THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21359, 12 June 1931, Page 2

THE RURAL WORLD.

By Rusttcus.

Items of interest to those engaged i with a view to their publication in They should be addressed to “Rusti

Signs of Recovery

In its review of business conditions in the Dominion and in the world at large, the Department of Economics of Canterbury College remarks that the present state of prices and business conditions overseas has been aptly decribed as “ bumping on the bottom.” The general view held overseas is that the lowest point of the world depression has about been reached, and though it is anticipated that recovery may be slow, some recovery during the present year is looked for. The recent fall in the Bank of England rate, the general low level of money rates in overseas countries, the turn in the flow of gold towards Britain, the improvement of bank reserves and the abundance of cheap money all support the view that the stage is set for the recovery of demand, prices, and of general activity in busineses in the leading countries. This does not mean that improvement may be expected immediately in New Zealand. Past experience has shown clearly how our internal business conditions vary with changes in the purchasing power obtained from the sales of our exports. Most of the exports of the 1930-31 season have now been sold, and the low prices obtained have effected a drastic reduction of purchasing power within the Dominion. Improvement in internal business is likely to develop only with an increase of purchasing power, which may be due to higher export prices, greater volume of exports, or lower internal prices and costs. But the effects of higher export values cannot be felt until a considerable volume of exports is sold at higher prices, and this cannot occur at the earliest until the export season of 1931-32 is well under way. Meanwhile the production of next season’s exports will make heavy calls on our already straitened finances. Conditions are therefore likely to be difficult during the remainder off the present year. But they should improve early next year if export prices rise, or should internal costs bo adjusted to present prices. The ultimate outlook for New Zealand must depend On the natural resources of the country, the ability of the people, and the wisdom exercised in administration. Confidence in these, which means confidence in the future, will help greatly to tide us over the temporary difficulties of the present. . ; Dairy Produce Market

With stocks little more than one-half of those of a year ago, the butter market shows no signs of improvement. The London market is quiet, New Zealand finest salted being quoted on Friday at 110/114/-, a decline of 2s to 3s on the week. Danish, on spot, was quoted at 117/120/-. Retail prices are unchanged, Stocks of New Zealand cheese are 50 per cent, greater than those of a year ago. The market is steady, white at 54/55/- and coloured at 56/58/-, the latter being Is down on the week. Canadian old season’s is firm at 70/76/-, or 17s to 18s better than New Zealand. Stock and Deliveries The Empire Marketing Board’s estimate of the stocks of all butters as at May 30 is 558,242 boxes, as against ,1,030,635 boxes at the corresponding date of last year. Deliveries of New Zealand butter for the week ended June 4 were 1590 tons, as against 1266 tons a year ago. The quantity in store, including'2ls tons ex the Rangitane, is G 719 tons, as compared with 11,030 tons a year ago. Deliveries of Australian butter for the week were 1212 tons, as against 900 tons and the stocks •2412 tons, as against 3485 tons a year ago. , Deliveries of New Zeal and' ‘chdese'for' ithe'Week were' 25,00'0-crates, as against 24,474 crates a year ago. The quantity in store is now 188,554 crates, as compared with 125,009 crates a year ago. Deliveries of Canadian cheese for the week were 3856 boxes, as against 1850 boxes a year ago. The quantity in store is 127,684 boxes, as compared with 95.391 boxes a year ago. Effect of Herd-testing

The effect of the development of herd testing is strikingly apparent in the undermentioned table. It proves conclusively that the adoption of herd testing results in a longer milking season, in better milking, in better breeding, and in better management of the pastures and of the herd. An examination of the fertiliser statistics will show the ever-increasing quantities used during recent years. Cows in Milk or Dry at January 31. Per Butter-fat

It is interesting to note that the increase over the first 16 years (1909-10 to 1925-26) amounted to 30.951 bof butterfat per cow. For the past four years the increase has been 38.651 b per cow, a really phenomenal improvement. The increase over the 20-year period has been approximately 701 b. The butter-fat figures are for all cows in milk and dry, the average for tested cows in the 1929-30 season was 253.611 b per cow. Russian Wheat ■

