COMMERCE, MINING AND THE RURAL WORLD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8257, 21 October 1912, Page 8

COMMERCE, MINING AND THE RURAL WORLD.

STOCK EXCHANGE QUOTATIONS

Press Association. AUCKLAND, October 19. Sales at this morning's call on the Stock Exchange: Now Sylvia, Is 3d. Occidental Consolidated, Is 4d. la sd. Waihi 34s 6d. Ross Goldfields, 5s 2d. tVaihi Grand Junction, 22e 6d. Taupiri Coal. 22 s 3d. Wilson's Cement (orti.), 36s 3d. Auckland Gas, 64s 3d. GOLD DREDGING RETURNS. Press Association. DUNEDIN. October 19. Dredging returns: Waikaka United No. 1.. 220 z. for 123 hours; Sandy Point, 350 z 15dwt, for 112 hours; Rise and Shine No. 1., 420 z Idwt. for 132 hours; ‘Worksop, 530 z 15dwt, for 130 hours. E. W. B. Homabrook, 153, Featheriton Btroct, Wellington, member Stock Exchange. Specialising in Mining Scrip. Trustworthy Correspondence from all Mining Centre*. Telegraphic address; "Hornabrook, Wellington. COMMERCIAL CABLES By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received October 20, 5.5 p.m.) FROZEN. MEAT MARKET. LONDON. October 19. The Incorporated Society of Meat Importers' Smithfieid market Quotations for the undermentioned clashes of frozen meat are based on actual zalos of not less than one hundred carcases of mutton or lamb or twenty-five quarter* of beef of fair average quality. The quotations are not for selected lines, but for parcels fairly representative of the bulk of the shlpmeats now on the market. The prices which follow arc on the average a farthing per lb more than the values ex ship, this difference representing an average cost In expense, handling, conveyance and celling the meat. Oct. 12. Oct. 19. Mutton— d. d.. Canterbury, light * * Canterbury, medium • * Canterbury, heavy * * Southland - 4 7-16 4| North Island, best 4 7-16 4g North Island, ordinary ... 4| 4 6-16 New Zealand, ewes ......... 4 33 Australian, light 4J 4 Australian, heavy • • Australian, owes * * River Plate, light —.... • • River Plate, heavy 4$ 4 River Plate, ewe* • * Lamb— Canterbury, light 64 53 Canterbury-, medium 6| 5| Canterbury, heavy 53 6 Southland ’ 54 53 North Island, 64 63 North Island, ordinary .. 6 7-16 5 5-16 Australian, best • ♦ Australian, fair • • Australian, inferior • • River Plato, best 53 63 River Plate, second* 5 6 Frozen BeefNow Zealand, fores ......... 2? 23 Now Zealand, hinds 33 3| Australian, fores ~ 23 23 Australian, hinds 34 33 River Plato, fores 23 28 River Plate, hi ads 33 Chilled BeefRiver Plate, fores 3| 23 River Plate, hinds 4| 44 •None offering. FROZEN RABBITS. The market is firm, with an excellent demand for colonial lots at full prices. PRICE OP SILVER. Bar silver is quoted at 29id per ounce standard. .The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., has received the following cablegram from London: ‘Trozon Meat.—The market is gradually declining for frozen mutton, there is little demand for lamb, and arrivals of beef are in excess of trade requirements."

LONDON FROZEN MEAT MARKET

Dalgety and 00., Ltd., have received the following cabled advices from London regarding the frozen meat market:

Beef.—Demand is poor, stocks are heavy. New Zealand fine ox fores, 2jd per lb; hinds, aid. Lamb.—The market is weak and demand limited. Canterbury heavy, 5Jd per lb; light, 5Jd; North Island heavy, 54d; light, Sji Mutton. —Demand poor. Canterbury heavy, 4j|d per lb; light, AJd; North Island heavy, Aid; light, Aid.

SOUTHERN GRAIN AND PRODUCE

Press Association. OAMARU, October 20. There is little activity in the wheat market, although more is offering from the country; but the ideas of buyers and sellers do not agree. Velvet has sold at 3s 7Jd to 3s 8d net at country stations, and red chaff at 3s 6d less commission. In oats there is also quietness, and ‘‘A” grade Gartons have been sold at 2s lid net at a country station, and "B” grade changed hands at 2s loss commission. There are only small lots offering. Potatoes of good quality have made a marked upward movement during the week. Early in the week £6 10a was given net at country stations, and later £7 was the ruling price. On Saturday, however lots were disposed of at £7 15s, and the market closed at £B. The heavy shipments have reduced the available supplies. Seed potatoes are practically unsaleable and are offering at £3 net on trucks.

