THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20710, 7 May 1929, Page 4

THE RURAL WORLD.

By Rustictis

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

Tbe Wool Market. At the London wool sales now current there js practically no chauge in values as compared with the previous sales, and at does not seem that values will go back Messrs Winchcombe, Carson, Ltd., stated recently that no indications existed that wool supplies were over plentiful. On the Continent of Europe stocks of wool tops at the end of February were higher , than a year previously, but it was generally considered that merchants and retailers for a long time had bought their supplies of goods only in hand-to-mouth quantities. If greater prosperity were enjoyed by the mass of the people and business revived a greater call for fabrics would have, a quick effect on wool values. A revival of that nature, however, was not in sight, and consequently the firm did not see any prospect of a rapid rise in the price of wool. On the other hand, the fact that the season’s Australian, South African, New Zealand, and South American clips were now practically in the, hands of buyers made the chance of any marked setback in the mArket appear to be remote. 'The United States Department-of Agriculture recently issued figures estimating the world’s clip ii; 1928 at 6 per cent, larger than in 1927. The estimate apparently was not made on a conservative basis, and Australian production was put down at 950,000,0f101b, or practically 3,000,000 bales. - That quantity- has- never been grown in Australia ip a single year. The publication of excessive figures - was regrettable. It gave .a false idea of supplies and could easily have a bad effect on values. Wool Sale Statistics. Fluctuations in prices are quite a familiar feature of the .wool market from sale to sale, but when a long-term view is taken the average .shows trifling variations. Thus in the three seasons 1923-24, 1924-25, and 1925-26 the average per bale at, the. Wellington sales was £23 lie BJd. and the average per lb was 15.426, and yet the averages for each season varied considerably, an will be seen from the fol- • figures, which refer exclusively to Wellington wool sales: : — Average Average _ per bale. per lb. { Season. £ s. d. d. I 182 H* ■•'22.15 0 141786 f • • 30 3 1 19.644 1925- .. 17 7 XJ 11.849 Tn the three seasons following the variations, while not as pronounced; are still very noticeable.. The figures are as under:— Average ’ Average ; per bale. per lb. i Season. £ s . d. ■ d. ! JSjS'SI •• 18 5 31 12.287 ! 1827 ' 28 .. 34 10 5 16.511 1928-29 .. 22 .4 11 14.958 Comparing the three-season periods we get the following:—■ Average Average per bale. per lb. Season. £ s. d. . <j.. J 323-26 .. 23 11 8| 15.426 1926- .. 21 15 Oi 14.629 Thug it will be seen that the. average obtained m the past season was above the average of the three seasons, and about -27 s per-bale below the average of the previous three seasons. The corrected figures iqohoo* sod a * - Wellington in the season 1928-29 are as under:— Average Average Season, 1928-29 November .. 7.621 23 211 15 gag December ~ 23.933 23 8 8$ 16 006 January .. 26,747 23 19 s| 16 135 February .. 23.861 21 8 1 14 237 March. .. 31,474 20 5,4 13,530 Southland Winter Show. mT£~ eD c£ ies re #; ed f ? r Southland Wintm: Show, - which-will be opened on Saturday next, are very satisfactory, and there are indications that this fixture will be Quite as successful as previous winter ehows. The addition of several new features will increase the interest, and the attendances should be large. A very comprehensive display for the Southland Winter Show is,being arranged by the fields division of the Department of Agriculture, and will deal with grassland management in all its phases of local interest. The display will be a particular feature of the show,-and will be of extreme value to (farmers. ‘ Ragwort Parasites. The cinnabar moth caterpillars which were released on ragwort bushes in Otago and Soutruand earlier in the year are reported to be flourishing, and are now about an inch in length. They have changed into the black stage, and are ringed with gold. They are said to be in very good condition, and are beginning to scatter, and can be found as far as 10 yards from the bushes on which they were originally placed. There are indications, although not at all definite, that some of the bushes first attacked have been killed. It is expected that the caterpillars Will shortly enter the pulpal stage and hatch out as moths in the early spring. They are reported to lay very large quantities of eggs, so within a year or two the moths should have multiplied sufficiently - to cover a fairly wide area, by which time it should be possible to judge the results of the caterpillars’ work. Standardised Cheese. A statement was recently circulated throughout the Dominion that the executive of the , Ayrshire Cattle Breeders' Association had'passed a resolution urging the abandonment of the recently im troduced practice of making standardised cheese, on the ground that it was alleged to be responsible for the considerable disparity in price at present ruling between Canadian and 'New Zealand cheese. This statement was'referred to at the meeting of the .Dairy Control Board this week, when its accuracy was generally challenged. 1 It was stated that as a matter of actual fact at the time the statement wag made not a single crate of standardised cheese bad arrived on the London market, so that it could not in any way be responsible for the disparity in price between New Zealand and Canadian cheese. It was stated that within the last few days the first shipments of standardised cheese had arrived on the London market, and cabled ‘nformatiou from trade agents was; to'the effect that the quality of the shipments bad been quite satisfactory. First sales have yet to be made, but it was considered advis* able that prompt correction should be made of the statement attributing to standardised cheese the price disparity between tbe Canadian and New Zealand product. Bobby Veal from Southland. The final returns of the export of "bobby” veal, carried out last season in Southland by the committee of the South Island Dairy Association, have been received, and the committee has decided to pay a. bonus of 3s per head for all good calves supplied, bringing the uet return up to 10s per head, which is Is per calf better than last year. Although the veal prices realised were lower than those of last year, and the Southland product reached the market later than that included in the North Island pools, the Southland pool will return to the suppliers Is per head more than similar pools- in the North. A particular feature of the export is that the large supply of veils made available within the Dominion has enabled the New Zealand Rennet Company, at EHham, to manufacture its entire’ output of rennet without it being necessary, as in tbe past, to import veils. During the current season 75 per cent, of the rennet used in New Zealand has been the locally manufactured product. The ultimate result will be that tbe New Zealand cheese industry will he absolutely independent of outside countries. Farming Bulletins. At last week’s meeting of the Council of tbe Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, the president (Air Norton Francis) moved —“That it is desirable for this chamber to issue at not more than twomonthly. ..intervals an, additional bulletin dealing ‘.with agricultural and pastoral economic questions; such bulletins to be prepared by a committee of the chamber in conjunction with the staff of Lincoln Agricultural College, with power to coopt the services of Professor Tockcr, of

