ON THE LAND

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 101, 30 March 1925, Page 3

ON THE LAND

WELLINGTON V/OOL SALE. RANGE OF PRICES.

THE APPLE SEASON.

PROSPECTS FOR AUSTRALIAN FRUIT.

LONDON, March 27

The Australian apple season opens hero next week with the marketing of the Mooltana consignment. Importers are ctecidedlv optimistic regarding the outisook as supplies of American apples have been clearing well and the demand, both lieie and on the Continent, is very strong. American Winesops and Cleopatras have been up to 17s per case, and if buyeis are willing to pay this price for these, which were picked at least five months ago, they should give high prices for new Australian Jonathans and Cleopatras. Everything, pf course, depends on the condition and quality of the Australian fruit. Provided these are satisfactory there is every reason to anticipate good prices. Some people are already predicting very high prices for the earlier arrivals, but the best informed men in the trade express tho hope that values will not be forced too high at the start. Experience has proved that moderate prices at the beginning of the season arc best, for if early prices are excessive, consumption is checked and a slump comes when a large quantity of fruit arrives, especially when, as is frequently case, three or four cargoes come simultaneously.

SHORTAGE OF HEIFERS. LOCAL FARMER’S PREDICTION. Discussing farming operations with a “Standard” representative, a local farmer mentioned that an enormous number ot cows had been put through the Dominion meat works lately and consequently there would be a serious shortage of heifers next season. As a result prices would advance considerably and the demand would not be filled. Ho viewed the present position with alarm and urged farmers to buy their heifers now. BUTTER PRICES. A DISQUIETING FEATURE. HAMILTON, Maxell 27. At a meeting of Glaxo suppliers at To Arolia West yesterday, Mr A. J. Sinclair;, manager of the Netv Zealand Co-operative Dairy Co., was asked lor an explanation as to the disparity between the present prices of Danish and Now Zealand butter. Mr Sinclair replied that the Danes were in an extraordinarily strong position at the present time, as the major portion of their weekly supply was covered by contracts. Largo companies in the United Kingdom, such as the Maypole Dairy Company and the Cooperative Wholesale Association, absorbed about one-third of Danish production at contract prices, and other dealers in the North Midlands and East Coast worked on the same principle. The result was that when Germany bought over 500 tons of Danish butter weekly, there was only a small proportion of Danish butter sent to tho United Kingdom that was not already covered by contract. This small quantity of free butter was keenly' sought after, and high prices were paid. A peculiar feature of the Danish system was that the basis of price fixing tor a large quantity of contract butter was the average xveekly price received for a small quantity of “free” butter, as determined on Thursday of each week. Asked for an explanation of the fact that Australian butter for the first time had beaten New Zealand butter on tho London market, Mr Sinclair read cables from the company’s London manager stating that certain operators in New Zealand butter were endeavouring to “bear” tho market. The price of their butter had not been reduced below 184 s, but unfortunately other agents had been selling down to 170 s. The policy adopted by his company in holding to higher prices was being supported by a number of responsible agents, who were of opinion that thero was no justification lor reducing the price. It had to bo admitted, however, that the publication of low prices for New Zealand butter was having a disquieting effect upon buyers. Mr Sinclair maintained that this was olio of the great evils of the present system of- marketing New Zealand dairy pioduce, and it could bo removed only by methods which the Produce Control Board proposed to adopt. DECLINE IN PRICES. LONDON, March 28. The butter market is experiencing the usual seasonal decline in prices. , Colonial butter is gradually easing, this being largely duo to, the lessening demand from Continental countries as their production j increases. Holland, especially, is producing * largely and Germany is taking large quantities thence and less Dinisli, with the result that the latter has declined about 8s this week. The consumptive demand in Great Britain continues good, but. is regarded as hardly sufficient to maintain the prices ot colonial at the present level und a further decline is not unlikely when Continental countries begin shipping butter, instead of buying.—A. and N.Z cubic.

