ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6491, 10 April 1908, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. [Wo shall bo clad to answer. a» tar as posaihlo. all questions relating to thpastorul, agricultural. and i dastrie*, boc-culturc, horticulture pom try-raising, etc. Inquirer# must their full na/no and address. ad f an too of cood faith, but may aw'°‘ v/ird a nom-do-plnmo for the purposes of reply. Rattlers are also invited to tor* ward comment or personal ”, , _ „ nriinifi mi<ird in these answers or on this paco.—Ed. Land Paso. "N.Z. Times."! WOOI/ AND SKINS SALE. April 10.— Dalccty and Co., Levin, special Wool, skin, and bide. STOCK SALES. Thursday.—Abraham and Williams, Shannon; Abraham and Williams, Dalpty and Go. and N.Z.L. and M.A. Co., 1 alincrston. Friday.—Dalgoty and Co., Levin (special sale).

especial attention was given to floriculture. . . V Politics, Mr Lark© said, were absolutely barred by common consent, from the institute's discussions. The members wmfttimcfl concerned themselves wit.h such economic matters aa transportation nnd the conduct of the State farms and college*. The idea was entirely to teach farmers to do things for themselves,'not to go to Hie Government asking for heipBcsides, party feeling ran high in Canada, and if parly t politico crept in there would be no finality. The effect of the institutes was very marked, Mr Larko added, in Eastern Canada. With labour very scarce, the farmers would probably have been out of existence but for the help of the syptem. Bv the adoption of the now methods and machinery, and proper systems of changing crops, improving the breccia of stock kept, and developing new markets, the farmers had not only been able to live, but had made themselves remarkably prosperous.

VEGETABLE FIBRE IN WOOL

A BETTER PACK IMPERATIVE. Complaints have long boon made by the Bradford trade as to the use of comparatively inferior pucks by wool growers and carelessness in handling and baling. The pi foreign vegetable matter thus getting into the wool has grown to be intolerable from a manufacturer's point of view. A conference was recently hold at Bradford to consider the position. The chief recommendation ns a result of the deliberations was that the grower should uf«o a better pack. In reply to communications the Calcutta manufacturers said the matter of abetter ;mok was simply one of price. The question now to bo solved is: will the grower meet the trade by using a more costly pock?

A NEW PACK INTRODUCED. A repreoeuttttiv® of a-Syduoy firm lias just introduced. lo the New ooatu Wales growers u bUi>erior quality puck, whicu, it is said, several Uockzuaaters of that HUite will Uao during the coming season. The new pack, which has l>eon specially ■designed to meet the demands of the trade, is known as the hessian jute pack, lb is made from the best hessian jute, and is free from the Huff, loose ends, and rough finish noticeable in the standard Calcutta pack. These packs are sewn with blue twine, and this twine can also bo purchased for completing the sewing, the idea, of course, being that any stray pieces can, on account of their colour, 1)0 readily picked out from the wool. Comparing the new pack side by side, »empfcy and filled, with the ordinary standard one, the improvement is very apparent, It is slightly lighter, weighing lljlb. Though lighter, however, it appears equally durable, A trial of one by filling it with 4001 b of scoured wool, dumping at one of the wool stores, and then allowing it to expand, showed that it was well capable of standing tho knocking about. WILL IT PAY? The bettea* article costa a matter of Is ad more (says the Sydney “Daily Telegraph"), and the question is very naturally asked by the grower, is ho going to gain any compensating advantage by paying tho extra money? Will he realise more for his wool? Directly he will not; that is, a buyer will not bid an extra price for 'it. An extra farthing bid would represent over Ss per bale, so that the buyer could not show his preference for wool in a better pack in that way. The buyers operating in Sydney have not collectively expressed any opiniofl on tho subject, or disclosed their views of the importance they attach to a superior pack. It ie reasonable to assume, however, that the get-up being rendered more attractive and the danger of jute in the Wool being materially lessened, buyers will have more confidence in bidding for such lots, and the grower would reap indirect benefit by reason of his wool commanding a readier sale. .lust what it would amount to in hard cash could not, of course, be computed. Next senson’s sales may give some data on this point. Growers in giving their orders are in many cases stipulating for half of Die new and half of the standard packs, with a view to dividing their clips in such a way as to make useful comparisons for future reference.

