ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6326, 28 September 1907, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

ANtfWKKS TO COERESPOXDENTS. ■\Vo #ha 11 be fflad to answer, as far a? ’ Honshu*, nil questions relating to tin* agricultural. ami dairying »nUunuloh. !)“<■•<• allure. horticulture, T-oul-'rv-ruisim:. etc. Inquiri-ra must acncl thrir full name and address, as a guarantee of good faith, but may also forward a nom de plume for purposes of reply. Readers are also invited to forward comment. or personal experience on any points raised in those answers or on this page.— Kd. hand Page. "N.Z. Times.] i. S.—The brittle, shelly hooves are probably the result of hereditary influences, and you have little cbnnr-e of effecting any marked degree of permanent improvement. It would do some good, however, to avply a good blister to the coronets mid give the horse a lev; weeks spell In a wet, swampy paddock. Afterwards employ the best shoeing smith you have available. HOUSE SALES. Satnnlav.—ami M.A. Co„ and William.. ami K'-ttla, Waipi'kurau. IxiUiUt 2.—Calsety anti Co.. Wellinxlon. wKi.r.rxfiTOiV u’oor. sales. Xovamlier lath, at, 2 p.m. December eili. at 2 p.m. Jaimarv 17Ui. at, 2 p.m. February at 2 p.m. SHOWS. Knnavntn A. and P. Association's Spring Stiow.—October 30, 31, and November 1. THE JERSEY fact.p rrg innixn the butterfat BREED. AX APPRECIATION■(By J- G. Hnrkncss, President of Clio Jersey Cattle Breeders - Association.) * Tlio, high prices latelj* realised for pnrelired Jerseys in the Taranaki district for tho special object of materially improving existing milking holds is at last direoUng the attention to this great dairy breed which it merits. Even whore milk is paid for on tho basis of finality there are some •diiiryuieu who stii'. have a strong prejui.W against vne Jersey. _ Probably one of the most common objections la

that they are constitutionally weak and require special care and attention. This is ono of those errors that experience would rectify- Speaking with an intimate knowledge of .the breed, extending over a period of twonty-five years, I have no hesitation in declaring that there is no foundation for this attitude. As a matter of fact, the Jersey is no more subject to disease than other purebred stock. ■ Every ■typical dairy cow is liable to disease and requires sp'eeial attention. Invariably if disaster touches a man’s milking herd it is always the best that suffer or aro lost. The reason is not far to seek. Tho dairy cow, if of the right class, is an animal with a highly strung organism. The main faculty of her being is to produce milk, both rich in quality and plentiful in , supply ; and to do this successfully •it maturalfy follows M’hat she requires special caro and attention, whatever tho breed. Caro- must be exercised in handling, and proper attention bo given to providing sufficient food. Now, an animal that is expected to fulfil the _ above conditions ought not to bo subjected to the same conditions as a “scrub” cow, and yet bo expected to do her best. Consequently, it must bo evident to any person v. ho is prepared to examine tho question with an unprejudiced mind that there iA no reason why a Jersey’ should bo liable to disease or be affected by changes of temperature any more than an Ayrshire, a Holstein, or a Shorthorn. So far as the liability of tho first named

is concerned, it is undoubted that in keeping purebred stock, under exactly similar conditions as tho ordinary grade dairy herd, the percentage of those attacked with,' say, tuberculosis is less with them than with the others named- It has been demonstrated again and again that if. pro-

per provision is made for winter feeding and the cows rugged in winter fcho Jersey will do as well if not better

than hor competitors. Many people imagine that Jerseys are tenderly nurtured from the time the calf is dropped, and that this has a tendency to perpetuate the evil they comnlain ofThis is a mistake. From, the first the calves receive different treatment thai others, for the simple reason that to richly feed thorn and to keep them in high condition would be fatal to their future usefulness. To overfeed the calf would indue© in Jcrsbys a production of flesh and fat-forming ■material which would bo permanently injurious. The object of feeding., is to give them sufficient to promote healthy growth ’and development, especially of those faculties which are requisite for the greatest yield of 'ianilk. Many experienced breeders of .nthis clos£ of cattle have come to the » conclusion that it is a serious danger * to exhibit, their young stock at agricultural show's, because show conditions require that the animals exhibited must bo highly fed to produce exhibition form: and it has been found again and again, in adopting this, course, that heifers ©sinxually have practically become useless ns dairy cows. Another proof that Jerseys are

