FARMING & COMMERCIAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 300, 13 September 1921, Page 8

FARMING & COMMERCIAL

HEWS AMI NOT®

AUCTION SALES FOUTHCOMINC FIXTURES. TO-DAY Lavin Yards. 12 noon—Stock wile. TO-MORROW. Buckie Street, Well tnr ton, 10.30 R-.m.—R».le of military stores /Johnston and Co.). 157 La.mbtoii Quay. Wellinfrton, 10.30 a.m.— Furniture sale (Johnston and Co.). Upper llutt Yards, 1 p.m.—Stock sale. Fry’s Lane, I#ower Hutu 1.30 p.m.—Stock sale (H. E. Leighton). 137 Lamhton Quay, Wellington. 1.30 pm — Poultry sale /Hodgkins. Carver;. Johnsonville Yards, 2 p.m.—Stock Rale. SYDNEY WOOL SALES ALL-HOUND ADVANCE IN PLIGIN. (Rec. September 12, 9.20 p.m.) Sydney, September 12. At the woo] sales competition was keen. The rates for super merinos and fine crossbreds were 5 per cent, higher; medium sorts increased 10 per cent., and coarser grades advanced 5 to 10 per cent. —-Dress Assn.

FRUIT CROP PROSPECTS AN OFFICIAL DEVIEW. The Director of the Horticulture Division of the Department, of Agriculture has received the following reports from .his officers regarding orchard and marketing conditions at the end of August:— North Auckland. —Apples: Pruning about complete. Lemons: Crop harvested laverage). Nectarines: Pruning completed. Dears: Pruning nearly finished. Plums: Blossoms well forward. Plums (Japanese): Blossoming above the average. Strawberries: Good indications. Tomatoes: Indoor well forward. There is evidence that we are likely to have an early season. Almonds, plums, and peaches are blossoming profusely; given good spring weather a heavy setting should result. Tomatoes grown iinder glass are particularly free from disease so far this season. Spraying for the control of leaf curl is completed, and the early applications 'for the control of brown TOt are receiving attention.

South Auckland. —Weather conditions still very favourable for early spring. Pruning practically completed, and early spraying in full swing. Stone fruit showing good promise, also apples and pears. Tomatoes being planted freely. Glasshouse plants looking well. Strawberries showing quantity early bloom, due to mild season.

Waikato. —Quite a number of frosts have been experienced during the latter part of the month, and several hailstorms earlier. Most of the stone fruit is in bloom and shows great promise. Citrus Trees are looking well. Poverty Bay.—Apples: Fruit buds well matured for coming season; sap rising very early; good prospects; last season's crop well sold locally. Apricots: Gold showers threatening setting of early blossoms. 'Cherries: Fruit buds well pruned; prospects promising. Gooseberries; Bushes doing well suitable localities Lemons: Heavy crops: badly matured fruit been gathered; trees not. treated generously. Nectarines: Excellent show of blossoms coming forward. Oranges: Poor crops been realised. Peaches: Excellent show of blossom coming forward. Pears: Promising heavy crop; fruit buds well matured. Plums: Cherry plums have blossomed well. Very little frost during flowering period. Plums (Japanese). Heavy show of blossom. Raspberries: Little grown. Strawberries: Largely increased area, fins season; plants doing well. Tomatoes: Coming forward under glass free from disease. Hawke’s Bay.—The majority of the trees are in a first-class condition for a good crop. Stone fruits which have flowered have shown an abundance of bloom. The winter has been cold and dry, and though seasonable rains have fallen during the latter part of August the rainfall is well below normal, 9J inches only having been recorded since January 1, 1921. Manawatn and Wairarapa.—Apples: Slight bud movement; fruit eY cool store scarce; prices advancing. Apricots amt cherries: Showing pink. Gooseberries: Well forward. Lemons: Few grown. Nectarines: Early varieties in blossom, others showing pink. Peaches: Early varieties in blossom, others showing ’ pink. Pears: Early varieties, buds bursting, others well forward; frni( ex cool store on market ; prices high. Plums: Early varieties in blossom. Plums (Japanese): Almost in blossom. Raspberries: Slight bud movement. Strawberries: Pew grown. Tomatoes: Well forward; few on sale. V alnuts : Few grown. For the past fortnight warm, sunny days Have predominated. This weather condition has had a wonderful effect on the fruit trees as far as bud movement is concerned. Nearly all spine fruits are in blossom or at the advanced pink stage. Indications point to an early spring. Nelson. —Cherry plums are in full blossom; other stone fruits are just making a start. Orchards generally are looking well. The weather has been seasonable with a fair amount of rain.