WHEAT AND OATS,

POSITION IN THE SOUTH. DUNEDIN, March 28. In discussing tho position of wheat and oats the Star sayß - . “The flourmillers have reduced their scale of w heat prices to farmers. The wheat market throughout tho South Island has virtually collapsed in virtue of tho outside position. The chief factor in tho New Zealand wheat market is tho low’ quotation of Australian flour, and it is reported that already a fair quantity of this has been ordered by New Zealand bakers. Some of it has been secured for Dunedin, and, in fact, a shipment of about 300 bags was landed on Thursday. Australian flour can bo landed here, duty paid, about £T per ton cheaper than millers are asking lor local flour, ft appears inevitable that New Zealand flour must come down in price as millers’ stocks are accumulating on their hands, and to effect sales they must lower the prices. Most of tho millers have withdrawn from the wheat market. The announcement was made dining the week that they were prepared to buy at tho following rates:—o/3 bushel for Tuscan, (3/5 for Hunter’s, and G/7 for Pearl. Growers are not taking kindly to these rates; as a matter of fact most of the fanners who have threshed and are still holding wheat have refused previous offers ranging from 7/3 to as high as 7/6 per bushel on trucks, holding lor 8/-, although advised to accept high prices when they were offering. But it appears to lie the farmers’ w'ay to hold for yet higher prices when the market is good and to take low’ prices when tho market is down. It will be difficult for millers to get any immediate supplies at the lowered quotations as farmers seem resolved to hold the wheat and await possible further market developments. Tho market for prompt delivery oats has firmed up to 4/G per bushel on trucks, sacks extra, which is now being paid for heavy A grade Gartens suitable for milling. Most of these oats are either going to the millers or being held for seed. There is no demand for prompt delivery otherwise, and so far merchants who sold for forward delivery have not come on the market to cover their April sales. The forward position is slightly weaker with several sellers at 4/8 per bushel f.0.b., 5.1., for spread delivery April-Septem-ber. Tho position thus shows a bigger discrepancy than ever between actual oats and it rward oats. On both sides there is a reeling of certainty, fonvard sellers mail taining that there is nothing to warrrnt high prices, while buyers from farmers anticipate still higher prices, due to a likelihood of white oats being again short.”

TH E WHEAT BOARD. MAY GO OUT OF EXISTENCE. A letter was read ut a meeting of ihe North Canterbury Farmers’ Union executive, ill which it was suggesied that the Wheat Board was about to go out of existence. Mr G. M. Leadlev, a member of the board, said .hut the reign of the board had already expired, so fur as its authority of acting on belulf of wheat-growers was concerned. The question of future safeguards hud 1 een discussed, and the board realised that if it were to function in the future it would ha. ' to be recognised and reformed. Hid greater legal powers been given it, it < odd have done, more, but if collective control were to continue, the hoard must lie given a legal status. He was satisfied that it should have the legal status of otlisr similar boards of control. There were matters for immediate consideration. Information had jur-f. been given on tho reduction in price by millers, but whatever might be the position, something would have to be done to improve matters. ft would he necessary to do something shortly, or those who had not sold would havo to face a drop. After some discussion the executive decided that til > branches be asked to call meetings to appoint delegates to attend a conference at Ashburton or some other suitable place.

LONDON MARKET REPORTS.

LONDON, March 26. Wheat cargoes are steadier owing to belter American advices and the prospect of | reduced River Plate shipments. The de- : maud is improving. Parcels are firm at ; oil dearer. Liverpool futures, sellers : May, [ 12s BJd; July, 12s 6Jd. The spot trade is | quiet. Australian, ex-ship, is quoted at i about 63s 3d. | Flour is firmer. Australian, ex store, i 49s 6d to 60s 6d. ; Barley is firm, Australian is quoted at , about 655. ! in the oats’ market there is an easier j tendency. Beans and peas are dull, j Sugar, granulated, 33s 10id. —A. and X.Z. cable. CHICAGO WHEAT FUTURES. CHICAGO, March 26. Wheat futures are quoted as follow: — May, 1 dol. 74J cents; July, 1 dot. 46i cents; September, 1 dol. cents. —A. and j X.Z. cable. FROZEN MEAT MARKET. Levin and Co., Ltd., have received the following cable from their London agents, (dated 27th March, 1925: —Frozen meat j quotations (prices on u delivered basis, 1 i.e., including storage charges, cartage, I tolls, etc.) :—-Down lambs, 28-42’s, lljd per : lb; best North Island, 28-42’s, lljjd; ordinary North Island, 28-42’s, llgd; second I quality luinbs, lljd; best North island j wether sheep, 48-64’s, Bjjd, 54-72’s, 7d; ord--1 inary North Island we,tiler sheep, 48-64’s, i BJ.H; North Island ewes, 48-64’s, 7jd; 641 72’s, fid; New Zealand prime ox beef, 160- : 220’s, 5Jd. As compared with last week's prices, the market, is pi per lb lower ull round. Indications are thut the market is on tho downward tendency. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received the following cable ■ from its London office dated 27th March, ! 1925. advising Smithlield delivered prices !at that date as follow:—New Zealand j wethers and maidens, Canterbury quality, I selected brands, 561 b and under, 9^d; 57 to I 641 b. 3pl; 65 to 721 b 7d; other brands, 561 b ar.d under, 9d; 57 to 721 b, 8d; 65 to 721 b 7d. New Zealand ewes, 641 b and under, 7id. New Zealand lamb, Canterbury quality, 56!b and under, Had; 37 to 421 b, lljjd ; 43 to 501 b. Hid; seconds, lljjd ; selected brands, 361 b and under, llgd ; 37 to 421 b, llid; other brands, first quality, 4211. and under, llpl: seconds, 11 pi. New Zealand beef, ox fores, 4pl, hinds, spl; cow fores 4(1, hinds, 5d Argentine chilled beef, ox fores, sd. hinds, 6|d. Argentine frozen beef, ox fores 4|d, hinds 64d. Frozen por.: 81 to 1201 b. not quoted; 120 to 1801 b, dpi. Frozen veal, not quoted. PRICES FOR FAT STOCK. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Mach 28. . The New Zealand Producers Board advises tliut the fo lowing prices were being offered on 26th vlarch:Hawke’s Bay.- Wethers, 56Jb and under 8d: prime wooll lambs, 421 b and under, llid, 431 b and . ver 10id, second qualitylambs 101 d. Wellington.—W lliers, 561 b and under, 3id; prime wool y lambs 421 b and under 12d, 43 lb and . ver llid, second quality lambs llid. aCanterbury Pri le woolly lambs 361 b and under 12pl, 37 to 42Ibs llid, 431 b and over lid, second quali >’ luinbs lljjd.