Itwas-of interest engaged In agricultural anti pastoral pursuits, lath a view to their publication in these columns, will- be welcomed. They should be addressed to “Rusticus,” Otago Daily Times, Dunedin.

Canterbury College, Air John Deans, chairman of the Lincoln College Board of Governors, Air Af. E. Lyons, secretary of the A, and P. Association, a'member of the Agricultural Department, and any others considered desirable, and that the chamber’s committee consist of: Alessrs W. Alachin, J. G. Herdman. E. T. APAlillan, W. H. Nicholson, .A. W. Beaven, H. S. E. Turner, and Norton Francis.” The resolution was carried. The Cheese Market. The monthly review of the firm of Samuel Page and Son, London, on the March position of the cheese market in England makes some interesting observations. It states that the gradual but persistent decline in the New Zealand cheese market, that has obtained since last September, was checked towards the end of February, when 84s was accepted for both white and coloured, the fall during that period amounting to no less than 30s per ewt. The tendency towards lower values could not be wondered at, bearing in' mind the high level that was reached last autumn, increasing receipts, and a far from good retail demand caused by the high prices, severe weather, and much illness and unemployment. Despite these adverse factors, the sudden collapse in values during the third week in February when finest white fell from’ 89s and coloured from 02s, both to 84s, seemed to be occasioned by something other than the law of supply and demand. In anv case, having reached 84s value reacted owing to the good business that then took place at'from 84s to 86s, and the market steadied for some days. On the afternoon of February 27 a demand was experienced that was Strong enough - to drive values up to the extent;- of 5S per cwt in a few hours—(-some holders - having sold in the morning at 86s were asking 92s in the evening. If the drop was rather severe, such a smart advance was no less unexpected, and it is generally credited to the, efforts of speculators - to cover 1? * ate February and early March, delivery, combined with the opera,“s3? ?, f one the Jargest “Multiples,” both the events occurring at the same moment that some factories cabled Withdrawing their cheese from the market. In any case the general attitude of buyers has not altered the hand-to-mouth pur-chases-in which they have persisted for so long, and with the cessation of the demand from the directions just mentioned, the market has reverted to a dull condition, with holders once more inclined to meet buyers .rather than miss business, despite the fact that there has been no arrival, for over a fortnight. . , values of Canadian have remained prnc"Fchanged, whilst the shortage of the English make is 'also'aiding the makgoodsf extreme prices for well-matured of T iV° l,oWil *H b . -,e B , bows a comparison of values as at Alarch 13, and on the corresponding day last year:—■ Alarch 13, Alarch 13, 1929. 1928. S. - •S. •• •g, ‘ S. 1 English farmers . 130 to 144 122 to 135 Canadian, white;,, 108. to 'll2 102 to 112. Canadian col . , 100 to 110 102 to 108 NZ” 3 ■ 00 89 98 to 100 N.Z., col. .... 89 to 90 98 to 100 •This week’s cable gives the current quotations as follows: ' current 5* ** •• 87 to 88 87 to 88 N-Z., col. .. .. 88 to 89 89 to 90 World’s Record Cows, or a H few’of D ttl ryinal m> publisllc « a list in bnSrr-faVproZSn re^ d ' brGakel ' S follow: i'voaucuon. they are as Frieslan-Hol stein— ■ ‘ i b fcLnadian) 6518 D ‘ Xi ° J? 1 . 11 but fat. Agassla Segis May Echo °’ 64 1319-31 ” -8M 1315 GuenSy, l U-S-A-) " 1286.3 Anastbeaia Faith, of HiltAyrshireL-^’ 3^o " 19 ’ 741 1123-5 Nellie Osborne of Elm Shade (Canadian) -27.198 Jerseys— ' ...... Abigail ,of Hillside' ~ ‘ 3 ’ 877 . 