RURAL TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 149, 19 March 1936, Page 14

RURAL TOPICS

Satisfactory Ram Fairs DEMAND FOR RYELANDS

(Bx

Cultivator.)

The round of North Island ram fairs had now been completed, and those farmera introducing new blood into their flocks have been busy for several weeks past. There was a keen demand at almost every fair, but at only two centres, Masterton and Fcilding, did the prices reach a level in excess of 200 guineas. Taken right through, however, the fairs can be regarded in a highly satisfactory light, the prices on the average being tn advance of those ruling during the past three or four years. Romneys, as usual, were the most sought after, but it was interesting to note that Ryelands, which are becoming increasingly popular in the North Island, were in greater demand, bringing better prices.

There is a great flush of growth in the Manawatu district at present, but there is no body in the feed. In consequence the lambs are not doing too well, and have not been killing out as well as in previous years. There is a great demand for weaner Jersey heifers. This is due to a shortage brought about by the fact that farmers have not been breeding much of this stock during the past few years. Station cattle have also been selling very well because of the wonderful growth in the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay districts, which are called on to supply most of the Manawatu cattle.

For the first time, limited supplies of the improved type of Government certified perennial ryegrass seed will be available for sowing out on approved areas in the Hawke's Bay province this autumn. This new type of seed has been evolved at the Plant Research Station at Palmerston North by a process of single plant selection of ecotypes from leading Hawke’s Bay strains over a series of years.

The present has been a bad season for potatoes, and it will not be'surprising if the tonnage from many areas is greatly reduced. In some instances there ban been so much moisture in the ground that new potatoes have given root before the farmer has had an opportunity to dig them. In the ease of tubers on lands subjected to flooding in some parts, the potatoes have rotted in the ground. Given favourable weather from now on, there may be some second growth in the earlier crops, and an increase in rotting may be arrested.

An unusual position exists in some parts of the Dominion this year as a result of the abnormally rainy summer. Instead of the usual scarcity of fresh feed at this time of the year, farmers in many districts, especially in the North Island, have an abundance of feed. In view of this there should be no shortage of winter fodder. Some farmers are not altogether pleasantly situated, their pastures having been damaged by thick layers of silt following on heavy floding. One Wanganui farmer told “Cultivator”, that, contrary to the usual state of affairs at thia period, he had too much growth on his property.

There is a keen demand on the part of Australian breeders at present for New Zealand Southdowus. But because oi the large purchase of ram lambs by Australians last year New Zealand growers cannot meet the prices offered this year. Australian buyers are offering 3J to 4 guineas landed on the other side of the Tasman, whereas with the present shortened supply, it is not possible for the farmers of this Dominion reasonably to dispose of their animals at under 4 guineas in this country. In consequence Australians are doing a good deal of their trade with Tasmania this year. There is, however, a certain amount of business being carried out between New Zealand and Australia in stud animals.

An effective method of disposing of the grass grub may have been discovered by the action of a Taranaki farmer in turning his store pigs on to the affected fields in May. The pigs were ringed and thus were prevents! from doing too much damage. Being rung, the pigs turned up only the patches of grasw that, had been cut by the grub, and the pigs made short work of the post. Inspection of the affected patches as the pigs left them disclosed an absolute clearance of the grub. When the pigs had been removed the once, affected patches were resown, and the field harrowed and rolled. The following season the best parts of the field were the former grub affected portions. This is a move well worth bearing in mind by those farmers troubled by the pest.

Investigations are at present being made by the Farm Advisory Service connected with Lincoln Agricultural College into the possibilities of subterranean clover in Canterbury, particularly lor light land areas and foothill sunny faces that have become bare. Two trials are being conducted with subterranean clover surface sown on poor bare pastures. One trial is on medium land, and in this case a mixture of the subterranean with ryegrass and other clovers was used. The other is on light land, the clover being sown alone over an old brown-top and danthonia sward. Both sections were sown down in .September under favourable rainfall and good conditions. In view of the fact that subterranean clover could be far piore widely favoured with advantage, it is pleasing to note such experiments, ami it is to be hoped that they wifi do much to encourage farmers to make greater use of the pasture.