THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21102, 12 August 1930, Page 4

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rusticus

The Wool Trade. Sales of wool in New Zealand last, month, according to returns compiled by Dalgety and Company, Ltd., were 4333 bales' out of 4789 bales offered. The figures for July, 1929, were 788 bales offered, 735 sold. Exports of wool last month were 39,149 bales as against 15,477 bales in July, 1929. The shipments compare as follow: July, 1930. July, 1929. Bales. Bales. Invercargill .... 3,352 1,453 Dunedin .. .. 4,276 545 Oatnaru .. .. 810 1,127 , Timaru .. 7,076 1,039 Christchurch .. 5,041 2,871 Blenheim 1,028 Wellington .. 6,505 4,153 Wanganui .. ~ 2,737 ' 527 New Plymouth .. 187 Napier 5,341 1,797 Gisborne .. .. .801 , 1,258 Auckland .. .. 1,995 707

FLAX.

. Total .. .. 39,149 16,477 Tallow Export Trade. . The exports of tallow to Britain and the Continent last month totalled 1337 tons as against 1065 in July, <1929, an increase of 272 tons. Sales of tallowi in the Dominion last month were 315 tons. Winter Feed.

The work of providing winter feed has been immeasurably reduced, by the practice of top-dressing, and in comparison with the years before fertilisers were used to any great extent the areas sown down in root crops are negligible. Some farmers do not find it necessary, to prowide any winter feed whatever and the saving in labour must amount to a very considerable sum. At the .same time, the labour of preparing the grbund and sowing crops can be made up by extra carrying capacity, as the farmer who makes no provision for his stock in winter must restrict his stock and he probably has feed to spare in the flush period.

Horae Market. • There is it good demand for horses at the present time due mainly to the spring Work that is being carried on. Good, young horses are difficult to. procure and prices have firmed to higher than many buyers are prepared to give. Lambing.

The lambing season will commence in earnest next month and already a few lambs have been seen on several farms. The ewes are showing -well in lamb and are in good condition. Despite the fact that the winter has been a severe one, the sheep have stood it well. This is probably due to the excellent condition in which they entered, tba, cold, season and the abundance of feed that has been available. Dairy Factory Report*.

The first-of. the clairy company balance sheets issued in Southland is that of the Seaward Downs Company, which -records an increase in the intake of milk, establishing a new record, and an increase-in the quantity of cheese manufactured by 17 tons over the previous season, the total for the season being 451 tons. The return to suppliers for the season should be fairly satisfactory, as the SeptemberDecember and January outputs were sold at B|d and B£d respectively, and the remainder sent forward on consignment. The average test was 3.645, and the yield was 11b of cheese, from 10.31 b of milk. An interesting feature of the report is that it records that the methylene blue test had been adopted at the factory, and had been carried out during the. season. At the annual. meeting on August 22 the shareholders will be consulted concerning the advisability of continuing' the practice. The cost, of manufacture during the season, including general and overhead expenses, was 1.17 d per lb.

French Wool Trade. To. those concerned in wool, France’s activity as a consumer of the staple appears to be unassailable, In 1924-25 financial conditions put a brake on her purchasing. - Buoyant trading was again seen jin 1925-26. and with more or. less minor variations France ‘has ever, since bought wool with freedom. During that time the English and German woollen industry has passed through vacillating times, turnover in the former quarter being' affected to a special degree this year. In the earlier post-war' years the depreciated value' of the French franc, combined with a wave of tourist visitors, encouraged 'extensive sales of Frenchfabrics. For a time after the franc was stabilised at. 124 to the £ business lulled, but its decline was comparatively-short-lived. During the last few seasons, and particularly during the* past year, .the gradual decline in wool values has rendered turnover in ' manufactures unprofitable, but, judging by the purchases of raw material made in Australia, it has not unduly affected the monetary stability of French millmen. The French mills, rebuilt since the war, are particularly well equipped, but the conservation of her financial resources with the relative lightness of her taxation has played a' large part in keeping her industry prosperous. .Evidently the French -Government thoroughly realises the ill-effects' of high taxation on commerce. A 2 per cent, tax on turnover was in force on raw wool, washed, carded, and combed wool, etc., but it was found to be hampering business, and was suppressed a few months ago.

