FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 58, 5 February 1927, Page 5

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

NOTES BY “PLOUGHSHARE.” THE DISTRICT. KARERE AND JACKEYTOWN. Most of the hay is in now. A few crops of oats aro in stook and are fairly good. Mangold crops in these parts look really well and the majority of them are receiving careful attention by hand hoeing. Barley in one field is now turning colour. A fair area has been planted in potatoes and several of these fields are looking well. Most of the dairy farmers are fairly pleased with their output tnis year, although the returns are beginning to drop slightly now. . . Everywhere all over the district we nncl evidence of heavy hay crops and in cases where early cuttings were made there hae been a good second growth which will warrant a second cut. THE APPLICATION OF MANURES. Plant food materials which dissolve easily and diffuse through the soil readily, and which aro not reasonably well retained by the soil, are best applied only when the crop is ready to utilise them. If put on too long before the crop growth is well started, there is danger, especially on light, open soils, of their being carried more or less beyond the range of the crop roots Nitrate nitrogen, in case of light soils'is to be treated with special care in this respect. Ammonia is liable to a similar loss as soon as it is converted into nitrate. Sodium nitrate is especially useful for earlv spring applications in case ot crops that need an early, prompt start. Care should be taken not to apply sodium nitrate too late in the season in case ot most crops since the maturing of the crop will be retarded and there will bo an excessive growth of stoins and leaves. It is preferable to apply , early in the season those fertilisers which do not dissolve rapidlv. These should be worked into the soil so that they can undergo decomposition. It is important that the nitrogencontaining materials bo controlled so that they shall exercise their maximum effect before the maturing season of the crop arrives, otherwise the season of growth may be prolonged so late into the.fall as to result in injury to the crop either in yield or quality or both. In case of trees, hardiness is decreased and liability to injury by severe cold is greater. POTATOES. Early potatoes may be dug as soon as they are large enough. For later crops which are to be stored it is nccessaiy to wait until the tubers have attained their full size, the haulm and leaves have died, the tubers come freely from the stem and have not to be jerked off, and the skins are firm and will not come off easily when rubbed. If the vines have been destroyed by blight the potatoes should not be dug until at least ten days after the vines are dead as there is then less liability of rot in storage. If frosts set in early and the growing season has been late, it may bo necessary to dig the crop before the potatoes have quite matured. In the event of such, one may be able to secure a reasonable offer for them on the ground. When it is the intention of the grower to store the crop, they should be dug when dry, picked up and bagged and kept cool. With a large area it is a payable proposition to procure a mechanical digger. . This not only saves money in labour, but if the land is clean, harrowing will soon put tho soil right for seeding other crops. Potatoes suffer loss in keeping, both in weight and loss due to disease or insect attacks. THE PIGGERY. Many people aro possessed with tho idea that the digestive organs of a pig can withstand anything taken into the stomach. This is not so as these organs can be overtaxed in the same manner as those of the human body. If over-fed, pigs will loose rather than gain weight. SELECTION OF A RAM. In tho selection of a ram there aro two points which are essential. These aro constitution and character. One with a weak constitution should never be used as he cannot produce good healthy progeny. When selecting, tho following points should bo looked for: Clear bright eyes, a stylish and active walk, good chest and heart development, space between forelegs and fullness behind tho shoulder and good strength of bone without coarseness. A scraggy neck and back should be avoided. The back should be broad and tho ribs well sprung. The thighs should be welldeveloped and sound feet are points which should not. be overlooked. Regarding the wool, it should be of even strength and of suitable quality to meet tho requirements of the flocks. SUITABLE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE. A suitable physical structure is that which combines mellowness and firmness, permitting plant roots to extend their growth freely. It enables the soil to receive water easily, distribute it uniformly, hold it with sufficient tenacity, and give it up as needed by plants; it permits somo circulation of air, furnishing needed supplies of oxygen and makes the soil able to absorb heat and maintain a degree of warmth suited to plant growth. GENERAL NOTES. If lambs scald in the feet they should bo run' through a trough of bluestone deep enough to cover their feet. The uso of salt in the stack tends to prevent fermentation and checks the growth of moulds. The udder of the cow should bo kept in as healthy a condition as the rest of the body. Lucerne honey -is white and clear and has a delicious flavour. Many crops which aro dirly through thistles, etc., can be made into ensilage. About forty per cent, of the plant food value of a normal crop of lucerne is usually contained in the roots. When these decay, they leave tho sub-soil better fitted ior drainage and circulation of air as well as provide abundance of organic matter. Soil intended for lucerne must be deeply ploughed and put into as fine a tilth as possible and practically free from weed seeds and grasses. A soil may contain an abundance of available plant food and yet fail to grow satisfactory crops, if the soil structure is defective. Special crops call for special methods of manuring, and successful growers often differ from one another in the methods which they employ. Grass crops tend to make a soil compact. Grain and liocd crops lend to keep the 6oil structure in an open condition. Among tho ways of ascertaining what particular plant food constituent a soil needs tho following can bo considered : Analysis of soils, appearance of crops special character of certain soils, suggestions furnished by previous cropping, fertiliser experiments. The question of quality in all foods is of vital importance. It is recognised that a prolonged milking period is the outcome of breeding and feeding. Stubble lands can bo stocked with sheep as they do well and clean up the weeds. When weighing your cream, use only scales that have been tested, otherwise your weights and tho factory weights will not correspond. This may cause trouble. A cow should never bo given such an amount of feed as will tend to produce superflous flesh. Feed her until she has reached the limit of her producing powers, but as soon as slio starts to put on beef it is time to stop and decrease the amount/ of her ration. If a pig is fed in tho proper manner he will turn a greater proportion of food into meat than any other animal will do in tho first few months of its life. The remains of plants, such as roots, otc., which accumulate in the soil, constitute the main source of the humus. AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. MELBOURNE, Feb. 4. Wheat 5s 2Jd to 5s 3d. Flour 13s, cash 5s concession. Oats, milling 3s 3d, feed 3s. Barley, English malting 4s to 4s 3d, Capo 3s 8d to 3s 9d; feed, English 3s 3d, Capo 3s. Potatoes, £8 to £9 10s. Onions £4 to £4 ss.—• :> ... vs Association.

