THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21543, 15 January 1932, Page 2

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rusticus,

1931-32 SHOW SEASON FORTHCOMING EVENTS 1932. January 16. —Waikouaiti. January 22.—Palmerston and Waihemo March 16. —Lake County, at Arrowtown. March 24.—Otago Ram Fair. March 28. —Mackenzie County, at Fairlie March 28.—Strath Taieri, at Middlemans March 31.—Temuka and Geraldine. NEW ZEALAND WOOL SALES 1931-32 ROSTER The roster of the New Zealand woof selling dates for the 1931-32 season have been arranged as under: — January 15—Wanganui. January 19—Auckland. January 25—Christchurch. January 29—Invercargill. February 2—Dunedin. February 6—Timaru. February 11.—Wellington. February 16—Napier. February 19—Wanganui. February 25 —Christchurch. March I—Dunedin.1 —Dunedin. March 4—lnvercargill. March 11—Wellington. March 16—Napier. March 21—Auckland. March 31—Christchurch. April 4—Dunedin. April 7—Timaru. April 11—Wellington. April 14—Napier. April 16—Wanganui.

Waikouaiti Show The annual summer show of the Waikouaiti Agricultural and Pastoral Society will be held to-morrow. The decision to make it a Saturday fixture .this year is a wise one, inasmuch as with reasonably good weather conditions a large number of city visitors should be attracted. A good display of live stock is being made, and in the ring events and competitions there should be a great deal to interest both city and country people. Train time tables will be found to suit city people intending to spend a day in the country. The Wool Market Wool, of all grades, is admittedly exceedingly cheap just now, but confidence seems lacking. The stringent economic conditions in Europe are' depressing all markets, apd no relief can be expected until after the Lausanne Conference on German reparations is closed. Germany is bound to restrict her purchases if she does not altogether abstain from buying. Butter Importation

One reads in the Grocer that Australian and New Zealand butter is becoming more and more popular throughout the United Kingdom every year. One might be able to gather some idea of the tremendous British demand for the Australian product when it is understood that in one month Australia exported 17,398,4921 bof butter. This total represents 14 shipments that left the Commonwealth for the United Kingdom during September. Comments of a Show Judge At an Empire dairy produce competition, held at Islington recently, great difficulty was experienced by_ the judges in awarding the prizes, owing to the excellence of the Australian entries (writes a correspondent of the Grocer). One of the judges said that he had never seen such an excellent lot of butter as that entered by the Australian competitors. Flavour, colour, and texture were strikingly uniform, and be had the utmost difficulty in making the awards. In judging the butter he was forced to take the exhibits out of the boxes in order to find the minutest defects. Out of all the Australian entries received (77 in all) only eight boxes were graded under 90 points. The judge congratulated those Australian factories which had excelled themselves. The judges were highly pleased with the splendid quality of the competitive butters. Export Prices

Export prices for the first week after the new year show some variation on those of the corresponding period of 12 months ago (says the Christchurch Press). Lamb is in a slightly lower basis this season, but the rate dropped each successive sale last season until 4|d operated for firsts for the last week in January and the whole of February, and 4Jd in the whole of March. _ In April an improvement to 5d set in, and from midMay there was a further advance until 6Jd was operating in the middle of June. Wether prices were much better last season than this when the season opened, but by mid-February they had dropped from the opening price of 4jd to for firsts, and from 3£d to 2d for the next weights. However, these prices improved later on, and 3d and 3Jd for 48 s and a fraction less for-49-56’s ruled.from mid-April until the end of the season. The better aspect this season is provided so far by the ewe schedule. Opening at ijd last season, it dropped until midFebruary, and from then to the beginning of April to Id for 48’s, 2d for 49-64 s. and id for 65-72’s, and seconds were the same." Weighty ewee for a period were selling as low as 3s a head. The schedule this season for ewes has opened more hopefully. A Comparison The following is a comparison for the three classes: —

Shoppers’ Ignorance Our London correspondent forwards the following extract from the Western Daily Press (Bristol): — “A Bristolian passing through Bridgwater suggests that the town should be given credit for the prominence given to the ‘ Buy British ' slogan. Nobody passing through Bridgwater can miss it. The sign, in bold letters, is displayed in the most conspicuous position possible—over the Market Hall —near to which stands the statue of that great Englishman, Admiral Blake. A tradesman of Clifton had a curious experience a few days ago. f A customer who had been having New Zealand butter regularly informed him that as she was going to try and help her own country she was not going to buy any more of that ‘foreign stuff’ but was getting English butter from a dairy. It hardly seems possible that there are Bristol people who regard New Zealand as ‘ foreign,’ but the experience mentioned suggests otherwise." Another butter buyer, the need tor economy having been enjoined, said to her dairyman; “Now, I suppose we shall all have to buy New Zealand butter, because English is dearer.” Little did she suspect that the so-called more expensive

Items of interest to those engaged In agricultural and pastoral pursnlte, with a view to their publication In these columns, will he welcomed. The; should be addressed to "Rusticus,” Otago Daily Times, Dunedin.