LIYI STOCK SALES

AUCTIONEERS’ REPORTS. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd. At Peilding on Eriday we hadi a good yarding of cattle and a small entry of sheep. Everything sold readily at late rates, as follows: Mixed weaner calves (small) 365. good . yearling , steers

38a, yearling Jersey Leifers .£3 4e, 15-month Jersey heifers .£3' 17s fid, 18month steers £4 5s fid, empty heifers *£4 11a, springing heifers £6 to £Q 10s, discolored 15-month steers £2 l-te fid, store cows 10s to 30a, bulls £2 ICs to .£4, fat shorn owes 13s, ewes with lambs at foot to 22s 3d, cull ewes ss. Abraham and Williams, Ltd.

At Shannon on Wednesday we had a small entry of sheep and cattle, and a fair entry of pigs. All the sheep and pigs changed hands at good prices, and the majority of the cattle were sold. Springing cows made £5 to £7, cows just calved £4 to £4 9s, empty heifers £3 12s to jE3 13s, bulls £4 to £4 ss, empty. 2 and 4-tooth ewes 15s Cd, fat and forward ewes 13s 6d to 15s, fat ewes 17s, mixed fat sheep IDs 2d, hoggets 15s 3d to 15s lid, storo owes 4s 2d, porkers X*2 3s Cd, light porkers 37s fid.

FEU IT AND PEODUCE

WELLINGTON MARKETS,

There has been a marked advance in the values ruling during the past few days for locally-grown dessert apples, and the same remark applies in some degree to the arrival of Tasmanian cooking apples last Saturday. In fact the market for this fruit is in a better state than it has been for some weeks past, and this despite the arrival of Californian fruits. Diving to the general scarcity in lemons from Australia, locally grown have oome in for heavier competition and sales effected yesterday were the highest recorded for some months past. The prospects generally for all fruits are that high rates will result, as the shipment from New South Wales this day is expected to be the smallest yet this season. The arrivals of two shipments of oversea fruits last week did not weaken the market to any extent, in fact supplies of bananas and oranges from tho Islands were altogether boo small for the needs of the market, consequently any lines offering during tho next few days should face a strong demand. It would appear that ponding the arrival of American oranges there will he an absolute dearth in this fruit; supplies of New- South Wales grown have fallen off considerably, and anything like large quantities cannot be expected from that quarter this season, and the Island season is now practically finished. Hothouse tomatoes are in excellent demand and supplies short of requirements. Apples local dessert 9s fid to 10s fid case, prim 4 8s to 9s, cookers choice 7e fid to as fid case, prime 6? to 7e; pears choice dessert 10s to 12s half case; lemons locale) 9s to 12a case; jam oranges 3e to 4s ease. POTATOES AND ONIONS.