Nelson Central.—Apples: Present indications are for heavy blooming. Apricots: Now in bloom, but not heavy. Peaches: Only grown for local use —lair blooming. Peal’s: Buds swelling well. Where good crops of W’inter Coles carried last year, light showing for this; others medium to good. Straw berries: Looking well; some now in blossom. Ploughing is well forward, and some orchards being disced. Spray pumps going on lime sulphur, very little oil spray being used this season. Heavier quantities of manure being applied, especially nitrate -of eoda. A few good crops of lupin have been turned under, but much of this has not developed well owing to the dry summer, a.nd in some cases to lack of fertiliser at time of sowing.

Motucka.—Apples: Promise heavy blossom. Apricots: Blossoming heavy. Cherries and poaches: Well forward. Dears': Promise heavy blossom. Plums: Heavy blossom. Tomatoes: Now season’s plants well forward under glass. Cold snap on •SOlii and 31st, with snow well down km low hills, may affect early varieties of fruit. Spraying operations well in hand. Growers seem intent on keeping, black spot and other well in check this season. Early spring conditions are iu evidence. Marlborough.—A day or so of rough weather, followed by burly sharp frosts, has put. a timely check on the too forward tendency of orchard growth. Sonia rail fell during the month, but in ilisitflicient quantity to be'of atty great benefit after such a dry season. Unless a muelt greater precipitation eventuates it is to be feared that those growers who fail to get a soil mulch established early and maintained throughout the earlier part of the season will have a heavy percentage of undesired fruit Io dispose of. not to mention the effects on the trees tlieuiselves. In several the green crop-la As yet not above ground, the owners apparently failing to appreciate (lie necessity for having this induced by the processes of decay to a state tn which the trees can utilise it ns a food and moisture reservoir by the Limo growlli continences. (Jn our lighter soils Ihe timely sowing and ploughing, under of the cover crop and its relation- to noil moisture as u. factor largely governing the growth of tho trees is :tM yet much under-estimated^especially in a elimtile hltving such a high evaporation anil low rainfall Pruning is now finished in nil but a few of the commercial orchards, and spring spraying is receiving attention. Poaches, nectarines and apricots are displaying a wealth of blossoms. Canterbury.—Pruning ia practically completed throughout tho district. Another ten days will see it through. Spraying is in full swing. I nnt glad Io report that many orchards and gardens previously neglected in thia respect are

I now receiving some attention. Apples ! and pears are being moved freely front 'cool storage on/to the markets. Gcncr- ' ally speaking, the condition o: the fruit iis pood. In most localities the stone fruits are in the pink stage. Jn sheltered localities they have been in bloom for a fortnight. ’['resent indications fracrops are good. Early peat's arc in the "open cluster’’ stage. South Canterbury.—Pruning in most orr-ha/ds well advanced. Spraying commenced. Few varieties plums and apricots now in blossom, and there is every evidence of a.n early season. At the present time sno-.v is low on the hills, and heavy frosts may yet be expected. DAIRY PRODUCE Messrs. Dalgety end Company. Ltd., j report having received the following I cablegram from their London house nn- ' dor date September 9:-— “Butter. —Danish . 2355. to 2445.: Government prices lower IRs. to 20s. Wo quote:—New Zealand, 2265. to 2285.; Australian, 1755. to 2065. No improvement in demand at the 'reduction, “Cheese. —Market still weak, but rather more inquiry. Now Zealand, coloured 110 s., white 1125.: Canadian, finest quality offering -0.i.f., l(19s."

