FARMING NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2006, 23 December 1921, Page 2

FARMING NOTES.

AGRICULTURAL SHOWS. The folio-wing are the dates of the remaining Agricultural and Pastoral Shows In the Dominion this season: — 1922. Horowhenua.—At Levin, January 18 and 19. Woodville.—January 24 and 25. Pahlatua.—January 27th, 1922. Feilding.—February 7 and 8. Dannevirke.-- February S and 9. Masterton.—February 15 and 16. Marton.—March 1. It was stated at a meeting of the executive of the North Canterbury Farmers' Union on Wednesday that the Minister for Agriculture (the lion. W. Noswortby) had announced that arrangements were being made at the present time to ship the first of the throe million bushels of new season's grain, and it was decided to congratulate the Minister on the action he was taking. In discussing the prospects of the grain crops in the district with a farmer, a Wanganui reporter was informed that they had made splendid growth. However, the recent gale had played havoc with many of the oat crops, which were severely flattened. There has not been the volume of rape and turnip crops sown this year. | This was no doubt due to the abundance of feed and also to many farmers I considering that it was not worth the ' trouble and expense to provide these extra crops at the present low price of stock. Mr J. R. Anderson, of Palmerston North, who judged the Shorthorn cattle at the Southland Show on Tuesday, is an ex-Southlander, and was paying his first visit to his native heath after an absence of thirty years. He was astounded at the advance the province has made during that time, and nothing surprised him more than the show ground. He said he remembered it only as a piece of foreshore that was almost impossible to walk on. The Waingawa freezing works on Monday put through nearly 3000 sheep and about 100 head of cattle. There are now 40 men on the board, and others are expected to commence within a day or two. The Tapanui "Courier" says: If the railways do not pay, it is not the fault of a high tariff. A Tapanui district farmer sent 21 sheepskins (averaging about 101 b each) to market last week. The consignment was given away for £2 13/6. Deducting 14/8 for railage and 2/9 commission, the farmer netted £1 16/1. The landowner is up against it just now all right, in spite of Ministerial optimism. The Western wolths grass on the Tisbury Plot, which was sown about the end of October, is now being cut for fodder purposes, and the rapid growth it has made shows that it Is splendidly adapted for cleared bush land in tho Seaward Bush district. Mr Urquhart is now feeding Slbs of it per day to each of his cows, and a;. a careful record is being taken of the milk delivered to the factory from his cows it will be interesting to note what improvement this fodder makes on his herd.

Consigning houses are now advancing 7d per lb on cheese f. 0.1)., ocean .steamers. This looks as if they were more confident regarding the market.

A stiffening in the price of sulphate of ammonia is attributed to the explosion of the great chemical factory on the Rhine. Synthetic nitrogen and ammonia were manufactured in enormous quantities at the factory.

Travellers from France report that farmers in that country, have turned swords into plough-shares since the war with remarkable success, the wheat crops reaped on the battlefields are the finest in France.

Expected arrivals of butter in London to the end of the year amount to 170,000 boxes of Australian and 246,000 boxes of New Zealand. In view of this large supply there is little prospect of the maintenance of the present prices, says a London cable, but ther«j is an excellent demand for all good butter, and the docline i 3 not expected to be serious, at any rate, till the New Year.

Wheat freights continue on the down grade. The present rates are:— Western Australia, 46/6; Victoria and South Australia 50/-. These low rates are rendered possible by the fact that a fair number of steamers are taking coal to Colombo.

Mr Urquhart, chairman of the Tisbury Experimental Plot, does not intend to let any chances go pa.st. by' which he can make the plot educational to the district, and Is now nr ranging for a field day on it some lime in January. Fields-Instructor Alexander has consented to be In attendance, and arrangements are now being made to have a wellknown breeder, exhibitor and Judge of Friesian cattle present to demonstrate on that breed.

Export?, says a London cable, estimate that £1.000,000 will be sufficient to acquire the accumulated meat stocks, which it is suggested should be sold at half cost to the Russian relief committee. It is not anticipated that, this proposal will be proceeded with. It is unlikely the British Government will participate. Should the Commonwealth Government not provide the money. the whole project will probably be abandoned.

The slump in prices for all farm products in Great n<-i*-iin >•■■ » h , ferred to by an English writer: "The feature of the past week is an ugly slump of prices all round. A black and gloomy week. If thee ! ;'-

optimist, about, will he kindly point to the silver lining in the cloud? Interim conciliation committees are successfully concluding temporary arrangements, which ease the position. Lower wages are the inevitable consequence of reduced values of produce, but the labourer should have sympathetic treatment and be lot down as easily as possible."