EDUCATING THE FARMER

A CANADIAN EXAMPLE, Some of the admirable means taken in Canada to educate primary producers were described, by Mr I- S. Larko,. the Canadian Trade, Commissioner, to a"Lytteltou Times’* reporter the other day. The main system is one of conducting’ "Farmers* Institutes,** and originated in a Farmers* Club in Oshawa, Mr Larke’s own city., This, again, was formed after the example of a very successful club, since dead in one of the United States, which published an agricultural journal. Canada, Mr Larke explained, had agricultural colleges, an especially fine one being in Ontario, experimental farms, and departmental experts such as botanists and chemists, but the great problem was to induce the farmers to adopt the recommendations made by the experts. The general statement was that a man of limited means could not be expected to do everything that the officers, backed up by tho Treasury, could do. The institutes were effecting that, and were now being extended throughout Canada.

The original CVhawn Club asked the Government to allow its professors and experts to give addresses as often as possible .without detriment to their other work, so as to stimulate discussion, and to bring about contact between the practical and the theoretical. The man who had to do the work was generally out of sympathy at first with the man who told him what to do. especially in the case of the naturally farmer. • A case in point was that of one of the most useful men in the club. ITc was a doctor, but a very poor farmer, and although at first his adrico was scorned by those who knew his practical farming, his advice on organic chemistry and his help prov<d extremely valuable. Generally each electoral division had an institute, and besides the addresses of the Government experts, others were given bv fnrmew who. having followed the advice that had been given, had been eraccewfnl. Those man, of coarse, had a very strong jmhicnce where a man giving merely advice and reasons might have none. The institutes met ns often as they chose, and had. for instance, series of'four or mx meetings each winter, at different points accessible to all. They lasted perhaps two days and a night, and the lectures, which _gavo the full reasons for all tho advice given, were followed by disenssiono. In mat way advanced agricultural knowledge was quickly and rationally a.n d widely dinseminated, and the institutes had already accomplished a great deal. The lecturers were accompanied by a teacher of domestic industry, who. while the farmers were meet* •inc. ~*vo their womenfolk instruction, including demonstrations in cookery and other useful arts of housekeeping. Other mom hers of the Association delivered -addresses on making the homes more beautiful and comfortable, and

GLEANINGS.

The supply at tho Foatherston factory ifi 900 gallons less than at this time Last year. Seventy cases of cheese were forwarded for export this week. Orchard isfcs in the Ashburton County stato that the codlin moth is spreading with alarming rapidity, the pest actually attacking tho pear crop. A large number of orchards are said to be infested with the moth.

Ono good feature (says the ''Hawke’s Ray Herald") in tiho outlook for Hawke’s Bay sheep-farmers is that the weather condition© tills summer and autumn have been favourable for a good foundation for the ensuing clip. In a caso in which a Gisborne resident was charged with failing to exterminate blackberry tho information was dismissed, the Magistrate holding that the Lawson berry did not come within the designation contained in the Act, being & hybrid blackberry.

Pastures on the East Coast are now in a very thriving etate. A farmer from tho coast informed a "Wairarapa Age” reporter that tho recent rains change, dthe aspect of the countryside from late autumn to early spring, and now stock are revelling in the greenest of paddocks.

Last week an effort was made by pome of the Nelson milkmen to raise the price of milk to Gd per quart, but several declined to make any advance on the present price, viz., 5d per quart. Those who desire to get 6d per quart contend that if the Government dairy regulations are to be carried out the business will not pay at less than 6d.

Over 900 birds wer© received at the Government Poultry Depot at Auckland last week, the great majority being for local consumption, but while the number of birds coming forward is not decreasing appreciably, eggs are ohowing a tendency to fall away. It is thought that the present cold snap will still further tend to a decrease in this respect.

The dairying industry is on the decline here," said a Conciliation Board witness during the hearing of the Canterbury farm labourers’ case, "and if it was not for tho exportation it would be quite useless in Canterbury. > Local consumption is not worth catering for. It is the best-paying business a man can take up if his family works for him, but if he has to buy labour it doe© not pay at all."

The Marlborough Land and Railway League on Monday decided to approach the Canterbury and Wellington Chambers of Commerce with a view to securing their co-operation in a renewed agitation for tho speedy construction of the South Island Main Trunk Railway. The membership of the Marlborough League is being greatly extended, and Kaikoura and Cheviot Leagues are according enthusiastic support to the movement.

The P. and A. Society (says the "Wairarapa Standard**) has decide dto recommend the payment of £1 Is per day to delegates at the Masterton Ram . Fair,, and ask the Masterton Society to do likewise. Thirty-five new members were elected at Tuesday’s meeting. Mr Anderson moved tha tthe nex tsnow be held on November 25 and 26, and Mr Buchanan moved an amendment that it take place on October 2 Sand 29. Finally both motions were withdrawn and the matter left for settlement at the annual meeting.