1187-51 June’s College . Girl. (U.S.A.) .. .. . . 24,571 1062.3 _ Th® American paper forgot to mention: Shorthorn— Melba 15th’ of Dashbalara (Australia) 32,522 1614 Jersey— Sultan’s Daisy (N.Z.) 30,676 1108 Grass and the Plough. •“ ? A i' as s t r uck by tbe intensive farming in Southland, which is everywhere evident. This remark, made by an Australian visitor, happens to coincide in point of time with some published figures concerning agriculture in the south, from which it would appear that in Otago the movement from cropping - to permanent pasture has become pronounced (says the Evening, Post).- What statistical position is shown in ..Southland is not clear, but figures in Otago - since 1921 clearly demonstrate the tendency to supplant, cropping by improving, the permanency of pastures for the'production, of- animal products. . . . Less pasture is being broken up annually, and_ pasture management is being practised in much better manner to-day than in the past.” Instead of being broken up by the plough, the pasture is preserved by manuring (top-dressing) and management; and thus a practice that, has spread so quickly in the North Isjand appears to have a good hold also even in that home of the plough, the south. In view of the greater part that ploughing has played in the past in the south (ag compared with the north), agricultural figures of production from that end of the Dominion should disclose in course of-time an interesting bistory What they so far indicate is that the change is associated in Otago with sheep farming, and apparently not with, dairy mg, as in the north. While Otago has greatly increased her sheep, her dairying cattle have somewhat declined. But. perhaps for climatic reasons, the plough has maintained,its. place in winter feed production, What will be the accepted ideas of “intensive farming” in 10 years’ time? Use of Fertilisers. Sir John Russell, of the Hothamsted Experimental Station, lecturing to farmers on the Science of Alanures, said that manures only represented one side of crop management, and unless all other requisites were attended... to - they could uot yield the maximum results. Liming was one of the precautions that had to be taken into account. The -easiest way of increasing crops was to use, nitrogenous manures, but the difficulty--was that if they went too far the plants were liable to become diseased. PhosphateJfmamires increased the growth of roots, aided cereals to tiller, and made ripening earlier. They were also very beneficial on grazing ' lands. Of the three more common phos- : photic manures, superphosphate should be used for arable land, basic sing for grass, 1 and bones wight be used according to ; price. In regard to the potass - ,c manures, muriate of potash, he said, was cheaper, •and for all practical purposes gave equally i ns good results as sulphate of potasli. By diagram illustrations he showed that : good crop yields could, be kept up for a , tew years with artificial manures, but eventually they went down below the yield of farmyard manure, it would be interesting, therefore, to try to discover ■ something—whatever that something was —in farmyard manure, which kept up the yield. Farmyard manure helped the moi.s- ---! turc supply- of the soil, and so enabled plants to go through drought better, while it also helped excess of water to get away, and facilitated plant roots in travelling in the soil in search of food and water. Another point was the apparent feeding effect on the plant, which they could not produce by any known artificial substance. Wb'at thaf.som'ofliing.wiis, be said, Was one.of the - unsolved, problems of the’present time. The' immediate; practical thing for the farmer was fo recognise the value of farmyard manure, and ‘make the best use of it.

