ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6745, 17 February 1909, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

ANSWEBS TO COmtESPONDB'NTa. fWo Bhall bo glnd to answer, as far M poHslbio, all questions relating to ttio pastoral, agricultural, and dairying indimtriog, boe-culturo. horticulture, ponl-try-ruUdiiß. etc. liuiuirurs must send thoir Ifull nomo and addrOH* as n, guarnnteo of good faith, but may also forward a noni-do-plnmo for tha purpose- of reply. Headers aro a!no invited to forward common!, or personal experience on any points raised in tlie-Bo answers or on this nago—Ed., Landl'ago, "N.Z.'limcs. I STOCK SALES. Wodnosdny.—Abraham and Williams, Thu a rMluy.-Abrtilifim and, Williams unci N.H.L. an.l M. A. Co., and Dalgety and Co., I'almorston. . Friday—Abraham and Williams and Dalgety and Co., Levin. SHEEP FAIR. Thursday. Associated Auctioneers, .Palmerston. ' WOOL HALE. Friday—Wellington, Concert Chnnibor, Town Hull, i p.m. AGIUCULTUHAL SIIOWB. February 16 and 17.—Master-ton A. and ['. Show. BUTTER VERSUS CHEESE WHAT SHOULD NEW ZEALAND MAKE? Sinco two years ago, when the high urices ruling in Britain for cheddar cheeso directed the general attention of milk producers in. this country to cheesemaking, there lias been a feeling of dissatisfaction among tho -suppliers to many co-operative butter concerns in their companies continuim: the manufacture of chee.se, though where butter outputs wero sold well this year their butter-fat and skim-milk returns will inako as good a showing as, or even better than, that realised from the butterrat and whey of suppliers to some of our choose factories. At tho present moment, however, it would appear to bo tho safer policy for any new concerns to take up tho manufacture of cheese. Cheddar cheese must long be an important articlo of diet to tho British consumer, tho artisan, iu particular, and tliero is every reason to believe that tho Homo production will diminish rather than increase owing principally to tha greater domand for milk for city consumption. Then Canada, Britain's chief source of supply, is rapidly increasing its Homo sales of both butter mid cheeeo, and the share tho elder Dominion has enjoyed of Britain's cheese trado will, it is predicted, declino rather than expand. There nro thus two good reasons why Now Zealand should mako cheese. And if onr makers could bo supplied with cleanly drawn milk, held in a proper condition, on hot nights, they could produce cheese which would stand alone. There is no country where tho science of cheddar cheesomaking is better understood, and where the checseniakeru in chargo of the factories have such a sound grasp of tho principles of tho process. Wo have very little to loam of the art of makiwr a cheddar, but wo have a lot to learn in order to secure a raw product which will enable, the makers to exhibit their skill in tho manufacture of a high-class expert article. THE DUAL-PURPOSE COW In a recent issue of tho London "Dairy," Primrose McConnell, B.Sc, has a defence of the Shorthorn as a dual-purpose cow. Ho says:— "Those who keep themselves posted up in tho ideas on farming current in tho United States are aware that on some points wo on thi3 side hold diametrically opposite views. Tho dual-purpose cow is ono that is hold up to anathema in the American dairy papers, and everyono is advised to avoid her and try to breed soinothing of a specific dairy nature. 'Dualpurpose' is tho American phroso for aiming first at milk and then at fattening oft a cow for beef after her milking career is closed. Wo iu this country have long aimed at making cows of this sort, and if wo havo not yet succeeded in developing a whole breed of any kind on this line, we havo certainly had many individual successes. Two of our breeds lend themselves particularly well to this dual-purpose, the Shorthorn and tho Kedpoll, ami some facts about the former will be enough evidence for the presont. The pedigreed Shorthorn was in. tho beginning bred for beef alone, and .has tho beef build, while tho unpedigreed animals wero kept mp for milk first, and -fattened afterwards in the dual-purposo way. Within the last fow years tho Shorthorn Society has offered prises for pedigreed animals with good milking powers, so as directly to oncourago the double type, and as a result year by year the milking powers of tho competitors have been increasing and creeping up on the records of other breeds, until this year they have topped tho list. Tho champion milk cow at tho London Dairy Show was a pedigreed Shorthorn, 'Dorothy,' belonging to Lord Rothschild. Tho point tho writer wants to emphasise, however, is tho fact that this cow —which in effect is the champion of the British Isles this year—is a dual-purpose cow with perhaps a century of boof-breeding behind her, and yet she yields milk bettor than dairy broods like tho Jersey or tho Ayrshire. Now, what has been done with one ani-

