THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21688, 5 July 1932, Page 4

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS “Interested” (Clarendon). —You should send the milk to the laboratory at Wallaceville. Any of the local stock inspectors of the Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture will investigate the matter of tuberculosis in dairy cows. . “Economy" (Enfield).—The members of the Mortgage Adjustment Commission now operating in the Dominion are paid a daily tee, but are not allowed expenses other than actual transport . from centre to centre.

/ The Butter Market

When considering the serious position of the butter trade so far as New Zealand is concerned one should also remember that 1832 Danish farmers became bankrupt during the first three months of this year. Yesterday Danish butter sold at 84g a cwt, f.0.b., which is about 97s landed. It would be interesting to know what has become of the farms occupied by these bankrupt farmers, but no news regarding that point is available (says our London correspondent). No Relief in Sight No one connected with the butter trade to-day is hopeful of much better prices before September. It has got to that stage when even the buyers regret having to pay so little for their supplies. Germany is the key pin of the situation. In 1930, Germany imported 130,000 tons of butter. Tariffs were doubled, and in 1931 the imports were reduced to 99,000 tons. Tariffs have again been doubled, which means they have been quadrupled since 1930. On top of_ that are the exchange restrictions. Business is extremely difficult, and the imports for four months of this year are down 18 per- cent, as compared with last year. We know that the Germans are eating margarine and goosefat to make up for the butter they are not taking. From May to August in 1931 they took 34,000 tons. They may reduce that amount by 10,000 tons. That 10,000 tons will necessarily have to go to England. Heavy Stocks, Held

There are 4000 tons more butter in this country to-day than there were at this time last year. The winter production of the northern hemisphere countries was somewhat reduced. This was probably on account of the increasing difficulty of buying artificial foods. There is no reason to believe that there will be any reduction in the summer months, May to August. Grass food is as abundant, and it has to be used.-. There is practically no hope of relief in that direction, therefore. Belgium and Holland gave relief in the first months of the year, and absorbed quantities which Germany did not take. Now, however, both these countries have imposed a quota system which makes them of little use in this respect. During' the next four month it seems, then, that Great Britain will have to absorb some 14,000 tons more than is usual at this time of the year.

Consumption 4>f Butter It has been suggested that English people could consume more butter. From statistics it appears as if those who can afford it are eating as much as they desire. In 1924 each person in England consumed 14.761 b of butter, and in 1931 this figure had increased to 20.661 b per head of population. In 1924 the amount of margarine consumed per head of population was 12.351 b. In 1931 it was 9.251 b, but the total consumption of. butter and margarine together increased only 2.81 b per head between the years 1924 and 1931, It would seem, therefore, that saturation point has been reached in the consumption of fats in these forms, and any further rise in the consumption of butter must be at the expense of margarine. Already the Is margarine trade has been destroyed, and there would be very little satisfaction to the butter producer if the lOd margarine trade is destroyed as well. Lamb Trade Requirement#

In a recent issue of The Times the agricultural correspondent wrote: “ It has been said that the New Zealand farmer knows more about the requirements of the lamb trade at Smithfi'eld th%n many farmers only 100 miles or so away fronu London.” New Zealand Lamb

Mr J. C. Alpass, of Te Hongi, Longford, Gloucester, who was a resident of New Zealand for 40 years, refers to this matter in a letter to The Times “ For many years,” he says, the aim of the sheep farmer was to produce a sheep that would yield the greatest quantity of fat and also carry a heavy fleece of wool. When the frozen meat trade was proved a success sheep of this class were sent to this country, but the sheep farmer .quickly discovered that heavy fat mutton was not what the English consumer wanted. The first to realise this were the farmers of Canterbury. They immediately imported Southdown rams, and, by judicious crossing, produced the famous Canterbury mutton and lamb. Other districts soon followed suit, so that, in a few years, the Southdown cross was everywhere, and, in order to reach perfection and produce just what the consumer wanted, at the various agncultural and pastbral shows throughout the Dominion prizes were offered for the best pens of fat sheep and lambs for ■freezing purposes. These .pens were judged, numbered, and slaughtered, sent to Smithfield, and there judged again by London experts. These judges did not always award the prizes as they had been awarded in New Zealand. But as the entries were judged on points the New Zealand judees. were able to draw comparisons and to note where they had made mistakes as to what the consumer wanted. In this way the New Zealand sheep farmer got to know exactly what was required to satisfy the British housewife, arid developed his flock accordingly. It the British farmer acted on similar lines with regard not only to sheep, but also to beef cattle, by small breeds from which nice joints conic] be cut suitable-for small families, he would have a much better chance to bold his own against foreign competition. Canadian Farming Days when Western Canada will vastly increase her food supplies, with little oxtra human toil, are envisaged by Dr Marvin, economist of the Royal Bank, in the bank’s monthly letter for April. This year, for the first time, he says, the use of fertilisers on the western nraines will be on a commercial basis. In the cast, of course, fertilisers have long been used, but in the west extensive experimental tests have been necessary. Last year’s demonstrations, however, appear to have finnllv convinced farmers of the remarkable possibilities of these plant fqoos. Large sales arc now being made._ chiefly of imported fertilisers. Dr Marvin comments on the extensive use of l nitrogen

