FARMING INTERESTS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 82, 5 January 1928, Page 12

FARMING INTERESTS

MARTON A. AND P. SHOW ENTRIES CLOSE ON FRIDAY. Ono of tho chief attractions on this coast in the New Year is that of the Marton A. and P. Association's annual show week which will be held on the park on Wednesday, January 18, and in connection with this show exhibitors are reminded that the final day for receiving entries is Friday, January 6. The schedule prepared by the committee is a very comprehensive one. embracing all classes for sheep, horses, cattle, pigs. dogs, home industries, art, needlework, and also horse jumping competitions. The Marton show is recognised as the loading fat sheep and lambs show on this coast, and entries for the sheep classes alone run into 400 pens. Schedules will be posted on application to the secretary, P.O. box 3. Marton. LONDON DAIRY PRODUCE MARKET Messrs. Joseph Nathan and Co.. Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London house, dated January SjNow Zealand butter, 1625. to 1645. per cwt.; New Zealand cheese. 945. per cwt. Both markets quiet. The following cabled advice has been received by the Bank of New South Wales, Wellington, through its London office:— Wool: Market firm. Mutton: Ewes, 4d., 5d.; improved short supplies; wethers. 43d., 6fd.. demand good, likely continue; lambs, Hid.. 12J., expected decline owing high prices checking demand. Beef. 3d.. 41d„ depressed; pork. 7Jd., Bld.; butter, 160 s. to 1645.. steady; cheese. 925. to 945.. firm. The New Zealand Dairy Produce Board has received the following market report from its London office, dated December 31, 1927:Butter. 31/12/27. 23/12/27. New Zealand, salted 1625.-1645. 1605.-1625. Do., unsalted 1665.-170 s. 1685.-170 s. Market steady. Deliveries New Zealand last week, 1200 tons; in store. 3600 tons. Australian finest salted 1565.-160 s. 1545.-160 s. Do., unsalted ....: 1605.-1645. 1605.-1625. Argentine finest un- . salted 1605.-1665. 1545.-1565. , , Up to 160 s. Danish. 1825.-184 s. spot, 1725. f.o.b. 1825.-184 s. Dutch creamery, unsaltcd ! 186?.-'88s 1845.-188 s. Siberian, salted . 1525.-1545. 1465.-148 s. Retail prices: New Zealand, Is. 7d.; Danish. Is. 9d. Cheese, New Zealand, white .... 915.-945. 905.-91 s. Do., coloured 915.-935. 88s.-90s. Up to 945. Market firm. Canadian finest white 100s.-104s. 1025.-104 s. Do., coloured 100s.-102s 100s.-104s. Up to 104 s. English finest farmers' 1265.-130 s 1265.-130 s. Retail price reduced to la. Tho board has also received the following advicC from its agents in Canada in connection with butter:—New York. 52 cents (2s. 2d.); Montreal. 36-J cents (Is. 61d.): San Francisco, 48 cents (25.). Stocks of butter in Montreal 145.373 boxes, last year 88.553 boxes. AUCTION SALES TO-DAY. Manners Street, 10.30 a.m.—Sale of furniture, pianos, etc. (Ramsey Wilson and Co.). . . TO-MORROW. Clarendon Hotel, Manners Street, 10.30 a.m.—Clearing sale of contents (E. Johnston and Co.). Feilding sale.

