THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19966, 7 December 1926, Page 4

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS. By Hustlers.

FORTHCOMING SHOWS. Desember 7, B.—Gore. December B.—Omakau. December 10. —Wyndham. December 10.—Maniototo. December 11.—Otago Peninsula. December 14, 15 —Southland. December 16. —Owaka. December 28.—Waitahuna. 1927. January B.—Blueskin. January 14.—Waikouaiti. The Gore A. and P. Society's summer show wiil commence to-morrow, and will be concluded on Thursday. The catalogue of entries for this show just to hand maives interesting reading. All sections of live stock are likely to bo well-contested. This exhibition has in the past been one of the most successful in Otago, and there is no reason why similar success should not attend the society's efforts this year. Stock breeders of all descriptions should find interesting competition at Gore this week. » # * * The experience of a number of farmers ill the Waikato in the past four years convinces them that it is a mistaken poney on the part of breeders of purebred livestock to retain in their herds animals which are vurebred regardless of their individuality or their intrinsic worth (says the New Zealand Herald). This is a practice which i 3 doing damage to the breed.ng herds of the country and to the piirebied livestock business. Sales of purebred dairy oattle are being held almost daily in various parts of the Dominion at present, and buyers are attracted by the fulsome pedigrees given in the catalogues, but they would be wise to investigate a little closer, and look at the butter-fat production achievements of a particular animal's ancestors. • « * * "This country is right up against it, having just come through one of the worst dry spells in its history,'' remarked Mr 11. M. Campbell, M.P., chairman of the Hawke's Bay County Council, at a recent conference between members of that body and the Main Highways Board. This had depleted the stock and reduced the wool clip. "As a result of this. I think the council will have to cut its rr.ies next year," Mr Campbell said. # # « a It has been stated by sheep farmers that prevalence of rust in grass is a source of poor percentage of lambs, and at last year's annual conference of the Royal Agricultural Society the Department of Agriculture was requested to investigate the subject. An investigation was accordingly carried out by the various district superintendents, who are qualified veterinarians, but they were unable to secure any data in confirmation of the statement in question. * * * * An indication of what the farmer can do bl the rearing and careful feeding of prime ytang beef for local consumption is given by the killing of prizes animals at Westfield last week. The two first prize two-year-old fat steers at the Royal Show were purchased for £l3 15s each and were I iiiod at the abattoir. They weighed 8081 b and 7751 b respectively. * • * * A valuable addition to Otago's list of Clydesdale champions was made last week when Cowden Pearl arrived in Dunedin by s.s. Otaki for Mr Donald M'Donald (Carterhope). Cowden Pearl is an outstanding stallion, and Mr M'Donald is to be congratulated on his importation. He ia a big horse, possessed of all the best I characteristics of the Clydesdale, and should be of great value to Otago breeders for stud purposes. • » * • The summer show season in Southland was ( advanced a further stage during the week with the holding of the. Wallace A. and P. Association's twenty-second annual display. The weather for this event, though not bearing the hall-mark of perfection, was a vast improvement on what it was for the previous show held under the auspices of the association with the result that there was a marked increase in the gate receipts. As has been the case in regard to all show entries received and reported to date, the figures at Otautau wer~ an improvement over those received 12 months previously, but despite this there were many classes in which competition could have been more keen. It was noticeable that in several sections the awards made were identical with those made at Winton the previous week, and having regard to this fact it cannot be said that the general standard of the exaibiU ,vas much below that at Winton. Ihe function was very well organised in all departments, the various officials sparing themselves no trouble to ensure the show s success. The grand parade of stock was punctually staged, following the prompt completion of the judging, and the manner of its conducting left little ground for complaint. » « » » A Wairoa farmer showed