THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19963, 3 December 1926, Page 4

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

■■i ■■■ ' ■ By Rtjsticus.

FORTHCOMING SHOWS. December 3. —Clutha. December 7, 8. —Gore. December B.—Omakau. December 10. —Wyndbam. December 10. —Maniototo. _ December 11.—Otago Peninsula. December 14. 15. —Southland. December 16.—Owaka. December 28. —Waitahuna. 1927. January 8. —Blueskin. January 14. —Waikouaiti. The Tokomairiio Farmers’ Club iia. more than justified its institution 60 years ago. For that period its record ot service has been a good one. The club is to do congratulated upon having such an energetic committee of management to_ see that all arrangements are carried out. This week’s show was a good one from the point of view of quality of exhibit, and had the weather teen a little less miserable, from a financial aspect the show must have been a much greater success. * * * • The inaugural lecture of the specialist lecture course at Galashiels Technical College was given by Mr A. T. King, chief chomist to the British Research Association for the Woollen and Worsted Industries who took for his subject “Scientific and Practical Aspects of Wool Scouring.” The lecturer show*ed how the more pronounced chemical properties of wool substances, compared with those of vegetable fibres, though of advantage in affording a greater variety of dyeings and finishes, demanded very careful consideration, especially where alkali was concerned, and particularly in the initial processes of wool scouring, upon the efficiency of which the success of subse•quent processes so largely depend. ■ Ino combination of wool substance with the alkali from soap alkaline agents in general was explained. Reference was made to the damaging effects caused, for example, by the promotion of bacterial attack, witn resultant tendering and loss of dying affinity which alkali caused during tenderin''. crabbing and other processes, involving heat, and steam. Those effects were piodviced uncvoidv if the alkali wore pneionly distributed, cither through uneven application or alkali Thus scientilpo wool scouring demanded in Die first place the minimum contact with alkali and soap; in fhu second place fho importance was shown of removing dirt before the protecting grease layer finally disappeared, in order to preserve loftiness and to avoid felting. These two demands were shown to bo met bv the hot steeping method devised by the Research Association, ot which an account was given. Details substantially the same had been independently circulated, but the association s priority had been definitely established. * * * * Fat cattle at Burnside on Wednesday showed little change on late rates, in spite of the fact that prime handyweight bullocks were present in abundance. Prices per 1001 b for beef ranged from 20s to o7s 6d. Southern graziers were well represented at the sale, but still they might hare struck .a better tone. * * * * There is one duty that is far too often overlooked by agricultural and pastora. society executives when the different members are apportioned their tasks for show dav. This is that of press steward—a most noeosasry adjunct to evory snow. rew societies have had as a inan for this position as the Tokomainro Farmers Olub, for whom Mr T. Scott has acted for many years, and it was with regret that ■jiressnien at the Milton show this week heard that Mr Scott’s health had necessitated a long holiday. Many show societies cpuld well take a lesson from the Milton * Farmers’ Club in this respect. » * * » Exception in taken by the I 1 ranklin Agricultural Society to the resolution passed by the Associated Chambers of Commerce Conference in Wellington, urging the Government to repeal or amend section 13 of the Dairy Control Act, and tlie following resolution has been passed by the society, to bo forwarded to the Acting-Prime Minister, the Minister of Agriculture, and the member for