THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20311, 20 January 1928, Page 4

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rusticus

Tapanui Farmers’ Club. The annual summer show of tho livestock under the auspices of the Tapanui Fanners’ Club will be held on the clubs neat and well-appointed grounds on Wednesday. This year’s event promises to bo well lip to the standard of former years. The district is well stocked with high-class farm animals of all descriptions from which a good display can ho drawn. Clydesdale horses and crossbred sheep of quality are always to be found in the pens and rings at this show. New Dairy Inspector. Mr F. J. Ross, tho new dairy inspector of the Department of Agriculture in Dun edin, appointed to succeed Mr Williams, has commenced duty in his now sphere, and in the course of the next few weeks will doubtless make tho acquaintance of local dairymen. Department of Agriculture. Messrs R. B. Tennent and A. A. Hume, with their harvesting gang, have been busy in South Otago and the Tapanui district harvesting the various experimental plots in connection with their research into pasture' and fertiliser problems in Otago. Mr Tennent left early this week for Hawea Flat on departmental business, while Mr Hume continued the work of harvesting at Moneymore. Mr Tennent returned to Dunedin last evening. High-priced Romneys. Messrs Joseph Mosley and Sons (Clydevale), tho well-known Romney breeders, whose stock have lately been exported to Argentine in considerable numbers, took delivery this week of the three Romney rams which they purchased at tho \\ airarapa Ram Fair last week for 505gns, tho highest priced animal reaching 235gns. All the purchases came from tho well-known prizewinning Penrose stud of Messrs W. Perry and Sons. These animals should prove a valuable acquisition to the Clydevale nock, which has also earned a formidable show reputation. A northern breeder of Romneys offered Mr Mosley sGogns for his Southland show champion ram at Invercargill in December, but the offer was refused. Rural Education. Tlie committee which has been considering the curriculum of the village schools of Oxfordshire has competed its work, and as a result of its report the county is likely soon to see an entirely new experiment in rural education. The committee embraced all the rural interests; it included representatives of the farmers, the teachers, and the University Institute of Agricultural Economics, and its recommendations come with authority. Its suggestion, which tho County Education Committee has already accepted, is that the experiment of education with “ a practical rural bias ” shall be tried in two or three selected schools. This does not imply, as might at first sight appear, that children in the village schools are to receive anything in the nature of a vocational training. The committee is well aware that they are not to be -kept on the land by being taught rick-thatching instead of geography at school. The question of the drift of youth away from the land toward the industrial centres is one which belongs to economics, not education; and the committee does not anticipate that the new curriculum will add to the numbers of land workers available. The objective is to increase the children’s appreciation and knowledge of their rural surroundings. Thosg excursions into local history or geology, for example, which have hitherto been due to the initiative of individual teachers would be made a part of a general scheme of education for the country child. These things would-be no longer diversions almost apart from ordinary school routine, but, woven into the texture of the cnildfs general education, would give to the whole a fresh brightness and appeal for young minds. Few English counties could be better adapted for the experiment than Oxfordshire, for few are more rich in history, tradition and variety of landscape. Oxfordshire, moreover, has always been a leader in rural movements —the Federation of Women’s Institutes provides Q noteworthy example—and this enterprising test in the development of rural schools will, if it receives the approval of the Board of Education, be watched with interest. Palmerston-Waihemo Show. The annual summer show of the Palmer-ston-Waihemo A. and P. Association will be held to-day. The secretary informs me that the society has seldom had a better catalogue of entries to place before visitors and exhibitors, and it is anticipated that the show will be one of the best yet. There are some high-class studs and herds in the Waihemo County, from which entries are drawn, and there should bo no lack of outstanding animals in the various rings today. The light horse entries are always interesting, and the competitions .are well worth watching at this show-, as horses and horsemen are alike excellent. College Algerians. College Algerians from New Zealand have so far proved a success in Tasmania. About 700 bushels were obtained from the Lincoln Agricultural College, and though the season has not been a favourable one an investigation by an officer of the Agricultural Department has shown that they have given better results than the Tasmanian seed. The College strain gave more sheep feed per acre and the crops are clean and are showing much loss smut. One farmer claims that the College oats have been worth £2 per acre more to him than the Tasmanian oats. One reason given for tho difference is that the College oats are pedigreed and show more vitality than the local strain which has probably deteriorated by continuous use.