reared on hardy lines is contained in the fact that in order to promote a good constitution no breeder who understands his business will overfeed even a bull calf, it this is 'toms it lias; a tendency to induce 'coarseness. especially in head, neck, and .-■lionlders, which in the dairy typo should be. fine It is a fatal mistake to have a dairy sire too masculine in appearance. It is very gratifying to me, taking the interest in the breed that I do,"to find that milk producers nro at last realising its true value for huttcr-fat production. It is unquestionnbU- the greatest dairying breed in the'world, "and with the attention Icing given to it by progressive breeders in 3 different parts of the world must continue to remain so. 'lbis has been amply exemplified in public trials in which the different breeds have competed. When tho cost of food supplied and the milk produced have been taken into consideration Jerseys have been always triumphant-

DISEASE AMONG DAIRY COV/S ALLEGED MYSTERIOUS TROUBLE. A little time since the settlers in the Tamaki block, near Dannevirke. experienced a considerable amount ot 10.-s among their cows, the cause of which they could not understand. _ the matter was reported to the Veterinary Division, and an investigation made. the veterinary officers found that the mortality was due to the disease known as septic metritis, that is, septic inflammation of the womb. The condition is set un bv the retention of portions of the placenta which. do not como away in the ordinary manner after the cow has.calvled, and consequently set up putroi.utm • changes inside the body. Cows found ! suffering from the trouble* wore put un- : der treatment, and with most saiiMac- ; torv results. We hear that, the trouble has been present among dairy cows in other districts in the North Island. It probnblv accounts for many so-called ! mysterious deaths among dairy cow-s at--1 ter calving. Unlike milk feicr. death I does not usually intervene until from 1 two to three weeks after the trouble is i first noticed. ,p he correct treatment consists of irn f ,_'ti..g the womb with a

A HIGH-TYPE JEE£''T. Tha above picture represents a Jer W c ™ u^iX^ual’To &r b^e^.“i&W f Pride's tested 271 b ioz of butter from 4201 b 9os of milk in seven d y 4471 b 2oztest. Her best milk record for on B day was 651 b 4or; seven days 4471 b 4oz. thirty-one days. 15411 b 14oz; one hundred and tlurty-one days, 63a9 , year’s record. 12.0001 b.

solution of anti-septic fluid, such as Jeyes’ Fluid or Lawes’ Fluid, together with the internal administration of qumine. ■ ANOTHER CHEESE FACTORY NORSEWOOD CONVERTED. The Norsewood Co-operative Dairy Company, which last season turned but ono of the finest butters ot the Dominion, has decided at this late hour to manufacture cheese. A cheese factory is to bo erected alongside the central faotorv, and accommodation is to be provided for four vats. A cheese-making room will also be erected at one of the creameries, the cheese to be cured at the central factory. The cheese factory is to be erected by the company by day labour. Butter will be made from Hie milk from one of the crehmenes. This is to be done in order to keep the company's local butter trade going. The butter will be made at tho present central factory, but tho whole of the milk now boinv" received 'at the company s headquarters will be converted into cheese.-The company intends to establish cheese-making bn a good basis, and with this end in view, will erect a thoroughly up-to-date factory. It is expected that cheese-making operations will he commenced ■ on December Ist. BUTTER OUTPUTS ANOTHER LIMIT SALE. Messrs J. Nathan and Co., of Wellington, have purchased the Eewa I Dairy Company’s output at 101 d f.0.b., a price touched in connection with only one other output, that of the Stratford Companvj which was sold to the firm which had been handling it for several seasons. True, Hawera Company sold at mid,* but this was only for two months’ make, comprising the butter to be made until the concern’s cheese plants are in operation. It has been stated that tho Moa Farmers’ Dairy Company has sold at lOld. but this is a mistake. The company certainly expects that the final result of the sale will net this return, but in this it is anticipating certain things. The exact price at which it has sold has not been disclosed, but what the company is reckoning on to bring the price to 101 d is that it is only required to pack 56!b to the box, and that it is to receive 6d a box extra should the butter score 93 or over. THE BUTTER MARKET PADGETT’S REPORT. *- A report on-the Home butter market from Messrs Dalgety and Co.’s London office, dated August 15th, tells of tho splendid season'-being experienced by the dairymen of Britain and AVcstern Europe! Conditions could not well have boon better for butter-makers here, States the report, than have been experienced, and, moreover, the bulk of an exceptionally large liny crop has been successfully pot in, so that ample feed should be available for the winter. The favourable conditions referred to are counterbalanced by a considerable shortage in the imports from other parts of