Frank]jn:—“That this society deprecates the action of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in suggesting the repeal or amendment of section 13 of the Dairy Control Act, which grants power to enforce absolute control, and that the society favours the Control Board having a fair chance to prove its merits.” * * » • The 246 lambs forward at Burnside this week were representative of all classes ot fat lamb raising. Some really good stock was forward, a ”-ood proportion of medium stuff, and the usual percentage of unfinished and young sorts. Prices dropped a little, being about 8d per pound. There must be a larger number than usual being sold on the hoof. Ther'entry at Burnside this season has been very poor. » * » * The North Canterbury Sheep-farmers’ Co-operative Freezing Export and Agency Co. (Ltd ) made a loss ot £lß7'9s Id on the operations for the 12 months ended September 30. This compares favourably with tho results of the previous year, when the Josses totalled £20,515. That loss was covered by the amount brought forward, £2670, and the transfer of £17,845 from tho general reserve. For the year under _ review tho revenue from freezing, felling, etc., amounted to £48,492, compared with £35,455 in tho previous year; discounts and transfer fees brought in £35, against £55, making a total of £48,527, against £33,510. Tho working expenses,maintenance, and depreciation amounted to £39,211, against £39,517; salaries, office and general expenses to £46,£22, against £5771; interest, insurance, rent and advertising to £4061, against £8295; and solicitors’, auditors, and directors’ fees to £620, aganist £64?, tho total expenditure being £48,714, against £54,025, a reduction of £5311. which shows the drastic nature of tho economies effected. The paid-up capital of the company stands at £84,855, and calls paid in advance £645. Tho reserves total £20.000, the same as inthe previous year; £7500 is duo to the Government on building loan, and sundry creditors and drafts against unrealised consignments at £43,557. contrasts with £96,105 in tho previous year. Tho assets show land and buildings, £93,256, against £96 180; plant and machinery, £23,163, against £24,645; and stocks, stores and sundry debtors, £39,926, against £88,275. J * * * * Mr David Jones, M.P., recently wrote to*the Minister of Agriculture regarding the desirability of having Danish cocksfoot sold only with the country of origin clearly marked. The foreign cocksfoot seed, he. pointed out, was inferior, for purposes, to the New Zealand seed and it was essential in the interests both of the New Zealand growers and purchasers of seed that they should be able to distinguish between imported and New Zealand 'grain. Jhc Minister replied to Air Jones, remarking that he did not think imported seed could be identified without a proportion of it being stained, as is done in Australia, witli lucerne. The Director of the Fields Division of the department was at present in Australia, and one of the purposes of Ins visit was to inquire into the matter of seed staining. It would be advisable not to go anv further with the matter until thn D result of his investigations was made known. * * * * A fine entry of crossbred sheep was present at the Milton Show this week. It was certainly the feature of the sheep section, wdiicli is never a disappointing display of this event. The fat lambs were in great condition, and the fat sheep were a credit to any show. The quality of wool was well above the standard, and carcase value was not overlooked. Such sheep must surely make glad the heart o. the producer. , » * » The sheep entry at Burnside on V dnesday, though showing little change in quality or numbers, received scant attention from buyers. Passings were- frequent and the fall in values is reflected in the price per lb given for mutton, which ranged from 34d per lb to 4;]d per lb. The entry included a lot of unfinished stuff, and the demand was quiet throughout.

