil were taken and the lime determinations were made according to the Hutchinson MacLennan (Rothamsi._d) method. All topsoil samples showed a lime requirement ranging from 15cwt carbonate of lime an acre at Totara, near Oamaru, to five tons at Cust Downs, and in Ashburton county, near the bridge over the Rangitata river at Geraldine. All subsoil samples showed a lime requirement very similar to that of the topsoil except at Totara, and on the limestone country at Waikari where the subsoil did not show any necessity for lime, although the topsoil showed a requirement of 2.7 tons an acre. Results (topsoil only): An acre Spotswood Downs, near main road 3.2 Domett, road to sea (Patons) .. 3.0 Motunau (Acton Adams) .. 2.7 Waiau Downs road to Sherwood 3.5 Hawarden Downs .. 2.8 Waikari (Weka Pass) (Bethell) .. 2.7 Glasnevin, east of railway .. 2.5 Amberley (Broomfield) .. 3.0 Sefton, west of railway .. ..3.7 Cust (flat 3.3) Downs .. ..5.0 Oxford East .. .. .. 3.2 Sheffield 2.7 Hororata Downs .. .. 3.0 to 3.5 Rolleston (west of railway) .. 2.5 Dunsandel (east of railway) .. 2.7 Rakaia (south of railway station) 2.5 Sherwood (on Methven line) .. 3,2 Highbank .. .. ; • 2.5 Methven Gorge .. .. • ■ 1-2 Chertsey .. •. 2.5 to 3.0 Mount Somers (east of r. station) 2.7 Maronan .. .. 4.7 to 5.0 Ealing .. .. .. 3.0 South Canterbury, from 1.25 at Pareora flat to three tons at Fairlie and 3.5 at Waimate Downs; North Otago from 15cwt at Totara to four Herbert. CITY MILK PRICES Suppliers of milk to the city , have brothers in misfortune elsewhere. The low price of milk supplied through the Sydney Metropolitan Milk Board has raised long-standing and vigorous protests from suppliers. Very much as in Christchurch, of all New Zealand cities, the low price of milk is associated with a demand from the authorities for the very highest standard of milk. In Sydney the producers claim that they vend such a supply, and those who know what they are talking about are definite that this is also the case in Christchurch. As a matter of fact there is a smaller proportion of tubercular infected cows in New Zealand than in any country of dairy importance in the world. Figures that have been available on rare occasions prove this. The chief fault in this city is that a small proportion of suppliers offend in the matter of the condition of their dairies. This has nothing to do with the health of the cow or the standard of the milk she produces. However, if the Sydney complaints have any justification from a price point of view, what can be said of the Christchurch rates? Summer milk here is selling at 8d a gallon, and according to a report in the Sydney papers of three weeks ago the secretary of the Producers’ Association said that “If suppliers are to escape ruin it is imperative that the price be raised immediately from Is to Is 4d a gallon." The speaker went on to say that there had been no increase in the price of milk to the consumer for nine years, but during that period the basic wage had risen by 19s, and in many cases there had been a special war Ipading for industrial workers to meet rising

costs of household essentials. Yet the dairy farmer is still forced by Government ukase to supply the city with milk at a price which, even nine years ago, gave the narrowest margin of profit. The Milk Board—a- Govern-ment-created organisation—inquired long ago into the position, and recommended a price of Is 4d, but the then existing Government turned the proposal down and the next one did nothing. The Sydney complaints should indicate to our local critics just where they should start in rectifying the milk position. The first essential is to give the dairyman a living wage, and when that is done they can wield the broad axe in the matter of improving the condition of dairies. To change the order round would mean forcing the hardestworking section of the community into deeper financial trouble than it is in at present. When these two matters are attended to in their proper order then the critics could investigate the health of the cows. They would probably be surprised at the freedom from disease that such an investigation would reveal White oats represent 54.2 per cent, of the total area sown, or estimated to be sown, for the next harvest, as against 51 per cent, last season. Algerian has declined from 32.9 per cent, to 30.9 per cent