SHORTHORN CATTLE. SEPARATION OF TYPES. THE CRUICKSHANK ANIMAL. SCOTCH BEEF BREED. In all branches of cattle breeding there will be found some studs that command a better inquiry for both sires arj dams than the rank and file. Whether prices are booming or at a low ebb competition will persistently be keener for a few prominent breeders’ sale lots. It is often contended that because of some perhaps slightly warranted circumstance one particular owner Vi 11 have a run of popularity, and that possible his stock is of no better quality than that of many of his opponents. But while there may be occasions in which name plays a too prominent part, it will generally be found that a reputation has been earned. The fact is that, although there are many stud herds in the country, there are only a limited number of really competent breeders. The common mistake of many who enter into the cattle breeding ranks is that they fail to have a clear conception from the outset of an ideal type. They may pay too much attention to pedigree, or they may fail because they do not appreciate sufficiently the points required in a sire to correct deficiencies. Looking back through the past records of beef cattle it will be found that much of the reputation enjoyed by British studmnsters may be traced to a comparatively few men of gexius, whose names are now indelibly associated with the particular breeds in which they are interested. Ceilings, Bates, Booth, Cruickshank, and Duthie are names to be conjured with in the Shorthorn breeding world, and M'Combie and J. MThcrson Grant have played an almost equally important part in the evolution of the Aberdeen Angus breed. While such men have established for themselves a permanent place in the annals of their respective breeds, it must not be forgotten that their work was merely the forerunner of much that has since been performed. Even the types they made supreme for the time have been eonsiiferahly altered so as to conform with modern requirements. The Bates Shorthorn has been more largely retained for milk type than for beef, and the aim of the British beef breeders is now for a low-set, nnggetty, and hcavily-fieshe.il carcass that will come to maturity in the

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shortest possible space of time. In New Zealand the change from the Derrimut towards the Cruickshank ideal, or, as it is often termed “ the Scotch type,” has been very marked, and most people will agree that the change has been advantageous, But how many breeders at the present time have a clear conception of the type they desire to achieve? Having proved that the infusion of “ Scotch ” blood has been beneficial, they have simply decided to continue using purely Scotch bulls in their herds. They apparently fail to appreciate that each succeeding generation will he shorter and shorter on the leg, more tied up in the shoulders, and consequently of little use under the conditions of the interior and far north of the continent, from which there is by far the biggest demand. Although the old somewhat angular and big-framed boast required some modification of type, it possessed certain characteristics which it would be fatal to lose altogether, and the problem of where sires of the future are coming from promises to become most complicated within a few years. Those who have seen the “ Scotch ” type when down in condition and having to rustle for feed will agree that their appearance does not inspire enthusiasm. They are small and weedylooking, and fail to display any of that hardiness of constitution that ivas such a striking factor in the Shorthorns of the past.

The Shorthorn breed in New Zealand has reached a somewhat critical position, and unless great care is exercised in future it is possible that other breeds will usurp its position. For this reason it is urged that studmastere should fix in their minds the ideal type for our peculiar climatic conditions, and not merely follow the established customs obtaining elsewhere. This has been done in New Zealand by several well-known studmasters, among whom an Otago breeder takes as high a rank as any. Though the fundamentals of breeding and pedigree are. largely of ancient and orthodox origin, the breed could not have flourished to the extent it has without a large measure of elasticity as regards general principles .and peculiarities of local climatic and pastoral conditions.

HEAVY HORSE BREEDING. CLYDESDALE-SHIRE FUSION. A SCOTTISH PROBLEM. REGAINING LOST WEIGHT. The question of the desirability of cooperation between the- Shire and Clydesdale Horse Societies has received consideration in the past, and has recently been revived at conferences held in Peterborough and London. The Shire Council has, however, refused to entertain the proposal, and it is assumed that the Clydesdale supporters will be equally averse from such a drastic course. ’ It would certainly appear to be a retrograde step in both directions. The blending of two strains of remotely related blood may perhaps have a beneficial effect for a few generations, but the possibilities are that eventually it will lead to disaster. Had Clydesdale breeders pursued a more rational course it would not have been necessary to consider such a suggestion. But in aiming for show points the great mistake has been made of sacrificing size and bone, and a realisation of this mistake is now exercising the minds of many breeders. There appears to be no reason, however, why the deficencies of the breed cannot be rectified by selection and cars, and without recourse to outside blood.

The argument of those who favour a fusion of the two heavy breeds is the same to-day as it was 30 years ago, when, a correspondent to the Live Stock Journal points out, the late Mr W. R. Trotter, in the course of a lengthy article, endeavoured to justify the proposal. After quoting many instances of the successful use of Shires by Scotsmen, he said: “It is clearly evident that some of the very best specimens in both Stud Books are an amalgamation of the two breeds, and it must be the chief object of both societies to improve the breeds under tneir supervision. In these circumstances amalgamation is the_ only logical outcome of the situation. If that is out of the question, Some scheme of introducing comprehensive appendices to _ subsequent volumes of the Stud Books, giving facilities for correct registration of those animals which arc bred by people who choose to avail themselves of the best breeding maternal on both sides of the Tweed, should bo formulated. . . .

“ I am warranted in saying that many of the most prominent breeders on both sides of the border are wistful for freedom of selection among Shires and Clydesdales. Many people, while contending that there should never have been more than one Stud Book for Shires and Clydesdales, appear to think that the time has passed when amalgamation is possible. My opinion is that it is never too late to mend.”