The Drop in Prices. ■> The Statist, London, reporting on, the prices of commodities, April to May 31, stated:—“The fall in prices which occurred last month (April) was fairly general, the only group of sterling prices not conforming to the downward .trend being textiles, which, thanks to a recovery in wool, made an almost imperceptible advance. Vegetable foodstuffs declined by 2.9 per cent, owing principally to lower prices for potatoes, barley, and oats. All movements in the animal foodstuffs group were in a downward direction. A substantial reduction in the wholesale price of bacon was the principal contributory cause to the 'fall of 7.4 per cent. Beef, mutton, pork, and butter were also lower on the month. The only appreciable movement in the groceries group was a fall in the price of coffee. The fall in mineral prices was somewhat checked last month, though it should be noted that the downward trend has been resumed during the current month. Copper and Itfad recovered slightly during May, but tin and coal were lower. In the sundry materials group.all movements were in a downward direction, with the' exception of slight appreciations in leather and seeds.”

Canada’s Butter Imports. For 12 months ended February. 1930. imported 37.759.6551 b of butter, as compared with 24,606,8541 b for the year ended February, 1929. The imports for February of this year alone amounted to 8,637,0061 b. of which New Zealand supplied 8,509,5031 b and Australia 119,0001 b. Tile imports were 2,000.0001 b in excess of those for February last year. Feed Plentiful.

The feed for stock is holding out remarkably well this winter, and althougln at one time - it appeared that many of the turnip crops would be failures, they have turned out very well, and plenty of feed

Items of Interest to those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuit* with a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed! They should be addressed to “Rusticus,” Otago Daily Times, Dunedin.

has been available on most farms. The indications at present are that the feed supply will be ample provided no severe weather occurs in September.

