ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6495, 15 April 1908, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

IWo shall "uo Kl.-ul to answer, as J;ir as possible, all C|iM!Htioriß relatim; to the li.iHtor*!. nsrinnlturnl. and ilairyinK Industrie. li<Y.~c.ult!iro. horticulture, pool Irvraißins. etc. Inquirers irinut send their full name ami address, as a Kimr antra of Kood faith hut may also forward a noni-cle-iihwne for tlio purposes, of reply. Headers am al,o united to for ward comment or personal ci|>er:<"nr.n on an? point*) railed in thenc anrsivern or on tliis pace.—K<l. Land I'ase. "N.Z. Times.")

WHAT THE DOMINION CAN PKODOX'K There in at [«•'•>;< nt being exhibited by tl.o Biological Division of tins Department of Agriculture, iii tho windows of tho "New Zealand Times" olhce, n replica of the major part of Uio display of Now Zealand honev to Ik. made at the Franco-British Exhibition in London. Tho collection comprises samples ol honey from Die principal honey-prod ucLng districts of the Dominion. Iron, Auckland to tho Bluff. The complete collection ih the finest display ot New Zetland honey ever got logether. Tho qualify and extensive characterof the exhibit indicate the success with which lnokooping is pursued in this country, and demonstrate* that tlio industry 4 la being established on a solid commercial foundation. ~ Now Zealand produces some ot the Unrest honey in the world, a, fact proved bv tho result of tho sale of shipments to Britain, the prices realised being tlio highest brought by any ioix'igtt lionoy which reaches the Homo markets. The fine display ill our windows should prove to Wellington consumers that tho local product is of a very Inch standard. To producers; and consumers it should prove of great educational value This exemplification <>i tho work ot the Chief Apiarist and his assistants ih another instance of the splendid work of the Government in assisting the. smalt vettler.

UAWKJi'S BAY SETS AN EXAMWJ-:

The Hawko's Hay mutual oi I lie i-ar-mors' Union has broken away Iron tuo general yolicy oi' ih liiuous imn » Ijy reducing its premium to h\t s 1 1 - liu-s. The directors give as thou region" for adopting this low rate that tho whole idea of tho mutual being cnoap insiiriuico they only require in tho loim of premiums suilioiont to pay current expenses; in tho event of a loh* ,! oan bo called upon to contribute then pro rata share. It is only fair to point out that tho reason other muluais iu«o fixed suoh a premium as will enable them to Imild up a reserve 13 because of tho great difficulty that would probably bo encountered in collecting tho pro rata payments were there no provision for mooring claims but a call on members. The Hawko's Bay mutual however, is not anticipating lorees. it ia following tho safe policy of having ,a director in each section ot its territory, and only accepting risks of a sound character. Tho Mutual has seventy odd insurers for two yen re work.

A PRACTICAL OPINION. Of all the statements made (luring the slump in hemp not 0110 of them has touched on the greatest 'drawback to the business, a trailer, who knows every point in the gam-remarked to the writer. The wages, he considered, were not too high, nor the cost of "keep"; it was the vexations restrictions and the over-time—cast-iron, regulations which do away with all arrangements of mutual advantage. The men have not benefited by their legal protection, for, according to this miller, thoy have not made as much this season over all as they did in eomo former years. It is this way: Tinder the old order if thcro Was a wet spell and the men had to take a temporary holiday in corjs©rraonce, it would bo arranged that a fow Hours extra per day (at. of course, the day rate) would bo worked, so that the. men would not in the end lose any timo at all, {and the fmifler would maintain bin output. The same with lmlidays. Now, however, it is entirely different. If tho men cannot work on account of the weather they lose their time, for if they worked overtime tho owner would have to pay a special rate; and tho state erf tho market warranted no little extravagance like that this nenson. Thus, it will bo easily understood, that while the men Inbonrin; in flax mills are working for a higher rate of pay this season they have not been able "to make the same average •wage they did in tho previous season, for which they have only themselves to blame, .And while the men have suffered the owners have also been considerable rosors.

VALUABLE EXPERIMENTAL WORK. There has been conducted at the Aratakl Experimental Vineyard of the Government this season a very valuable work. Tt is the demonstration of the value of "budding" instead of grafting European scions on resistant stocks, the main experiment being in connection with tho method of budding. (ADVANTAGES OF BUDDING. The advantage claimed for budding aver grafting is that the propagating ."season may be extended by fully three months. Grafting cannot be continued with any degree of success after November, but tho budding n-t. Arataki was carried on right ftp to tho end of Imst month. The rapid maturity is also secured by budding is proved by the Arataki test. Slocks budded in the beginning of this season are now carrying two or throe bunches of fruit, and next season muKt bear a fair crop. Added to these advantages there is a rirobabiltty that the quality of tho frnit will be finer on the budded than on the crafted vines, for it is the common experience that budding jives better results in practically every dewnption of fruit.

