AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20958, 22 August 1931, Page 19

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

Over a thousand orchards have boon visited in the Christchurch commercial orchard district by inspectors, who are giving attention to hawthorn hedges in search of traces of fireblight. Italian banks, at the request of the Government, are making available large sums in loans to grain farmers, with a view to. preventing grain being dumped on the market at ridiculous prices. Up to the middle of June two banks were reported to have advanced £497,000 for the purpose. Wool experts were amazed at an exhibit at the Imperial Wool Fair at Bradford recently. The exhibit consisted of a 19Jrlb. merino fleece, which is believed to be the heaviest ever shown. It was found in a bale from Geetong that was bought at the last London sales. Another fleece from the same bale weighed 161b. Experts were curious to know what sort of animals the fleeces came from. Sheep breeders in the Commonwealth are amazed at the difference in the price paid for New Zealand and Now South Wales lamb in the Smithfield market, London, says the Leader (Atelbourne), in the issue of July 18. Speaking in Sydney, Mr. J. B. Cramsie, chairman of the Meat Board, said it was beyond his comprehension why New South Wales light-weight lamb should be sold nt 53d, while New Zealand realised 7Ad to Bd. It was extraordinary that there should bo such a difference in the Smithfield market price. Ureeders of dairy cattle in South Australia have arranged to hold a stud cattle fair at the end of this month. All animals submitted to be sold, if over twelve months, must have been accepted for registration in a registered herd book. It is anticipated that at least forty animals consisting of Jerseys, milking Shorthorns, Friesians and Ayrshires will be offered. Prior to the sale the animals will be subjected to an inspection by breed inspectors, so that no weedy or undesirable animal will bo permitted to enter the j sale ring. The animals must be of good type, sound and of productive appearance. It is hoped that this fair will bo the fore-runner of annual fixtures. According to the London Live Stock Journal, 127 cattle, 84 sheep and 14 pigs were shipped to various potts in the Commonwealth from Great Britain last year. The greater number of cattle, 67 head, were Jerseys, mostly forwarded through the London quarantine station from the island. Amongst the sheep, the principal trade was for Southdowns, 57 specimens of that breed being shipped. Half the number of pigs were Tamworths. " Ifc is to he regretted," the paper adds, " that owing to the rate of exchange and the imposition of a primage duty and sales tax of 12J, per cent., in addition to the heavy freight on purebred live stock—viz., 40 guineas on cattle and 15 guineas on sheep—-there is little inducement for A ustralian breeders to purchase in this country under present conditions."