BRITISH AGRICULTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19419, 30 August 1926, Page 14

BRITISH AGRICULTURE.

CONDITIONS AND PROSPECTS. CLIMATIC INFLUENCES. EFFECT OF MOTOR TRANSPORT. r.Y WALTER BIFFIN. In probably no other country is the weather so important a factor in agricultural results as in the British Isles. Our climate is usually described as " temperate," and this is true if limited to the meaning that extremes of weather and. temperature are seldom experienced. But in its proverbial liability to sudden and frequent changes within the ordinary range, the British climate is certainly not temperate, and its inconsistency j's a great factor in the success or failure of a farming season. This erratic tendency was much in evidence in tho past spring and early summer, when good and bad weather conditions alternated. Soft weather at an early date stimulated grass and cereals to a forward growth, which was later checked for weeks bv continued coid winds and night frosts. Fruit plantations generally showed abundant blossom, but it is to be feared that the crop yields will not correspond with this early promise.

Arable farmers in the east of England who follow rotations which include good proportions of temporary grass and clover sadly miss the market which, in days before motor transport, was offered by horse-keepers in London. <' Supplies of London stable manure, no longer available, are also missed. However, the increased numbers of cattle and sheep maintained iu most parts of Britain create a proportionate demand for winter fodder, and in few seasons is hay so over-plentiful that prices are unremunerative to growers who wish to sell.

Daring spring and early summer graziers have been buying, or endeavouring to buy, their supplies of store cattle for fattening at gr»ss. As a result of this seasonal demand there has been, as usual at this time of year, an advance in values. Among first-quality stores, of feeding type, yearlings have ranged up to £ls to £l6, two-year-olds to £22 and £23, and three-year-olds to £27 to £2B. Lower quality animals have been from £2 to £6 a head cheaper in all cases. Rich English Pastures.

The very rich pastures of certain Midland counties, as Leicester, Northampton and Warwick, are the chief centres of the grazing business. There rthe vegetation is so luxuriant that two lofs of strong stores can be fattened on the grass alone, with no additional food, betwen May and October.

These excellent pastures, which command a rent of from £5 to £7 for the season, are commonly too rich for young stock, as also for cows and heifers, and aro best suited for fattening big mature cattle of three years old, or even more. These aro the typd of animal sought for by the grazier, and cattle of the Hereford, Shorthorn and Devon breed are most favoured; while Welsh steers also often do well.

There is a large element of risk in the business of thosa men who specialise in the summer grazing of cattle. In addition to the responsibility for high rents, a drought" in summer, bringing about a Jailure of grass, may involve the grazier in .heavy loss. His profits depend, too, on a satisfactory price for. beef at Michaelmas, when the cattle come, off the grass, as compared with the cost of the purchased stores. Grazing farms are seldom supplied with ..buildings,' and there is no arable land on which winter food could be grown, so that, however prices may go, the cattle must be sold at the end of the season, and cannot be kept back for finishing in winter. Decline in Grazing Profits.

A decade or .two ago tfie summer fattening of cattle on good grass land was one of the best paying branches in English agriculture, but prospects have become less bright iij recent years. The decline'in monetary returns is due to the high prices of stores compared with the fattened - bullocks, and also to tho scarcity of animals of,most suitable type. As a result of the modern preference for.yoang beef, providing small joints of meat,- ana the 'consequent extending practice of pushing cattle to maturity , at r.5 early an age an possible, , there is a great reduotion in the number of mature bullocks adapted for - grazier's, purpose Irish stores formed, and still form, a the English grazier, but Irish farmers great proportion of the raw material of are finding that it pays them' better to «ond their cattle to England in fat condition than as stores.

The big expansion of the, British dairy industry in recent years, witb the increased proportion of dairy herds in the country, has also been an-influence to tho disadvantage of the grazier;

Overseas Meat Supplies. Overseas competition in the provision of meat for the British market has lately developed in two now directions. Arrangements have been made under which South Africa will shortly be sending regular shipments of fat cattle to this country j(for slaughter at the port of arrival), and it is stated that a minimum of 500 may be expected every fortnight. The first shipments will arrive in Jans. 4 Cattle breeders in Argentina, too, not content with their large share of the British frozen and chilled meat trade, have lately mwiv - a bid for participation in the frtsh meat market of this* country. Being unab.\e to land cattle at British ports, tho South American exporters have developed a scheme by which shipments of fat beasts are sent to Zeebrugge,. in Holland, where they are slaughtered and their carcases promptly despatched to London. According to.recent reports, from 60 to 100 Argentinian cattle are being slaughtered daily at Zeebrugge, and then rushed across to England. Tne beef is of very good quality, and sold in London at prices which left a profit, in spite of the high cost of transport. Farm Workers' Wages,

Under an Act of Parliament passed in 1924, the rates of wages paid to farm workers in England and Wales are now " regulated." Agricultural committees, on which both employers and employees arc represented, have been appointed in every county, and these arrange minimum basic rates for different classes of employees. The number of hours in a working week is commonly specified, and extra rates are payable for " overtime." For fible-bodied men, between 21 and 60 years of age, rates vary from 29s to 37s 6d a week, though in Durham county so much as 43s weekly is paid to certain classes of stockmen and shepherds. In Lincolnshire horse and cattle men receive much the same figure, on a basic rate of 36s for a 54-hour week, when the overtime for necessary Sunday work is added

In the West Biding of Yorkshire also labourers have been paid 36s a week; while in Cheshire the minimum rate for eble-bodied workers is 355. Leicester, -Middlesex and East Yorkshire agreed upon a rate of 34s a week; Northampton, Somerset and Sussex 32s a week, -while in tho majority of counties labourers receive from 30s to 32s for a -week ranging from 48 to 54 hours. The lowest wago rate for men is 295, paid in Norfolk, Bedford and Huntingdon.. Norfolk workers are particularly dissatisfied with their low rato of remuneration, and are threatening a strike. The pay for female workers (of which there are relatively few in England) varies from 3d to 6d an hour, 24 (out of 47) areas paying sd. In the graduated ecales of payment for young workers ot both sexes, wages for a mala under 18 tire from 9s to 17s 6d a week, while a female of similar age receives from 2d to 5d an hour. In the majority of counties a weekly half-holiday has been secured for farm workers, and any work done duting this half-day is paid for at overtime rates.