THE WEEK

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26117, 20 May 1950, Page 5

THE WEEK

ROLLING AFTER GRASS GRUB DAMAGE •

The Ashburton sub-station of the Entomological Research Station, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, have carried out as part of their investigations on the control of the grass grub a series of experiments to find ou t the most economical and effective means of retaining pastures that have been damaged by the grub. Many farmers possess heavy rollers (of from 6 to 12 tons) for preparing stony ground before using headers, mowers, etc - T hese are suitable for improving grub-damaged pastures, and they should be used from June to the end of August to achieve maximum success. At this time the grubs are very near the soil surface, they are approaching the fully-fed state after which injury to roots decreases, and there is then adequate soil moisture for consolidation of injured pasture and compaction of soil. Furthermore, root growth takes place readily during this period because of the moisture, although on the surface the pasture shows no noticeable growth. Stock should be left off rolled pastures for three weeks after rolling otherwise they will tend to pull up tufts of grass before the injured plants have rerooted. If rolling is carried out much earlier than June, the new roots on the plant are likely to be destroyed by the grubs, many of which are then actively feeding. If rolling is carried out after August, when dry months occur in many parts of New Zealand, the soil becomes hard and. the injured pasttire dries up and is blown away. Very few grubs are injured by rolling, but if the soil is compacted during the period when few grubs are actively feeding new roots grown from the plant will become established. It has also been shown that irrigation does not drown grass grubs except in depressions where water lies for more than/12 hours.

WORMS IN LAMBS

The weather this autumn has been very favourable to the development of parasite trouble in lambs and some quite heavy losses have occurred, says, a report from the Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture. Apart from actual deaths many lambs have shown symptoms of scouring and loss of condition. In seasons like this drenching with , phenothiazine should be started within three weeks after the onset of wet weather. It is wise to drench before symptoms appear as once lambs are affected they go off their feed and may be difficult to get right again even with drenching. A point worth stressing is that phenothiazine in the usual doses may not be very effective against the type of worm causing the trouble at present. Where signs of worm trouble are present doses of from 25 to 30 grams (five to six tablets) should be given to 10-month-old weaners weighing from 50 to 601 b. This dose will remove from 80 to 90 per cent, of the worms. When drenching purely as a precaution 20 grams should be sufficient. Where scouring is present the dose should be repeated in a fortnight and rotational grazing practised where possible. In the last few weeks deaths following injuries caused by drenching guns have come to my notice on four farms, there being a total of 90 deaths, writes Mr A. G. Brash, veterinarian to the Department of Agriculture, Christchurch. In each case the injury was at the back of the throat and was caused by pushing the nozzle too far in. In one case injury was caused by the gun used for giving tablets. Even with- the rubber tip lambs usually roll up under the throat and die witha fortnight. The possibility of injury should not be taken lightly as in all these cases the drenching was done by experienced farmers who had not previously had trouble. The danger is greater in small lambs and as short a nozzle as possible should be used.

a SQUEEZE FROM BRINDLE

The Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Friesian Association, which is by a comfortable margin the largest in New Zealand, has arranged a special programme for its annual meeting this centennial year. Visitors will be given a reception in the National Club rooms on the evening of June 7, the day before the annual meeting, June 8. On the following day, Friday, June 9, a bus trip has been arranged for visitors and their wives. The secretary, who beside the onerous duties of that office farms a Friesian herd, may have some questions to answer from less broadminded members. In his breezy circular setting out the programme he says that to finance the entertainment side of the proceedings will require another squeeze from “Brindle.” HIGH SHEEPSKIN PRICES The Christchurch wool brokers held their monthly sheepskin sale on Thursday, and record prices were secured, the top being for Merino at 45d, an advance of 7d per lb on previous sales. The range of prices as below, giving value at per lb, and equivalent per skin: —

MEAT EXPORT SCHEDULE The export schedule which will come into operation on May 22 for Canterbury, Marlborough. Otago, and Southland works is as follows:

Quarter beef prices per 1001 b are as follows: Ox.—G.A.Q.. to 7201 b. 575; over 7201 b. 545; F.A.Q, 495. Heifer.—G.A.Q., to 7201 b, 565; over 7201 b. 535; F.A.Q., 48s. Cow.—All weights. 47s 6d. Boner beef. —345. Shorn lamb deductions (pence per lb carcase weight) are as follow:

Per lb. A Skin. t TJ - c;t£ co <y ■oS A Q-o Sot d. d. s. d. s. d. Pelts 19 to 29? 3 7 to 7 6 Quarter wools 30? to 36? 7 6 to 15 0 Half wools, halfbred 34? to 40 19 5 to 23 4 Half wools. crossbred .. 35? to 40 19 5 to 23 4 Three-quarter wools, halfbred 38? to 42? 22 6 to 28 6 Three-quarter wools, crossbred 36? to 42 27 4 to 31 6 Full wools, halfbred 38? to 43? 31 10 to 36 3 Full wools. crossbred 36? to 42? 30 7 to 35 0 Hoggets 37 to 42? 21 7 to 24 7 Lambs 37 to 41? 12 4 to 15 10 •

Lambs Class. Weights. d. Prime .. 20/36 16J .. 37/42 16 .. 43/50 154 Seconds . .. 51/56 15 . .. 20/36 15i .. 37/42 15i .. 43/50 Wethers 144 Prime .. U/48 Hi .. 48/65 102 .. 65/90 as for 641b equal to 58s. Seconds . . .. U/64 lOg 65/72 as for 641b equal to 55s 4d. Ewes Prime . .. U/48 88 . .. 49/64 8g 65/90 as for 641b. equal to 44s 8d.

d. Up to Jib .. 4J i to jib .. 4 j to lib .. 3} 1 to Ulb .. 31 U to Hlb .. 3J li to Ijlb .. 3 1| to 21b .. 2j 2 to 2|lb .. 2J 2J to 2ilb .. 21 21, to 291b .. 1J 23 to 31b .. lj 3 to 3jlb X