LIVE STOCK SALES ADDINGTON BY TELBSRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Christchurch, January 4. Average entries were forward to-day and values generally showed a weakening on tile pre-Christmas sale. Store sheep was a fair entry, and there was a good all round demand, particularly for forward wethers nnd joung ewes. Forward four and six-tooth crossbred wethers, 21s. 3d. to 255. 7d.; medium four and six-tooth wethers, 225. to 245.; good two-toothed wethers, 21s. fid. to 235.; inferior two-toothed wethers, 17s. fid. to 205.; four, six, and eight-toothed ewes, 275. fid. to 28s. 3d.; two-tooth ewes, 255. to 265. lOd.; two-tooth woolly, halfbred ewes, to 38s. 9d.; forward M.S. assorted lambs, 245. Id. to 245. Cd.; medium lambs, 225. lOd. Fat lambs.—Smail entry of 1300. Values came back to export basis, which this week are down a fraction, i.e., 91(1. per lb. for 36's and under. Exporters were enabled to buy comfortably within their schedule. Extra prime lambs, to 345. 4d.; prime, 275. Cd. to 315.; medium lambs, 245. Cd. to 275.; light, 225. 9d. to 219. Id. Fat cattle.—soo entered, more than requirements for a midsummer sale. For the small proportion of good steer and heifer beef, there was scarcely so brisk a sale, and other classes were down by 15s. a head. Best heifers made to 40s. per 1001 b.; good, 37b. to 395.; heavyweight, 325. to 315.; medium, 31s. to 385.; and rough, 255. to 295. Extra prime heavy steers to £lB 7s. Cd.; prime heavy steers, £l5 to £l7 10s.; medium steers, £l2 10s. to £l4 10s. ; light steers, £8 to £l2; extra prime heifers to £ll 12s. Cd.; prime heifers, £ll to £l2 155.; medium heifers, £8 to £lO 10s.; light heif* ers, £6 10s. to £7 155.; extra prime cows, (o £l2 155.; prime cows, £9 15s. to £l2 10s.; medium cows, £7 ss. to £9 10s.; light cows, £4 10s. to £6 15s. Fat Sheep.—An average yarding, nearly all local sheep; an easing of Is. to Is. Cd. per head on the pre-Christmas sale, and values now near an export basis. The factories bought a proportion of the entry of lighter sorts. Extra prime wethers to 355. 4d.; prime wethers, 295. Cd. to 31s. Cd,; medium wethers. 255. to 295.; light wethers, 235. to 255. Cd.; extra prime ewes, 295. to 325. lOd.; prime ewes, 225. Cd. to 265. Cd.; medium ewes, 19s. to 225.; light ewes, 15s. to 18s.

Dairy Cattle.—Small entry nnd brisk sale for good sorls. Second to fourth calvers, £7 to £lO 10s.; medium, .£5 10s. to £8 10s.; heifers, £5 to £9 10s. Store Cattle.—A very small showing. Best cows, £3 10s. to £4 45.; others, 30s. to 505.; bulls, £3 to £B. Vealers.—-A small entry and a good sale, 12 to 18-monfhs sorts, io £6 10s.; good vealers, £4 10s. to .£5 17s. Cd.; medium. £3 7s. Cd. to £4 7s. Cd.; calves, 4s. to 10s.

Fat Pigs.—A weak demand, the j aiding of baconers being over requirements. There was soine buying of porkers for export. Choppers, £2 ss. to £3 155.; light baconers, £2 15s. to £3; heavy baconers, £3 ss. to £3 Bs., average price per lb., 4sd. to sjd. Light porkers, 335, to 405.; heavy porkers, 425. to 525., average per lb., 51<1. to 7d. Store Pigs.—A largo entry and cautious competition, due to (he decline in prices of fat pigs. Small wcaners, Bs. to 135.; good weaners, Ms. Cd. to 17s. Cd.; slips, 14s. to 18s.; medium stores, 198. to 225.; largo stores, 235. to 325.

BURNSIDE BY TBhEOBAPn.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Dunedin, January 4. Most classes of . fat stock were sold at lower prices at the Burnside sales today. It was tho first sale held since December 21, and large supplies were forward, but tho demand was limited. This was due to the fact that butchers had supplies on hand from the previous sale. The prices realised for fat cattle showed a drop of £1 per head, jnd values for sheep were easier. 'ut lambs sold at prices about on a pur with tho recent low rates.

Tlie fat cattle entry comprised 214 head. The quality was mixed,- and included several pens of prime bullocks and plain steers. The opening sales showed a drop of from 10s. to £1 per head. Extra prime bullocks sold from £l5 10s. to £l7 17s. Cd.; prime, £l3 to £l4 7s. 6d.; medium, £lO 10s. to £l2 2s. 6d. Prime heifers sold from £8 ss. to £9 55.; and best cows from £9 10s. to £ll. The prices obtained from prime ox beef were on a basis of from 345. to 855.; plain ox beef, 325. Cd.; extra prime heifers, to 355.; and light heifers and cows, from 22h. Gd. to 255. per 1001 b.

The sheep entry comprised 1332 head. The quality was of a mixed description, the entry including a few pons of wellfinished wethers from the Southland district, together with some extra heavy owes. Tlie yarding Consisted of' shorn sheep, with the exception of a very small number. The demand was irregnlar, best sheep meeting with fair competition, but secondary quality was not in .'demand, to. . any degree. Extra heavy wethers sold 38s. 9d. to 40s. 6d„ prime 355. to 375. 6d., best ewes 80s. to 31s. 3(1., extra heavy sorts 385., and medium IBs. to 20s. The prices obtained for prime wethers were on a basis of from 51d. to Cd., unfinished sorts 5d., extra heavy ewes 4d., and prime light ewes 4Jd. per lb. The lamb entry comprised 323 head, compared with 2329 hood offered at the previous double sale. The quality was fair to prime. The demand was not brisk,. and export buyers were in the market. Prime heavy lambs sold from 325, 6d. to 345., prime 295. 3d. to 305., medium 245. 9d. to 265. These prices were On a basis of from BJd. to 9Jd. ner lb.