Although Shires and Clydesdales both sprang from a similar source, it must be remembered that the difference in the two types 50 years ago was less pronounced than it is to-day. Both breeds have been conducted on special lines, and so far as can be judged from the general types of animals found in Australia today, there is room for improvement in each case. It would seem, if independent reports that reach us from time to time can be relied on that the “ improved ” Shire has come very prominently into favour in Britain, but the breed has never found much support in New Zealand.

There is no denying the fact that a first cross between Shire and Clydesdale produces a mpst attractive-looking animal. It seems to possess a blending of many of the best features of each breed, retaining the weight, colour, and substance of the Shire and the cleaner and better leg and action of the Clydesdale. Specimens of this type are found in parts of Tasmania, and in some instances the crossbred stallions are • being used as sires. '1 3 question remains whether a perpetuation of the use of such crossbreds will be successful, or whether the length of time that has elapsed since the two breeds had a common ancestry will be so great as to render the fusion unsatisfactory. The risks incurred appear to be too great to be warranted. While Clydesdales of the size and quality of the last Otago Horse Parade champion, Archaic, are available the building up of necessary weight cannot present any insurmountable obstacles.

FAT LAMB INDUSTRY. LOCAL AND EXPORT TRADES. PROBLEM OF RESPECTIVE TYPES QUESTION OF REST SIRES. There is _ a great diversity of opinion among producers regarding tho most suitable class of sire to use with crossbred or comeback ewes for the purpose of rais ing fat lambs for local and export requirements. It might bo thought that there is no need to discriminate ’between tho two avenues of output, but actually there is a lot of difference. Most of onr export lamb finds its way on to the British market, in which Smithfiold is by far the greatest distributing centre. The demand of the Smithfiold buyer is for a short, nuggetly carcass, without much internal fat, but with meat nicely marbled. Tho popular weight is from 251 b to 36!b, with a carcass of good conformation, froo from waste, and sappy. In deciding on the selection of a breed, it must be borne in mind that under the present system of selling to exporters (hero is not always a guarantee that the lambs will be lifted at tho most suitable time, and they may be left for some weeks. If the buyer could lake delivery at the psychological moment, there would not bo any nred to worry much what type of sire was used so long as he possessed correct mutton

tendencies. But in existing circumstances it appears that the best results are likely to bo obtained from sheep that stand low on the log, produce compact, uniform quarters, and do not mature too quickly. To ensure these requirements, selection is limited to about three breeds, Southdowns, Shorpshires, and Ryelands. -In many districts Romney Marsh prove suitable, but as a general rule sheep of this type, and also of longwool blood, will answer the purjioso better from the dam’s side. The high standard that Now Zealand has achieved is largely the result of Southdown-Romney Marsh crossing, or Southdown rams mated with Lincolu-Rom-noy cross ewes. Consumers further north in Britain do not display the same insistence upon small joints, although even there they will not. pay well for anything but the choicest quality.

If the statements of the chairman of the Metropolitan Meat Industry Board of Sydney may be taken as correct, there are nidi tions that in the near future an increased demand for Australian and New Zealand mutton and lamb will be forthcoming from towns on the west coast of the United Slates of America. Producers of the United Stales are Undine it hard ro supply the demands of the increasing population of 2,000,000 people a year, and Australia. is iu a favourable position to supplement the local output. .For this trade carass weights of 351 b to 451 b are most popular, so that the development of such a market would be of inestimable advantage. It, would coincide more closely with (he local demand, and thus permit a bigger selection of sires to conform to the diversified conditions that exist even in Now Zealand. For while the breeds mentioned as most suitable to the British trade do in certain localities, they fail to come up to the standard of other breeds elsewhere. Where weed grows profusely and grass seeds are particularly bad, for instance, lambs long on the leg thrive best, and it is perhaps for this reason that Border Leicestcrs have had such a good run of popularity. Suffolk types are also useful by reason of their build, and so long as me lambs can be disposed of, no better mutton sheep can be mentioned. For quick maturity the Dorset Horn breed has earned a splendid reputation m Australia and is recommended by many well qualified growers in some of the wheat districts. As with Suffolks, it is necessary to get Dorset Horn lambs off quickly, as they are not of much use after they achieve any ago for wool purposes, and mature Dorset Horn meat has a tendency to coarseness.

It will be appreciated that an answer to the oft repeated question what sire is the best for fat lambs production is unanswerable m a general way. The sire to use is the one that by practical demonstration ha? shown it? qualifications in a particular district. This applies to lamb raised and fattened for homo consumption, nr for a possible American trade, but fot the British market the best prices will undoubtedly bo obtained hy using rams of any of the throe short-legged, compact breeds previously mentioned.