Tho appearance of the jwnng vinos propaented by the two methods is striking the budded vines showing fully ilonblo the development of the grafted.

Th« experiment in regard to the stvle of bmMini? is hiijhly to the mniwsfer of Arntnki, Mr TJllis. who worked otrt ' fifteen variations in tho method of bnddinfi. and arrived nt a stylo jrivins oxcolloTit snrety of resnlt. Tho wl*ok> experiment will in dne time be ofTicially reported in tho publication* «f tho Department.

THE BUSTKESS IN HAWKE'S BAT. Fruit cnlttiro is now far 'beyond tho experimental stnjfe in Tlnwkp's Bay. Started on n sound commercial barfs

er to hike up the industry. The plough in at work on many a held preparing tho wav for fruit trees. With the experience gained as lo the varieties most suited to the district and the lemons demonstrated in regard to spraying, pruning, cultivating, marketing. etc., the way of Ihe new growers is easy. THE APPLES TO GROW. Thorn are three apples eminently suite/1 to the district and proved, l»th from local and exyort points of view, to bo anion" the most profitable grown. They are Jonathan, flohorty, and Stunner Pippin. The first-named is a mid-season apple and probably the best, 'general purpose apple grown—a fine eating fruit ami an excellent cooker. It is ready for .packing at a time when apples should be shipped to Hio Homo market*. From an export point of view it. has proved itself to bo one of th" most profitable apples grown. Last year it looped the German market for Australian apples, a line averaging 2ls a case. Doherty is a large apple and a great keeper, and, a fact strongly in its favour, it is not so subject to disease, as other varieties. The Stunner is an old favourite; an ap,plo which will sell on any market. THE IMPORTANT QUESTION. It is 110 use growing pood fruit unless it is properly packed, and mnrkotod to advantage. .Failure to observe these details constitute* the great weakness in tlio fruit industry in this as in other countries. Ilawke's Bay growers have, however, a co-operative company controlled by live, up-to~da.to men, who know what is required and intend to do it. Grading and marketing of members' fruit in largo uniform lines ore two of their chief objectives. A FRUIT DISTRICT.

Apples are, of course, not the only fruit Hawko's Bay can produce. It must become noted for its grapes. Its lienches and pears are of snlenuid quality. Thero is a grower just outside Hastings who has two or three acres of a cherry and strawberry farm all covered with wire netting; hy is away holidnv-inuking at the present time. At tho .Mcaueo .Mission there may be seen growing oranges, lemons, limes, persimmons, citrons, and egg fruit. Kanidly the small holding ia extendin;." in Uawke's Bay, and in tho fertile lands in the Hastings district and thereabouts the popular industry is fruit STATE EXPERIMENTAL ORCHARD. The extension of tho Arataki Experimental Vinevard to includo an experimental orchard has taken place. The preparation of the land was commenced lust week.

THE RELATIONS OF A MOTJMAILAKI MARE.

Tho recent 6alc of shire horses at Tring Park, tho breeding establishment of Lord Rothschild, conveys some very interesting information for breeders in this country, as it tells of the great value Homo breeders place ou the 6ons of a man* now tho property of tho NewZealand Government.

At the sale in question the following prices wero realised for sons of Birdsall Menestral: —King of the Roses, 3 years old, friOgs; Hotspur IV., 3 Tears old, ClOgs; Firekinsr, 3 years old, 3iogis; .Misty Morn, S years old, 620 gs; King Cole. 10 months old, 900 gs. Hotspur IV. was first in the class for two-year-olds in London in 1007, and second and reserve for special at tho last Royal Show, at Lincoln. His sire, Birdsall Menestral, won tho championship twice at tho great London SHiire. Show. The dam of Hotspur IV., Halstead Duchess 11., belongs to the Department of Agriculture, and is now at the Ruakura Experimental Farm. She is also tho dam of the two-year-old colt Monostrnl Royal Harold, now at Moumaliaki station. This colt is a full brother to. tho above-mentioned Hotspur.

It should be pleasing to the farmers of the Dominion to know that a Shir© stallion of such noted blood is at their service. Tho writer understands that the two Shire colts at Moumahaki, Harold Victor Chief and Monestral Royal Harold, are doing well and are likely to grow into good useful animals. At present the latter is certeinly the hotter colt of the two, but at this stage of their growth it is hardly safe to surmise which of the two will be ultimately the better horse.

