GENERAL FARMING NEWS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 87, 5 January 1918, Page 11

GENERAL FARMING NEWS

Some idoa of tho prices ruling for fat cattle in Australia may be gathered from the last sale at the Flemington yards before Christmas. Prime light and medium weights wore well supplied, while heavy bullocks were only sparingly represented. Inferior grades were conspicuous by their absence. The markot for the greater part of tho day was brisk, and prices ruled fully equal to late rates. In the closing sales, however, as buyers' requirements became satisfied, competition was dull, and values ruled lower. There were 40 cows more yarded than last week, but the quality in this section was not. up to that of bullocks. Prime grades were only lightly supplied in comparison, although there was a fair yarding of useful quality grades. The market, like that for bullocks, mlect at last week's rates until the ckse, when competition weakened and values eased. For good and prime mediumweight bullocks, sinking offal, prices ranged from 645. to 575. 6cl, and lightweights to 60s. per 10001b., according to quality; and for heavy bullocus, sinking .offal, from 50s. to 635. For good and prime cows and heifers, sinking offal, prices ranged from 555. _to 595.; and useful quality cows, sinking offal, from 50s. to 545. per 10001b. Quotations:—Best pens of bullocks, £23 to £26 2s. 6d.; extra, to £27 U. Gd.; odd bullocks, to £80 12s. Gd.; good pens "of bullocks, £20 10s. to £22 10s.; good light and handy weights, £18 10s. to £20 2s. Gd.; second and-inferior, to £18: best cows, £17 10s. to £20; extra, to £21 155.; good cows, £15 to £17; seconds, £11 to £14; inferior cows, from £G 15s.

"There is room there for thousands of families," remarked a Gisborne man who recently returned from his visit to the East Coast to a Gisborne reporter. He wont on to Bay that he was favourably impressed with' what ho saw up there, but thought that it would bo far bettor for the Natives wero their largo blocks of land cut up and leased to pakeha settlers. Under present conditions they wore doing no good for themselves. Tho Government has purchased tlio I following properties in Ashburton for I settlement by returned soldiers:—From Aahton Bros., 1100 acres; from S. | Bruce, 1160 acres; and from P. Buckley, 1000 acres.

Messrs. 11. and J. Roid, tho English Leicester breeders, recently shipped, through Dalgcty and Co., tho winning hogget ram, in wool, at the Christchurch A. and P. Show. The purchaser is a New South Wales breeder, and tho price, was in the. close vicinity of lOOgns.

Several parts of Southland aio at present simply swarming with rabbits (states the iUntaura. "Ensign"). • On several portions of tho road from Invorcargill to Dacro rabbits wore to bo seen on Sunday afternoon in hundreds, and tho samo state of affairs is reported from other parts of tho province.

According to tho Waimato "Advertiser," the- crops need sunny weatherparticularly tho wheat. Cutting is going Oil in sonio placos, hut harvesting will not ho general in South Canterbury for a fortnight or throo weeks. The strawberry crop has been rather disappointing, the fruiting season being much briefer than expected.

Tho roller is a most useful implement on certain classes of land in assisting to break tip clods and matted roots' caused by dry weather suddenly following heavy rain. lit such cases rollins; may bo dono ceaselessly, and can hardly ho o'vordono so long as the desired fineness has not been reached. Of course, when striving in this way lor a fino tilth harrows and cultivator should bo kept at work to second tho effects of tho rolling. The increase in tho number of pigs which can bo maintained on pasture as compared with the number which can bo kept in sties on an equal quantity of food is rather over 30 per cent. This figure is based on the results of a considerable amount of practical experience, which tends to show that a pig fed in a sty requires an additional quantity, of at least 2001b. of barleymeal to attain an equal .weight to a pie running on grass. Th'ero is no doubt hut that straw pays a great part in the aeration and draining of land, as well, as keeping up tho supply of humus, which it does in oommon with all organic matter.