About 1W) head of store cattle were offered. The entry comprised the usual assortment of cows and young cattle. The latter consisted of about 25 steers. All cattle showing quality met with good competition. Three-year-old steers sold up to £8 10e.. two-year-olds to £7 55., and one-year-olds to .£5 Bs. The pig entry consisted of G 4 fats and 32 stores. There was a good demand for prime baconers and porkers, nnd these sold nt an advance of about ss. per head. There was an improved demand for store pigs. The prices obfaired for prime bnconers were on a basis of Cd., and for prime porkers 7jd. nor lb.

JOHNSONVILLE Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., and Wright. Stephenson and Co., Ltd., report that at the Johnsonville sale yesterday an average yarding of sheep and lambs came forward. Bidding was keen throughout, and a .total clearance was effected at prices in a/rtintes of last week’s rates. There was a small yarding of good quality bullocks, which sold readily, prices showing an advance. A email number of vealers came forward, and met with a keen sale They quoted:— Bullocks, £l3. £l3 25.. 6<l„ £l3 55.. £l3 17s. 6d. to £t4 13s. Sd.; cows and heifers, £7 7s. 6d.. £3 2s. 6d„ £8 12s. 6d.. £8 10s. to £9 55.; vealers, 305.. £2 2s. 6d. to .£’3 Bs. 6d.; wethers. 275., 295. 6d.. 295. lOd. to 31s. Id.; ewes. 21s. 6d.. 235. 3d.. 235. lOd. to 255. 6(1. s .lambs. 225.. 235. 3d., 245. 4d, 245. 6d„ 255., 255. 3d., 255. 9d.. 265. 3d.. 275. 2d., 28s. 7d„ to 295. 9d.

An American farmer who knows Fili well (states the "Poverty Bay Herald”) has said: “The dairying industry in Fiji has a good future in it. The Now Zealand stock suffered from the heat, but the first cross with the southern cattle already in the group was excellent in every way. surprisingly so, in fact. It was to be expected that the next generation would bo equally good, and from the .stamp of the calves Im hnd seen last month ho believed the hope would bo realised. There was it good market for butter in the group and for ship use. A start was also being made with shipments to Canaria. Good dairying land could l>o bought at £1 Io .£5 nor aero from the Government, or leased from Hip natives. The chief difficulty was road access, which was very poor in a number of districts. Although land was cheap, the cost of clearing must be reckoned with, and onlv men with capital should take up thjs industry."

deteriorated lands METHODS BEING ADOPTED GOOD RESULTS ACHIEVED Following the successes in experiments directed at. arresting the deterioration ot farm lands, farmers generally are stated to be more hopeful that tho problem will be met and overcome. A survey of the work done in Auckland shows that much has been accomplished aim that there is every reason to believe that the future will give even better results. The first endeavour of the Fields Division has been to make each holding more productive, the method varying according to the condition of the land and the cause of deterioration. Experiments over a number of years nave shown the wisdom of saving the better land before attempting to recondition the poorer country, and have established the fact that the better land should be first treated with fertilisers. The best response is always from the treatment of better country, and when this lias been improved the problem of the poorer land is more easily dealt with. Three Hundred Per Cent. In one case, in Auckland, where the carrying capacity of a farm had dropoed to one sheep per acre, top-dressing at the rate of 3cwt. of phosphatic fertiliser to the acre resulted after two seasons in an increase of tho carrying capacity to three sheep to the acre. Equally successful was similar treatment of paddocks running over sandstone which resulted in increasing their running capacity from one and one-fifth sheep to three sheep to the acre. Another method, especially when sec-ond-growth is taking possession of a pasture, nnd whore there is little good grass, is to burn and follow that h sowing with a small percentage of perennial rye and while clover, together with some finer grasses, such as crestc dogstail, danfhohia, and brown top, with a sprinkling of 10l us major. In such cases this has proved more uscfin than the use of fertiliser without seeding. Good Results. When the burn has been satisfactory, particularly in the destruction of bracken and fern, and followed by (ho sowing of 11 or 151 b, of seed to the acre, together with a dressing of readily sob üble phosphatic manure, results have been most promising. This treatment is more generally applicable to smaller holdings, and on (he larger stations manuring, combined with the crushing of secondary growth by cattle, has accomplished a great deal. SYDNEY WOOL SALES DECEMBER RATES VERY FIRM. , . Sydney, January 4. The seventh scries of. wool sales has commenced with strong general competition. Values generally are very firm at closing December rates for all descriptions, nnd there is a particularly strong demand at full rates for skirtings and lambs’ wools. Comebacks and crossbreds also met with a strong market. Greasy merino sold up to 29)d. per pound.