Since Russia was able last season to export large quantities of wheat, it may ■seem strange that serious bread riots should be reported from Moscow (says the Dominion). The policy of the Soviet, however, has been to wring the last bushel from the nation above the requirements of bare subsistence and send the wheat abroad to create credits against her purchases of machinery. More than once in the past not enough grain has been left in the country to carry the nation through to the next harvest and probably that has happened again this year. After a close study of Russian conditions, one observer states that “in spite of optimistic statistics of the rate of increase in production of manufactured goods, the (actual fact is that there is a veritable /md constant * goods famine.’ Not only is'there a shortage of food, but there is a shortage of almost all manufactured goods as well.” Increase of production is generally more than counter-balanced by increase of population which is growing at the rate of three millions yearly. If the proletariat and peasants assert themselves and insist that they shall be sufficiently fed and clothed before their products are sent abroad, the Russian dumping menace would be removed for an indefinite period because “ the productive capacity of industry is so low that the population always needs more goods than it can obtain.”

MANGE IN PIGS

PREVENTION AND ERADICATION By the Veterinary Division, Department of Agriculture. The skin disease known as mange, or scabies, in pigs has recently been discovered to exist on several farms in the Manawatu district. Officers of the Livestock Division are actively engaged m dealing with the outbreaks, and as there is evidence that the disease has a more extensive distribution in the Dominion, full inquiry is being pursued with the object of' tracing centres of infection, and by instituting suitable treatment and control measures to endeavour to eradicate the disease. Towards this end the cooperation of all pig breeders is requested, as it is by reporting any suspicious cases among pigs that farmers can assist the department in eliminating what might prove to be a very troublesome menace to the pig breeding industry. The following description of the disease is accordingly published for the information of all breeders of pigs. Mange is caused by the mange mite, technically known as Sarcoptes scabici. The parasite is not visible to the naked

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eye, but on microscopig examination ot scrapings taken from the skin of an effected pig is readily seen. The mites penetrate through the upper layer of the skin and excavate burrows in which their eggs are laid. Mange of pigs may start on any part of the body. In the early stages of the disease it is usually found on the head, around the eyes, on the ears and nose. From these parts its spreads over the neck and shoulders and along the back and sides, until the entire body may be involved. The most outstanding symptom is an intense itching, the pig rubbing against posts, gates, or other objects. It is, of course, understood that pigs will scratch themselves because of the presence of lice on the skin, but the itching in mange is much more severe, the affected parts being frequently rubbed until they become raw. Loss of hair occurs, the affected areas appear dry and scurfy, and may be covered with brownish or dark grey crusts. Frequently scabs are formed as the result of mechanical injury produced by rubbing. In old cases the skin becomes more or less bare, is very thickened, and wrinkling or corrugation occurs.

Young pigs suffer the most. Unthrifty condition results, with ilow vitality; development and fattening' is retarded, and severe eases may lead to general debility and death. The latter result has actually been observed on a few farms affected.