to a Poverty Bay Herald correspondent a patch of luxuriant blackberry treated with a sprav mixture from Australia, which is stated to have killed even the piicklv pear. The blackberry plants showed a decided wilting a few hours after the application of the spray. An inspection of the roots will be made later. There is onposition in the Farmers' Union against the formation of a blackberry board, as outlined by Mr W. D. Lvsnar, M P on Jus recent visit, when the Hon. 0 J 5 a TWn • ins ? f cc - ted . tho , blackberry patch at le: Uhi It is not altogether due to an objection to another rate, but to a dislike on the part of those who keep their land clear to have to pay for "the oth"r fellows neglect." * * * # From information furnished by inspectors of stock in the various districts tha fnThlV'Ti? 1 i ° I r - tlle currenfc se ason in the North Island is estimated a 84.35 pe V 6 £ 7 > 5 °3,200 breeding ewes in the Island, as shown in the W><i sheep returns, the number of lambs' Is estimated at 6,329,338. Land speculation has little bearing on the present condition, especially of slice iarmers, 90 per cent, of whom are farming the same properties they were before the boom, with, until recently, much I fghor prices for their produce, yet are making a poorer living (says a correspondent n an Auckland paper). The reason is simply -cost," caused by the wonderful S-s 11 £,H ICh tariffs and awards, which protection is all eventually passed on to the fnrae If labour was paid for effort and result' not time, there would be more people working in the country, and fewer in towns, which change would S oo» create more production. uIL The opinion that large tracts of land it into profitable dairv country was c\mby Mr N Smith „f the King Country who af er"a th° ro AUCk, r, d . by - thc Tof " a "cent ' Aft « hree ," ni T ths Vlsifc to th <> Mr Smith, who has had considerable frrml ing experience in the Dominion, stayed at about 40 miles south ot Si v, Tho land lying idle is as good as »,,''. fe? 'h, the t ?**?*?>" JjeclarfrJ Mr Smith. Unfortunately, it is all native lea*,. a*< TTnHI Ve 7.i difficul . t to ° fctain the freehold. Until settlers gain the freehold 1 cannot, see how dairying can progress to any great extent. Iho cows and bullocks I saw there were -n very fine condition and would do credit anywhere. If extensive dairying were gone in for, the produce could easily be consumed in the group. As far as tho eye could see was excellent land, covered in bush. The Navua Dairy Factory, about 20 miles from Suva, was paying 18d'a pounti for butter-fat. • • * * It was given out on the second day of the Clutha and Matau A. and P Society's show that the "gate" for the two days amounted to £250. This was afterwards discovered to be a mistake, the actual takings being- £213 for the two days, £2OO of this amount being taken on the second day. In addition theis were grandstand receipts amounting to £6 13s 3d. The "gate" still constitutes a record, as the previous best was £2Ol 4s in 1924.

[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.]

Notwithstanding the phenomenal rainfall experienced this season, the supply of milk to the Stirling dairy factory shows a substantial increase compared with the same period last year. For November the quantity received was 129,045 gallons, compared with 119,474 gallons for the same month last year. This factory devotes itself almost entirely to ihe manufacture of cheese, with the exception of a comparatively small quantity of whey butter, and the prospects for the cheeso market are decidedly good in view of the cabled advice on Saturday that controlled cheese was selling up to 94 s a cwt. on the London market. That price is equal to Is 7£d per lb butter-fat to the r supplier in New Zoaiancl. Suppliers of j butter factories are in a rather less iavoure able position just at present. 3 i * * " * 0 Ihe Government Statistician estimates the s area under potatoes this season (1926-27) as 3 j 5550 acres in tho North Island and 18,950 3 ' acres in the South Island, or a total of t 24,500 acres. The corresponding final figures c for the 1925-26 season were 5438, 18,046, and . 