the world as compared with June and | July of last year, the bulk of the deficiency being traceable to Canada and the ’United States, the July imports of butter into England .show an increase of C2B!cw( over July of last year. The most interesting features of these imports to us is that while only 13/scwt </ \ew Zealand butter reached London in July of last vear the amount landed last July was U,6o9cwt. Notwithstanding file report of a Siberian shortage being i ndiistj’iouslv circulated in tins countrv hv an agent of a Home firm, the July statistics show that increased "her butter shipments to England bv no less than iLWlDcwt, or 11:,,Wo cut in last Jnlv, against 90,686 cwt in July of 1900. Tile United States shipped only 23owt this year, against U,s9.>cwt i)i the. preceding July, and Canada 0033 cwt, against 3C,7Gocwf.

THE LAMB SEASON. * PROSPECTS. It is gratifying to know that everything points to a good lambing in the Dominion. There has been little loi>s from Lad weather, and the deaths among pregnant ewes are not on the whole of any great consequence, while feed everywhere is showing up well. The ewes having como through the? winter in satisfactory condition a good and early crop of lambs is practically assured, provided that favourable weather is experienced from now on. And while tho Dominion's output of lambs promises to be largo in number there is some indication that prices will bo on a profitable plane. The output of Australian lambs promises to show a big decrease owing to the drought, and this must affect the market to a certain extent. On the whole, the’ outlook for tho fat lamb raiser is decidedly promising.

' PAT LAMBS. THE VALUE OF THE SOUTHDOWN. Romney ewes and Leicester rams are rapidly becoming the most favourite breeds for crossing purposes in Hawke s Bay, remarked Hr W. Little, the wellkimwn authority, to the writer the other day. For the early lamb trade, however/iVIr Little is now absolutely converted to the Southdown ram, used on the Komney-Lincoin ewe, which, he con-

' Billers, is the best of all mothers. One i "I'eat advantage in'the Southdown, says I Mr Little, is that if the ewe is treated i well a far larger percentage of lambs I will be got fat off the mother than with I any other cross or breeii. The Southdown crosses are always in shape and weigh like pigs. Of course, Mr Little points out, the Southdown cross must not Ire kept, and where the farmer cannot keep,his ewes in good condition and has no rape or kale ready to feed to any lambs which are not got fat off the mother, it is far better to uso the Leicester ram, either the Border or Engglish. LINCOLNS IN AUSTRALIA. EECOED SALE IN MELBOURNE. At the late Melbourne sheep sales Lincolns outclassed all lougwoole in the prices realised; in fact, a Commonwealth record for an auction value of a Lincoln was established. The champion of the Eoyal Show was knocked down at the sensational figure of 160 guineas, the breeder’s first three rams averaging no less than .£129 3s. The reserve Eoyal Show champion, a sixAooth, made 110 guineas, the breeder’s' first two rams averaging ,£lls 10s. A number of New Zealand-bred lambs brought good prices. . Three offered by the Threlkeld executors averaged 18 2-3 guineas. Threlkeld ewes sold as follows—Four at 5 guineas, three at 11 guineas, five at Vi guineas, and nine at 8 guineas. VEGETABLE FIBRE IN 'WOOL. . THE HOME OPINION. Upon in conservative estimate, it is pointed out, it costs the manufacturers of Bradford alone a matter of £IOO,OOO a year to undo the damage done to the finished article by the presence of vegetable matter in wool. Many times this amount is spent in only partially successful attempts to prevent the mischief by getting the fibres out before they get into the loom. When it is remembered that France, Germany, Austria, and the United States are all similarly involved, it is clear that the worsted trade' is annually taxed to an enormous extent by reason of the presence in wool of that which ought not by rights to be there at all- Nature, of course, cannot be controlled—at least when it is a matter of the influence of seasons over millions of square miles. Burrs will flourish and grasses will run to seed, and these facts are recognised. It is, however, neither the burr nor the grass seed that in the great cause of the waste and trouble. The investigations of the Bradford committee show clearly that the hand of man is primarily responsible—and it may be argued that what man has done man tan undo. It is the aggregation of bits of jute, yam. .and sewing twine from the packs which is primarily responsible for the wrath of the trade. The committee, by way of demonstrating this, cut opengreasy. and scoured bales that had never been through the London warehouses, and it was shown that, notwithstanding the most careful handling, the wool which had been next to the inside of the packing was invariably more or less covered by innumerable fibres and threads of jute. Scarcely a square inch of the wool .freshly .turned out of the bale was entirely free from such fibres. Worse still, when the wool was opened out, other, pieces of twine, hemp, and jute could bo found without difficulty, sometimes a'-.small handful of it even, in the very middle of the bale. And this, it is reported, was not by any means a “shocking example," and that in “the average topmakers’ wool the proportion of such foreign vegetable matter is found to be much larger." The committee brought forward "the most convincing and abundant proof that the evil is rampant," and they stated that it had grown immensely in recent years.