By Rusticus. Items of Interest to those engaged In agricultural and pastoral pursuit* with a view to their publication in these columns, will he welcomed. They should be addressed to M Rusticus,” Otago Doily Time* Dunedin,

and phosphoric acid, in the form of fish meal, for western apple orchards. “ Colour, size, and keeping qualities have responded, as well as yield,” says he. Pasture land in Canada, unlike in England, has only of late been fertilised. _ As results similar to those here are being obtained, this application of science to stock-raising will further enrich agricultural production in the west. Ammonium sulphate and triple superphosphate are the fertilisers coining into general use on prairie soil. Instead of being spread, as in Eastern Canada, they are drilled in with the grain at the time of seeding. Increases in yield range from 18 to 50 percent. The cost of fertilising ranges from 50 cents to two dollars an acre, a sum trifling in comparison with results achieved. A growing market for fertilisers, with larger and higher grade harvests, are predicted as an outcome of further experiments, and a wider use of the knowledge they provide. ROYAL SHOW IN 1934 AUCKLAND’S DEMAND EQUALISING THE ALLOCATION DANGER OF SECESSION. Grave dissatisfaction has been caused amongst farmers and stockbreeders in the Auckland province over the decision of the Royal Show Society of New Zealand that Auckland shall not be granted the Royal Show in 1934. It is pointed out that the Auckland province produces 65 per cent, of the dairy produce of the Dominion, and over 50 per cent, of all kinds of cattle. The arrangement proposed means that Auckland will not have a Royal Show until some indefinite date after 1934, whereas Invercargill had the show in 1929, and it has been arranged that the fixture for next yearshall be held again in the Southland centre. ' “

The appended table shows the allocation of the show since its inception:— 1924, Palmerston North; _ 1925, Christchurch, 1926, Auckland; 1927, Christchurch; 1928, Palmerston North; 1929, Invercargill; 1930, Hawke’s Bay; 1931, Christchurch; 1932, Palmerston North (November). Negotiations are in progress between the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association and the council of the Royal Agricultural Society. A strong and united front is being shown by the Auckland Association and its affiliated bodies, and it is understood that they are determined on independent action if their claims do not receive favourable consideration. TWO SHOWS IN 1934?

A suggestion to overcome the present difficulty was made by Mr W. F. O’Donnell, managing secretary of the Auckland A. and P. Association, and delegate to the Royal Show Council, at a recent meeting of that body. It is that there should be no Royal Show in 1933, but two in the following year- I —one at Auckland in February and another at Invercargill in December. '■

Interviewed, Mr O’Donnell said when the Royal Show was inaugurated in 1924 the practice arose of having the fixture in the North and South Islands in alternate years. This was subsequently amended by arranging that every third year the show should go to some other centre in both islands. By this means Auckland was able to secure the Royal Show for 1926, and by the same rule Invercargill had the show in 1929. This arrangement permitted of a four-year cycle for each of the centres. The incoming of a third association for the North Island—-namely, that of Hawke's Bay—upset the cycle, however. The South Island gets the show every other year, and in the North Island, Manawatu is on a four-year cycle, whilst Auckland and Hawke’s Bay are on a seven, eight, or nine-year cycle, according to the wish of thfe Royal Show Council.

A few months ago the Manawatu Association made representations to the Royal Show Association to have the show fixed in Palmerston North, in return for which they were prepared to spend a- considerable amount of money on appointments for the fixture. Their delegate at the conference stated that they would likp the show permanently; or. at least, as often as they could get it. “ EXTREME ACTION ” POSSIBLE.

