FARMING & COMMERCIAL CITY MARKETS LOSS OF FERTILITY LIVE STOCK SALES. PAHIATUA SHOW GENERAL NOTES MANUFACTURE OF RENNET WOODVILLE SHOW COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2669, 15 January 1916, Page 8

FARMING & COMMERCIAL

CITY MARKETS

LOSS OF FERTILITY

LIVE STOCK SALES.

PAHIATUA SHOW

GENERAL NOTES

MANUFACTURE OF RENNET

WOODVILLE SHOW

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

-Thefaocal fruit season, especially _wh"ere stono fruit is concerned, :is now in full swing, importations being limited solely to small consignments of Australian •pineapples. Reports from the north point to rather fight crops of practically all stone fruits and from fair to heavy crops of apples and pears. ; During the past week very regular and heavy con-; signments of both peaches and plums Stare .been arriving; butnow show a tendency to cease, values showing accordingly. Vegetables are in exceptionally goo'l demand for this tinie of the year. •Potatoes are in heavier supply than for some time past, values being decidedly ; easier. Onions are unchanged, 1 and the same remark applies to fresh eggs. : Yesterday's approximate values were: 'American oranges, large cases 17s. 6d., small cases 12s. 6d.; American lemons, largo cases, 155.; American apples, 155.; ..pineapples, 45., Bs. 6d., according to sample; dessert peaches, choice'ss., 65., •half-case, A grade 45., 55., B grade 35., ;Bs. 6d_; cooking 'varieties,- 35., 3s. 9d. Vlialf-case. Pears —William Bon Chretien, 'Bs. Gd., 4s. half-case; Jargonelle, 2s. 6d., 3s. 3d. half Apples—Beauty 'or (•Bath, 2s. Gd., 35.: half-case; Quarren■den, 35., 3s. 6d. half-case; Red Astrachan, 65., 7s. case; Gravanstein, 55., 7s. lease; . cookers, 55., ,ss. • 6a. 1 case. iTciniatoos, (choice hot-house), Bd., 10d.. 'lb.; B grade, 3d., 6d. lb. (outside-grown /according to colour), 6s. 6d., : 6s. 9d. vJialf-case. Grapes, Is. 2d., Is. 6d. lb. •Plums —Dark dessert varieties, 3s. 6d., t4s. 6d. half-case; Bui-bank's Choice, 4s. 6'd., ss. 6d. half-caso;'A grade, 35., 3s. 9d.; B grado, 25., 2s. 6t1.; Ogan,-25., 2s. 6d. Damsons, 3s. 3s. 6d.. Black currants, 7s. 6d., Bs. half-case:.' Apricots— l-.Cboice--]arge dessert, 55.,; 6s. half-case; 'A grade, 4s. 6d;, 55.; B grade, 35., 3s. ■ 9d. Bananas, Bs., 10s. case. Passion ! fruit, 55., 6s. quarter-case. Raspberries, 6s: OcL, 7s. 6d. bucket. Strawberries, •Is. 3d., Is. Bd. lb. Rock melons, 6s. 6d., 7s. bushel. .Vegetables—Cabbages, Bs., 10s. 6d. sack; cauliflower, 95., 12s. sack; carrots, 6s:, 7s. 6d. sack; parsnips, 75., Bs. sack; beetroot, 45., ss. sack; white turnips, >4s. 6d., ss. 6d. sack; swedes, 55., ss. 6d. civt.; vegetable marrows,. 55., 6s. 6d. case; green peas, 125., 18s. sack; 'French beans, 3d., 3}d. lb.; lettuce, -35., os. 6d. case; spinach, Is. 6d., 2s. 6d. case; cucumbers, 25., 3s. dozen; rhubarb, 45., 6s. dozen. . Potatoes—New choice grades, 95., lis. civt.; others, 6s. 9d., Bs.' cwE.; seconds,. 25., . 3s. pwt.; onions, £6 10s., £7 10s. ton; fresh (Pggs, Is. 4d. ,

By Telegraph—Press Association. ;:. • Pahiatua, January 14. The Tararua: Dairy Company' has decided to communicate witli Mr. Cuddie, Chief Dairy Commissioner, respecting ;sie.'making of rennet in the Dominion, aiid the 1 urgency of taking immediate •.action, to formulate a scheme whereby suppliers, may bo encouraged to savo their icalves' internals next: spring.. Tho 'danger of an : early shortage or ronnet is fully realised by :tlie directors in view of-tho fact that Central. Europe and Poland .m ■ particular, where the raw material' was extensively; produced, are Seriously affected by the. war.