mal can be done in timo with a hundred, and it only needs the principle to be followed lons enough, and by a sufficient number, to make the dun - breed a permanency, notwithstanding all that our American fellow cowmen think t.i the contrary." Because ono Shorthorn cow coming from a long lino of bwf ancestry gives a phenomenal yield it does not prove that the milki.m' function is fixed m her. Kather it goes to show- that she is a -sport, and that her otlsnnng will throw back, to the dam's beef ancestors. Mr MeConnoU remarks that the Shorthorn Society lias offered pn/.cs for pedigreed animals with good milking powers so as directlv to encourage tho doubl! (yoe. This is cpiite true, but finding that (he judges were attaching too much attention to dairy points the society went to the length of passing a revolution calling upon these officials to attach more importance to beef characters! If this, is tho way the milking Shorthorn is to be evolved in England we havo little faith in tho ultimate product aa a dairy coiv. Notwithstanding Mr MeConnel's ploadiiiff we prefer theAmerican view that the beet: cow and tho dairy cow cannot be combined in tho one animal. Thero may be exceptions, which, however, will only prove the rule; but if wo are to have tho highest development of dairy form it will only be through a race of speeial■jmrposo animals bred for the one thing. Then, with purity of blood and milking pedigree, phenomenal producers will bo evolved which alone in the future will provo profitable.

GLEANINGS With less than three acres in strawberries a grower ill the Beaumont district, Southland, has received over .£4OO. It will tako fully three weeks before all the grain crops in tho South Canterbury district are threshed. The oat crops in the principal grain district of Southland aro said to ho the best experienced for years. The majority of the crops aro on the tall side, and recent heavy winds and rain havo left a marked effect. It is expected that .£50,000 will go to tho Teviob district this year for fruit. At present there are no less than 250 horses engaged in carting the fruit to Ediovalo. Tho men engaged in driving the fruit carts have just cause for complaint. Working, as many of them du, no less than sixteen hours per day, driving eight horses, and the best paid imn on the road receives 35s per week. Despite the preventive measures that wero adopted Inst year in regard to the codlin moth, the pest appears to have such a strong hold in the apple orchards in tho Aushburton district that the only effective remedy is to cut the trees entirely down (says the "Guardian"). As a result of the .pruning operations that were extensively carried out in the county last year under the direction of the Government inspectors the fruit this season is said to be of much better riuality.

A good dressing of lime to the soil where sorrel is troublesome has been found successful in minimising the growth. This dressing should bo harrowed in, not ploughed in, as sorrel generally grows in the top few inches of the soil. For a light soil a dressing of 3'J cwt. to the acre and for heavy Wet soils up to three tons has given good results.

It is estimated that there are 40,000,000 pigs in the United States. From them are exported pork products to tho value of' .£12,000,000 annually. Denmark is also alive to tho pig industry, where tho farmers combine it with dairying. From ono bacon factory in 1888 the number had increased to thirtytwo in 190 G, capable of treating 1,000,000 pigs annually, bringing in a total rovonuo of No more Australian horses will be purchased for use in the Philippines for the present (says tho "Sydney Daily Telegraph"). The officers reported favourably on tho recent shipments at first but it was afterwards ascertained that tho animals were too young and too light to stand hard field service and practice marches. However, it was freely admitted that they were intelligent, courageous, and spirited, and that a little training would make them ideal remounts. In a year's time, the question of purchase in. Australia will be further considered, when those under trial will be better subjects for decision.

