TOPICS OF THE WEEK

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28080, 22 September 1956, Page 9

TOPICS OF THE WEEK

BELLYCRUTCHING One lives and learns. Two years ago, on the advice of an old shearer, the manager of the Teel Forest Estate. Mr Bob Durant, belly-crutched the whole of his breeding flock in August, and this year he did the same. The idea was to have drier sheep for shearing. This and more was accomplished. Not only did the sheep dry better, but the absence of the belly wool made for quicker shearing—on a conservative estimate each shearer's daily tally was increased by at least 20 sheep. Then again, over the year far less wool was lost in the brush, it yielded a cleaner, brighter and dag-free sample, and the lambs had a better chance to suckle. Mr Durant is now completely “sold” on the idea. BULL WITHOUT PRICE At the Royal Show at Newcastle (England) recently, an American offer of 100,000 dollars was refused for a Hereford bull. Indeed, the owner said he would not take 200,000 dollars. The owner was Mr A. E. Jones ana the bull Penatok Crusader, Hereford Royal Champion in 1955 and winner then of this breed’s Bull of the Year title. According to the “Farmer and Stock-Breeder,” the offer (equal to about £35,000) was made at the Royal Show ringside by Mr Gene Watson, of Morris, Oklahoma, who farms 13,000 acres. This, he said, was the bull he had wanted to buy ever since the 1955 Royal Show. But Mr Jones evidently thought his bull, the realisation of his cattle breeding ambitions, almost beyond price. Mr Watson’s offer is higher than any price ever paid for an English animal. It equals the world dollar recoru from one buyer (excepting where part shares in bulls have been sold), also for a Hereford.

INSOLUBLE DYES FOR WOOL

Cold water dyeing with insoluble pigments may be the answer to colour “fastness,” according to the acting chairman of the Australian Wool Bureau. Mr W. A. Gunn, who said the other day that entirely new methods of dyeing could result from research work in its embryo stages at the Leeds University, London. Mr Gunn indicated that Leeds researcli workers had found that the addition of certain solvents to the dye batn so increased the uptake of aye that dyeing could be* done in a cold solution. The research had also shown that it was possible to dye wool witn coloured pigments which were insoluble in water if a solvent which would dissolve the pigments was dispersed in the water. “Much work remains to be done on the process, but this is a line of research which may lead to a revolution in wool dyeing,” said Mr Gunn.

THE MINISTER WAS ADAMANT There has been a considerable fuss in Britain over the dispossession order against Lady Garbett in the face of strong Conservative criticism against which, however, the Minister, Mr Heathcoat Amory, set a stern face. Under the law the Government has the right in pursuance of a vigorous agricultural- policy to dispossess as a last resort individuals who persistently fail to co-operate in producing food. In spite of Lady Garbett’s spirited denial of the allegations of poor farming, and the cable message to the authorities from her husband (Lord Garbett), then detained in South Africa at his diplomatic post, that he was “quite sure that Lady Garbett should not be evicted” the Minister remained adamant. THE ONLY WAY

How fortunate New Zealand is in her comparative immunity from serious outbreaks of deadly diseases amongst livestock is brought to mind by an item in a recent British farming publication. Recently more than 700 pedigree pigs in one of Suffolk’s bestknown Landrace herds were slaughtered as the result of an outbreak of Atrophic Rhinitis. The owner was one of the pioneer breeders of the Landrace breed in East Anglia. Not so long ago he sold two boars for 1400 and 1500 guineas respectively, the highest prices ever paid in Britain for individual pigs. The herd also had an outstanding record in the show ring. Showing how swiftly this disease strikes, the herd had a remarkably good health report and it was only within a few days before the disease was confirmed that there was any suspicion of trouble. DROUGHT-RESISTANT GRASS Scientists of the University of Tdxas are pursuing research aimed to develop . a drought-resistant rangeland grass able to grow in poor soil on limestone hills. A recent report on the work stated that the University’s plant research institute was making promising progress in the search ior new grasses and legumes specifically .adapted on south-western ranges. Plants of the side-oats grama—one of the important south-west forage grasses—show promise of producing a strain that will grow well all the year round. Development of a droughtresistant hairy grama with ability to grow in the poorer soils blanketing limestone hills is proceeding.

AS CUNNING AS CROWS Experiments with cyanide bullet guns to destroy dingoes in the eastern falls country of the Armidale district. New South Wales, are continuing, but it is reported that results have not been very satisfactory recently. In a period of 50 days up to the beginning of June 35 guns baited with brisket fat accounted for only two dingoes and one fox, although several other guns were exploded and stripped of their bait.

RUNNING INTO MONEY Because of a shortage of British breeds of sheep in New South Wales about 3600 have been imported from New Zealand in less than a year, according to Mr G. R. M. Smith, president of the New South Wales branch of the Australian Society of Breeders of British Sheep. Mr Smith said that most of the imports were flock sheep, but more than 600 studs had been brought into New South i Wales during the last six months.