GLEANINGS. The record price for hides in the Wellington market was obtained by Dalgety and Company yesterday, the firm realising Bid for extra heavj'- ox hides. If better weather' is not soon experienced, Hawke's Bay sheep will not be looking too well for the show at Hastings on the 16th and 17th of next month.

For the August supply of milk the Dairy Union paid out cheques totalling Jt 7Bo 15s 3d. This sum is a substantial increase, nearly .£4O per week, on that for the corresponding month of last year. Romneys sold at the Melbourne sales on behalf of Messrs McKenzie and Lovelock, of Palmerston, realised as follows: Twenty ’flocks at 4gns, nine at Signs, fifteen at Signs, nine at 3gns, seventeen flock owes at 3gns, and five at Signs.. . The wet cold weather experienced in the Manawatu district just of late has had the effect of checking to some extent the supplies of milk coming forward. The tests' have also been affected by the wind and hail that have just been experienced. Sheep throughout the Hawke's Bay district are looking .well, a correspondent informs the writer, and there should be a good average clip. The wool will probably be light in condition through the wet weather experienced, though should a good stretch of warm weather ensue the weight will be brought up.

WOOL, SKIN, AND HIDES.

Lambs are looking very well, even with the wet spring, and there should be a very satisfactory percentage got off the mother. ; The exceptionally wet and bad weather exnerienced in the Manawatu dur- • iiig the'past few days has caused a very ; heavy mortality among sheep, particu- i larly eww and lambs. 1 After considering the position of affairs i'ullv, the directors of tho New; Zealand Fanners’ Dairy Union, at aj meeting in Palmerston on Thursday, do-1 tided to consign their butter by the next i available steamer, unless a satisfactory ! offer was received in the meantime.’ The | Dairy Union has hitherto made it a practice to sell half its output and coni sign the balance, but the present proyii signal decision to consign refers to tho whole of the butter that will bo available for export during tho season. According to an Ashburton resident, writes the Ashburton correspondent of tho “Lyttelton Times/’ the lambing percentage will be fully 100. In. some districts the lambing is practically completed, but in others it is still in progress, and it is difficult to venture an opinion regarding the ultimate issue of

He season. Should the weather conditions prove favourable for another three weeks, it is safe to assume that the lambing average will be much in excess of that recorded last year. In some places (says tho “Otago Daily Times”) the dryness of last season is now looked upon as a blessing in disguise, and tills is notably the case on Hi© Strnth-Taiori Plains. During the protracted dry weather the farmers were lend in lamentation, but at present they

regard their broad acres with considerable satisfaction. Everything looks prosperous. The famous black cattle are* thriving, grass is plentiful, and agriculturists declare that their land is in better condition than it has been for the last nine or ten years. Tho Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association has received ten entries for tho, champion butter-fat competition, to bo held in connection with the coming spring D. Buchanan (Longburn), Buchanan (Palmerston North), P. Harvie (Kata), and S. R. Lancaster (Filzherbert) have each sent in two entries, while one en- j try each has been made by Messrs J. Kyle (Fltzlierbert) and F. Fnirbrother (Palmerston). The competition will Erobably be held on a farm at Fitzhcrert.