■ Tlio'.Woodvillo Show,which is to be held on tho splendidly ■: appointed racecourse on-Wednesday '26, proihisos to bo a- huge success. Entries are • reported to be coming in freely, aud the gathering is- expected to result in a handsome sum being realised for the ■Wounded Soldiers' Fund.i The Ladies' ■ Patriotic Committee; who cheerfully un- . dertook the catering, in order to de- ' '.Vote the proceeds to patriotic purposes, ' are receiving: liberal promises of foodstuffs and considerable money donations, most of which are quite unsolicited. Few need" to bo asked, and no one is asked v, in vain. "Woodville, like -the rest of tho'Dominion, is auxious to do ; its bit" for "our boys."

NEWS AND NOTES.

We have, been so long accustomed to good crops from the virgin soil of "this new country, states the "Wairarapa Daily Times," that some are slow to realise tho fact that continuous cropping, dairying, and raising sheep and cattlo is steadily depleting out land of its fertilising constituents. This fact, however is- forcing itself surely, on our graziers; crop growers on tho lighter lands of the north are well awaro of it, for many of them are turning their attention to the renewal of their pastures How many sheep farmers aie aware ot the amount of potash they send away in their wool every year. Lot me givo an' example of tho quantity. A man has, say, 1000 sheep, the clip from which is the very modest one of 51d., a total of 50001b'.; and it is a fact that in that amount he sends away in a favourable season, when tho yolk is well up; not loss than 2001b. of pure potash. Sending such • a quantity away every year, it would not be long before the land would lie seriously depleted' of such a valuable constituent, and as a result the wool would deteriorate materially in quality, for a.'deficiency of potash means poorer and inore brittle fibre, to the abgenco of yolk.. In grass lands which are: deficient in potash the plants absorb a large percentage of silica in their endeavour to get a sufficiency of the former, and innutritious herbage, which has little feeding value, and is not relished by the stock. No application of phosphatic and nitrogenous manures, however heavily applied, can make up for the deficiency of potash; so also no application of the latter can compensate for a deficiency of either or both of the former. The necessity, therefore, of using a well-balanced manure is apparent.

The Pahiatua Show, to be held on Friday, February 11, gives evidence of being a big success. Entries are stated to be coming to hand very freely, _ and tlio prospects of tho association's seventh annual fixture are considered particularly bright. The Ram Fair "will be held on the day following the shoiv, Saturday, February 12. Entries for the Show and Ram Fair close, on January 26.. The Horticultural and Industrial Show will take place on March 7 and 8 next. Prize schedules and tho fullest information -will bo supplied oh application to the secretary, Mr. J. A. Walsh.

. This district is almost entirely free from disease of stock,: states the Feildijig "Star." Dairy herds, which a few •years ago were seriously menaced with mammitis, are now clear of the disease, and it is very seldom any other trouble the cows'. Sheep may be said to be entirely free from any disease. Pigs are not so fortunate, though there is, no sign of any epidemic.. "It is the breeder of ewes for the raiser of lambs who is making. all the imoney," stated a farmer to a Feilding "Star" reporter. Store sheep are fetching. higher prices than fats in some cases at sales in the district. As the season advances, the demand for breeding ewes will more than likely increase, with a-rise in price as a natural consequcnce. The fat lamb raiser has to pay such a high price for his ewes that he does not make a great deal out of tho big'fignrei'offered for fats. .; . '"Crops' iii tlie Studholme district are, considering the dry season, looking remarkably well, reports the Timaru "Herald." Several paddocks of oats are already , cut, and harvesting operations should be general in about a fortnight's time." . ' The exports of butter and cheese from • Taranaki will exceed over a million pounds in value: when the quantities now on. liaud have left'the Dominion, states the "Taranaki Daily News." There has been a, difficulty lately in securing sufficient space on Home liners to take all the produce offering in Taranaki, and some of the returns employed to bring the total beyond the £1,000,000 mark represent.shi'pments arranged,-but which will not leave the Dominion until within the next week or two. When these shipments have gone the exports can be approximately valued at £1,103,099 10s. The high figures are due to the splendid prices being realised on the Home market. ■ Recently (says the Wyndham "Herald") wo referred to the excellent crop prospects on the Mimihau Ridges. In a brief chat ; with Mr. T. W. Foster, who has'an-exceptionally fine field of turnips, lie stated that he had never before seen brairds of turbos so uniformly good as they are-this season: There is not a failure to be seen anywhere. That is a. great prospect for