Mange in pigs is very contagious, and is usually spread from pig to pig by contact, which readily occurs in pig pens. Objects upon which affected pigs have rubbed themselves are especially a source of transmission. ■ Litter, etc., contaminated by affected pigs is particularly dangerous. Pigs of all breeds and ages are susceptible to mange, but, as before stated, young pigs suffer most severely, A sow presenting only slight infection will infect every member of her litter. Boars are readily infected, and some bad cases have been observed in them. Treatment of mange consists in applying to the skin a preparation which will kill the mange mites, and by repeating: in from seven to ten days later kill mites which have hatched out from the eggs not destroyed in the first treatment. Treatment may be classed under two headings—(l) hand-dressing, (2) dipping. Hand-dressing, on account of the labour and time involved, is only applicable on farms where a small number of pigs are kept, ■ and even then must be very thoroughly carried out if good results arete follow. The following applications are used for hand-dressing:— 1. Crude petroleum (fuel oil). 2. Sulphur, and oil (1 part flowers of sulphur to 4 parts raw linseed oil). 3. Kerosene and lard (mixed in pr°" portion of J-pint kerosene to 11b lard).,; These remedies can be applied_ with a brush, distributed in a thin coating over the entire surface of the head and body, including the inner surfaces of the ears, and between the thighs. As before mentioned, the dressing must be repeated after an interval of a week. . * DIPPING. Dipping is by far the most effective and economical method of treating pigs affected with mange. Where a number of pigs is kept, a dip becomes a necessity. Where a small sheep dip is available, this answers the purpose, but the erection of a small concrete dip, suitable for dipping pigs, is not very expensive, and quickly defrays its cost in labour saving and in the results obtained, in getting rid of the disease. Where a dip is available, pigs can readily be •cleaned of lice by putting them through, the d}p.,,. This in itself can be recommended as having.,a marked influence in the condition of the animals, apart altogether from the subject of mange. The most effective materials used for dipping pigs for mange are:— 1. Crude petroleum, (fuel oil). 2. Lime and sulphur (the method of preparation is appended *). Petroleum is recommended as the most effective and most convenient dip. Two, dippings at most are successful in curing the disease, whereas with the lime and sulphur dip four dippings at intervals of a week between dippings are necessary to effect a cure. Fuel oil is obtainable at a low cost in most towns. The oil is poured on top of water in the dip to a depth of six or eight inches of oil floating on the water. In going through the dip, every part of the pig’s body gets a coating ot the oil. Full particulars of the dip and dipping fluid to use are furnished by live-stock officers to pig breeders having the disease among their pigs. It is essential that all pigs on the farm should be dipped in order to effect complete eradication. . j Dirty condition of the pig s skin, as for instance the presence of much .mud, will naturally retard the action of the dipping material, and such cases cleansing of the skin with, brush, soap, and water, previous to dipping is recommended. , , , ... * Mix 251 b of flowers of sulphur with 12Jib of good quick-lime. Grind the mixture with water until a smooth cream without lumps is obtained. Transfer this to a boiler capable of boiling 20 gallons, bnng the volume of the cream to 20 gallons by the addition of water, boil and stir during half an hour. The liquid should now be of dark red colour, it yellowish, continue the boiling until the dark red colour is obtained, keeping the volume at 20 gallons. \ After the liquid has cooled, decant it from any small quantity of insoluble residue, and make up the volume to 100 gallons with water. DISINFECTION. Along with direct treatment of pigs, very thorough measures of disinfection are necessary in order to remove the infection of mange on a farm. All litter must be removed and either burned or buried. Pens should be thoroughly sprayed and floors washed with strong disinfectant. All woodwork to be either tarred or limewashed. The same applies to all rubbing places, such as gates, posts, etc. It is advisable to shift pigs after dipping to a fresh site on the farm, otherwise re-infection will occur from infected places. Pig pens occupied by diseased pigs can be left unoccupied, after thorough disinfection, for six weeks, when it is considered the infection will have died out, provided the disinfection has been thoroughly carried out. f It is obvious that too much stress can'not be laid on the necessity to stamp out this trouble amongst pigs. These notes have been written with the object of bringing under the notice of all pig breeders the economic loss which might result from the presence of this disease amongst their pigs, and the necessity for reporting any suspicious cases to the department so that investigation may be made. Owing to the extensive traffic in pigs, spread of contagion is easy, hence the possibility of the existence of the disease in pigs in places where it is least expected.

cent. production Season. Total; tested per cow 1909-10 583,163 .14 148.45 1921-22 1.137,055 4.00 174.97 1922-23 i;248,643 6.79 180.62 1923-24 1,312,588 11.52 174.10 1924-25 1,323,432 14.87 182.09 1925-26 1,303,856 13.02 179.40 1926-27 1,303,225 13.05 198.50 *1927-28 1,352,398 16.57 195.38 1928-29 1,371,063 18.93 210.84 . 1929-30 1,440,321 19.69 218.05 *Drought year. 1 '