THE MARKETS. STOCK SALES. EKETATTUNA (Special, to the “N.Z. Times,”) EKETAIIUN'v, September 27. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., held their fortnightly stock sale at Eketahuna to-day. Owing to rough weather all lines entered did not come foiward There was a fair entry of sheep and a good kmtry of cattle—all female stock. Hoggets 17e &1 to 18s 7d, ewes in lamb 18s Sd, medium fat ewes 19s Bd, cull hoggets 13s 9d; pigs, woaners 12-s to lie, sow in pig £2; cattle, a drug. EETLDING. PE ELDING, September 27. Dalgrty and Co.. Ltd., report:—At Peilding tonlay there was a small entry ail round, owing to rough wet weather and floods. Empty ewes 12s 6d, wether hoggets 15s 5d v -ewe hoggets 17s lOd, twoyear steers .£2 15s to £3 9s 6d, 2i-y'oa* steers £3 19s. The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company reports:—Owing to the very boisterous weather no sheep were able to come forward, but we had a good -yarding of cattle. These met with a dull sale. Empty cows £2 6s 6d, dairy cows £o, 7s, empty heifers £2 ss. PIGS, POULTRY AND PRODUCE. FEjTLDTNG, September 27. A. H. Atkinson and Co. report the following quotations at to-day’s sales:— Pigs, weanera 9s to 10© 6d, slips 13s, small stores 15s 6d to 175,. good >.ioi*es 2(E 6d to 245; hens Is lid to '2s sd; ducks 2© 6d. all at each. Produce —Pig potatoes 2s to 2e 6d, eating 7s 6d to 12s 6d; factory bacon (sides) 7£d, hams 7sd. SALE OP PIGS AT SHANNON. Messrs Hudson and Easther opened their now pig sale yards at Shannon yesterday. Owing to the flooded state of the country, all pigs entered did not come forward: The yards were, however, well filled. There was a good attendance of settlers and buyers from other districts. High prices were realised for all classes of pigs, prime pork being in good demand. Heavy porkers to 455, medium to 39s 6d, light to 32s Cd, good stores to 21s, others to 18s 6d, slips 13s, weauers 195,. sows to £4 2s 6d.

The fortnightly wool, skin, and hide sales of Wellington were held yesterday, when good . catalogues were submitted to a large attendance of buyers who peted with exceptional keenness for the lots submitted. There was only; a small offering of wool. A record in hides was made by Dalgety and Co., who secured Bid for an extra heavy hide. Reports of Dalgety and Co., Abraham and Williams, New Zealand • Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Murray, Roberts and Co., and Levin and Co., show the following prices to have been realised :

Wool.—Coarse crossbred,' 7d to 8d; rough and inferior, 6d to 7d; pieces and bellies, 4fd to sld; locks, 3d to 4d; orutchlngs, good 5d to 6id, seedy 4d to sd, inferior to 43d. Sheepskins.—Merinos, 7d to 8d; halfbred and fine crossbred, 83d to 9-Jd; coarse* Bid to 9d; dead. Gd to 7ijd; inferior dead, 6?.d to 6d; dead hoggets, 63d to 7d; inferior and seedy, 3|d to 43rd; skin pieces, 3d; stragglers, 4gd;dry pelts, 5d to 6£d; green skins, 5s to 8s Bd. Hides.—Extra heavy ox, up to 83d; medium, to'.63d; light, 5d to 6d; slippy, 2|d; exit, i 4|d to 5Jd; cows, best, 4id to s ; |d; cut, 4d to sd; slippy and inferior, 33d to 41d; yearlings, 3?d to 4d; calfskins, best, 6d to 7Jd; medium, 5d to s|d; stag hides, 3d to 3fd; bull hides, 23d to 3|d: horse hides, .11s 3d. Tallow.—-In tins, 23s to 26s 3d a cwt. Rough fat, «£l3 a ton.