Southland when compared with the northorn, districts of Otago, Canterbury, and all the dry areas, too common this season in New Zealand. Mr. .Cliarles Mnir has notably good crops, and Mr. David Caldwell's oats were too good. So high were they that they wont down. In further reply to Mr. J. C. Thomson, M.P., who asked that 200 acres of bush at South Rirorton be acquired as a sgenic reserve, the Minister of Lands (reports the "Southland Times") lias written stating that the proposition lias been carefully inquired into, and it appeared that the reservation of tho bush would no doubt bo a valuable asset to tho borough in years to come, but as tlio Borough Council intimated that it could not assist financially in acquiring tho land, and as £600 had already been spent in acquiring areas of bush along the Pourakino River, ho regretted he could not see his way at the preesnt juncture of affairs to take any further action towards acquiring the land in question at an estimated cost of about £700-■

Messrs. Dalgety end Company, Ltd., Wellington, report having held their first saJe of the New Year in their Upper JLntt yards on Thursday, when they offered a fair entry of sheep and a large entry of cattle. Bidding lor all classes of stock offered -was very brisk, and they report practically a total clearance under tho iia-mmer at satisfactory prices as follow:— F.m. ewes, 13s. 6d., 13s. lid., to 16s. 9d.; lambs, 14s. 6d.j three-year steers, £8 10s., £5 lis.; two-year steers, £4 145., £5 10s.; yearling to eighteen-month steers, £2 6a.: store cows, £5, £5 55., £6 2s. 6d.: fat and forward cows, £7, £7.105., £7 19a., £9 12s. 6d., to £11; fat heifers,' £5 13s. to £6 13s. s vealers, to £2; cows and • calves, £5 ss. t fifteen-month heifers, £3 2s. 6d.; two-year heifers, to £f>; eighteen-month bulls, to £2 3s. * „ , Hwsrs. Dalgety and Company, Ltd., Pal' •merston North, report having a medium entry of stock at their Palmerston North sale on' Thursday, which sold as Black-face lambs," 155.; fifteen-months heifers, to £3 95.; empty cows, to £6 55.; two-year empty heifers, to £4 2s. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company reports:—At Palmerston North on Thursday we had a fair, yarding, which sold, at late rates:—Small weaners, 17s. to 255.; small yearling steer 3, £2 17s. 6d.; eighteen-month heifers, £3 14s. t agod cows, £2 10s. to £3 10s.; store cows, £4 15s. to '£5;- forward cows, £6, £6 12e. 6d., £6 :l7sJ'6d., to £7; fat cows, £8 10s. to £11; cows in milk, £5 55.; bulls, £5, £9. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report that at their opening sale for the New Year at Levin yards on Wednesday, they offered a good yarding of cattle. Competition was good, and' they report a good, clearance at the following prices:—Light fat cows, £6 10s. to. £8 95.; fat heifere, £8; two and a, half* year 'steers, £8 155.; yearling steers, £4 55.; store cows, £4 6s. ; : eighteen-months .heifers, £2 165.; weaner heifers, 205.; ivcaner steers, 235.; bull, £6\ 6tore pigs, 15s. to 235. 6d.; fat porkers. 