THE FARMERS COLUMN.

Lake County Press, Issue 1065, 21 May 1903, Page 5

THE FARMERS COLUMN.

It has been stated that the N.Z. Farmers' Union is the Invest combination of farmers in the world. N.Z. has led the world in tauny great movements, and here again she leads, The drought has almost completely broken uj. in New .South Wale.-i and I hi outlook is cheeiing. Th< fanners

are now in good heart. The grass is springing and changing the face of the country. The Department of Agriculture is jibaut to form classes of veterinary instruction, under tho uuspioiea of the various Agricultural and Pastoral Associations, and the Ellesmero Association has applied to the Department for the formation of a class at Leeston. Not less than fifteen members me inquired to make the class a success, and a sorie3 of lectures will be delivered by qualified veterinary surgeons, which wiil be illustrated by the treatment of different animals. A small fee will be charged to covtr necessary expenses, and the classes should prove beneficial to country residents. Form an Association in the Wukatipu, and get the benefits above mentioned. Messrs Donald Reid and Co., Dunedin, report :—We held our seventh annual winter sale of druughb horses at our Taieri yards on 7bh May. The day proved remarkably fine, and it was gratifying to sec the large gathering of breeders, farmers and horse buyers from all parts of Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Tho popularity of these sales is shown in the yearly increasing numbers of first-class stock submitted, and in the increased number of influential buyers and judges of first-class horses Tho attend. In the past we have had the pleasure of putting forward large catalogues of firstclass stock to interested and representative gatherings of buyers at these sales, but that just held, in point of number of entries, quality of stock, attendance of buyers, spirited bidding price.s realised was beyond anytlrng we have ever seen in Otago since the early sixties. Northern buyers secured a large proportion of the best animals offered. Our entry comprised 149, all heavy draughts. Of this nnmber, 92 were three and four-year-old colts and fillies, and 57 maros and geldings, four years old and upwards Of the number entered, 103 were sold under the hammer, and 46 passed in. For one specially fine mare, by Briton, Mr Walter JBlackie refused £7O. Draught Mares and fillies sold to £G4, geldings at £54, and two and three-year-old colts to £47.