WELLINGTON STOCK EXCHANGE. YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS AND PRICES. At the morning call yesterday a sale of Bank of Now Zealand shares at 59s 6d was mado on tho Wellington Stock Exchange. At tho aftornoon call tho sales reported were: 4j per cent, stock at £96 10s; National Bank of Now Zealand at £7 2s, and Union Bank at £ls 6s. There was a very poor demand for Government stocks and bonds. Tho 4£ per cents were wanted at £96 7s 6d, and tho per cents at £lOl. Bank shares wore in good demand, with bids at £l4 5s for Bank of Australasia, 9s 3d for Commercial Bank of Australia Rights, £8 6s for English, Scottish and Australian, a rise of Is, £7 Is for National Bank of New Zealand, 48 for Bank of New South Wales, a rise of 10s, 59s 3d for Bank of New Zealand, and £ls 5s for Union Bank. Financial shares were in better demand, with buyers of Metropolitan Building at £l3, N.Z. Guarantee Corporation preference at 21s 3d, and Wellington Trust and Loan at £6 11s ex dividend Wellington gas shares were in demand, the ordinary at 26s 9d, and tho preference at 16s 3d. Iluddart-Parkcr ordinary shares were firm at 475; and Union Steam preference at 20s Id. For Wellington Woollen shares there were buyers at £6 ss. In tho other sections thero wero buyers of Manning and Co. at 19s 9d, N.Z. Breweries at 525, Ward and Co. at 43s 6d, British Tobacco at 525, Electrolytic Zinc preference at 36s 6d, Howard Smith at 32s 6d, and Wilson Cement at 365. Yesterdav’s buying and selling quotations wero as follow :

i SALES IN OTHER CENTRES. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 4. Sales. —Christchurch Tramways Debentures 1944, per cent. £99; Commercial Bank of Australia (ex div), 30s 3d; Auckland Gas, 23s 9d; Dcvonport Ferries, 24s 9d; Lewis R. Eady and Son 7 per cent. B preference, 20s 3d; Milne and Choyce debenture stock 24s 6d; Wilson’s Cement, 36s 3d: Alburnia, 3s 7d; Kawarau, 3s sd, 3s 4d; Ducky Shot (con), Is 6d. DUNEDIN, Feb. 4. Sales: Kawarau, 3s 3d (four), 3s 2d (ten); Electrolytic (pref.), 375. Reported sale: Westport Coal, 35s 6d. j [ EXCHANGE RATES. LONDON, Feb. 3. Foreign rates of exchange on February 3, as compared with par rates, or as averaged first half of 1914, are as follow : Feb. 3. Par. Brussels, belgas to £1... 34.83 Paris francs to £1 123.25 25.22 j Slockholm, knr. to £1... 18.18 18.12 Oslo knr. to £1 18.81 18.12 ’ Copenhagen, knr. to £1... 18.20 18:12 Berlin, Reichsmark to £1 20.46 Rome, lire to £1 113.37 25.22 Calcutta, pence to rupee 1715-16 24 Yokohama, pence to yen 24 3-16 24.43 llong-Kong, pence to dol. 25| 24 Montreal, dols. to £1... 4.8513-16 4.866 New York, dols. to £1... 4.85 1-32 4.866 Amsterdam, florins to £1 12.13ji 12.107 Batavia, florins to £1 12.11 PARIS BANK RATE REDUCED. PARIS, Feb. 3. The bank rate has been reduced to 5J per cent. —A. and N.Z. cable. P. AND 0. SHARES. LONDON, Feb. 3. P. and O. shares, £274. —A. and N.Z. cable. PRICES OF METALS. LONDON, Feb. 3. Copper.—Standard on spot £53 13s 9d per ton; forward delivery, £54 3s 9d. Lead.—£26 3s 9d and £26 15s. Spelter.—£29 2s 6d and £29 os. Tin.—£297 17s Gd anti £291 17s Gd. Silver.—Standard, 28d ; fine, 30Id per ounce. —A. and N.Z. cable. BIG CARGO~OF PHOSPHATE. Per Press Association. WANGANUI, Feb. 4. A record cargo of phosphate, 3500 tons, was brought to Wanganui to-day by the Foreric, which berthed at Cast led iff. This will bo the largest cargo over discharged from one boat direct on to the local wharves, and marks the port’s consistent advancement. The Foreric is 420 feet long, and berthed with ease this morning.