“ I doubt if it is realised in New Zealand just how seriously the whole scheme was affected by these various obstacles,” said Mr Brown. “ The 300,000 cases arriving together would break any market. The wasty fruit destroyed the confidence of the buyer, but the financial crisis did more than anything to reduce prices. Fruit sold in the open markets independent of the scheme fared just as badly, and in most caes for a lower price. I have managed to secure some average prices of Australian large sizes sold in London at the same time. The average for two steamers being 2|in Bs, 31n 7s gross, or 6s 6d and 5s 7d not respectively, our own Stunners, ISO’s, finding it difficult to make 8s gross.”

PROSPECTS FOR 1932. The prospects for 1932, according to Mr Brown, are very disturbing. “The financial position, on the Continent,” he said, “ is such as to prohibit the forward buying of past years. Some countries are refusing to allow credits for fresh fruit. I have been in touch with the largest houses in Germany, and all assure me that, much as they would like to deal with us, it is impossible at present, and unless some improvement takes place before our season opens, we are faced with a serious problem.” Mr Brown pointed out that the removal from England of the large-size apples last season had a beneficial effect upon the London prices. This fact may be deduced from a comparison of average prices for the last dozen shipments in the years 1930 and 1931 respectively. 1930. 1931. 9/3 .... 10/6J 9/9 .... 10/1 9/6 .... 9/112 8/10 .... 9/112 8/8 .... 10/10J 8/3 .... 10/72 7/10 .... 8/9( 7/81 9/1J 7/5 .... 9/8 7/4 .... 10/0i 8/- .... 9/72 6/10 .... 9/21 “ Should the economic depression continue for some time,” said Mr Brown, in concluison, “ I anticipate a demand for smaller sizes on the Continent in the future. Our apples have attained a wonderful reputation all over Europe, and in normal conditions we would have nothing to fear.”

THE CHAMPION ANIMAL MR J. J. CRIDLAN’S TRIUMPH SEVENTH LONDON SUCCESS New Zealand farmers will be interested to learn that Mr J. J. Cridlan, of Maisemore Park, Gloucester, one of the party of British fanners who went out in 1930 on a visit, has had splendid success at the Smithfield Club Show, now in progress at Islington. On his Gloucester estate he established a herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle on the best strains and choicest pedigrees in Scotland. For the seventh time in his career, Mr Cridlan has won the London Championship, and for the second time since 1929 he has carried off tlio triple,crown—the supreme championship at Norwich, Birmingham, and London, in the same season.

'The agricultural correspondent of the Daily Telegraph relates: “It was left to the flexible fingers of one of England’s most famous butchers, Mr F. Norman Bocock, to decide the cattle championship at the Smithfield Club Show at Islington. After he had run his hands over the body pieces of the two finalists—Mr J. J. Cridlan’s first cross blue-grey steer, Butler 2nd of Maisemore, and Sir George Macpherson Grant’s purebred AberdeenAngus heifer, Evona of Ballindallocb—be made them walk down the main aisle of the Agricultural Hall. Still undecided, for they each had pleased him in their movements, he handled them once more, and found that the steer more than excelled at hie tailpiece. There he found ever so much more beef to the square

‘English’ was merely blended imported, and that she, like many thousands of shoppers, had been “ had ” for years past by the contents of the fancy cartons. Housewives in the North of England who buy “ West of England ’’ butter often find it streaky, but they don’t know that their purchases are blended butters. APPLE EXPORT CONTINENTAL TRADE A GLOOMY OUTLOOK From reports recently received in this country it is evident that orchardists in the Dominion do not fully appreciate the seriousness of the financial situation in Europe. Nor have they grasped the fact that, although the marketing of their produce v in Continental markets last season was'unsatisfactory, it was a great good fortune that it was not much worse. Mr J. L. Brown (London representative of the New Zealand Fruit Control Board) is finding it impossible to make arrangements with the Continent for next season’s output. In Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Lettland, Austria, and Hungary the Governments have placed an embargo on the buying of foreign currency for making payments for fresh fruit. In Germany the import of fresh fruit is under license. Last season 85 per cent, of the previous year’s imports were permitted. This has been reduced by 25 per cent, recently, and at any moment a complete embargo on the entry of fruit might be proclaimed. There is also the chance of an embargo being placed on the purchase of foreign currency at the time of shipment. “ Nothing has so interested the New Zealand fruitgrowers as the _ Continental markets,” said Mr Brown, in an interview this morning. “ For some years this market w-as supplied by small forward sales, which were indeed very satisfactory in themselves; These, however, were of selected varieties, sizes, and grades, and the contrasts were such as to hinder us from marketing considerable quantities. Last season, therefore, we broke away from these isolated sales, and adopted a scheme which promised at least a distribution over the whole of the Continent from Marseilles to Budapest. This scheme was the more acceptable because it gave us the opportunity to keep off the English markets our large sizes which had proved almost unsaleable there. •