LONDON MARKET QUOTA-

TIONS

The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated December JO, from tho High Commissioner for Now Zealand, London :— Tallow.—No auction this week.

Hemp.—Market very quiet during the holidays, and little or no business has been done. Quotations are nominal. Eggs.—Market firm and demand continues good. English, 245. to 255. per long 100; Belgian and Dutch, 225. to 235.: Danish, 265,: French. 19s. to 215.; Russian. 12s. 6d. to 13s. 6d.; Egyptian, 9s. to 9s. 6d.

SHIPMENTS OF LAMB FROM AUSTRALIA

The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has just received a cablegram from its representative in Australia, advising that, 90.554 carcasses of lamb were exported from Australia for the fortnight ended December 24, 1927.

FROZEN MEAT PRICES AT SMITHFIELD

The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received the following cablegram from its London office, dated December 30, 1927, advising Smithfield delivered prices at that date as follow (prices for the two previous weeks are shown): — New Zealand Wethers and Maidens.— Canterbury quality, selected brands: sGlb. and under, (ijd. (Old., tlfd.); 571 b. to 041 b., Old. (fijd., OJd.) ; (Jslb. to 721 b„ sld. (53d., 5Jd.). Other brands: sGlb. and under, did. (£d„ fid.); 571 b. to Glib., s?d. (5Jd. sfd.); Cslb. to 721 b„ sjd. (53d., sgd.). New Zealand Ewes.—o4lb. and under, Cd. (4Jd., 4g<l.). New Zealand Lambs.—Canterbury quality: 301 b. and under, not quoted (not quoted, ORl.); 371 b. to 421 b., not quoted (not quoted, OJ.d.); 431 b. to 501 b., not quoted (not quoted, not quoted); seconds, not quoted (81d._ BJd.). Selected brands: 301 b. and under,' not quoted; 371 b. to 42 lb., not quoted. Other brands, first quality, 301 b. and under, not quoted (not quoted, Sjd.) I 371 b. to 421 b., not quoted (not quoted, B}d.). Second quality: 301 b, to 321 b., average, not quoted (Bid.,B}d.). Australian Lambs.—Victorian. first quality; 301 b. and under, OJd. (9}d„ 9}d.); 371 b., to 421 b.. 9fd. (9fd„ 9}d.). Argentine Lambs.—First quality, 301 b. and under, 7gd. (7Jd., 7fd.); 371 b. to 421 b., 7}d. (7d., 7d.). New Zealand Beet.—Ox fores. 4d. (4d., 4d.); ox hinds Cfd. (Cid.. sfd.); cow fores, not quoted; cow hinds, not quoted. Argentine Chilled Beef.—Ox fores. 3Jd. 3f(l.): ox Hinds. s?d. (GJd., Cgd.). Argentine Frozen Beef.—Ox fores. 4d. (■ld., 4d.); ox hinds, Cid. (Cid. Old.).

Frozen Pork.—Porkers. OOlb. to 801 b.. Sd.t porkers. 811 b. to 991 b., 74d.; porkers,’ 1001 b. to 1201 b., OJd.; baconers, 1211 b. to ISOlb., GJd. (Gid., Old.). Frozen Vent. —Not quoted.

Lambs.—Trade slow owing to holidays. Small quantities of new season’s selling Hid.

Mutton Market.—Owing to shorter supplies, home-killed meat due to temporary transport difficulties; market Is firmer.

THE NATIONAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION

Mr. F. W. Nicholson, manager for New Zealand of the National Mutual Lifo Association of Australasia. Ltd., has ’received the following cable message from the head office in Melbourne:—’ The fiftyeighth annual general meeting of members was held on December 21 1927. The new business for the year was very satisfactory, 16.850 new policies having been issued for £8,234.713. an increase of £570.* 803 over the previous year’s total. The total income for the year was £4,378,798. an increase of £298,171 The very large amount of £2.123.697 was added to the assurance fund, which now stands at the largo sum of .£26.706.153. The amount payable to policy-holders or their representatives during the year was £1.882,250. The rate of interest earned on the mean funds was £5 10s. 9d. The ratio of expenses continues to decrease. Members may expect to receive their bonus certifli cates on or before March 1. 1928.” UNION BANK DIVIDEND. London,. January 3. The Union Bank of Australia has declared an interim dividend of 15 per cent, (tax tree). CUSTOMS REVENUE. The Customs revenue collected at. the port of Wellington yesterday totalled £11294.