A very simple milking- apparatus which is in reality a 'combination of milk can lid and milker, and which efficiently performs t.ho work of older types of milking' devices, says "Popular Mechanics." la now being marketed. Milk is drawn through the tubes from the udder of t!i! row i vacuum created in the milk can by i 1 motor operated vacuum pump ani* pulsator located with the motor

the lid. When the can is full, tr. power is stopped and the ltd is carried to another can by a convenient handle. In case of break-down, :h: other lid may be had from the manufacturer for use while repairs are be in£ made.

Australian exchanges. says tli "Mark Lane Express," indicate thn thore arc considerable efforts being

mado on the part of breeders of Corrledale sheep to push the interests of the breed and extend not only their home trade but their export trade. We understand that to some extent they have been successful in pushing their breed in Patagonia and the southern part, of South America. From the Englishman's point of view this intrusion, particularly as far as regards breeders of Romney Marsh sheep and also to a smaller extent to those of the Lincolna, is one. reason that accounts for the lessened demand experienced during the current year for these breeds. The result, of this new* departure must, of course, be awaited, but we feel convinced that when such becomes known it will be undoubtedly in favour of the British breeder for this one simple reason, that the Corriedale is, and must for some considerable time yet remain, a crossbred, and every breeder knows that the resultant product of the crossbred has never yet been aide to hold its own either in respect to wool production or flesh production against that sired by a pure bred. Judging from the comments of. the above writer on the qualities of the Corriedale and his references to it being a "crossbred." he is evidently oblivious to the history of the CorriedftJc. Ho seems to be unaware that this brood has been fixed to typo over a period of some 50 years and that the Corriedale breeds just as true as any variety which has been made by British breeders. Moreover, it is robust in constitution, and is just the ideal sheep for the most rigorous climate; besides its valuable fine fleece it has all the essentials for producing the nuggety choice lamb desired in the export trade. The South Americans who have used the Corriedale arc well satisfied that the breed serves all their requirements, and repeat orders for stud specimens show how the Corriedale is appreciated.

Shorthorn breeders will be interested to learn that while there is a, general slump in values of stud animals of all breeds in Scotland, that the Shorthorn is realising high figures, notwithstanding the general depression. The autumnal Shorthorn sales in Scotland were held recently, says the "Mark Lane Express," when once again drafts from the famous herd of Mr William Duthie, Collynie; Mr J. Duthie Webster, Tarves; and Mr James Durno, Uppermill, were offered in the presence of a very representative company of breeders and buyers. As before, there was a ready demand for the best, but at prices showing a decline. It was at Mr Duthies' sale in 1919 that the average of £I4OO 8/7 was obtained for 24 bull calves, an average which stands out abovo anything hitherto realised in the history of Shorthorns. Last year his average for 26 bull calves dropped to £797 5/7, and last week there was a further decrease of 23 bull calves, making an average of £444 13/11. The highest price was 2000 guineas (compared with 2600 guineas last year), which was paid by Mr F. L. Wallace, Abendeenshlre, for the dark roan Collynie Golden Eagle, by Balcairn White Eagle, a bull of the Estelle branch of the Josephine ■.'amily. Three other bull calves from the Collynie herd made four-figure prices, while the heifer calves made up to 240 guineas. The distinction of having the top price for heifer calves lay with Mr J. Durno, Uppermill, who obtained 510 guineas from Mr W. iJuthie for a roan Bessie calf by Collynie Crown Prince. Mr Duthie Webster's best figure was 450 guineas. In normal times these figures should be satisfactory to breeders.

The Greytown cheese factory is paying out 9d per lb. for butter fat for supplies to end of November, compared with 2/ laat year.

JOHN SON VELLB FAT STOCK SALE

Messrs Abraham and Williams, Ltd., and Wright Stephenson and Co., Ltd., report on their Johnsonville fat stock sale held on 20th December, 1921, as follows: —Owing to it being Christmas sale a full yarding of lambs was offered to a good attendance of buyers, and met with a keen demand at prices in excess of last week. A small yarding of sheep and beef met with a good demand at prices slightly lower than last week. We quote: Best ox £8 12/6, £8 15/ to £9; medium ox, £7, £7 5/, £7 10/. to £8 10/; light unfinished, £6 12/6 to £6 15/; cows, £3 12/6, £4 to £4 10/; runners £2 2/6; vealers, 14/ to 19/, 19/6, 20/ to 27/6; best lambs, 14/1, 14/9, 14/11, 15/ to 15/2; medium, 13/ to 13/6; light, 11/6; wethers, 12/ to 12/3; best ewes, 10/1; others, 8/2 to 8/6.