FARMING AND COMMERCIAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 43, 20 January 1926, Page 5

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL

RUN THROUGH SOUTH. ISLAND. (By “Ploughshare.”) Although we havo been crying out for more rain, wo seem to have been treated a good deal better than the Canterbury Province. I havo (just recntly passed through the South Island and I was surprised to find how dry Canterbury was. For miles as far as Timaru the country is brown. In places crops are in stooks, but there are very few that one could call good. In practically every instance they are stunted and are not an attractive sight. Below Timaru things are brighter and, as one roaches Studholme Junction and Morvon, there are some very fine paddocks to bo seen. Otago is looking fairly prosperous, but Southland seems to bo having good seasons. Although everything seems a little late, the country is looking very prosperous. Haymaking is in process and the shearing has not yet been completed. Turnip crops are looking vory healthy and farmers, children included, are busy hoeing and thinning out these crops. There are some fine potato crops also, specially near Orepuki. This district seems to have a great future as regards the glowing of potatoes, as there is first-class soil here. In Southland a fair amount of grass is grown for seed purposes, and this seed is exported to Canada and the United States. The most popular of these grasses are: Chewing’s fcacue, crested dogstail and white clover. This seed is much in demand for lawn purposes and golf courses, i Some big returns are obtained by farmers from this source. There soems to bo still an abundance of building timber in the south. There is a large mill at Port Craig capable of turning out about 40,000 feet of timbor a day. The timbers milled are principally red pine, birch, matai and totara. What impressed in Canterbury ■■ was the fact that, in this province, they are making preparations for the future by planting large areas in trees. Also in Southland at Pomahaka and Conical Hill there are large aroas of hillside planted in various species. Thero are some beautiful plantations _,in the South Island, and tho timber in these should realise large returns in itlio very near future. GENERAL NOTES. Despite the presence of tho fly in the vicinity of Levin, there are some very good crops of turnips and mangolds. Haymaking is practically completed. Wellington district is looking well; they seem to have had more rain than wo have had in this district. Although, tho presence of _ lime in soils is of great importance, it should be applied with care, as in soils of a light nature lime quickly destroys any organic matter which it may contain. Lime in heavy soils caiises the soil to lose much of its plasticity. Young pigs should bo kept by themselves as they do not thrive well' when feeding and breathing the same air as bigger and older pigs. They do well on grass or green feed and naturally take less hand feeding. Potato silage is also eaten freely by young pigs. Tho present day demand is mostly for a pig that kills between IGOlbs. to ‘2oolbs. THE BOT-FLY. Among the parasites which farmers will have to contend against at this time of tho year is bot-fly. This fly will hover round the horse and deposit its eggs where possible. It usually deposits its eggs under tho neck and legs where the horse is unable to brush it away. They hatch very quickly and crawling on the skin eat into it and cause irritation. The horso licks the spot and in this way tho eggs are carried to the mouth and from there to the stomach. This may bo the origin of various complaints amongst horses. The treatment for bot-fly is very difficult. The following is a treatment: which lias given good results: After starving tho animal for at least 24 hours, give one quart of molasses or dissolved sugar in one quart of milk, 30 minutes later give two ounces of alum dissolved in one quart of water, followed in about an hour’s time by a quick-acting laxative, such as a half a pound of Epsom salts or two pints of rawlinseed oil. The difficulty of removing the bot from the stomach necessitates that horses running loose on pastures should be frequently examined and preventive dressings applied. The applications most commonly used for dressing the parts of horses usually struck by tho bot-fly are substances possessing a pugent aroma, such as creolin, train oil and fish oil —the latter is most effective, as it retains its aromatic properties for' a longer period. Oil of creosote, one part mixed with ten parts of olive oil or rape oil, is also very effective. Frequently flowers of sulphur is added to the foregoing. In the cases of horses in actual work, and particularly those that are stabled and groomed, thero is no groat difficulty in keeping them free from bot infectatioiij as the eggs may be removed during the process of grooming. Singeing the hair with a flame will destroy any eggs. STOCK MARKET. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., and Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., report on Johnsonville sale held yesterday : A medium yarding of good quality sheep and cattle came forward, the lambs yarded being also fairly good. Bidding was brisk throughout, beef selling considerably better than the previous week. Sheep and lambs also maintained values. Wo quote: Bullocks £l2 10s, £l3 7s 6d, £l3 15s, £l4, £l4 ss, £l4 7s Gd, £l4 10s to £l4 15s; voalers 375, £2 2s, £2 14s 6d to £3; wethers 28s, 295, 29s Gd, 30s to 30s 3d; owes 20s 9d, 21s 9d to 255; lambs 225, 22s Gd, 24s Gd, 24s 9d, 25s 9d, 26s to 275. DROP IN RUBBER PRICES. NEW YORK, Jan. 18. Crude rubber prices dropped eight cents on Monday. Traders look for lower lovols, considering the increase in stocks in London and New York. The complete absence of factory interest and tho rubber investigations in Washington are depressing factors. —Reuter. ALLEGED FRUIT COMBINE. TRIAL IN CANADA. VANCOUVER, Jan. 18. Failure to obtain more than four jurors from a panel of 376 on Monday resulted in the postponement of the trial at the Supreme Court for one week of the Government’s charge alleging a combine in connection with fruit distribution in Western Canada against eleven individuals and firms. An additional 1000 talesmoi will be summoned. Tho costs are fou; dollars a day for each juror sub poenaed.—Reuter.