27b. to o4s. 6d. The Ne\r SValand Loan and Mercantile 'Agency Co!, Ltd., report:—At Alfredton on •Thursday there was a large yarding of both sheep and cattle. Competition for all classes was keen throughout the sale. Our principal sales were: On account of Hr. O. X). Guild, 130 two-tooth wethers, 235. Id.; 25 fat ewes, 225. Id.; on account of Mr. Chas. Cross, 40 forward store cows, £8 3e.; and backward do., £5 ss. Mepsrs. Abraham and "Williams, Ltd., report having held a very successful clearing sale of 6lieep on account of Messrs. S. and H. Bryant at Jolineonville on Thursday last. Thejre -was a keen demand for every pen of, sheep at the following prices: —Four-tooth ewes, 24s.two-tooth owes, 21s. 10d.; six-tooth ewes, 20s. Bd.; four-year ewee, 20s. 2d.; small two-tooth ewes, 18s.; cull ewes, 125.; four-tooth wethers,'23s. Id.; ! two-tooth wethers, IBs. 9d.; wether lambs, 1 lis. 6d.; smallT.7s. 5d.; ewe lambs,• 12s. 2d.; small, Bs. 3d. to 106. 3d. Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co., Ltd., report having held a most successiUi sale of sheep and cattle at str. M. J. M*Gregor's Yards jat Hikorangin Te TFliarau, on Thursday, when they offered, as advertised, an exceptionally good yarding of 3870 sheep and 380 cattle. Competition was very keen, and record prices were realised. As Te Wharau district st-ock is well known for being of sound .constitution, hence the competition. The following. is a list of prices:—On account Mr. M. J. M'Uregor: Four-tooth wethers, 245. 6d.; two-tooth wethers, 215.; four-year-old ewes, 245. 3d.; four and five-year-old ewes, 255.; five-year-old ewes, 205.; small twotooth wethers, IBs. ICd.; small shorn lambs, 9s. Bd. On account other vendors: ' Twotooth wethers, 18s. 3d., 205., to 245. (for a good line); two-tooth f.m. ewes, 235. 4d.; .woolly lambs, 125., 12s. 6d.; small. Bs. 6d. On account Mr. M. J. M'Gregor: Eighteen.months Polled Angus-cross steers, £6 lfo.; yearling steers, £4 135.; yearling Polled Angus-cross lieifers, £4 25.; fat cows, £10; cows and calves, £5 2s. On account other vendors: Three-year steer 6, £12 to £12 75.; three and four-year steers (backward condition), £1113s:; two and a half-year steers, £9 3s. 6d. to £9 Bs.; fat forward cows, £9 16s. 6d. to £9 95.; store cowe, £6. 1 " SOUTHERN MARKETS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Chrlstchurch, January 14. lhe wheat market is still quiet, and the tone easier. A sale at ss. 7d. and another at ss. sd. at country stations are reported. Auckland • millers have im]>orted wheat from Australia, and offers of flour have been received locally from Melbourne at £11 10s., f.0.b., equivalent- to £13 10s. landed in New Zealand. This pri<e limits the value of wheat to at least ss. 6d. at country stations. . No rates for new oats are repoTtefl, growers' ideas of value being much above tho level of the market. It is reported that large quantities of Algerian oats have been purchased to- land at Auckland at a cost of 3s. Both in wheat and oats the Australian, market is likely to play an important part in fixing the value of the New Zealand-grown grain this season. Thetfe is little inquiry for chaff, and as the North Island and Blenheim will havo large supplies the demand for shipment this year from Canterbury will be- limited. Nominally the value of old oatsheaf chaff is about £5 10s., and new £5 .at country stations.. ' v Tho price of bran has advanced to £5, -id pollard to £9. The price of flour re» mains at £13, f.o.b.

