FARMING TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 135, 4 March 1941, Page 10

FARMING TOPICS

Wool Pack Prices

I note that the Farmers’ Union, al: a meeting in Marton last week, raised the question of wool pack prices. For general information. I quote here from a letter received from Australia in answer to an inquiry made there on the subject. This, written on December 20 last, said : “Most of the business in wool packs to wool growers is done by the wool selling houses, and their price this year has been | 5/10 each, on rail, Melbourne. Prices in the open market, that is outside the wool houses, have ranged from about 5/2 to 5/3, and up to 5/8 each, O.T. Melbourne. The wool houses’ price is fixed ■ early in the season, and as they cover , the estimated needs of their clients for . the season, they base their price on the cost at the time of purchase. Other

sellers buy from time to time at market values. I regret that it is impossible to give you the changes in rhe open market.” The packs referred to are, of course, the 44-meh ones, normally retailed at about 9d. more than the 42’s, which are standard.in New Zealand. One-man Sheep Gate. We are in receipt of a letter from Palea, as follows: —A few days ago I noticed you were writing particulars of a one-man sheep drafting apparatus. I was at a solo dairy farm in the Manutahi (South Taranaki) district that also curries about 120 ewes for breeding fat Jambs. This man has no sons, and perhaps it was a case of ‘ necessity is the mother of invention” that made him ivy a simple device for n two-way draft. Having a small set of yards, he just tied a pair of extra long rope plough reins to the top centre set of the drafting gate, and ran one to the right and the other to the left, round two Jin. pipes about 3ft. (tin. high, driven on each side of the race. By standing in the picking yard he manipulates the race gate just ns you would guide a good-mouthed horse, and the extra long rein's enable him to go to the back of the picking yard should occasion warrant. With no one standing at the race gate sheep do not cheek, and with a little practise mistakes are nil.—"OLD BUYER.” P S. —I think if 4 x 2 were used instead of the Jin. pipes and pulleys let in at a height of about 3ft., this would be an improvement.