THE CALL OF A GREAT COUNTRY. The Darling Downs has been well described as the garden of Australia, and that it has not loomed more largely in the wealth production of Australia lias bean ascribed to the fact that its possibilities have not been realised, and that it has been settled by the wrong type of producer. During a :ecent visit to Hawke'g Bay the writer discovered that quite a number of land owners in that district were intent on taking np land on. the Downs. As ono of a syndicate which is taking up a large block remarked, "The country is capable of infinite possibilities; the trouble has been that the men wno hold it do not know how to make the right uso of it, and many of them took np greater areas than they could manage.

Doubtless tho interest being created in this country in tho fertile Queensland plateaus has been due to the fact that several of the most progressive farmers in the Dominion have taken up land there. Mr J". Grigg, of Long Beach (the show farm of New Zealand) has purchased 8,300 acres; Mr Greenaway, late of Orotia Downs, secured one of the Tyson properties, 28.000 acres in extent; Mr Crowley, of Wnnganui, has taken up 4000 acres; Mr J. F. Partridge, of Canterbury, 7,200 acres; Mr Southey, of Wanganui, 700 acres; Mr Elliott, of the Thames, 1000 acres; and several others.

Mr Greenaway purchased his big block some time ago at JS2 10a per acre and subsequently subdivided it at £5 10s to JCC l. r )S. The smaller properties taken up by New Ze&landers have been, fruit farms, purchased at £ls to £l7 10s an acre.

It is said a Hawke'e Bay syndicate, tho principals of which are to visit the Downs in June next, has a capital of £175,000.

So far lamb fattening has practically not been taken up on the Downs. Recently, however, a Now Zealand settler, Mr F. G. G. Cooper, of Palmerston North, demonstrated what could be done in fat. lamb raising, and his examplo will probably make tho older settlers realise the possibilities of their country in this connection.

Tho Wantranui A. and P. Association has 105 life and 720 ordinary members. Over a thousand boxes of butter have been placed in cool store at New Plymouth during tho last week or two. Tho Puketnpu branch (Hawke's Bay) of tho Farmers' Union is said to be in a very satisfactory position. It has now thirty-one paying members. At

the annual merlin" last Saturday, Mr (';." iv>dd wai elected chairman. Mr P. Jlolbrl vi-e-chairnli.r., and -Mr 11. McDonald .-ecietary and treasurer. Tho i-ale of a block of 11/K) acres at Ijalmddcrv L.-tato at Xlh per acre- is reported, on apparently good authority, and it is understood that other goodsized blocks are the subjects of treaty.

The ram fair at Timaru this month re,lilted in a profit of JCM Ids ud to the Timaru A. and P. Association, under who-o ausniec-, if was held. The profit 1.i,,r year "was .£l2 lis.

The Southland chaff market is veryfirm, merchants buying at from .£3 as to iJil His on trucks at country stations. 11 "is reiiortcd that the North Island will btiv largely in tlio course of another month or two, but at the present time the best price obtainable is -C4 0'.0.b.. bags given in). The following remit has been forwarded bv the Puketapu branch of the Farmers"' Union to the Provincial Council: "That in tho opinion of this branch, a local man should be appointed to go round with the Government valuator when valuing .properties in each district for taxation purposes."

Tho tnrnip crops in tho Mnronan district, Ashburton, are suffering severely from blight. A number of turnips are also dying completely out, and the cause us attributed to a grub which i.s atnekin" the roots. A serious loss tx> farmers is predicted. A crop that is fully affected becomes useless for fattening or feeding purposes.

Several North'lsland buyers haye been oivrating in Southland in forward-con-dition bullocks, says the "Otago Daily Times." Prinio beef is quoted at 21s to 22s per 1001 b. Average butchers' bullocks aro worth JE3 to £9 10s, and for-ward-conditioned bullocks .£7. Young cattle are still at last week's quotations'— namely, £2 10s to J 24.

As near as can be gauged from the returns already to hand (the "Oamaru Mail" says), tho average wheat yield for the North Otago district will be about thirty-two bushels an acre. This is slightly less than was estimated early in the season, and the result of the various crops bear out tho opinion formed by many, that the drought would materially affect tho gram weight of seemingly flourishing areas.