During the hurt week there has been a strong demand for potatoes from Sydney, and at the present time supplies are absolutely unprocurable. Last week a heavy volume of business resulted in Sydney, and at the present time .£9 5s per ton f.o.b.s.i. is asked. It is not now a question of price, but simply one of finding the produce, and there is every prospect of high rates ruling for some tune ahead, in tact it may be taken for granted that until the close of the ecason the market will keep up. . New potatoes are inclined to arrive more freely, and the market is now at a more normal level. There is every prospect of supplies increasing from now out. A shipment of 9000 cases of onions arrived by the Tahiti last Thursday from San Francisco, and generally opened up in good condition. The quantity in question will just about cover the requirement of the market until further supplies come forward. Old potatoes are ruling at £8 10a to X 9 per ton; new potatoes, 3d to 2Jd per lb; onions, .£ls 10s to .816. OTHER VEGETABLES. The local market for practically every line of vegetable has taken, a decidedly upward tendency, cauliflowers, parsnips, carrots, lettuce, swedes, green peas, asparagus and cabbages all selling at almost famine prices. Cauliflowers choice 16a to 18s sack, prime Ids to lie; cabbages choice 10s to 12s sack, prime 6s to Ss; beetroot 6s to 8s sack; asparagus choice large 10s to lie dozen bundles, prime 6s to 8s; beetroot 5e to 6s Gd sack; parsnips fe 6d to 8s 6d sack; green peas 2e 3d to 2s id per peck: carrots 5s 6d.to 6s 6d sack; lettuce 8s to 10? case; rhubarb 3s to is dozen bundles; swedes 6s to 7e sack; beetroot is 6d to 5s 6d; cucumbers is to 6s dozen. EGGS. The market has hardened considerably during <ae past day or two and with suppliers short of requirements HJd to la per dozjn is ruling. NEW COMPANIES The registration of the following new companies Is recorded by the “ Mercantile Gazette ": ' . Fluenzol Proprietary, Ltd., Wellington.— Capital. £4500 into 2200 ordinary shares of £1 each and 2300 £8 per centum non-cumu-lative preference shares of £1 each. Subscribers—H. W. Williams. 150; A. E. Whyte, 150; C. W. Palmer, 2200; tr. McMorran, 60; J, .a. Stewart, 20; Johnston and Co., Ltd., 200; J. B. Uarcourt, 100; W. A. J. Dutch, 25; J. W. Abbott, 250, all of Wellington. Objects: To acquire the medicine “Fluenzol" and to deal In drugs, medicines, etc. Prank Fedst and Co., Ltd.—Capital. £3500 into 3500 (hares of £1 each. Subscribers— P. Feist, 2800: W. 0. M. Sorensen, 700, both of Carterton. Objects: To acquire _ and carry on an a going concern the business of a general merchant now carried on by Frank Alfred Feist, at Carterton, under the style of “ F. Feist.” ’ . World’s Pictures, Ltd... Dunedin.—Capital. £ISOO into 1500 shares of £1 each. Subscribers—J. Dawson, 25; S. A. Kltto, 100; J. A. Harlett, 25; J. McGrath, 25; T. K. Christie, 50; J. Allan, 25; F. A. Fraser, 25. Objects: To take over the business of the World’s Pictures, and to ftarry on as musichall entertainments, hiograph picture Pine Export Company. Ltd., Greymouth. —Capital, £30,000 into 30,000 shares of £1 each. Subscribers—P. Campbell. 1; G. H. Boyd, 1; E. A. Wicks. 1; E. Wicks. 1; H. J. Wicks. 1; M. E. Stratford-Hcrinlkor, 1; H W. Kitchingham, 1. Objects: Export of timber and sawmiliing generally. SOIL INOCULATION The experiments that have been conducted on the special demonstration area at Marion Junction have provided some very useful information regarding tlm cultivation of field peas. It was the original intention of Mr Baylis, the officer in charge of the experiments, to demonstrate the results of growing a grain crop on land that had been used the previous season for a leguminious crop, such as peas. A further’ object was to try and grow peas of a quality and color suitable for the English market The first year’s experiments showed that peas of the required sample could be grown successfully, but owing to certain delays, caused mainly by the need of suitable implements required for working the ground at the right time, the experiment was not as complete as was desirable. Previous to the first sowing one-half of the land used for peas was treated with 5 cwt of ground limestone per acre. On this portion the succeeding crop was far superior to the unlimited portion. It was discovered, however, that on no portion of the area under peas could there be found pea-roots with the bacterial nodules that are'usually found on the roots of a healthy crop of peas. This circumstance, of course, defeated, for the time being, the experiment with grain following a legu minous crop, because of the failure of the latter to collect nitrogen in the form of nodules. To overcome that drawback