INVESTMENT SHARES. In the investment market yesterday a sale of Wellington Gas (£lO paid) at £16 ■was reported. Tho quotations were as -under:— Buyers. •' Sellers. £ 8. d. £ ». d. National Bank 5 0 0 — Bk. N.Z. (£3 6s. Sd.l 10 3 0 - *Equitable Building ...... 9 10 0 — N.Z. and E. Plate 2 0 0 — Well. Invest. T. and A. ... — 011 0 *Well. Trust. Loan, Ltd. — 7 0 0 Napier Gas (£5) — 9 0 0 N.Z. Insurance ■ — . 6 6 0 S. British Insurance 4 15 0 — Wn. Meat Export (525. 6d.) 213 0 — N. 2. Shipping lord.) 18.0 0 Union Steam (ord.) 14 3 — Weil. Woollen (brd.) 5 0 0 — Well. Woollen (prcf.) 3 7 6 — N.Z. Drug 2 4 0 2 5 0 Customs duty collected at the port of ■ffcTlingUm yesterday amounted to £3750 Is. lid. • ■ ■ WELLINGTON . TRUST . AND LOAN. Tho balance-sheet o£ the Wellington Trust, Loan and . 'Investment Company, Ltd., for 1915, has been circulated. J'he directors iu their report state that the sum To {he credit of Erofit and loss on the year's working, together with tho amount of £2953 Is. brought forward from the previous year, amounts to £14,972 13s. 4(1., from which £5625 has been paid as an interim dividend. The directors recommcud that a further dividend of £5625 be declared on the paid-up capital for tho halfyear ended December 31, 1915 (making 9 per cent, for tho year), and that tho balance, amounting to £3722 13s. 4d„ be carried forward. Tho directors retiring by rotation aro Messrs. 0. H. Izard, J. P. Maxwell, and Dr. A. K. Newman, who, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election. The auditors, Messrs. 0. P. Powles and Jiyiest W. Hunt, offer themselves for Te-election.

FROZEN MEAT REPORT. Messrs, Gilbert Anderson and Co. (Mellsop, Eliott and Co., agents) report on the frozen meajb market, under date Loudon, November 19, as follows:— 4 Home-grown.—No appreciable abatement in supplies. Beef still plentiful, though slightly firmer, but cows cheap. English pigs are in evidence, and rather weaker. Frozen Mutton.—Nw Zealand ewes are being introduced into fresh channels owing to the absence of wethers, and are very firm. Frozen Lamb.—Considerable weakness is shown in view of temporarily abundant supplies of New Zealand, storage- space enters largely into the question, but the attempt to stimulate the demand by drastic lowering of prices at a time "when good trade is seldom expected may mean extreme prices when the trade picks up again in the spring. At Bristol, where tho Somerset and La Blanca liavo discharged part cargoes, prices rule 3-Bd. to id. below London, and medium "and heavyweights meet with an extremely bad de--1 rnand. Beef.—Although the weather is favourable, foTes are not selling well. Cow and I bull beef has recovered somewhat. Chilled beef has bean scarce and dear. Pork.—» States and Canadian -pork is plentiful, and fctchcs prices which show a loss to the c.i.f. buyer, most of tho meat having been sold on this basis. LONDON MARKETS. Mesirs. Dalgoty and Company, Ltd.. re*

prams from their London house, under datos of January 12 and' 13:— VTodl Sales—The dates set down for our brokers to sell are the 19th, 25th, and 29th January, and 4th February. Tallow.—Tho market at present is somewhat irregular. For prinio mutton the market has closed at 565. 6d. per cwt., and good mixed of well-known hrnnds lias ueon sold at 525. 3d. BANK OF ENGLAND RETURN. (Rec. January 14, 8.50 p.m.) London, January 13. The Bank of England, return issued for tlie week ended Wednesday, January 10; is as under: — Issue Department. Koto Issuo £69,168.000 Gov. debt ... £11,015,000 Other securities 7,431,000 Gold 51,010,000 £60,468,000 JE69.4e5.000 Banking Department. proprietors' Gov. sccuricapital £14,553.000 ties £32,639,000 Public de- Otlicr sccuriposits ... 63,553.000 ties 107,361,000 Other do- ... „ posits ••• 104,076,000 Ivotes 35,130,000 Post, 7-day and other bills ... 3,431,000 Com 583.000 £175,613,000 £175,6 3,000 The leading items of the Bank of England 'return afford tie following comparison: — This week Last week Lastyear £ £ £ Bullion ... ... 61.019.000 50.021.000 68.706,000 Kcservo ••• 35.413,000 31.358.000 62.636,000 Note Circulation 34.338.000 35,191,000 35,175,000 Public Deposits 53,553.000 58.157.0C0 44.833.000 Other Deposits 104,076.000 105.836,000 116,055,000 Proportion of reserve to liabilities 22.46 20.05 32.71 GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. The following are the latest quotations for Colonial Government securities in comparison with those ruling'last week:—