A number of useful experiments have recently been completed iu England to find do difference of the temperature on cultivated and uncultivated soils. Tho observations showed that ploughing and mellowing promoted a more rapid exchange of heat in the soil. Tho heating, as well as the cooling, of the ploughed and mellowed soil was considerably greater than that of the unploughed soil, the difference between the mean temperature of the two during the summer weather reaching two degrees, and between the extreme maximum temperatures, five and more deI grees. . On tho other hand, tho minimum temperatures - were lower en plouged soil than on unplouged by almost one degree. The Eoyal Agricultural -Society of Malmo is a sample of Swedish agricultural bodies. It buys bulls, hires and sells them, holds sales for its 6700 members, keeps pedigree records, publishes a journal, and keeps abreast of foreign literature, provides lairages to hold 500 head for the sale of cattle in the market, and has built a great slaughterhouse with magnificent accommodation. The annual subscription for members of the society is one kroner, or 13id. The subscription can be kept at this

low figure because in Sweden, as in Norway, a huge proportion of the money derived from the sale of .spirit licences i« "ear-marked" for distribution among agriculturists. Farmers wore congratulating themselves on having weather just suitable for threshing when a cold snap set in f.savs the Akaroa "Mail"). Tuesday was the first good threshing day, and tho dew had been so heavy that a start could not be made until after mid-day. Wednesday was an ideal day, the heat being very acceptable, and from all sides" wo bear the seed yielded very well all that day. Just before sundodwn a southerly wind Boning up, and rain set in that nii'lit, so that there is a temporary stoppage of all cocksfoot operations. Little harm has been done yet to tho seed, but should the ram continue, tho prospects for the 1809 crop are even blacker than before. As to tho poor yield of crops that looked very good, there is a theory gaining ground that nearly all tho cocksfoot on the Peninsula was cut too green this year. It hari been reported to us as authenticated fact that one farmer who cut his crop at tho same time, as his neighbour did, but by a chapter of accidents was hindered in tho threshing, and so threshed it a week later than ho intended, got a very much better yield of seed. A week's warm dry weather would see most of the crop in, and we hope this will come. THE MARKETS JOIINSONVILLE STOCK SALE. SPECIAL TO THE " TIMES." JOHNSON VXLLE, February 16. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report on thoir Johnsonville saio as follows: A full entry of prime bullocks and sheep wero well up to requirements. Beet mado 21s per 1001 b. Best bullocks mado JE3 5s to £S 12s 6d, lighter £1 17s 6d to .£B, cows and heifers JES, extra heavy ewes 13s 2d, heavy ewes 12s 6d, light lis, wethers Ms, lambs 10s 9d to lis 3d. MARTON. Dalgety and Co. had a fair entry of sheep. Forward ewes made 7s 6d, fat and forward owes 9s to 9s 7d, forward wethers 10s 3d, fat and forward wethers lis 6d. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report:—At Wanganui on IOVh instant we yarded 3400 sheep, mostly wethers. No eatt.lo came forward. There was a fair demand and we sold all but two pens. At Wayerloy on 12th instant, we had a small yarding of 1100 sheep and 50 cattle, several entries not coming forward on account of wet weather. There was a good attendance, but quiet competition. We mado a good clearance. Quotations: Wanganui—Four and 6-tooth wethers 10s lOd, lis to lis Gd, 4 and 5-year ewes (good line) 9s lOd, mixed culls 5s to 8s 9d, small woolly lambs 63. cull lambs Efc 2d, weaner pigs 10s to 12s 6d. At YVaverley—Two and 1-tooth wethers 10s Gd to lis. 4-tooth ewes lis 6d, ewes and lambs (all counted) 5s Gd, small