the experimenter decided to try the effect of -3oil inoculation on the second year crop of peas by harrowing in a small quantity of soil taken from a field which had gron n peas with abundant nodules attached. This was done when the crop was half-grown, though really it should have been done when the peas were sown. The spreading of tho inoculated soil was clone by hand and was somewhat irregular. About ten days after it had been applied the color of the foliage indicated the exact spot where it had fallen. On examination it was found that those plants which had assumed a deep green tinge were nodule bearing while those having a yellow tinge had not formed nodules. On a later examination of a great many individual plants on different parts of the plot it was seen that the number of pods borne on inoculated vines were always largely in excess of those borne on vines having no nodules. In his report published in tho Department’s ''Journal,” Mr Baylis points out the advantages of soil inoculation on soils which for some reason or other ore not stocked with those particular forms of bacterial life which are beneficial and sometimes a necessity to tho success of leguminous crops. Tho same thing has been successfully applied to lucerne, and it has been demonstrated that the introduction of a small quantity of soil taken from an area where a successful stand has been established enables the crop to bo grown with success over a far wider range of soils than it is commonly believed to be suited for. Tho department this year will continue >to supply a limited number of parcels of lucerne seed, lime, and inoculated soil to farmers desirous of trying this crop on their properties. THE CASEIN INDUSTRY The utilisation of by-products and the elimination of all waste is every day proving to bo a great factor in the production. of dividends in all large manufacturing concerns. In the dairying business one of the most recent developments is the marketable qualities .of the casein extracted from skim milk. Whether or not casein manufacture will pay the dairy supplier better than pig-feeding has occasioned a lot of discussion in dairying circles of late years, therefore the report furnished by Mr J. Pedersen, who was sent to Europe to investigate the casein industry, is of interest, as showing the prospects of the product on the world's markets, and the possibilities of successful production, at payable prices, to New Zealand dairymen. A short summary of Mr Pedersen's report serves to show that while tho European demand for skim-milk is rapidly increasing for articles of human consumption, the uses for casein in the manufacturing world are rapidly multiplying. Throe years ago Denmark commenced the making of casein, and has now 300 factories in operation. Last year German merchants wore paying Danish producers a price equal bo .£42 a tan net at the factory for casein. At present the price in Europe is .£3l per top. Tho production of casein, Mr Pedersen considers, is likely to decrease in Europe in the future, for tho reason that skim-milk is being used more and more as a food product, and therefore as a greater market value than it has in a country like Now Zealand. Denmark alone uses 500,000,000 lb of skim milk annually for skim-milk cheese, consequently as the supply of milk for this purpose decreases the price will bo made more tempting to farmers, and they will send their skim-milk supplies to the factory showing them the best return. As the value of skim-milk cheese advances, less casein will be made, therefore this factor will, Mr Pedersen points out, always have the effect of maintaining the value of casein on European markets. Then, again, Germany is importing large quantities of skim-milk for food purposes. New Zealand dairy companies, with a proper knowledge of the best methods of preparation, fortified with the Government grading, should, thinks Mr Pedersen, have no difficulty in supplying the high-class article in demand. Buyers purchase strictly according to quality, and with grading the business would be greatly facilitated. HINTS ON OALF-REARING Before removing the newly-bom calf from its mother it should first be allowed to suck the udder dry. This niort: only provides the calf with a laxative to clear the digestive organs, but eases the cow, often preventing after troubles. After its removal from its dam tho calf should be left for twenty-four hours, then, with a little patience it will readily learn to drink. New milk should be fed to the calf for at least two weeks at frequent intervals} for the next two weeks, half-new and ha if -skim; then skim, with the addition of some recognised food such as linseed. - A calf that is bred for the dairy herd is going to have a big strain put om to its system by and by. That system should be nourished from the very- first, so that all the organs of tho body may grow and develop. In serving the food out, care must bo taken to see that every calf gets its proper share, for, if all are allowed to rush to the trough, together the strongest calves get tho most. One of the best methods of feeding calves is to construct a set of small bails and feed each calf in a separate vessel. This ensures that each gets its proper allowance of milk and prevents them from acquiring the bad habit of sucking each other’s ears.

Unless there is an -abundance of natural shelter calves should be provided with clean, well-bedded sleeping- quarters during rough weather. A great many of the troubles that affect the health of calves have their origin in. dirty surroundings. One of the most important things in calf-rearing is to keep them going, and not allow them- to get a check, for every time a calf is thrown back throngh scours or other causes, it is a drag on the evstem that is hard to make up. A half-nourished calf will grow into a weedy cow, and in turn bear a weedy calf; hence the great necessity of plenty of attention, proper feeding, and sanitary observations during the growing period.

SELECTING StfED POTATOES

In, conversation recently with, a southern gentleman, who has had a wide experience in the cultivation of potatoes, the writer ascertained his views regarding the selection of seed for cropping. The information derived, briefly put, was that seed for the subsequent crop should be selected while the plants are growing. Careful note should be taken of the plants that throw out the healthiest foliage and which prove the most insistent to blights; At lifting time, records of the selected roots should' be observed and if the tubers are plentiful and true to shape of the variety represented, it will generally follow that like will beget like if sets from these plants are planted the following year. It was pointed out also that a change of seed at frequent intervals is very desirable if large crops are expected. For preference the changes of seed should be made with tubers taken from a cold to a warmer climate. An instance proving the value of changing seed was proved by an experiment in Canterbury last year when the yield of a plot grown from Southland seed showed a better return to the extent of four tons per acre against a similar sized plot grown alongside from local seed, deferring to the relative value of small whole seed compared with cut sets, the gentleman with experience said that everything depended upon the nature of the main crop. If the main yield had been good and the tubers of medium to large size, the smaller ones would be very well for seed, but if the bulk of ttt® main crop had been made up of small potatoes it was most undesirable to use them for seed. If the latter course were adopted it would, in his opinion, be equivalent to trying to breed strong, vigorous live-.