Variation , ■ compared stook Price. with • 1 last week. £ s. d. 25% Imperial Consols E0 0 0 32/6 higher 35 „ War Loan 89 10 0 2/6 lower 44,, War Loan 97 6 0 2/6 hiahor 4 N.S.W.IQ33Jan.-July ■95 0 0 Unchanged 3i ~N.5;W.1930-50Mr.-Sp 95 10 0 5s lower 35 hN-S-W- Early Curr 83 0 0 Unchanged 3 „N.B.W. 1925 Apl.-Oct 78 0 0 Unchanged 4 „Vic. 1920 Jan.-3uly 04 0 0 5s higher 35 „Vic. 1021-6 -Jan.-July 91 C 0 Unchanged 3 ~-yic. 1929-49 Jan.-July 76 0 0 Unchanged 34 „S.A. 1916 Jan.-July 65 6 0 Unchanged 3 „S.A. 1016 Jan.-July 70 10 0 Unchanged 4 „QTdl9ls-24 Jan.-July Dj 0 0 Unchanged 34 „Q'l'cil92-2-47Jan.-July 91 5 0 Unchanged 3 M C!'l'dl9'22-47Jan.-July 74 10 0 Unchanged 4 "N.Z. 19-29 May Nov. 05 1 3 Unchanged 35 "R.Z. 3912-40 Jan-Jly "83 5 0 Unchanged ■ !"N.Z. 1920April-Oct 76 0 0 Unchanged 35 '"W.A. iais-35iry-N'v 67 10 0 Unchanged 3 "W.A. 1915-35 M'y-Nov 62 0 0 Unchanged 35 "Tag 1920 Jan-July 65 5 0 Unchanged 3 "las iaifl-40 Jan-July 76 13 Unchanged MONEY MARKET. Tho Bank of England discount rate wa» on January 2, 1914, reduced from 5 to 4J ner cent., on January 22 it was reduced to 4 per cent., and on January 28 3 per cent. On July 30 the rate woe raised to 4 per cent., and on July 31 it was raised to B per cent., and on" August 1 it was further advanced to 10 per cent. On August 6 the raro -was reduced, to 6 per cent., on Aukubl 7 It was further reduced to 6 per cent., at which rate it now stands. The Bank of France rate is 6 per cantos against 4 -per cent, prior to the war, OFEN JIABKET RATE. The open market discount Kite for three month's' bills is 5£ per cent., as compared with.sJ por cent, last week, and 2J per cent, last year. Short loans are quoted, at 45. per cent., as against 45 per cent, last week, and 18 per cent, last year, BUTTER. The butter market is firm. Danish, 156b. to 160s. Colonial is selling well. Australian choicest salted, 1445. to 1465.; unsalted, 1565. to 1585.; New Zealand, salted, 150s. to 1545.: -unseated, lffls. to 1625.; Argentine, salted, 14Cs. to 1465.; unsalted, 1565. The exportation, of French butter has been resumed. ' 1 CHEESE. Tho ofleeße market is very firm. Canadian, 965. to lOOs.; Now Zealand, 955. to 975. " . BKEADSTUFFS. Wheat is firm and is being sparingly offered. Flour is steady. ■ Oats are quiet, ha Plata, January-Feb-ruary shipment, 355. 3d. Peas are firm and unchanged, and beans show a hardening tendency. iBRADFORD TOPS. The Bradford top market is very firm, and is hardening. The current quotations arc:—Sixty-fours, 43d.; super sixties, 42d.; common i sixties, 41d.; fifty-sixes, 39d.; fifties, 3Jd.; forty-sixes, 281 cl.; forties, 26d. SUGAR. Tho sugar market is firm and unchanged. THE METAL MARKETS. Copper.—On spot, £87 to £87 15s. per ton. Tin.—tin spot, £174 por ton; three months, £175 10s. Pig-iron—7Bs. 2d. per ton. Lead—Soft foreign, £29 ss. per ton; forI ward delivery, £28 15s.