COMMERCIAL ITEMS T NVESt' M ENT SH A RES. Ypptcrday’s Quotations for investment mTirtps were de follow:— Borers. Sellers 1 .

CUSTOMS KF VENUE. The Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington yesterday totalled £lO,OOB 15s. 4d.

LIVE STOCK SALES Messrs. A.bralmm and Williams. Ltd., report :—At Fcildine sain on Sent ember 9 a fair yarding of sheep came forward, including? an Rveraye number of fat sheep. All stock sold freely at le.te rate*. Them was. r. fair wardinr of deiry stock, end also some pood pens of station cattle Dairy stock iu usual met with a keen demand, but store cattle wore bard to quit. Wo quote:—Fat sheer: Wethers, plain. 12s. OH.: ewes. Ils. to 125.; lamb?. 10s. 10d. *to 12s. Ad.; fat two-toofhs, 13s. -3d. Store, sheen: Ewe boprets, 12s. 7d.: mixed hoppots. ss. Id. to 9«. 2d.; two and four-tooth wethers, 10s. Ad. to 11s. 3'l. Cattle: .Snrinpinp heifers. £8 10?.. £R. £lO. £ll. £l2. £l2 10s. £l7. £lfi fc to £25: sprinp inp cows. £l2, £l2 10s.. £;7, to £22; apod cows <n calf. £6 tn £7 10s.: store cows. 10s.. 155.. 205.. to 305.; station-bred store cows. £2 12s. Ad.? fat cows. £4 ss. to £5; crossbred yearlinp heifers, £2 to £3 ss.

Inscribed Stock. 1939 83 < d. S3 15 d. 0 Inscribed Stork. 1938 S3 7 6 85 15 0 Inscribed Stock. 1933 — 91 15 0 War Ronds. !W R5 15 0 War ’Ronds, 1956 - S3 7 6 War l«30 .... $S 0 0 War 1933 92. 0 0 P.O. ■Ronds. 1977 90 15 n P.O. Inscribed Stock, 1929 90 1.5 C' -— P.O. Inscribed Stock. 1927 90 15 0 — __ 9: io 0 National Rank 5 10 0 n 17. "Rank Nott South Wales — 35 0 ;» Bank Net? Zealand S 9 6 Union Bank 12 E 6 Gnldshrougb Mort 1 10 6 — Heritable Huildfnc Co. 6 17 6 Nations; "Mortcage — 5 11 p Well. Investment 0 9 f> f> o 0 Well Trust and Loan... 5 R 0 5 15 0 Ghristchureh '-st 5 9 0 Well. Gas (ord ' 7 17 6 F 10 0 Well. Gas (pref.) 0 0 15 0 Wellington Debentures 101 (1 0 . — National Tnenrance 6 N.Z. Insurance 1 9 o Standard Insurance 2 IP "0 — N.Z. Befrieerating (-£1) 1 11 3 — N.Z. I? efri granting HOs.) 6 17 3 0 16 0 Well. Meat Exp. fSSi ... — 4 6 0 Well. Meat Exp. (£3 12s. 6d.' 3 2.0 3 5 fi Rurtrtarr-Parker (ord.) ... — 5. .1 •b Union Steam (nref.'i 0 IS 0 — TTikurangi Goal 0 F 9 x Wp«f port Goal 1 3 0 Wadpa Coal __ ■* 0 15 Grown 1 9 n Howard Smith" cum? . . 2 0 0 — Dental and Mm»m] Snrplv 1 7 0 NZ Prncr Turn.) .. .2 16 0 Wairarnna Pnrmers (£-5) S 5 0 Wairarapa Far mere 'nrat.l ....... — 0 17 0 Ward and Co 1 1 0 1 5 c Whiteombe and Tombs 2 14 0 ■ !!■■■■ WELLINGTON SHAKE MARKET. The mining Quotations Recorded yesterdnv were as under:— X Buyer®. Seller 1. s. d £‘s . - 0 5 c Mt. Kreil Cl 5 6 Waihi 1 1 0 1 1 9