FARMING NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1808, 5 May 1921, Page 2

FARMING NOTES.

I'lli: MARKETS.

(By "Agricola.")

A buyer from the north has licou operating 1 in the Pahiatua district for heavy-weight fat wethers and owes.

At the Pahiatua stock sale oni Tuesday, host woolly lambs made up to 0/0 per heart, best fat ewes !<i/, mill best,

Some of the oat crops about Hcatherlea, l.cvin, have averaged nearly two tons per acre, which is considered a fair return lor the dry season experienced.

According- to the High Commissioner's market report prices for Australian fruit in England have declined very considerably recently, owing to its poor condition on arrival.

The High Commissioner advises that the Manila hemp market remains firm, but, quiet, no doubt owing- to the continuance of the eoal trouble. As at April 30th the New Zealand market was lifeless.

Mnharahara Dairy Company is putting' up somewhat of a record for the excellence, of its output. Latest advices show that the last shipment of cheese, was graded 94?. points, which is dinstictly creditable to the manager, .Mr A. Gulliver. ,

The record price paid for an Ayrshire in Scotland last, year was 1780 guineas, for Hobsland Mendel, bred by Mr T. Barr. At the same breeder's recent sale the top price was 550 guineas for the bull Hobsland Model, and the yearling heifer Hobsland Jean 6th sold lor 500 guineas.

The High fommissioiner's cabled report states thatjth'e market tor New Zealand cheese is firm, and the available stock small. As compared with the two previous weeks prices at April 3\oth showed an improvement— White 17/2 per cwt., 1/3 per lb., coloured £B'to £B/2 per cwt., 1/5 to l/5i per lb.

The Aberdeen Angus breed has beaten the. Shorthorns this year at the spring sales in Scotland. Top prices for the blacks have been 3000 guineas and 2800 guineas. The Shorthorns' best have been 2GOO guineas, two at 2500 guineas, and one at 2100 guineas.

It can be calculated that each cow yielding 700 gallons of milk yearly diverts from her food 421bs nitrogen, 161bs phosphoric acid, and 141bs potash. Multiply this by the number of cows in the. hprd giving approximately 700 gallons, and you will have an idea what must be replaced to maintain the fertility of the soil.

The' South Taranaki Jersey Breeders' Association has 1 decided to go on its own and not co-operate with the Stratford or New Plymouth societies in the matter of the auction sale of Jersey stock. Messrs* Linn, Hodge, Bennett and Buxton have been appointed delegates to attend the annual conference oi.' the New Zealand Jersey Breeders' Association.

Americans are past masters in the art of breaking world's records. The latest is a new milk record put up by the* Canadian Stock Farm's Friesian eow'Segis Pietertje Prospect. She yielded 37.454.91bs (18J "tons) —over lOOlbs per day for a year. These figures make this cow champion of all breeds, and beats the previous record of Tilly Aloarta (33,424.51b5) by over 40001bs.

Mr Charles Penny's champion Angus bull at Aberdeen, soldi to the Argentine) for 1000 guineas, came into his hands at the dispersion of. The Burn heid last September at the moderate figure of 78 guineas. /Mr Penny deserves credit, says the "Scottish Farmer," for his discrimination in picking up a likely corner, and his success in bringing him out in championship form —£922 for five months' keep—is quite a good paying proposition. I

We usually speak of the North as the chief butter-producing part of New. Zealand, and the South as the place that makes the bulk of the cheese. But the output of butter in the South is very considerable, and increasing. When the official figures are published it will bo found that this season up to the end of April, the butter export from Canterbury, Otago and Southland is larger by no less than 80,012 boxes than the quantity exported in the same period last year.

Lime should not be added with manures containing nitrogen, because ammonia is driven off, not only from ammonium salts, but from blood, bones, and any organic manure such as dung or stable manure. In such cases the escape of ammonia is apparent to the senses.' If the mixturewere buried in damp soil, no doubt this loss would be minimised, but as lime is usually applied on the surface of the soil and very lightly harrowed in, and the stable manure i.s also superficially applied, every facility is afforded for the ammonia to be driven off and lost to plant life.

Prices for stud animals have not deteriorated in England to any considerable extent. At the recent spring sales of Shire horses at Islington some animals changed hands at quite' high prices. Top was 1000 guineas paid for Goalkeeper of Kent, a 3-year-old stallion, and a son of the famous ifjhainpion's The 'top pricei for a mare was 925 guineas, for Gleadlhorpc Selection, bred by .Mr A. R. Grimes. Last year Mr Grimes won the female championship with Gleailthtorpe Seclusion, whlcn was also purchased'by Major David Davies, who had the misfortune to lose her during the year", after having given 4COO guineas for her.