Tho New Z< iland M eat Producers’ Board lias receivi 1 a cable from its representative at Buer is Aires. South America, advising the fol living shipments to tho United Kingdom for the fortnight ended 20th March, 192 , from Argentine and Uruguay: 145,972 quarters chilled beef, 20,411 quarters fr zen beef, 68,497 carcases frozen mutton, 46 )S0 carcases frozen lumb. Tho quantity sliij ped to tile Continent of Europe during t io same period totalled 178,550 quarters frozen beef and 15,216 carcases frcz.cn ni .tton.

FIELD NOTES FOR APRIL, 1925.

(By W. J. McCulloch, Instructor in "Agriculture, Palmerston North.)

Areas cleared of Autumn fodders, such as maize, soft turnips, etc., and not intended to be sown down in grass, should be worked up and. sown in a catch crop ot cereals for early spring feed. Black skinless barley -is probably amongst the best, being a. vigorous and quick grower, and very palatable. Sow 2j to b bushels per aero of any of tho cereals, with li cwt. ingil grade super. A proportion of Scotch or winter tares improves me ration, and it not fed too severely in spring, makes a well balanced hay crop later. Surplus maize, it in sufficient quantity, should be ensiled before frost appears. Cultural Work. —Land intended for spring sown crops, more especially if of a stilt nature should bo Lurned over early io fallow. Many fail to appreciate the beneficial effect of a bare fallow, both during winter, and ut other periods, and by lar too much land is ploughed and sown utmost immediately—a prucuco w;hich cannot be too strongly condemned. A winter tallow should be left as rough as possible, the main purpose being to take lull advantage ot weathering, and differs from summer fallowing in that- the bluet purpose of the latter may be the eradication of troublesome weeds, hut in both cases the mellowing or sweetening of the soil is of great advantage. Roots. —Mangels, swedes, and carrots demand little or no attention and should be bulbing fast. If dry-rot has made its appearance in the swede crop ami shows signs of spreading, the crop should be fed on without delay. Where the main crop of potatoes lias not yet been lilted this should be completed during the month. Pastures.—Autumn sowing of pasture should bo completed this month, and as good grass pasture is the foundation of good farming choose the mixture carefully, and sow only good viable seed in a well worked and firm bed with a reasonable amount of suitable fertiliser. 'Top-dressing pastures with artiSji.il fertilisers is becoming more and more popular each year as the attendant- benefits are realised. Slow acting manures such as basic slag and the ground rock phosphates should bo applied during autumn if due advantage is to bi expected in the following spring. Lime should also be applied in autumn" for the same reason. Use two or three cwt. of these fertilisers per acre, or in tho case of lime, about 1 ton. Under no circumstances will either fertilisers or lime cause, much improvementunless proper drainage is provided.

Lucerne. —Where the stand lias not yet received cultivation and tho ground is still sufficiently dry this work should not he further neglected. The cultivator with lucerne teeth should be used to root outgrass and stir the soil well to a depth of four or live inches, provided the stand is sufficiently established, and if tho soil is inclined to become stiff' and sodden during winter, do not allow stock to graze as this only tends to aggravate the evil. Leave the stand with a fair growth to protect it during winter.