A feature of the Californian scheme of agricultural education is tho reading course for students in their homes. It was found that the ordinary lectures did not go far enough, and the reading courses were adopted in order to complete tho system. Young men working on farms, farmers, and orohardisfcs attend the lectures, and are invited to writ© letters on tho subjects under discussion. These letters are posted to tho lecturers, the students paying the postage. ' Standard text-hooks are loaned to the students, who are thereby aided in their w’ork during such hoursi as they may be able to give reading. It is found, also, that good use is made of the bulletins issued by the authorities of the Agricultural College.

An old settler stated to a representative of the "Manawatu Standard’* that farmers have a special interest in the' opening of the Main Trunk line. One of tho completion of the railway would 1 bo to allow stock from Auckland district . to travel through to Manawatu, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, and Taranaki withat' any sea travelling whatever. . At present stock were practically shut up in their own districts, as transport could be effected only at considerable cost and risk. People did not care to rail stock from Manawatu to New Plymouth, thence transhipped and take their chances crossing Onehxmga bar, and entrained again or driven to northern markets. When the lino was through beasts’ could bo consigned on the train at this end. and go straight through, to Auckland, and at a much cheaper rate than present son-and-rail charge®. The tendency would be to secure a greatly increased intermixture of new blood in thei North Island.

Famine prices at present prevail -»n Auckland for nearly all classes of produce, and the outlook for winter id regarded os rather serious. Maize has been, almost unprocurable for Wo or three* weeks past, and East Coast arrivals this week were eagerly bought up at ss. The present quotation in Sydney is 5s fid. The outlook, as far as tho poultry farmer is concerned, looks black. Fowl feed is almost unprocurable, and with winter coming the poultryman's prospects look dismal. Fowl wheat f.o.b. quotation is 4s 7d, and it is going into store at 5s 2d. Tho question of horse feed is equally unsatisfactory. Oats are a luxury at 2s 6d f.0.b., or 3s ex store, but whether thisprice is going to remain permanently it is difficult to say, since it is considered in many quarters tha ttho high price is not justified. Bran and shrarps rule at the extreme quotation of 6s lod and 7s l(Vd ©x store. The scarcity is, of course, acountable by the fact that many of the mills are not going full time, and byproducts are short. Chaff brings record prices ,and is higher than it was after the January floods last-year. Fortunately, there is a good growth of green feed on tho farms, but the outlook for tho winter is, nevertheless, nt encouraging.

THE MARKETS

YESTERDAY'S STOCK SALES. (From Our Own Correspondents.) PALMERSTON. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report?— A good yarding of sheep, mostly consisting of low-conditioned breeding ewes, met a dragging sale, and vendors had to reduce their reserves in most cases before sales were effected. A good line of 350 fat and forward wethers elicited keen competition, and realised 15s Id; other lines of 2-tooth store wethers were not in demand, and most lines were turned out unsold- A fair entry of cattle was offered, and anything fat ox in good forward condition sold readily. Quotas tions:—Fat and forward wethers 15s Id, breeding ewes (mixed ages) 7s 7d to 9s, f.m. breeding ewes 4s 6d to 6s Id, cull ewes 2s 2d to 4e, good woolly lambs 11s Id, store lambs 5s to 6s, cull lambs 3s to 3s 6d, fat bullocks £7 15s, light fat bullocks £5 12a 6d to £6, fat cows £3 12s 6d to £4 ss, forward cows £2 Ss to £2 13s, store cows 25s to 355. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. report:— We had a medium entry of sheep and cattle, which met with a medium demand. Cull ewes 2s 5d to 3s lOd, store ewes ss. store wethers 10s 2d to 10s 3d, store cows 24s to 275, heifers in calf 365, forward heifers £2 3s, fat heifers £4 7s, bulls £2 7s 6d.