23,484 acres Only holdings of eno acre and over otitsido borough boundaries are covered by these figures. A fair aggregate area of potatoes is grown ; on the smaller holdings and within boroughs. • * » » The work of Evvard and others in , America and that of Orr and others in . I Great Britain has emphasised Ihe necessity . | of providing adequately for tho demand's ' | of the animal for minerals as well as for , ! protein and energy, and striking cases of j ; malnutrition duo to lack of mineral sub- , ; stances have been demonstrated. Tho need for the addition of mineral substances to i 1 diets has long been recognised by stock- | feeders, and the provision of green bone ' for poultry and rock salt for farm animals, has been for many years an established agricultural pi.ictice. Our knowledge of tho physiological laws governing the action ' of minerals on the body is, however, still largely empirical, and we cannot predict, with scientific precision the effect on the animal of feeding various combinations of mineral salts, although we can, in certain cases, state that administration of certain minerals under well-defined conditions of nutrition, will bo followed by beneficial results. • * • * The following estimates of the areas under wheat and oats in tho Dominion for tho current season have been issued by the Government Statistician, the figures being based on the usual card census:—Wheat: North Island, 3500 acres; South Island, 218,500 acres; total, 222,000 acres. Oats: North Island, 35,000 acres; South Island, 370,000 acres; total, 405,000 acres. Tho corresponding final totals for the preceding season (1925-26) were 153,248 acres of wheat, and 367,205 acres of oats. Wheat, therefore, has an estimated increase in area this season of 68,752 acres, and oats an increase of 37,795 acres. The areas under the different main varieties of wheat grown are specified as follows:—-Tuscan or Longberry, 151,728 acres; Hunter's (various), 28,373 acres; Velvet or Pearl, 13,402 acres. • # # # Two shows will be held in Central Otago this week. To-morrow the Central Otago A. and P. Society's annual summer exhibition will be held at Omakau, and two days later, on Friday, the Maniototo Society's show will be held at Ranfurly. Both shows are old-established events in their respective districts, and good displays of sheep ars always to be found there. Settlers in either district will experience a good day's outimr at either or both of these fixtures. * • • • • Two of the special prizes for the Clutha. and Matau A. and P. Society's show are still unallotted, on account of tho points I gained by certain competitors being prac- | tically equal. The prizes in dispute are the silver rose bowl for most entries in the : baking section, presented by the secretary (Mr D. Wallace), and the silver cup for \ most points in draught breeding classes, presented by Mr Robert Moff-.t-t. The , committee is to meet this week in order to arrive at a decision. Mr J. Donaldson, i of Stirling, the well-known Reu Poll exhibitor, was awarded the President's specie! j for most points in dairy cattle, and the ] Waitaki Dairy Company's silver cup for most points in the Friesian section fell to ' Mr R. E. Fox, of Clinton. ] CLUTHA SHOW. j DIAMOND JUBILEE YEAR. ,' f FINE ALL-ROUND EXHIBITION. ) j The Clutha and Matau Agricultural and \ Pastoral Society's diamond jubilee show ' at Baichitha on Thursday and Friday of 'I last week was the most successful ever f held under the auspices of that body, aml 1 in addition was one of the finest oxhibi- c tions of live stock that has bee-i seen in 1 the country districts of Otago for some s y-Mrs. Fixm every angle the event wes a R s,!U-:-css. The entries were miprcce- r dented, the. gate takings were u record, and the quality and variety of stork dis- c played were excellent. The public, at- c trcctei! Ly fine weather and a gocd pro- s gramme, patronised the show well, and f assurd the financial success of the fixture. I, For 60 years the annual show at Bal- r clutha has boen an event on the calendar I of the Clutha and surrounding districts, f and during that period scarcely one failure £ has been recorded, in spite of floods, epi- 0 demies, and clashing dates. Once in CO r years the show had to be abandoned—in 1918—but in March of the following year i the society kept faith with the public and t staged a most successful show. The records of the sociot, contain the names r of a host of settlers to whom credit must a be given for the present position in which the Clutha and Matau Societv finds itself. The spade work, executed half a centurv r ago, assured the ultimate success that has . How been attained, but later committees ' and members, this year's induced, have ' done a great deal to make the principal . livestock show of South Otago an event ] worthy of so rich and fertile a district. In no small measure was last week's success dependent upon the support af- ' forded by exhibitors from c'l.?r districts. v Draught horses from the "aieri, from r Tapanui, and from Southland «ere present