AGRICULTURAL CLUBS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1073, 21 July 1924, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL CLUBS

FEILDING DISTRICT SCHOOLS. The annual meeting of tho central committee of tho boys’ and girls’ agricultural clubs of the Feilding district was held on Friday at Feilding. Mr W. L. Grice occupying Ihe chair. The following report on tho activities of the various clubs was submitted by Air K. 11. Lange, agricultural instructor to the Wanganui Education Board :—“During tho year a decided advance was made in the work. The total number of plots judged in tile Wanganui Education Board’s area was 114, end of this total 102 are in the Feilding area, a percentage of nearly 90. Last year 70 plots were judged, of which number £7 were in the Feilding urea. This year 24 schools entered the competitions, 20 of them being in this district, as against 16 and 12 respectively last year. “Bv tho increase of eight competing schools and 44 competitors, it will thus be plain to members that the popularity of the movement has been well maintained. This is in great measure due to the interest of the local supervisors and (he school teachers. I append a separate table which shows tho steady increase in yield which has iuken place. This is in itself a proof that competitors are assimilating the lessons learned in previous years. A further pleasing feature is the improvement in the records noted in the casa of those schools which have previously competed. These show the educational siilo of the work, which is also steadily improving. “It remains for me to express my thanks to the farmers’ unions and kindred bodies, who, by their ready assistance, have made these competitions possible; to Messrs AlcCullock and Bates, of the Department of Agriculture, for the keen interest taken in the work; and to the local supervisors and teachers who gave so much of their time and who are really the essence of the competitions.”

COAIPARATIVE YIELDS.

The table referred to by Air Lange in his report was as follows:

New clubs,: Kairanga 77 tons: Bunnythorpe 61 tons; (,’olyton 56 tons; Halcombe P,6 tons; Apiti 42 tons; Dunnoliy 23 tons.

AMEXDAIENT OF RULES. In the discussion which ensued following the presentation of the report. Air Kidd stated that it was most gratifying to learn that the competitions were proving so successful. Their introduction by the Agricultural Department and the Education Board was a splendid movement, and one which was going to prove of incalculable value. The chairman, in expressing his appreciation of the work done, pointed out. that, the children had succeeded in beating their elders as far as the weight of tho crops was concerned. Air Lange suggested that there was need for amending the rules governing the competitions. The rule regarding distance apart for turnips, which at present was fixed at 14 inches, should be reduced. As to manure, this was supplied by the Education Department, and lie thought that competitors should have a right to say what manure they were going to use, as different manures were required for different £oi!s. lie suggested that the department continue to supply the manure, but .the children ho allowed "to add more if thought necessary. In moving to this effect, Air Ivuld included a reference to the necessity for keeping a record of the quantity used. The motion, after being seconded by Air Biims, was carried. . In regard to the thinning of mangolds, it was decided to allow the distance to be from 8 inches to 14 inches.

Votes of thanks were nccorderl Messrs McCulloch and Lange, and also the supervisors of the competitions. • , The following resolution was carried : “That it.be a recommendation to the Wellington provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union that, in conjunction with the Wanganui provincial executive, a central committee, consisting of two members of the provincial executives, two members of the department, and two members of the Wanganui Education Hoard, be set up to control matters affecting the conditions of tile shield and also with regard to tile general organisation of the boys’ and girls’ clubs in the Wanganui Education Hoard’s area.”

FROZEN MEAT. Dalgety and Coy., Ltd., report having received the following cablegram from their London house under date of the 17th inst: —Lainb: New Zealand primo crossbred, Canterbury heavy 9 jd, light Had, North Island heavy 9id,« light 10R1. Demand for Now Zealand lamb runs principally on light weights, market firm. Mutton : New Zealand prime crossbred, Canterbury heavy 6jd. light 7Jd, North Island heavy 6d, light 7d. Limited dem/md for New Zealand mutton, prices nominal. Beef: Spot price for chilled hoof sides oid. Australian frozen meat: Not quoted. SHIPMENTS OF MEAT FROM SOUTH AMERICA. The New Zealand Meat Producers Board has received a cable front its representative at Buenos .-Vires, South America, advising the following shipments to the ■United Kingdom for the fortnight ended 12th July, 1924, from Argentine and Uruguay: —237,725 quarters chilled beef, J 9.562 quarters frozen beef, 82.032 carcases frozen mutton, 70.591 carcases frozen lamb. The quantity shipped to the Continent of Europe during the same period totalled: 127,650 quarters frozen beef, 2150 carcases frozen mutton.