At Tpswicli cattle market, in "Rutland, two exceptionally fine pure bred Red Poll .steers, ■which were entered Tor the Kmithficld Show, but which their owner could not send owing to the unfortunate outbreak or foot and mouth disease, were sold for £2Ol. They were exceedingly well grown and superior finality animals, showgreat depth. possessing excellent quarters, and being; splendid handlers. This prime finality pair sold, one for £lO6 and the other for £95. They scaled 1 ti o.wt. and 14 \ cwt respectively, th" i' riuer being a week under threi Ni.n-.f "hi and i he latter a month youii ■ Pupp i'-rs to :■ miaki Dairy fompan will receive . pleasant and welcome addition to their exchequer this wc I;, wlu-n the directors have decided ' •■; . i■■.' ■■• i 1.500 anions; them. 'I" i present a 11 average payni. i : lit i;d ;•< |i on all (he butterrat supplied iron: . ic beginning of the s. • ■ ■ ~• '..1 I e end of \pril. and will i eragc paym«pls for ■a: on •■ u -/- per Hi buttcrfa.t.

Unfortunately, tho dairyman's harvest timo will soon be over now. for the exceptionally dry season lias played such havoc with the pastures that the factories will .start running on alternate, days very shortly, and it is expected that they will close altogether at an earlier date than usual.

WOODVILLE AND PAHIATUA SALES.

The Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operat-ive Association, Ltd. (Stock Department), Pahiatua, report on the undermentioned sales, as' follows: At Woodvillo on Monday, 2nd Inst., a .small yarding of stock wa.s offered to the usual attendance of buyers. Best inquiry was for well-grown 2-yr old dairy heifers,*'a line of 10 selling' at from £7/5 to £B/17/0. Other sales were: Store cows £!/1 to £l/5, 3 weaner heifefs 35/; ewes sold at 6/5, wethers 11/6; weaner pigs sold from 3/ to 5/.

At. Pahiatua, on Tuesday, 3rd Inst., in the P.F.A. yards, wo offered a good yarding' of all classes of sheep, the quality of which was much above the average of recent sales. Included in the. entry were some really- good lines of heavy-weight fat wethers and ewes, which were practically all secured V>" .a buyer for the northern markets. Competition wa.s much keener than usual, and a very satisfactory clearance was effected under the hammer, 1700 odd head being disposed of out. of a total entry of about 2300, prices in most instances being above vendors' reserves. Best woolly lambs made up to 9/0 per head, best fat ewes 14/ and best fat wetheys 15/ per head. Only a few pens of cattle were offered Which made late rates. The followinglist of sales will give an indication of market rates: —03 fat wethers 15/I.' S 3 do., 14/11; 21 fat and forward wethers' 18/1; 07 2-th wethers 9/G, 30 do., 10/7: 52 fat ewes 14/, 19 do., 12/9, 32 do., 12/4; 21 S.b. ewes 8/, 70 do., 5/11; 10() empty ewes 6/1, 100 do., G/, 108 do.. 5/10; m.a. ewes sold at from 2/1 to 4/7; 4 fat lambs 13/S; 228 m.e. lambs 7/6, 140 do., 7/4, 37 do., 5/1, 41 do., 3/4.

ABERDEEN' ANGUS

THE ALTERED CERTIFICATE

At a committee meeting of the Dannevirke A. and P. Association a letter was received from D. G. Grant; of Mangatoro, forwarding a cheque for £4, in return of prize money won by him at the society's last show with Erina 3rd of Moyress and Pride of Dalls, Aberdeen Angus cattle which the council had disqualified as he had altered certain dates at Liverpool to compare with the dates he had-on the health certificates. The council seemed to think that he did this on purpose, .but he did no such thing. It was certainly a mistake on his part, and the council were making him pay for it. They wanted him out>of the show ring, as they found they could not beat his imported cattle. The New Zealand Aberdeen Angus Breeders' Association wrote regretting that Mr Grant had been guilty of altering the official pedigree certificates of certain imported cattle, and recommending that none of these animals be allowed to compete in 'any show ring in the .Dominion for three years. The council had dealt with Mr Grant in other ways, but they wished to recommend for the favourable consideration of the A. and P. Association the. suggested penalties. The President (Mr R. R. Chad wick) said the members no doubt were fully conversant, with* this matter, and it appeared to him' that the only course open to the Association would be to uphold the Angus Breeders' Association.

Mr R. E. Bunny: I don't think we can do anything else.

Mr F. J. Knight: Mr Grant says It was a mistake, but does he explain it?

The President: I could not say. I think it is a very unfortunate matter, as Mr Grant is a. very capable man amongst stock. He has made a slip and is now paying for it. Mr Knight: Has he been before the council? The President: Yes; .he has been given every facility for explaining his action.

The president moved that the reallocation of the moneys be paid to the exhibitors next in order of merit. .Mr 1). G. Speedy seconded the motion, which was carried. Tlie secretary explained that the prize money would now be allotted to Mr K. -J. MacDonald, Mr F. Armstrong, Mr J. W. Ellihgham, and. Mr T. W. Ellingham. *