Buyers. Sellers. N.Z. GOVT. LOANS- £ s. d. £ s. d. 4j p.c. Ins. Stk., 1939 — 96 12 6 4£ p.c ditto, 1938 ... 96 7 6 96 10 0 5£ p.c. ditto, 1935 ... .01 0 0 — 5 $ p.c. ditto, 1936 ... — 101 5 0 4i p.c. Bonds 1941 ... — 96 12 6 5g p.c. ditto, 1938 ... — 96 15 0 4J p.c. ditto, 1930 ... — 97 15 0 51 p.c ditto, 1932 ... — 99 5 0 5 p.c P 0. Bonds, 1927 — 99 5 0 DEBENTURES— N.Z. Breweries (stock) — 1 4 10 Ditto (bonds) — 1 4 9 Petone/Lower Hutt, 54 p.c., 1927/52 — 95 10 0 Inglewood, Borough 5 p.c., 1929 — 98 10 0 Wellington Ilarb. Bd., 51 p.c. 98 0 0 — BANKSAustralasia 14 5 0 — Commercial of Aust. (rights) 0 9 3 — Commercial of Sydney — 26 12 6 English, Scottish and Australian 8 6 0 — National of N.Z 7 1 0 — New South Wales 48 0 0 — New Zealand 2 19 3 — Ditto (rights) — 0 6 6 Union of Aust 15 5 0 15 7 0 FINANCIAL— Equitable Building ... — Metropolitan Permanent 9 10 0 Building 13 0 0 — National Mortgage ... — 3 7 0 N.Z. Guarantee Corp. (Pref.) 1 1 3 — 1\ ell. Trust, Loan 6 11 0 6 15 0 Well. Deposit — 0 10 0 GASWellington (ord.) 1 6 9 — Ditto (pref.) 0 16 3 — INSURANCE— National — 3 14 6 New Zealand — 1 17 9 South British — 2 16 .9 Standard — 2 17 9 MEAT PRESERVING--Gear — 1 16 0 N.Z. Refrigerat. (10s) — 0 6 4 TRANSPORT— Iluddart-Parker (ord.) 2 7 0 2 7 9 Union Steam (pref.)... 1 0 1 1 0 6 WOOLLENWellington (ord.) 6 5 0 6 7 6 Ditto (pref.) 6 5 0 — COAL— Taupiri (ord.) — 1 2 6 Westport — 1 15 6 TIMBER— Kauri — 1 8 0 Leyland-O’Brien ...... — 2 2 0 National — 0 15 3 BREWERIES— Manning and Co 0 19 9 — New Zealand 2 12 0 — Ward and Co 2 3 6 2 7 0 MISCELLANEOUS— British Tobacco (Aust), (ord.) - 2 12 0 — Burns, Philo and Co. — 2 1 0 Eloctrol y t i c Zinc (ord.) — 1 17 0 Ditto (pref.) 1 16 6 1 17 0 Howard Smith 1 12 6 — National Electric — 0 17 9 N.Z. Paper Mills — 0 19 6 Sharland & Co. (ord.) — 1 2 6 Wairarapa. Farmers (prof.) — 0 16 0 V ilson’s Cement 1 16 0 — MINING— Mount Lvell 1 3 0 Waihi Grand Junction — 0 1 7 Kawarau — 0 3 9