CANTERBURY CROPS. YIELD UNDER NORMAL. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 19. There is a wide diversity of opinion this year as to tho probable yield of crops. Rain has been irregular and vory patchy, and whilst some districts are looking very backward others again promise fairly well up to tho averago. However, tho bulk of opinion is that generally the yield per acre will be well under normal. Now stuff is being offered very sparingly, and most of what has come before merchants is assessed by farmers at more than the trade’s ideas. Tho few samples of Algerian oats are quoted at 3s 6d, which farmers are not accepting. Perennial ryegrass is quoted at 4s 6d on trucks. Italian is mentioned at 3s Gd to 3s Bd. Fowl wheat has been sold at 7s 2d, fo.b., 5.1., about 2d better than last week. CROSSBRED FLEECE. COMPETITION AWARDS. MASTERTON, Jan. 19. Judging of the fleeces entered in the Farmers’ Union crossbred fleece competition took place to-day, being carried out by Messrs W. Perry (Penrose) and S. J. Hill (Christohurch). The following awards wei'e made: — Class 40’s and under: E. S- Matson (Ihurana), 1; H. G. Groves (Mangapakeha), 2; K. Sutherland, 3. Special prize for heaviest fleece: A. Cameron (To Ore Ore). Class 40-46: C. C. Jackson (Kokuaranga), 1; T. Cripps (Homewood) 2; T. H. Groves (Eketahuna) 3. Special prize for best fleece grown in Eketahuna County: T. H. Groves. Class 46-48: H. A. Matthews (Western Lake), 1; G. C. Williams (Te Parae), 2; H. G. Groves (Mangapakeha), 3. Class 48-50: Walter Cameron (Te Ore Ore), 1 and champion fleece in competition; McLain (Longbush), 2; Groves Bro. (Mangapakeha), 3. Stud class: H. W. Lee and Son (Wereita), 1. WHEAT MARKET. LONDON, Jan. 18. Wheat.—For cargoes there ig no inquiry, but they are steady, despite lower closing American prices. Parcels are inactive at late rates. Liverpool futures: March, 12s 2Jd; May, 11s lid; July, 11s BJd. —A. and N.Z. cable. NEW YORK, Jan. 18. Chicago wheat futures: May, new 174£cents per bushel, old 172 J cents; July, September 144£ cents. —A. and N.Z. cable. PRICES” OF METALS. LONDON, Jan. 18. Copper: On spot £SB 16s 3d per ton, forward delivery £39 18s 9d. Lead: £34 10s and £34 7s 6d. Spelter: £37 15s and £37. Tin: £Bl 2s Gd and £274 12s 6d. Silver: Standard 31 l-16d per ounce, fine 33£d. —A. and N.Z. cable.