Tho local stocks of fair fibre (says a Southland correspondent) are very firmlv held, and as the merchants have sat tijht during the depression they certainly deserve to gain a considerable increase." on lato ruling prices as a reward for their enterprise and faith in the market. There have also been several inquiries for tow, but so far as I can learn stocks of this article are verv light, and the recent inquiries have not" resulted in anv business. The effect of local mills being shut is to strengthen the market, and there can be no further supplies sent forward till probably S?pteml>er or October. Some idea of the money in grape growiu" even in. Australia, where the competition is exceptionally keen, may be gained from tho fact that a man near Cambden Bridge, Sydney, has a two acre property, off which in his spare time he has made practically a living income. He works eight hours a day safeguarding tho tramway lines, and yet ho has found time to lay out an acre and a half in vines, giving the choicest table grapes. Last year—although all tho vines were not in full bearing—he had a crop of six tons, which realised iSI2O. This year the yield should be eight tons.

The Oamaru stock market continues firm with a good inquiry for forward lambs and voung ewes. The yarding at Waiareka was one of the largest seen there. One lino of two-tooth crossbred ewes was sold tit 23s and other lots at 18s 6d and IBs for good sorts. Six and eight-tooth ewes reached 18s Bd, and good lines of sound-mouthed ewes made 17s (jA and 18s. Rape lambs sold at 13s to 13s 8d and good stores at 12s and down to lis 6d. Store cattle are in fair demand at up to JEG for three to four-year-old steers. Dairy cows and heifers are in strong demand, and values havo advanced to £8 for best young cows at profit.

Writing recently of the butter boom, Messrs Weddel and Co. report—"As soon as the upward panic spent itself, then sellers became infected and icomp'etely "lost their heads." and are now going about virtually offering their butter at any price tho buyer will give. From selling 'Australian and New Zealand last week at 150 s per cwt., they descended to offering at 110 s, at 116 s today, a fall of 37s per cwt. in. a week! The present danger is that the trade should still overlook the very fact that brought about the recent crisis. The sbortaso of .supplies still continues, and will continue. For February up to date, the deficiency in Colonial arrivals is 2,731 tons below the same period last February, and in March there will be a deficiency of about 1,100 tons. The high prices of the last few weeks have drawn increased supplies from the Continent and from America, but the collapse will stop this movement and it will kill the Margarine."

THE EARXETS

ANSWERS TO COKKKHPONDHNTS.

NEW ZEALAND HONEY

MUTUAL INSURANCE

THE FLAX INDUSTRY

VINE PROPAGATION

GLEANINGS.

; —_ APPLE GROWING

TESTERDAY'S STOCK SALES. (From Our Correspondents.; JOHNSON'VILLE. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report: — Wo had a full entry of beef. Most -f the cows and heifers wore from prime to medium sorts; the bullocks were only fajj-. Ox bee-f made 22>s tkl, plaiji steeie 2'\s, cow beef from l&s to 20s, heifers 21ft |j«r 1001 b; best bullocks £1 17s Cd to £H 7s Gd, light £7 to £7 12s 6d, stores £1 17s Gd, heifers £(i to G 26 Gd, cows £i & to £1 17s 6d- There was a good yarding of sheep, mostly prime quality. Wetherfi.. priine 17s lOd, others las Id to 16s M, owes 13.5 lid to 14s lOd, plain lis Gd, lambs lis 2d to 13s lOd, cull ewes 2s, cull lambs 5s 6d. HUNTERYILLE. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report:—We had a good entry of sheep and a fair entry of cattle. There was improved demand for sheep, especially wethers. Cull lambs Is, mixed lambs 3s fxl, 2,4, and 6-booth ewes 8s 3d, 2-tooth "wethers Gs 9d to 10s 0d; 18-mouth steers 35s Gd. PAHIATUA. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report:—A good yarding of sheep and a fair number of cattle came forward. Bidding for wethers and good ewes was brisk. CnU ewes were hard, to quit. 2 and 4-tooth wethers 11k to 14s Gd, lambs in wool to 8s lOd, shorn lambs to 6s, cull lambs 2s 7xl to 3s, sound-mouthed ewes 9s lid, cull ewes 2s •id, fat and forward cows from £Z 3s to .£3 15s, spring heifers £3 3s, poor cows and calves 30s, empty heifers £2. j WAIPUKURAU. The Associated Stock Auctioneers offered a large yarding of sheep and cattle. There was a very largo attendance. Prices for fat &heep were about a shilling a head better than at last Bale, and all fat cattle met with ready sale at enhanced values. Store wethers and store lambs also appreciated considerably. Fat bullocks £7 10a to .£9 for about 21s Gd per 1001 b), fat wethers 16s, fat ewes 13s to 15s, fat lambs in wool 14s, flliorn 12s, store lambs 5s to Bs, store wethers lis to 14s, store ewes 2s 6d to 108 Gd, forward ewes lis to 12s. fruit and produce, "wellington quotations. The local fruit markets, have been well supplied lately with %'j.vious varieties of fruit, owing to supplies of Cook Island oranges and bananas having como to hand yesterday, in addition to which there were the usual lot'-il descriptions available. In marked contrast to eomo of the oranges opening up in bad order, a small percentage of this fruit was in a green state. The demand was good for the citrue fruit, but the bananas were very irregular in some cases and in lAid condition. The inquiry for both apples and pears continues to harden although prices do not show any appreciable change on values which have been recently ruling, which, however, were in advance of the figures obtaining a week or two back. The trend of the markets for these two lines must be one of hardening as supplies are now getting within a very small compass. Shipments of New South Wales fruits are duo this morning oer Moeraki, and doubtless will comprise passions, pines, grapes, and a few of the early descriptions of New South Wales lemons.