FRUIT AND PRODUCE, WELLINGTON MARKET, Very little business wo a done in fruit in the local market on Wednesday, owing to the absence of supplies. When the markets opened up on Friday a moderate supply of New South Wales fruits were available, sent along from both Dunedin and Auckland. The condition, generally, however, was only from fair to good. ■ The demand for the latter was strong. The absence of the usual direct supplies from Sydney thfs week has been reflected, in the values of local apples, and of shipments ex Ruapehu, direct fmm Hobart, and ex Waikare, which nil had an excellent inquiry. The market has a splendid opportunity of recovering from its past recent depression for. citrus lines, and good business is looked forward to next week on arrival of supplies on Wednesday. The inquiry for local grapes and hot-house tomatoes continues strong, and prospects are excellent.

Apples, best local coloured dessert. IPs to 11s 6d; prime, 8s to 9s; good, 6s to 7s 6d cose: inferior,4<s to ss*. cookers (local), nrimo 9s 6d to 70* fvi. good 7s do Bs. medium and inferior 3s to 6s; grapes, 2s to 2s 6d lb; hot-house tomatoes, Is to Is 6d lb, according, to finality; lemons (New Zealand), 4a to 5s 6d case. POTATOES AND ONIONS.

Owing to the heavy drains made xipon

Southern districts, both from Wellington and Auckland, the markets there hav© shown a disposition to advance, and the ■ stronger tone has been manifest here, as prices have increased to a slight extent. If it is found that the volume available in Southern pits is not so large as was at first anticipated there is every prospect, if not of a further advance, of present rates being maintained. A good outlet is being found fox’ onions arriving. Local prime - hard are having a keen inquiry, and the 300 gunnies of imported, ex Waikare from Melbourne yesterday, are going into satisfactory distribution. Best table potatoes 80s to 85s, others COs to 70s, inferior 40s to 50s ton; onions, local .£6 10s to £7, imported £6 to £7, according to condition. The first shipments of the season of new potatoes arrived on Wednesday and Friday from tho Onehunga district, and met an excellent demand. The first lot (Windsor Castle’s, almost allied to tho Puritan variety) unloaded at 26s 6d cwt, and a medium sample of kidneys to hand yesterday sold at 27s cwt. Last year the first supplies were not available until late in October, but, being better samples, higher rates were recorded than now. Naturally, at tljis early stage, the prospects are excellent for new potatoes.

OTHER VEGETABLES. Tho demand for all lines, with very few exceptions, keeps at a - brisk level, and in spite of a fairly largo quantity of cauliflowers and cabbages from Melbourne yesterday the -values of these lines keep well up. Cauliflowers, choice selected 12s to 13s sack, prime- 8s to 10s, good and inferior 5s to 7s fid; cabbages, choice Selected 13g to 15s sack, prime 0s to ]£s, good and inferior 4s to 7b” fid; rhubarb, prime large 5s to 6s dozen bundles, medium 3s to 4s; asparagus, Is to Is 7d bundle; swedes, 50s to COs ton; carrots, 3s to 3s 6d sack; beet, 3s to 3s' fid sack; pumpkins, 6s to 8s sack; parsnips, 4a to os sack; turnix>s, 3s to 4s; lettuce, 5s to 6s; kumaras (scarce), 7s to 8s cwt; celery, 3s to 4s dozen bundles; green peas, demand strong at 2s to 2s I 9d peck; marrows, 5s to ,6s sack; cucum-! bers, largo 9d to Is, - small 3d to 6d j each. I EGGS. A good demand is being faced for all J supplies coming to hand. The market is unchanged at late rates, viz., lid to Is dozen; prospects are somewhat steady. POULTRY. Tho volume offering is barely up to requirements, a strong inquiry being met with. Good hens 4s to 4s 6d pair, medium 2s fid to 3s, roosters 4s fid to 5s fid pair, ducks 5s to fo fid pair; turkeys, gobblers 15s to 17s 6d, hens 0s to lls.