NEW ZEALAND COMPETITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 940, 6 October 1910, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND COMPETITIONS.

THE ENGLISH MEAT BUSINESS.

. Evidently New Zealand ,aiid other competition in the British iueat markets is not accepted by , all tiier'farmers at Home as an' tmeriyied blessing. "Old Parmer" writes to.the "'Parmer,and.Stock-breeder," Londoii;. . rt "V:"' , :"S6nio years- back'- the price of mutton' was hijjb, and sheep were .then .the most profitable stock on several; large farms in various counties, which-'were in the occupation of my family'firm., . Good mutton and lamb.for the .table-are now as highly appreciated -as ever,;;but the.'.heaivy, importations, of. fairly good American beef and New Zealand .lamb, c.oritpe,te_ so severely, ivith-.Home-grown/mutton'ithat .for a long period -the iprice-,-'hasl. averaged . something like 20 percent reduction frffm the, abovenamed former times. - It-is highly probable' that' the!.-American imports, will not be;,'fuljy, maintained, i'but .whether or not, the.'question, for 'farmers is; Shall we maintain our' stock's; of sheep' in defiance of reduced prices? ;SliaU~we continue our breeding : flo'eks of.'-ewes ?;;, Shall;' we still winter the. ;lariibs , 6r;:hoggets;.oii swedes other., roots,;-arid sell the. mutton at twelve ' months; ol'd, ;: after taking'. ..off the wool' •'. ':''v v .'

. ."r. do .'not .hesitate to -answer all these quostion inHhe faffirmative.' If grain.is to be 'grown,' if .successful -.farming is to .be carried oh(:.-there must ;b'e . a full;. weight of live stock. . I. once .'had a stock-in-trade, of 'i!4500'-.on :ao3oo;acre. mixed or. per acre,;-but 'prices,'.''times, and circumstances"' :wCTe *then, ''.very .different, -to '.'the: -'pre'seiit.'-.':':Still': thiere'.must; be, "live . stock and I know of; nothing ! . that even now : can supersede -?tieep' on .many farms. The ewes are tjie scavengers;ofi the farm. They consiinie •many.'Vines,- : .ctc.,''that are more or less . robbers', of . r the!;,crops, and they "eat up':- the,, refuse—ofroots,' after the.'lambs liave had first picking. A. flbck;o'f.ewes''costs-: very little "on many :lar& ; ;the', grain-crops..:- -Anx ■.re'diictionu.of. sheep stock, would'. soori-?shoy.iiii' ',a;, ; to'risiderabte :deficient the a in.',wheat';;aiid :';.Tisnally' _ sold 1 for ■' ii '«'-*■ i ■>■■>' :■■■■ ■ ■'* * 1 v • .v 'i„ S" porting.-m'e'dt;to,'the';., would. coals 1 , announced;tKat ■: as vthe', result of negotiaitions' Canwd' out..:fetweeh:iVthe': mcnts'- pfl-y.icteiAaV and 'the. United States Victorian?, meat ;isto.;bel.' o^lmitted, to' tho last-named 'cbiintfy if "certified as good by the; Victorian inspectors; of: food for 'export: Copies /of the . certificates must' be. sent; to:,thevAmerican Consul . in-. Mel-; bourne,the.'jAgentGeneral -in London, •arid tho American.^inspector- in. London, and the. last-nairie'd:'. authority,' will then grant, a. certificate'dutlidrising. the shipment ;. of thelcbrisigimerit: to the ; United Stales.. ' - ■■ :