FROZEN MEAT TRADE. ■ EXPORTS AND KILLINGS. ■ According to the latest returns issued by the New Zealand , Meat Producers’ Board, the exports of ffozeu meat for the six months and a-balf,’ October 1, 1928, to April 15, 1929. show decreases in every class except pork, when compared with those for the corresponding period of’ last, season. The killings of stock for export during the same period show an increase of 85,855 carcasses of lamb. Following is a statement showing the quantities and destinations of the frozen meat shipped from October 1, 1028. to April 15, 1929: , ■ Beef. Mutton. ha mb. Pork. Qrs. C/cs. : C/cs. C/cs. London .. 8,552 735,515 2,291,384 55,065 Southampton W.Cst.U.K. 1,349 57.115 807.151 33.434 Halifax .. 2,904 8 New York 25.616 350 44,509 Vancouver 3;800 Cristobal 2,168 Boston , . .. San Francisco .. 130 140 2 44,510 820,366 2,726,264 88,499 The figures for the corresponding six months and. a-half of;the 1927-28 season are as follow-: Beet. • Mutton. Lamb. Pork. Qrs. C/cs. C/cs. C^cs. London . . 73,013 852,248 2,565,070 36,501 W.Cst.U.K, 34,981 71,541 429,281 32,689 Halifax . . 1,047 New York 16,696 2.005 12,514 Vancouver 1,040 3,100 950 Port Said 3,890 130,676-928,894 3,007,824 69,190 KILLINGS AND STOCKS. The fallowing ■ table gives the killings of stock for export at all Dominion works for the six months and a-half ended April 15, together with those for the corresponding period of last season;— 1928-29. 1927-2 S. Beet (qurs.) ... .. 71,234 237.945 Wether mutton <o/cs.) 871,044 933,532 Ewe mutton (c/cs.).. 513,437 . 581,822 Lamb (c/cs.) .. .. 4,470,303 4.384,498 Pork (porkers) (c/cs.) 82,487 102.239 Pork (baconers) c/cs.) 41,511 28.400 Boneless beef (frt. c/cs.) . 98,059 169,886 Sundries (frt. e’es.) 51,707 39,845 The; stocks of frozen meat on hand in stores in New Zealand as at April 15 are given in the following table;— 15/4/29. 15/4/28. Beef (qurs.) .. .. 27,403 90,442 Wether mutton (c/cs.) 374,177 366.788 Ewe mutton (c/cs.) 260,541 326,733 Lamb (c/cs.) .. .. 1,451,571 1,310.823 Pork (porkers) (c/cs.) 35,371 56,405 Pork (baconers (c/cs.) 17.269 5,840 Boneless beef (frt. c/cs.) 39,283 57,877 Sundries (frt. c/cs.) 17,976 23,§63 The stocks of frozen meat loaded into vessels not departed from New Zealand as at April 15 were as follow: 15/4/29. 15/4/28. Beet (qrs.) 10,561 20,659 Wether mutton (c/cs.) 27,201 35,189 Ewe mutton (c/os.) .. 25,633 27,863 Lamb (c/cs.) .. .. 415,996 206,792 Pork (porkers) (c/cs.) 829 1 087 Pork (baconers) (c/cs.) . 3,305 RED CLOVER RESEARCH. QUALITIES AND TYPES. FURTHER STATEMENT BY MR E. B. LEVY. Mr E. Bruce Levy, agrostologist at the Plant Research ; Station ;at Palmerston North, who recently, made some startling statements,. in regard to New. Zealand grasses and clovers, is doubtful whether his pronouncements have been taken up in the correct manner. Therefore to eliminate misunderstandings he has issued the following statement in respect to New Zealand red clover and its characteristics: — Red clover occupies an important position in the pastures of the world. It varies in type, probably more than any other clover/and this variation must needs call for investigation into the question-of which variant or type best suits the particular needs of the farmer. Continental, European, and English stations have all devoted much time towards studying the red clovers of the world. The outcome/of this work has enabled the red clovers to be classified into Tour main groups:— Group 1. —Broad red clover; Known also as early red clover, eowgrass, or double cut eowgrass. . Group 2; —Late.red clover: Known also as late flowering red clover or single cut eowgrass. - :

Group 3.—Late late red clover: Known also as extra late flowering red clover of which Alontgomery and Cornish Afarl are representative types and the only" ones so far identified.