v in good numbers, and a fine display of c light horses was made by breeders from p Christchurch. Dunedin, and Southland. x - The cattle shown did not all come from ' Otago cither, and Southland breeders an- ' nexed one or two of the supreme honours. [ For the sheep pens a systematic canvass , of many districts must have been made, as x stock was present from studs far afield l as well as near at hand. However, wber- * ever the stock came from, or whoever c owned it, the fact remains that Clutha ] n can say with certainty that its show of 1 HJ2O was a record for rural exhibitions ' which other societies will be hard pressed I to r surpass. _ !' The horse rings provided a great deal t of interest, and it was certainly a wise s move on the part of the officials to re- c serve decision of these classes for People's s Day. Clydesdales and l:;ht saddle and c harness horses were all t.like, excellent. c Young Bros and Fleming Bros., from ? the Taieri and Tapanui respectively, won a great many well-deserved honours. Their stock has been seen and favourably com- v mented upon by many judges and visitors this season, and it will require some splendid stock to beat their records as prize-winners. Local horses were not without distinction, and Mr G. P. Johnston (Gore) secured not a few awards. Prominent in the light horse prize .ist were Miss I. Rutherford and Messrs D. and A. Gillanders (of Christchurch). Mr J. M'Mullan ( -ore), Mrs T. D. Dalziell (Dunedin), and Mef- s Calder and Cochrane (Awamungu ■. Tatler and Per- t fection, Miss RutherL. <Vs pair, secured ; r some very popular wins, and both greatly - y pleased a large crowd of spectators with <■ their beautiful exhibition of jumping, f The champions were ridden by a master P of horsemanship in Mr A. Ferguson ] F (Christchurch). Mr M'Mullan's team of p ponies is becoming a familiar sight at > n local shows, and it is good to s"p a breeder who goes to so much trouble \o exhibit winning some recognition of h's stock. The Gore exhibitor has been ii breeding ponies as a hobby for a long p time now, and possesses some splendid fi types. 1

j The cattle pens were well filled, and j plenty of finality animals were forward. The Jersey t .usses were the most popular, and competition was very keen. Messrs (J. Adams (Purakauiti), A. M. Galbreath (Tahakopa), R. Arbuthnot (Balclutha), H. C. Anderson (Stirling), A. H. Moffat (Te Houka), G. M. Grant (Puerua), and R. Crawford (Invercargill) were amonu; the most successful exhibitors. Mr Crawford's aged cow (Holly Oaks Rose) won the champion ribbon for Jerseys and, in addition, was awarded the special prize for best dairy cow in the show. The other cattle classes did not lack distinction. The Red Poll entry, though coming entirely from the stud of Mr John Donaldson (Stirling) was a grand display, which can scarcely be surpassed in the Dominion. The sheep were judges on the first day, and occupied the attention of the judge for a long time. Mr Adam King (Stoney Creek), J. Mosley and Sons (Clydevale), Clifton Settlement, Mcssi*z A. 11. Moffatt (Te Houka), Cockburn Bros. (Te Houka), and Murray Brjs. (Clydevale) provided a good display of Romneys. The last-named exhibitors also had a good representation of Border Leicesters. Downs and Corricdales were in particularly short supply. Crossbred sheep of good quality, both in wool and carcase, were forward in plenty, and there was keen competition for the prize money. The most disappointing feature of the show was the poor display of fat cattle and fat sheep. Each of these classes of stock was practically neglected, considering the scope of the pastoral industry in South Otago. It was a repetition of thp position at the Otago metropolitan show, where the fat stock entry was also poor. These classes provide an opportunity t.-> exhibit for those who have not high-class pedigree stock. And there are hundreds of farmers in the Clutha with good fat stock at home. The Clutha and Matau Society ha<» reason to be proud of the judges selected for its jubilee show. A. special endeavour was made to secure competent and well-known experts for each class, and this was certainly achieved. Exhibitors expressed themselves highly pleased at the appointments made. LEONARD WHITE SHIELD. WON BY MR J. A. JOHNSTONE. (Special to aily Times.) CHRISTCITURCII, December 6The Leonard White Shield for most points in the stud classes at the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association's Show has been won by Mr J. A. Johnstone, of Bushcy Park, Otago, who gained 91 points. Mr H. J. Andrew, of Maheno, was second, with 88 points.