CANTERBURY LAMB. HOW IT IS ADVERTISED. A NAME WHICH COUNTS. LONDON, February 6. “How can 'We yet- this New Zealand lamb from our butchers f” is a question asked by more than one of those who received a Christmas gift of a, carcass from a New Zealand friend. In one case ilr R. S. Forsyth (London representative of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board) was able to reply: “Hero is the name of the company which supplied your presentation carcass. They have a shop in your own village ” This, perhaps, is a typical case. People do not always take the trouble to demand New Zealand lamb, or to look for the shops that trade particularly in New Zealand lamb and mutton. As a matter of fact, they do not have to look very far. Mr Forsyth maintains that New Zealand meat is very well advertised in this country. In the lamb'season practically every shop that offers imported meat sells lamb from the Dominion, and most of these advertise tho fact. Walking through Leicester recently, for instance, Mr Forsyth noticed six butchers’ shops. Five of these were telling imported meat, and four out of the live had placards in their windows indicating that they were selling New Zealand or Canterbury lamb. Again, at Cambridge, he saw a very fine shop, beautifully arranged. The display of meat was excellent. Right round tho front of the shop was a placard with letters a foot in depth which proclaimed: “The finest meat to buy is New Zealand Canterbury lamb.” 'One firm in London which trades exclusively in New Zealand mutton and lamb has 400 shops all about tho midcounties, and it does a very good business. In each one of these many shops there is a prominent notice displayed saying: “Only New Zealand lamb and mutton sold here.” The firm never had an ounce of any other, and they invariably advertise New Zealand meat. “Wherever 1 have been,” said Mr Forsyth, “I have been astounded by the advertisement that we are getting, especially in the lamb season. I am satisfied that you cannot go into practically any meat shops in the southern part of England without finding New Zealand meat being sold, and the name more often than not displayed. “On the other hand, you never sec one advertisement for Australian or Argentine meat.”

• CRITICISM OF LAND TAX. Strong criticism of the land tax was expressed by .Mr R. M. Morten, tho retiring president of the Canterbury A. and P. Association, in the course of his address at the annual meeting of the association last week. "I think it will be admitted,” said Mr Morten, ‘That our wealth in a primary producing country such as Now Zealand eomes almost wholly from the land and its products, and this being so, it seems to me an anomaly that the man who is endeavouring to produce something from the lund for export to the world’s markets should still bo singled out for speciul taxation. I refer, of course ,to the land tax, which is in my opinion a special form of class taxation which is unfair and unjust, and which has proved in many cases to have been nothing less than a conscription of wealth, inasmuch as the present incidence imposes taxation on the landowner on iiis debts, and is a levy on the landholder’s capital, as it must be paid irrespective of whether an income is earned, or losses made, by the farmer during the year.”

Then ai.d now. Speaking at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Greytown Cheese Company in .June, 1884, the chairman said: “When the season commenced the farmers received 4d per gallon for the milk, hut they had to reduce it to 3J'd—even that was more than the Canterbury farmers received, their price being more like 21d to 3d.”

Tho official range of prices at tho WeiJinffton wool sale last week was as follows: — Feb. 23. Mar. 27. Merino, 64-70, 60-6*1— d. d. d. d. .Super 26 to 28 Average 24 to 264 224 to 244 Inferior 22 to 24 Fino halfbred, 56-58-Super 26 to 294 Average 23 i to 26 Inferior 214 to 23 Medium ha'fbrcd, 50-56— Super 24 to 26*4 Average 29 to 2o4 194 to 25 Inferior 184 to 20j 153 to 174 Coarser halfbrod, 48-50— Super 224 to 244 22 to 234 Average 19 to 21jj 17 to 2C Inferior 17 to 19 15 to 16J Corriedaie — Average 21 to 234 19 to 223 Fine crossbred. 46-48 — Super 21 to 24 193 to 23 Average 18 to 21 17 to 194 Inferior 16 to 17J 13 to 16 Medium crossbred, 44-46 —• Super 20 to 224 19 to 21 Average 164 to 19i 15 to 183 Inferior 15 to I64 124 to 143 Coarse crossbred. 40-44 — Super 18 to 20 174 to 194 Averago 164 to 184 16 to 174 Inferior 14 to 16 114 to 144 Low crossbred, 56-40 — Super 174 to 184 16 to 17 Averago 164 to 174 15 to 16 Inferior 13 to 15 12 to 14 Iloggets— 48-50 19 to 262 18 to 23 Fine, 46-48 184 to 224 17 to 294 Medium, 44-46 .... 17 to 204 16 to 19 Coarse, 40-44 163 to 174 Low, 36-40 15 to 174 Down, 50-56 19 to 253 174 to 234 Fine, 44-50 18 to 233 16 to 224 Medium 40-44 16 to 214 15 to 18 Seedy and inferior 83 to 15 8 to 144 Bellies and pieces— Merino: Good to sup 18 to 203 Low to medium 16 to 184 15 to 1/4 Half bred : Good to sup 17 to 194 144 to 184 Low to medium 10 to 16 Crossbred : Good to sup 12 to 164 11 to 174 Low to medium 73 to 123 3 10 11 Crutchings— Medium to good ... 9 to 13 9 to 12 Inferior and seedy 8 to 94 64 to 8 Locks— Merino 11 Halfbrod 8 to 9 Crossbred 7 to 84 6 to 7j