Group 4.—Wild red clovers, of which there are two sub-groups: (a) Early flowering; (b) late flowering. This type largely resembles Montgomery Red in general type and usefulness. Broad red clover is the least persistent of these types, and in Europe and England is considered, under their conditions to be more or less an annual. The name is based on the fact that plants belonging to this group have large and relatively broad leaves during the early growth periods, i.c., when the plants arc young and at the first flush of spring growth after the plants are established. . 'The number of shoots, or tillers produced per plant is small'in comparison with that of the late forms of red clover. Under English conditions spring sown broad, red will give good growth in the following autumn, a hay crop at midsummer, and a second hay crop in the late- summer of the second year. Only a ; small percentage of the plants will survive the wiutcr, and virtually under these conditions broad red clover is an annual. In New Zealand broad red clover lasts on the whole longer than at Home, but under normal grazing conditions the stand has thinned tremendously by the end, of the second year. Under Ught grazing, combined with haying (which almost invariably permits of reseeding) stands up to seven or even ten years are frequently met with. LATE RED CLOVER. In Britain this form will give good growth the first year, but not so heavy, as that from broad red. The second year’s gross yield is heavier than broad red, both under hay and grazing conditions. It will further survive the second winter and produce fair hay crops or pasture feed in the third year. Only a small percentage of the plants will survive the'-third winter, i.c.. the plant is virtually a biennial. Individual plants of lato flowering red clover produce more shoots per plant than broad red, and therefore make a better bottom and a denser crown. LATE LATE RED. In Britain these do not start off so rapidly from seed as the two former groups, but produce heavy crops both as hay and pasture during tho second year down, and will continue on the third and fourth year. They arc heavier yielders as pasture plants than any of the other groups; they are denser and bear more tillers at the crown. WILD RED CLOVERS, There is a wider variation in type within the wilds than within the cultivated strains, but the majority of this group, although not markedly heavy yielder aio very persistent, and for this reason arc of interest to the plant breeder as forming fho basis for longer lived strains'than even the best of the late late reds. : In New Zealand the latter three groups of red have not been sufficiently well tested for one to speak with authority, but'the indications are certainly such that, if broad red persists-longer in New Zealand than at Home so too would the late and late -late reds give correspondingly longer stands of profitable grazing. Speaking generally, however, of the tour above types there appears to be no doubt that for long rotation and truly permanent pastures the late reds and the late late reds are preferable to the broad red types. For annua! pastures, for short rotation pastures and for tho special hav crop broad red with its quicker and bulkier early growth would no doubt be the better typo to use. but in New ZcaI land at any rate, with top-dressing becom--1 iug more and more general the effort now ! and -in the future will he for longer lived I pastures, and if .only wo can -incorporate 'into'those pastures a grazing strain q[

red clover that is reasonably persistent and not so inclined to smother in the early stages as is broad red, the value of those pastures, particularly for summer grazing should be greatly enhanced. The late reds and the late late reds seem to offer more reasonable chance to success in this direction than do The broad:’reds. All Now Zealand rod clover or cowgrass as it is more commonly called belongs to the broad rod group, and as a member of this group is proved by experiment at Home to be among the best of the broad leds; yet the undeniable fact remains that all New Zealand red clover is broad red, and it was while making this point to farmers at the Massey College reccntly and indicating the apparent superiority ot the late reds and late late reds from a growth form for grazing purposes point ot view that led me to voice the opinion *l lat i' l a *l probabilities it would pav New Zealand to replace the New Zealand broad reds with a late red or late late red .type.

Apart alton'ether from working towards a more permanent rod clover for New Zealand herself, there is little doubt that consequent upon recent work in Britain the future will see a demand at Home for seed of late red and late late red clovers considerably in excess of supplies. It is very significant to note that at the prosent _ moment late red clover seed is beiiinproduced in Scandinavia, Poland, North Russia, Czecho-Slovakia and Canada. , 7" Zealand is probably one of the best, it not the best clover growing country of the world. We should be in the ior crank of world growers as regards O’Pe. and there is no doubt that in regard to the broad reds New Zealand excels as to quality, and the hope is that as the late red and late late red demand increases New Zealand will be in a position to meet that demand.