[ltems of interest to those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, with a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be addiessed to “ Rusticus,” Otago Daily Times, Dunedin.]

THE BEEF INDUSTRY. COMPETITION FROM ARGENTINE. FABULOUS PRICES PAID. A GROWING MENACE. Cattle raisers in the Argentine are aparently determined to do their part in maintaining that country’s ascendancy in the export meat trade. Many of them are paying what, in Australia, would be regarded as fabulous prices for high-grade beef stock, the most of which is being imported from tho British Isles, and it is noticeable that the chamnion cattle are being obtained. This fact should indicate very pointedly to New Zealand cattle raisers and exporters what they may expect in the way of competition in the future. It is strong enough now, but it must inevitably become stronger. At the stock show held at Palermo in September the majority of judges showed a very decided preference for thick-set, deep-bodied short-legged animals, not too large, but with plenty of type, and likely to produce prime medium-sized, quickmaturing beef animals. And a great proportion of the animals were reported to have reached this standard, which most breeders in the Argentine consider is best suited to export requirements. At the sales, the highest price paid was £4117 for tho imported Shorthorn bull Waterloo Monarch, while for Haselor Golden Rain, which was considered to be the most perfect specimen of the Shorthorn yet imported to the Argentine, £-1083 was paid. Another imported Shorthorn bull, Broadhooks Corporal, sold for £3083, while the Belfast champion, Drndy Boy, was sold for £3750, to the same cattle raisers, who recently purchased privately the Pertji grand champion for £4OOO. Other bulls sold_ at £2916, £2500, £2250, £2OOO, £1750, £1250, down to £2OB. Tho grand champion Aberdecn-Angus bull was sold for £1375, and the reserve champion for £9OO. A lot of 31 Shorthorn bulls sold on joint account averaged the remarkable price of £IOOO each. Another importer submitted 11 animals, which averaged him the still better figure of £I4OO. These figures should cause New Zealanders to ponder. The other aspect of this high price giving for high-class cattle is reflected in the meat market of the United Kingdom. During August last, 1/3,777 tons of beef and veal were supplied to the London market. Of this quantity the Argentine supplied 123,140 tons, or 70.8 per cent.; Britain and Ireland, 25,458 tons, or 13.5 per cent,j Uruguay, 11,236 tons, or 6.5 per cent. ; Australia, 4847 tons, or 2.8 per cent.j while supplies from other sources totalled 6.4 per cent. In the same period, 96,127 tons of mutton and lamb were supplied, of which 81 per cent, came from overseas. Of the total supply New Zealand furnished 49,201 tons, or 51.2 per cent.; Britain and Ireland, 18,1.77 tons, or 18.9 per cent.; the Argentine, 15,093 tons, or 15.7 per cent. ; Australia, 9672 tons, or 10.1 per cent., ’ and other countries about 4 per cent. The position is one that should afford fho Now Zealand Meat Council scope for investigation and action. It is claimed that some progress has been made by private enterprise in the direction of chilling meat for export. A trial shipment has been made during the past few months, and another one is to bo made shortly. If this treatment can be generally applied it will materially help the meat export trade. If the move for faster boats materialises, though the indications are not quite favourable, it would reduce New Zealand’s tremendous transit handicap. But a leading beef producer from the north pifobably touched tho most vital point of all when ho slated that the tendency seemed to be to export quantity rather than quality. He pointed out that big, heavy, old bullocks, known to cattlemen as “pikers,” were purchased at perhaps 6s per 1001 b lower than prime young cattle for export purposes, arq] _ this was the class qf beef with which New Zealand was trying to compete against in the Argentine. He stoutly maintained that London prices would allow of tho best meat being exported, and he urged that steps should be taken to make a high standard for export. It was. he added, the only way to win tho trade. He mentioned that gradually cattle raisers were corning to recognise the necessity of producing prime young beef. In this direction "hiye was scope for considerable progress. There is a good deal in what this producer says. There is not enough two and three-year-okl beef available. At the next Royal show the beef casses will be reorganised. Instead of seven and eight-year-old bullocks competing with young animals, there will be classes for under four years old. A medium-sized prime young animal is the great demand everywhere. Its production should be encouraged.

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. IS IT WORTH WHILE? AN ENGLISH SCIENTIST SAYS “YES.” Tho application of science to agriculture was the subject of an given to the members of the University Association at a luncheon recently by Professor S. M. Wadharn, who recently arrived from England to assume charge of the agricultural science section of the Melbourne Uni-' versity. Professor Wadharn said he had been told that next year he could take considerable time to investigate at first hand agriculture in tho State. That was surely a far-sighted policy. Agriculture in Britain and Australia was the same, only tho details were different. Ho was endeavouring to master tho details as they existed in Victoria. Several people were exercised in their minds concerning tho values, if any, of agricultural science. The first great stride that science made for agricultural development was when superphosphate was introduced. That scientific introduction had worked wonders in tho matter of productivity. Then there came a period of still ness in regard to soil matters. However, during the last five years scientists had made important discoveries, and now a pretty fair picture of the soil and its component parts could be given. All progress was dependent upon pure science. Until pure science advanced agricultural science would lag. One of the problems which had to be considered was the treatment of alkali soil. Discussing science as applied to plants, Professor Wadharn said that tho annual wlieat yield in Britain was approximately 50,000,000 bushels. The potato was. an interesting study, and in Britain the crop returned 4,500,000 tons per annum. Potatoes helped tho people of Britain during the war. However, by diligent research tho agricultural scientists had bumped up the British crop to a wonderful extent, and especially during the war period, that potato crop had proved a great, boon. Concerning the control of insect pests, ho would say nothing. Certainly thrips had played a low-down trick this season. Continuous scientific research was necessary if they wore to keep pests under, so that fruitgrowing could bo made securely profitable. Tho study of pastures had been neglected for sonic time. He thought that a proper study of pastures would bo of immense benefit to the State. _ Was agricultural science worth while? Every advancement was usually permanent, and if a new variety of wheat were discovered it might mean much to a nation. It might be said that agricultural science was only born in 1917 in Britain. In 1922 was spent there on agricultural research, and last year it reached double that amount. Ho had his own ideas as to where scientific research should be carried out. —(Laughter.) He was sure that agricultural science was worth while. In thanking Professor Wadharn for his address, Professor Madsen, of the Sydney University, said that it was fine to see such common interest manifested by graduates in the different courses in agricultural science.