SMITH FIELD MARKETS,

LATEST QUOTATIONS. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received the following cable from its London office, dated 18th July, 1924, advising Smithfiold delivered prices at that date follows :—New Zealand wethers and moidetr ewes: Canterbury quality, selected brands, sblb and under 7LI per lb, 57-641 b 7(1, 65-7211> 6£d, other brands 561 b and under 7d, 57-641 b 6|d, 65-721 H 6id. New Zeulaml ewes: 641 b and under sd. New Zealand lamb: Canterbury quulity, 361 b and under Hid, 37-421 b lid, 43-5011) 10id, seconds 10jjd, selected 361 b and under lljjd. 37-4211) ilgd, other brands, first quality 421 b and under 10 j (1, seconds 10L1. New Zealand beef: Not quoted. Argentine chilled beef: Ox fores 2jd, hinds 6Jd. Argentine frozen beef: Ox fores 2id, hinds 4jd Frozen pork: Not quoted. Frozen veal: 4ad. Lovin and Co., Ltd., have received the following cablo from their London agents, dated 18th Julv, 1924 : —Quotations cx store: New Zealand prime Canterbury lamb 28-42’s lid, North Island lamb 23-42’s 10Jd, prime Canterbury mutton 56-64’s 7d, North Island inulton 56-64’s 6§d, owes 48-64’s sd. New Zealand prime ox beef, 160-220’s, hinds and fores, none offering. The strong demand reported- last- week for second grade lambs continues. Mutton is unchanged.

EXPORT OP PORK. By the last mail the New Zealand Moat Producers’ Board received a letter from its London manager in respect to the shipment of pork. An extract from this letter is as follows: —“While in Bristol _ a few weeks ago, I called on a big firm, and had a long talk with their managing director who is largely interested in tho matter of the bacon trade, having several factories in the West of England. The manager of this firm is loud in his praise of the quality of New Zealand frozen pigs which he has handled for many years past, but he is very disappointed that he cannot obtain regular supplies all the year round. 1 explained to him that it was a seasonal trade in New Zealand, but ho pointed out that in England pigs were tatty tied all the year round, lie prefers the New Zealand pigs to any other imported pork und stated that we are very much ahead of the American quality, lie states that lie could take up to 2000 pigs a month all the year round provided the price was satisfactory and regular shipments could bo obtained. 1 also called on the manager of large provision merchants and bacon curers. He, also, expresses himself as particularly pleased with the quality of New Zealand frozen pork, but complained also of the want of regular shipments, lie was anxious to get into direct touch with tho New Zealand suppliers of pork and I was able to give him the names of several firms who would be in a position to quote him.

WHEAT PRODUCTION. WASHINGTON, July 19. There is a reduction of 286 million bushels in the wheat production of the Northern Hemisphere, compared with last year. This is indicated in reports to tho Department of Agriculture, and is in large part due to the smaller crop in Canada. —A. and N.Z. cable.

TIIE WOOL AIARICET.

BETTER TONE AT BRADFORD. LONDON, July 17. Tho Bradford tops market shows that the better tone continues, with more inquiry for merinos. Sixty-four quality, 70d per lb; sixties, 64d; titties, 331 d; forty-sixes, 27d; forties, 26d. —A. and N.Z. cable.

CANTERBURY AIARKET,

SHARP RISE IN OATS. Per Priss Association. CHRISTCHURCH, July 18. The potato market has sagged somewhat badly. Tho cause is not so much low prices of Victorian tubers as the fact that they are showing unusually good keeping, qualities, and tlic abundance of shipping is enabling a steady supply to be maintained. '1 he Koromiko is due to berth at Auckland with 11,000 odd sacks, and three other vessels are due to leave Melbourne with further consignments before tho month is over. In addition, the Wingatui sailed from Lyttelton yesterday with 3GOO sacks, and the Wanaka is expected to lilt a consignment from Timaru. Therefore, even allowing for the later Australian vessels having quite moderate cargoes, it would appear that Auckland is guaranteed a sufficiency of supplies until the middle of August. E.o.b. South Island values in Christchurch have receded to £5 5s for August-September delivorv, and individual growers have accepted £4 on trucks. The view'is taken by a few growers that it is wiser to accept this price whilst the potatoes are in bags in preference to rcpicking later even at an enhanced price. . . (Jals look a sharp rise to-day. lliey have advanced during the last day or two from 5s Id to 5s 4d, f.0.b., South Island for B grade. Chaff is scarcely so firm, the mild weather no doubt being responsible. Quotations to farmers are £6 15s per ton. Pair quantities of machine-dressed cow grass are being sold to farmers for their pasture lixtures. It is much the cheaper seed at present.

1922 1923 1924 T C T C T Kiwiioa .... 38 17 49 16 60 Makino .... 27 4 37 15 65 Valiev Road ... .... 33 8 — — 45 Taonui .... 36 7 44 15 44 To Arakura, .... 42 9 55 10 50 Awahuri .... 33 17 37 12 47 Glen Oroua, — — ' 65 7 77 Taikorea — — 64 0 73 It ongotoa ... — 49 18 50 Carnarvon — — 46 14 45 Clydesdale (1 competitor) ... — 53 0 40 Cheltenham — — 37 18 41 Iteaconslield — 18 6 40