OUR PIfORMIUM TENAX. GROWTH AND HANDLING. " Flax, Its Culture and Treatment in the Course of Manufacture,” is the subject of a short article received this week from a correspondent signing himself “T.R.S.A. —F.C.S.” It reads as follows: Phormium tenax, the plant indigenous to this country> and known locally as flax, is not, as is popularlly thought here, the true fiax of commerce from which comes linseed and the resultant oil, together with the fibre for linen manufacture. The botanist has named this latter plant Linum usitatissimum, and its fibre, for industrial use, ie obtained from the stems, not the leaf, as is the case with New Zealand hemp. A short time ago a distinguished visitor to this country strongly advocated the cultivation of Linum usitatissimum here, the press of the country rightly gave considerable publicity to the suggestion; but whether anything further will be heard of the matter remains to be seen. It appeared evident from this authority’s remarks that there |s a very good overseas market available tor linen fibre. But why overseas, when the linen industry could so very easily be established here? Flax will grow almost anywhere, and in almost any temperature. We are told that fair crops have been raised off light soils as well 'as from stiff clays. The lowlying grounds of the plains, the sandy subsoils of the mountain sides, and the peaty .bottoms of old bogs -have all .been used as flax fields in Ireland, but experience has shown that the most abundant crops of the finer qualities of flax are obtained from dry loam, not too light; and yet not of a pronounced clayey nature. One of the essentials for perfect development is the deepness of the soil, for the roots of flax strike very deep indeed. It must be remembered that flax cannot be raised year after year from the selfsame soil, as is the case with Phormium tenax. In Belgium, the seed is generally sown in rotation after oats, but Irish growers favour sowing after, wheat. The general custom there is to plough the wheat'stubble in March, so as -to get the frost, and, when the ground ia fit for harrowing in April, it is cleared of weeds, and 2| bushels of flax seed are sown per acre.. The-field is next rolled with a light roller, so as to make -the .ground as even and fiat as possible to ensure uniformity of length in the stems of the plant when fully grown. * Once in full bloom a flax field looks very beautiful indeed. A waving mass of soft and elegant green, crowned with small, very pretty bright blue flowers. There is little that cau equal it. When fully grown the plant is about two feet in height, and harvesting takes place only when about two-thirds of the stem has become yellowed, and the seeds, which have since taken the place of the flowers, are just slightly brown. The Belgians adopt the principal of pulling the fiax between the falling of the flower and the formation of the seed, and state that by this method they ■ secure a finer and stronger fibre. The pulled stems are sorted in even lengths, and are combed for the removal of the seed pods, etc. After stocking for a few days .they are ready for the extraction of the fibre. The first stage in this process is . what is termed “ retting." It consists of immersing the bundles of stalks in ponds'/ and covering the whole with straw, - sods, or .anything available, and weighing down with heavy boulders. . . . The putrefaction which ensues within about two weeks, disunites the woody matter from the stringy fibre. ... Removing' the bundles from the ponds, draining; and spreading over grass lawns for another two weeks completes this step. . . . When dry and brittle the stems are bundled again if necessary, and stacked for about a month. ... . They are then ready to be scutched and cleaned.- But, prior to this, a gentle pounding is applied; so as to break the woody part of the stem. ; The blades of the machine called a scutcher remove this and other refuse, and a fibre suitable for textile manufacture results. _ It is from this that the world's linen is made. IN DEFENCE OF WOOL AN ANSWER TO PROPAGANDA. THE IDEAL COVERING. A correspondent, interested in the campaign for the popularising of woollen goods, makes the following defence of one of the Dominion’s mosf important export commodities: — . It is undeniably true that bodily health and comfort, largely depend on that part of the clothing which comes into immediate contact with the body,' so as to enable it to maintain a normal, temperature, and be protected from undue cold or heat. The beliefs of New Zealanders as far back as memory serves, have invariably centred-on wool as possessing every, essential necessary for such an ideal covering, but it - comes as a very rude shock, a veritable crumbling of our most profound belief, when we are informed by those who profess to know, that flannel or vool is precisely the material that should not be worn next to the skin. “There is no longer any excuse for advising people to utilise wool ..fop underwear,” states one authority. It is practically unabsorbent and inimical to healthy existence. It imprisons,mature and thus gives rise to deficient evaporation, diminished metabolism, and a general disinclination to mental and bodily exertion.” , ; .. Certain interests abroad, apparently without regard to expense, have issued a very descriptive booklet on the subject, and widely circulated it to the four corners of the earth. The above is an extract. Not unnaturally one wonders just what effect this intimation has had on the various people >vho have received the brochure. Has it prejudiced Is this gradual dwindling of the countries once substantial wool'cheques applicable, even to the smallest extent, to such propaganda? Most certainly if is not helping this Dominion, whose very life blood almost depends on adequate markets for her increasing- clips; It would not be correct to say that .we are totally dependent on wool, but the state of sale of this very staple commodity exercises a tremendous effect on the country’s finances and it is for the woolgrowers, themselves hard hit, to take, up the challenge and fight to prove their wares. “ The product of animals is wry sus--ceptible to disease,” states the booklet. “Woollen underwear is difficult to dense; it becomes felted and impervious, sealing tlie pores; it creates a treacherous unnatural heat; it absorbs moisture slowly; it encourages chills and colds; causes rashes and irritation; promotes rheumatism and similar diseases.” These are a 1 few of the facts (so called) this publication tends to Shower pn unsuspecting heads. it states: Compare the steamy clogging effect of wool with its saw-like irritating fibre, which, even when new, absorbs so slowly that for the purpose o’£ underwear .it may be said to be unabsorbent, allowing the bulk of the effete matter given off by the pores to dry on and. be reabsorbed by the body, thus poisoning the system. And, further, when perspiration is excessive and a woollen garment eventually becomes damp, it dries so slowly that the body is blanketed for. hours in a dampness productive of chills and other ailments.” Can nothing good be stated for wool? Is disease so rampant amongst its users? Are we, who produce it, creating a race of withering wrecks condemned to the torments of siqkness and disease, because we dare to encourage the wearing .of wool

next.to their ekin? What says the British Research Association? Just this: “Wool has the lowest conductive for heat of any standard material, that is, it best prevents heat from escaping from a warm body. . Even when wool 'becomes damp its conductivity increasesjnuch more slowly than other fabrics, and in this way colds, due to sudden chills, are avoided. Another requirement of the ideal fabiio is that it should absorb moisture in the form of perspiration from the body. Under ordinary atmospheric conditions wool will absorb equal to 16 per cent, of its own weight. As the humidity of the atmosphere varies, the. weight of water absorbed changes, slowly in the case of wool; much more rapidly in the case of other fabrics. This leads to condensation of moisture on the skin when there is a fall ih humidity. Wool, however, is not so prone to give the clammy feeling experienced with other garments, and thus it retains the most equitable temperature next to the skin of ail textile fabrics. As well as preserving an equable temperature, it actually makes the ekin glow, for when the- wool becomes wetted by perspiration it generates heat.” No bold statements these, but actual truths proved by cold scientific facts, and no doubt amply verified by the millions of wool wearers, in every stage of life, scattered broadcast throughout the world. There is not the slightest vestige of fact that can condemn wool as the ideal for wear, and an ideal can never yield.