FARMING NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5665, 20 December 1920, Page 3

FARMING NOTES.

“The market for boiled rabbit,” says the Bank of New Zealand London produce circular, under date Oct. 15, “is at present barb of supplies, and prospects' foi" this commodity, which is a relatively cheapo article of food, appear to. be quite .favourable for shipments arriving here during the coming winter months.” f Says Weddell’s Annual Review,: — “The consumptive demand for cheese during the whole year in Britain was , excellent. From all quarters there were reports of a phenomenal counter trade pointing to an increase in popularity for this wholesome article of food. At Is 6fl to Is 8d per lb, cheese is relatively one of the cheapest articles of essential food sold in the United Kingdom.” The Leader of the Opposition (Mr T. M. Wilford) recently asked the Prime Minister whether he did not think that the time has arrived to establish in this country a State-owned woollen and worsted mill on the lines of the highly successful Commonwealth mill at Geelong, with a-view to the manufacture of Post and Telegraph and Military materials. Last week the Prime Minister replied that the capital of the country at the present' time was required for more urgent purposes. In any case, it was just as well- to remember that the experience of Stateowned enterprises in Australia had not been uniformly successful.

According to the Wanganui Herald, there is a possibility of a reduction in the price of woolpacks later in the season. Apparently a large number of farmers last year, anticipating a rise in the jute market, bought freely in order to ensure supplies for his season. Plentiful supplies came to hand this season at about the same price as last year, and the demand has apparently not come up to expectations. Like a number of other lines, someone will start to cut the price soon, and this will he the opportunity for the farmers to step in and purchase. With reference to the Home market for pelts, the Bank of, New Zealand London produce circular, under date Oct. 15, says: “The market here remains practically bare of New Zealand freezer pelts, and there are no sales to report during thp past, four weeks. There has been a good demand for English .sheep and lamb pelts, which have 6old readily at. unchanged prices. Although the supply is still large an early falling-off in this respect is expected, and this opens up the possibility of some hardening values/’

It appears that in all 87,357 hales of wool were catalogued for inspection at the eighth series of Government wool sales in London, which concluded on October Ist. New Zealand wool was represented by 20,173 bales. It is estimated that about. 40,000 hales passed the hammer, and it is significant that of the total quantity only half was secured for Home consumption. 19 000 bales going to the Continent and 1000 bales to America. Current prices at that date were: Merinos 60-Gl’s 28d to 37d; half-breds 56-58’s 31d to 40d; fine crossbreds 50’s, 24d to 28d; medium 41-4 G’s, 16d to 18d (nominal), and coarse 36-40’s quality 141 d to 15id (nominal).

The disease commonly known as bush sickness is affecting cattle and sheep in some bush districts in New Zealand. Cattle and sheep which are attacked by the disease, no matter if feed is plentiful and good, gradually sink and die. It is thought that an insufficiency of salt in the herbage is the cause of the ailment, and a farm has been established at Mamaku, near Rotorua, by the Agricultural Department, for the purpose of treating the disease and ascertaining its cause. Dr. A. J. Rcakes, Director of Agriculture, who recently visited the farm, said the work was proceeding in a satisfactory manner. " Medical treatment was being given to affected animals, and the settlers were becoming interested, and adopting the method of treatment. .

The areas sown in wheat and oats, as ascertained by the Government Statistician, for this season, are now to hand, and they show that the area sown in wheat this year is approximately 214,000 acres, as compared with 142,000 acres last year. The Statistician explains that the information has been derived from the cards sent out by him to grain growers, but it is said that many farmers did not receive a card, and it is thought that the area actually sown is round about 250,000 acres as predicted some time ago. Oats, according to the official figures, show a decrease of about 28,000 acres, as compared with last year. This is considered very wide of the mark, as Dunedin and Southland mercants report a phenomenal demand for seed oats and inquiries among farmers in South Canterbury lead to the conclusion that more than an average . area has been sown in this sereal this season.

The campaign against rabbits was responsible for the hoaxing of a well-known Te Awamutu settler the other day. Evidently he was alarmed at the fact that £IOO penalties were the reward for failure to destroy rabbits and fell an easy victim to : an itinerant canvasser who wished him to possess the one and only means of ridding liis farm of the pest. It seems it was a patent, to he preserved for the sole use of the purchaser, as was shown by a neatly wrapped package which the canvasser dangled before the eyes of this credulous farmer. After very little argument the transaction was concluded, the modest sum of five guineas being transferred from pocket to pocket, and the mysterious package being carried away in high glee. It was an infallible check on the rabbits; this was to-be. the one farm in the district for.' Arispectbrs _ to point to when less fortunate neighbours squirmed at the prospect' of, £IOO penalties. When opened, however, the package contained half-a-dozen coveis which secreted a noosed piece or whipcord with the attached instructions: “First catch the rabbit; place his head in the noose and draw the loose end of the cord quickly towards you and don’t release until : dead guaranteed by the patentee■ to be effective in every instance- if properly and diligently used.” Legal advice cost the hoodwinked farmer another guinea hut brought no satisfaction, for he’was told that the instructions were explicit and if carried out would he effective. 1