Apples, choice dessert 9s to 10s case; inferior sorts 06' to Bs, cookers, prime largo 5s to Gs Cose, inferior 3s to Is; pears, choice dessert, 10s to lis case, good and prime 6s to Bs, stewing 4s to 5s til case; peaches, choice 7s to Bs, inferior 4» to Gs; quinces 3s to is 6d case; Cape gooseberries 5d to Gd lb; local paesions 4s to 4s Gd box; grapes, local hothouse is to is 2d lb; others 6d to 71d; tori {itoes, choice 5s to 7s half case; inferior and groen Is Gd to 3s. . POTATOES AND ONIONS. Reports from the south denote that there is a slightly hardening tendency, and should this be the cUs? values must move up in sympathy hero. A heavy prolonged increase, however, is not likely to eventuate as importations will be made with Tasmanian grown. Tho drain lately on southern tubers has been particularly heavy, and no doubt it is likely that immediately after the holidays there will be a tension in tbe local market, which, however, will be relieved so soon as matters regain their normal state after tho vacation. Onions are displaying a steady tono with no change apparent. Best white potatoes £S to £6 10s per ton; prime whites £5 to £5 10s,! inferior 2s to 3s Gd sack; onions, prime 7& to 7s Gd cwt, picklors 7s to 9s cwt. OTHER VEGETABLES. Practically no line is ruling at unsatisfactory prices, the demand being, if anything, more than equal to the supply : Caulifloweis, choice 9s to lis sack; others Gs to 8s; cabbages 8s to 10s for prime; inferior 4s to Gs; beetroot 5s to 6s sack; carrots, table 4s to 6s sack; turnips 4s to 5s sack;. green peas 12s to 14s half-sack; lettuce, best 5s to 7s case; celery 3s to 4s dozen; pumnkins 6s to 7s sack; marrows 4s to 5s sack; piemelon© 5? to 6s sack; parsnips 5s to 7s sack; French beans 149 to 15s half-sack. EGGS.

The market is displaying a strong tone, and stiles of best brands are being made in some cases at over 2s dozen; less popular lines realise Is lOd to 2s; preserved Is 5d to Is 6d.

Laery and Co., Ltd., Wellington, report wholesale prices ruling on the market.-—" Wheat, fowls' 5s 3d to 5s 6d; oats, 3s to 3s 3d; Beed oats, 3s 3d to 3s 6d; maize 5s 6d to 5s 9d; crushed malt, 8s 6d; Prussian blue peas, 6s 3d to 6s 6d, fowl 4>eas 4s 6d to 4s 9d, all at per bushel; flour, New Zealand .£l2 10s, Australian .£ll to .£ll 10s; bran, £6 to .£6 ss; pearl barley, £l9; split peas, JBlßlos ■, bonedust, imporphosphates, d&llos todESss; chaff (oatonsheaf), £5 15s to .£6; oatmeal, .£l3 (oatensheaf), £6 to .£6 ss; oatmeal, £\3 10s; potatoes, whites 5s 6d to 6s 6d; bacon, factory sides BJd, hams 9d, rolls 9Jd; butter, bulk lid to Is Id; poultry, hens 2s 6d to 3s; ducks 5s 6d; turkeys, gobblers 15s to 225, hens 8s to 9s, all at per pair; cauliflowers 5s to 10s; cabbages, 4s to 10s. all at per 6ack; peas (green), 9d to Is per peck; fresh eggs Is lid to 2s 2d, preserved eggs Is 6d per doz; cheese, 6d to 6id per lb; onions, J*7 to £7 10s per ton; Akaroa cocksfoot, lOd to lid; ryegrass, 4s 9d to 5s Gd per bushel.

THE SHIRE HORSE

THE DARLING DOWNS.