Dalgefcy and Co., Ltd., report*.—Wo had a small yarding of both sheep and cattle. The demand was not at all keen, and prices were easier than last week. Fat ewes 12s 6d to 13s, cull lambs 3s 3d. aged ewes 4s, small fat steers *£s lls, forward cow's £3 4s, cows and calves 325, fat cows (medium sorts) £4 Ss, bulls 50s. BLENHEIM. Dalgety and Co. report;—We offered 1000 sheep and 45 rams. Prices showed a decline all round, and there was very little demand for rams. However, sales were effected of the whole of the ” a ,Tj except the rams. Aged ewes la 3d to 6s 2d, iambs is 4d to 8s Sd, Lincoln rams UPPER HUTT. Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd.At Uoper Hutt on Thursday a good entry of sheep and cattlo was submitted. With the exception of ono line all sheep wer disposed of, mostly under the hammer, but there was practically no demand tor store cat tie. Good-conditioned springers wore well competed for. and sold at soimd rates. Fat wethers reached 15s, storers 12s 9d, fat and forward ewes Ue M, mixed ewes and wethers 7s 9d, f.m. brecdSg ewes 5s 6d to 6s 2d. small lambs 4s to 4s 2d, good springing cows to 10s, heifers (just calved) .£3 7s 6d to 12s 6d. light beef cows .£3 Is. SALE OF PIGS AT SHANNON. Hudson and Marriott, Ltd., L® v “> report: —We held our monthly sale of pigs at Shannon yesterday. W,e had a SoSd yarding of prime aud baconers, and every line was under the hammer at good prices. Medium baconers to 45e, light 3 £s, heavy rk ” rs 38s, medium 335, light 26s 6d to 30s, choppers 455, slips Ms 6d, wenners 10sPRODUCE NOTES (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON February 28. WOOL. Tho market here since the close of the sales has been quiet, and . sates by private treaty have been In the manufacturing centres at Horae and on the Continent the consumption of merino appears to be weu maintained, but for the coarser grades of crossbred the demand is of an unsatisfactorv character, and values hay© further given way, 40s tops now ruling at Ud ro Is per lb. There is a want of confidence as regard© the future tor the coarser grades of crossbred, andxn ©©ni© quarters a further depreciation is looked tOT ' SHEEPSKInd. Tho position of the market is unsatisfactory, complaint being general ol the dullness of trade botn for wool and pelts. The quantities available for the forthcoming sales on March are very heavy, and a further decline m values for crossbred appears inevitable.. it is diifcuit to say to what extent this will bo manifest, but the general idea seems to be that in the caso ot coarser grades a depreciation of Id to jci per lb must at any rate be looked for, while should the bulk, of the available quantity be offered it may be even more marked.

TALLOW. There has been a very moderate demand during tho period under review, and the market closes dull, prices for beef ami mixed ruling 6d to Is cwt lower. Mutton, althougu nominally unchanged, is at present in little request, and holders would doubtlessly have to accept quit© 6d per cwt less money in order to bring'about business of any magnitude. Home melt is in plentiful supply, and with numerous low offers from North America, tho outlook is somewhat depressing. In Australasian for arrival the transactions have beten limited to second hand parcels, as colonial ideas of values are still above the market here. The N.Z.L, and M. quote:— Fine mutton S3s to 345 ; fair to good, 30s Gd to 31s 6d; edible beef, 31s to 32a; and fair to good, 39s 6d to 30s per cwt, COCKSFOOT. There has been a very limited inquiry, and prices tend in buyers* favour. Fresh arrivals from the Dominion have replenished stocks, and these are now large enough to meet the demand, this season. 171 b seeds is worth 76s per owt ex warehouse. HEMP.. Only a moderate amount of business has been passing, and Heavy stocks of Manila exercising a ueprossing influence in that market, New Zealand has in sympathy declined about £2 per ton, and there is a weak feeling at the close. Good fair spot is worth to-day £2B 10s ; Feb.-April, .£26; fair spot, £25 10S; Feb.-April* £24 15s to £2b; and fair current Manila, £25 per ton, c.i.f., whilst tow' is in moderate request at £lO to £ll per ton. FROZEN MEAT. A slow d-smand has ruled for New Zealand mutton. But last quotations have been maintained, particularly for light weight carcases, which at the moment are scarce. River Flat© has been in plentiful supply and has met steady inquiry at 224 to 3id per lb. The inquiry for new season New Zealand lamb continues lx> improve, although in face of the heavier supplies offering, values have declined id per lb, Australian lambs are being moved in large quantities, and prices for the inferior descriptions are slightly firmer. River Plate chilled beef has been in smaller compass, and with a fairly good demana for hinds, values havo ruled in sellers favour, for forequarters, however, which hare not been in request, less money ,has been accepted. But little trade has been passing in frozrin sorts, hinds being difficult to sell, and values have ruled dower, but prices for fores, for which there is more inquiry, have been fully maintamed. BUTTER,

Sine© last report in face of the continued shortage-m supplies, and competition on the part of Ui© trade to fill their requirements, prices rapidly advanced, 156;s ultimately being realised for New Zealand. This state of affairs was succeeded by a suddon cessation in buying, which ooanplocelv disorganised the market and brought about a sudden collapse in values. For m© past 10 days buyers have kept off the market with the result that business has been practically at a standstill, but to-day sales ax© being made at the following prices;— Choicest New Zealand, 118 sto 113 s; choicest Victorian, 114 s to 118 s. Next week, arrivals will be in larger volume* it is hoped that a more normal condition of affairs will prevail, and that a steadier tone in the market will be manifest.