shorn lambs 4s 7d, cull lambs 2s 2d, 2k to 3-jear steers £3 Gs 6d, 2-year steers £3 2s Gd, 18-months steers J?2 Bs. A quantity of oalts, chaff, etc., sold well. SOUTHERN GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKETS. PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHUBCH, February 16. Since the price of wheat has fallen, there is not so much eagerness to sell. Some of the grain lately purchased is found to be in soft condition, and buyers are therefore ordering farmers to allow it to remain in the paddocks for a week or two, as it will have a better chanco to mature there than if stacked in store. Sales have taken place of late in good condition as follows-.—3000 bushels of Pearl for.immediate use 3s 9d at a country station, 1300 bushels and 800 bushels of Tuscan at 3s 7d,"800 bushels of Hunters at 3s GJd, and 1500 bushels of Tuscan at 3s fid, all at country stations. Offerings of oats are still small. Amongst sales this week are 900 bushels Canadians at Is 4d, 1300 bushels of Gartons at Is 3d, 1000 bushels of Danish at Is 2d, and duns at Is 2Jd and Is 3d at country stations. Barley, more or less discoloured, has changed hands at 3s per bushel at country stations. A few sales of chaff are taking place at £2 8s and £2 5s for forward delivery. . A little business has been done in ' early potatoes at d£3, but lower rates are quoted at Oamaru. FRUIT AND PRODUCE. Tho local fruit markets are being kept busy each day with the arrival ot truits from Motueba, Nelson, Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington districts. Tho recent inclement weather had the effect ■ of weakening the demand, but prices now show a better tendency, and with continued fine weather values should keep np, particularly in regard to certain lines _which are gradually lessening in supply. There has been almost an entire absence of raspberries, and it is doubtful whether further supplies will come to hand again this season. Tbo : regular shipments of grapes arriving irom Australia are having the effect of bringing about a -weaker market for locally grown lines. Apricots are particularly scarce, whilst a greater supply ot apples could easily be handled to satisfy the demand. QuotationsApples, choice coloured 9s to lis case, prime 7s to Bs, good 4s to 5s 6d, cookers (prime large green) 4s to 5s 6d case, good 3s to 3s 6d; pears, choice dessert 7s to 93 case, good Is to ss, stewing 3s to -Is 6d case; grapes, choice local 8d to lOd, others 5d to 6d; peaches, choice 5s to 6s half case, good 3s to 4s; greengages, choice 4s 6d to 5s 6d half ca6e; nectarines, choice 4s to 5s 6d case; lemons (local) 4s to ss. Potatoes and Onions.—A sudden advance took place in the value of potatoes on Saturday, and when the markets opened up on Monday a stronger tone wa» in evidence and 6till continues. This, no doubt, has been brought about by the bad weather preventing digging and marketing upon the part of giwers. It will not, therefore, be improbable that a decline will tako place if the weather holds good much longer. Potatoes, prime £6 to £7 ton, inferior £o to £Z 10s ton. Onions are in .heavy 6upply, and the market remains without any change at JB6 10s to ton. Picklers are in short supply, and worth .£lO to -£ll.

Other Vegetables.— There is absolutely no change to report in regard to values for other lines of -vegetables. The market continues depressed,- and without any life. Cauliflowers, choice 2s Gd to 3s 6d sack, others Is to 2s; cabbages, choice & to 3s. ethers 9d to Is 6d; I lettuce, prim©. 3s to 4s case; carrofe, 3s to 4s sack: turnips, to 3s sack: French beans, good Is 6d to 2s 6d half sack, others Gd to Is; swedes, 35s to 40s ton; parsnips, 3s to 43 6d sack; tomatoes, choice 2s to 2s 9d hajf cose, prime If? 6d to 2b 6d. Fresh Bstbb.—A good demand exists for all lines of best fresh ms, and the market has advanced, with Is 5d to Is 6(1 per dozen ruling.