LAST SEASON’S DIFFICULTIES. “In the early part of our season we were instructed that we would, not have more than 300,000 cases for the Continent, and our plans were made accord ingly. The reception and returns for our first two shipments and for some 6000 transhipped from London was very good indeed, and quite equal to our original sales returns. As these shipments were not selected, but consisted of all varieties and grades, we had every reason to congratulate ourselves. Unfortunately, our next shipments were unavoidably delayed, and we had over three weeks when we had no fruit to sell just when prices were at their best. When the Somerset did arrive, on June 10, the full tide of strawberries and peaches filled the Continental markets. To increase our difficulties, six ships arrived in a period of 10 days with 300,000 cases. Many of the varieties, especially the_ Jonathans, were in a very wasty condition. Immediately afterwards, the serious financial crisis arose in Germany, and business was at a standstill for some time. The result, of course was disastrous, and naturally a good deal of criticism has been expressed in New Zealand.

inch, and beef of a quality for which a butcher will always pay an enhanced price. ... “It is remarkable that each time Mr Cridlan has w r on a London Championship a referee has had to be called in. “A WONDERFUL BEAST.” “Mr F. N, Bocock told me last evening that Mr Cridlan’s steer was a wonderful beast, weight for age, and was much superior to the reserve at the tailend. When the Maisemore farmerbreeder last won the London title his runner-up - was also a purebred' Angus heifer from the herd of Sir George Grant. “ Mr Cridlan’s steer at 23 months 5 days scaled 14cwt 21b, as compared with 13cwt 3qr 181 b at 2 years 11 months recorded by Sir George Grant’s heifer. She was reserve supreme champion at Edinburgh Show last week, and Mr Cridlan’s steer was absolute champion at Norwich a fortnight ago. since which he has made weight, despite a visit to Birmingham in between. In the Midland city he was beaten for the cross-breed championship by Sir Gomer Berry’s Bluebird 2nd, a blue-grey, which was yesterday defeated by Butler 2nd for the crossbred cup. “ While Sir George Grant’s Angus heife.r Evona, boasts all the grace of her breed, the Maisemore steer is symmetrical, despite his great weight, and is quite one of the best champions the Smithfield Club Show has had. “When Mr Cridlan went into the ring to congratulate his herdsman, he was received with a round of cheering from hundreds of breeders and butchers, unanimous that the referee’s decision was a correct one. . “As well as the champion plate of 100 guineas, Mr Cridlan’s steer took _ the King’s challenge cup for the best animal bred by the exhibitor, and for this Sir George Grant’s heifer was reserve. Butler 2nd also won two other cups, for steers above 15 months and under two years and for steers of all ages. His reserve for each of these trophies was Sir Edinund Findlay’s Aberdeen-Angus steer. Prince Proeis, second in Edinburgh last week. This 23-months-old exhibit weighed llcwt 3qr 121 b, and was the cause of the downfall of the Birmingham champion, Mr Cridlan’s Blackfriar of Maisemore, which could only secure third in his class. Scottish critics declared that the Angus heifers, apart from the Ballindalloch reserve champion, were not as good as they have been in other years, but the steers made a remarkable display.” PRIZE-WINNING PIGS. The champion plate and gold medal for porker pigs were won by Mr A. J. Cousins, Braintree, who has stood valiantly by the Essex breed as one able to provide an ideal kind for the London market. His judgment was justified by the success of his best pen of two, which won a £lO award, while his second string also carried off the reserve championship. At almost five months they weighed over 4ewt. The bacon pig champion plate went to Mr Henry Cox’s crossbred large-eum-middle white pen of two, which at nearly seven months weighed 6cwt Iqr. Sir Gomer Berry was reserve for the bacon plate with exhibits of- the same cross and age sealine scwt 2qr 21b. The champion plate for the best single pig fell to Mr A. J. Cox’s exhibit of the Large White and Berkshire cross weighing 3cwt Iqr lllb at nearly seven months, his reserve being Mr S. C. Armitage's purebred Berkshire of the same age and weighing 2cwt 2qr 191 b.,

LAMBS. 1931. 1932 d. d. Over 36's 5;} 5i 37’8-42’s Over 42’s 5i 5 4-i Seconds 5 WETHERS. 4 " Up to 48 4i 34 49 to 56 3S 3 57 to 64 3S n 65 to 72 31 2A Over 72 2i? Seconds 3i EWES. n Up to 48 1? 24 49 to 56 11 2 57 to 64 H 13 65 to 72 U 14 Over 72 1.1 Seconds n —