stock from the calls of the flock. Unlesrf the buyer is absolutely certain of the preceding crop it is most unwise to buy the smalL so-called seed potatoes that are put on the open market. On the .subject of seed potatoes, Mr J. Drysdale,’ manager of the Weraroa Ex-| perimental Farm, has something- veiyi interesting to say in the department’^ 1 “Journal." “It is most extraordinary," 1 he says, "that in these days when stf much importance is being attached to the pedigree of seeds and animals for breeding purposes, so little attention should be paid to the selection of seed for such an important crop as the potato —in. fact, that the accepted principle* of' breeding should in the case of toes be absolutely reversed. Instead ofl the seed being selected according to typ*j and vigor, and only from the best, plant® in the crop, it is a common practice toj take the seed in-an indiscriminate man-1 ner from the harvested tubers, and then! use only the smaller specimens for th* important work of continuing the species. In other words, in place of ths most typical and most vigorous tubers being chosen for seed purposes, it is actually the worst that are taken. This is no wild assertion: so general, indeed, la the practice that merchants in supplying the seed send out potatoes which have been quite discarded for ordinary market purposes—more of a type generally regarded as ‘pig potatoes' than as being suitable for seed. ‘‘At the Weraroa Experimental Farm, where the selection of seed potatoes hat been carefully observed on the rules laid down above, the resultant crops have been singularly free from blight. Experiments are now in progress to determine whether, after using from season to season generations of the one type of selected seed, it is not possible to be quite independent of spraying for blight. During the past season the. Weraroa selected seed has proved immune; bn* before making a definite pronouncement on the subject it must be further in-, vestigated." DEHORNING CATTLE Breeders have succeeded in many directions in bringing out many teaturea which have in the course of time become fixed characters in different classes of cattle which are of undisputed value in the particular commercial use that it is desired to perpetuate. Some breed* are hied for beef, others for the dairy, and so on, but with the exception of a very small number of hornless cattle whose origin is obscure, no one has succeeded in developing a hornles* breed. In their natural state no doubt horns were a necessary part of the equipment of cattle; nowadays, ■ however, tneee appendages serve no useful purpose, but are, on the contrary, a positive drawback on herds that are confined to small areas. Especially is this so with dairy cattle, and quite a number of dairymen adopt measures to remove the horns from tnoir charges. The practice of. dehorning is not at all general, though few there are but admit that the operation is a wise one. Some few object on the grounds of cruelty, but it has been shown repeatedly that the operation, if skilfully done, causes the animal little, if any, discomfort, and in the case of milking cows makes no appreciable difference to the flow of milk immediately after the operation. 1 Dehorned cows soon lose the vicious habit of rushing and annoying their weaker brethren, and are therefore much easier to handle by the man in charge, besides saving a lot of unnecessary pain and discomfort to the weaker members of the herd. It is said that dehorned bulla are far less vicious when deprived of their natural weapon of offence. The number of serious accidents, which often, end fatality, provide one of the strongest reasons why a hull in particular should be dehorned. Dehorning renders a herd altogether more docile and less timid, ana such qualities In a milking herd help considerably in making a big record. Some advocates of dehorning go so far as to say that they consider that dehorning should be made compulsory and that the retention of the horns, especially with daily stock, is not only a cause of enormous loss but it is absolutely barbarous. At shows of cattle any observer will have noticed the extreme care that is bestowed in training the horns of some breeds so that they will finally present the regular orthodox shapes and curves. Thisi is ■ purely faking and the necessity for all the trouble occasioned in getting the desired result would be removed if breed societies insisted that judges should ignore altogether the shape of dairy cattle’s horns when making their awards. If breeders had the assurance that the chances of their exhibits would not be endangered there is no doubt that many animals would, come into the show ring without horns and a general practice of dehorning would be more speedily adopted. SKIM MILK FOR HUMANS In their efforts to find the most profitable uses for skim milk the virtues of this residual of butter manufacture, as a valuable human food seem to have been overlooked, mainly for the reoson that the public are not aware of its value. Hitherto separated milk has been regarded as a diet for pigs and calves, and for food purposes very little is otherwise used. On tie authority of Mr Anthony Hailwood, of Manchester, who is recognised as one of the formost authorities on “milt and its possibilities, there are few better blood or body-forming foods than this by-product from butter factories. Cream, he considers, is extremely valuable, inasmuch as it maintains the heat of the body, . but the qualities of separated milk as a body-

builder are also. of vast importance. In order to put his convictions to a practical test Mr Hailwood has made an offer, wiilc-h. has been accepted by the education committee, to supply th© scholars at tiro schools with half a pint of separated milk daily for four months free of charge. To prove th© efficacy, or otherwise, of the milk, some of the clviMran, will be weighed at the commencement and termination, of the period. The experiment will be conducted by the Salford Education Committee under the guidance of a medical officer, who will have control of every detail of the experiment. v