“No vote was taken, and it was referred to - the council for consideration. They decided that the show should go to Invercargill for December, 1933, and that Auckland’s application should be considered later. As delegate for the Auckland A. and P. Association, ,with Mr W. W. Massey, M.P., I am definitely of the opinion that this action will be strongly resented, both by my own association and every association affiliated to the Auckand Provincial Council. So strong is the feeling that if the Royal Show Council persists in its present extraordinary attitude toward the breeders in the Auckland province there is every likelihood that extreme action will be taken. It must not be forgotten that 65 per cent, of the dairy produce of New Zealand comes from the Auckland province, and also 52 per cent, of all cattle and 51 per cent, of the pigs. More than a third of the people of New Zealand are in the Auckland province, yet we are granted only a nine-year cycle, while the southern end of the country is able, to secure a four-year cycle.” A conference has been arranged between the council and the Auckland A. and P. Association, and Mr L. R. C. Macfarlane, president of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand, on July 11. ANOTHER POINT OP VIEW.

Auckland farmers and breeders seek to make a great point put of the dairy cattle figures for the province, but fail to appre- : ciate the fact that dairy cattle, or, for that matter, any’ class of cattle, do not make a Royal Show. There are a great many reasons why the Royal Show should not go to Auckland and very few reasons why it should. If Auckland could stage an all-round exhibition of the kind to be seen at Invercargill every year. Royal Show or no Royal Show, there might be some justification for giving the northern province a shorter cycle. Auckland, however, has few outstanding sheep flocks, comparatively no studs, and could do little more than manage a really striking dairy cattle show. If the Royal Show goes to Auckland southern breeders are put to enormous expense sending sheep to a show where competition is negligible, and where the awards must go to the breeder with the longest purse to bear the cost of transport. The cost of sending a good team of sheep from Otago to Auckland would bo considerably in excess of £IOO, even if the Royal Society continues to pay ferry freights. No show at Auckland could be truly representative of the Dominion in the manner that Palmerston North, Canterbury, ami Southland Royal Shows have been. If I remember rightly, at the Auckland Koyal Show in 1926 there was only one Otago exhibitor, none from Southland, and only one or two from Canterbury. Dairy farmers could not afford cither the time or «the money to send valuable cows so far abroad and could hardly be expected to do so. In the event of another Royal Show at Auckland in the next year or two the position would bo even worse. STUD STOCK FOR EXPORT SOME OUTSTANDING LINES Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., report renewed activity in the export trade in pedigree stock with Australia. The next Melbourne steamer will take a record shipment of Southdown sheep comprising nearly 400 head to clients in Victoria and West Australia. These include 270 in-lamb _ ewes (the largest single order received in New Zea-

land for stud Southdown sheep) bred by Mrs W. G. Shannon (Palmerston North), Messrs W. Hopcroft (Palmerston North), P. D. M’Lachlan (Masterton), and 11. J, Burrell (Bunnythorpe). Two consignments of special stud ewes and a stud ram are being made from Messrs Ellis Bros.* Killeymoon flock, Bulls to West Australia. These will be exhibited at the Boyal Show at Perth. Other lines include in-lamb ewes for Perth from Mr P. D. M'Lachlan’s Opaki stud and a consignment of Southdown rams for Perth from the flocks of Messrs Ralph Beetham (Brancepoth, Wairarapa) and Rolaton Estate (Manawalu). The firm also sold recently Mr Fred Cullen’s registered Ryelnnd flock No. 9 to a Victorian client, and negotiations are proceeding for the sale of another Ryeland flock for shipment to the same quarter. A shipment of Jersey cattle selected from the studs of Messrs A. E. Watkin (Takanini), J. O’Donnell (Bunnythorpe), W. H.’t-Miers (Rototuna), and Fred Phillips (Otorohanga) was recently landed in Victoria. The sale, also to Victoria, of the imported Jersey sire Oxford Beau’s Pretty Oxford is announced. This young sire was purchased at the 1928 “ Cooper ” importation sale for 525g5, and since then he has distinguished himself in the show ring, winning, among other prizes, first and reserve champion ns a two-year-old at the- Hawera show, as well for the high quality animals he leaves behind him. The valuable Clydesdale colt, Clevedon Glenalbin. bred by Messrs A. M'Nicol and Co., of Clevedon, was ' also shipped recently to New South Wales. This colt, foaled in September, 1929, stands 16.3 hands high, is. from- the imported horse Gold Glint, by Craigie Litigant, winner in Scotland of the Cawdor Cup. Brydone Shield, and Diamond Jubilee Cup. The firm has also recently sold the two thoroughbred horses. Chief Jewel (by Chief Ruler) and Sir Mond (by Seremond), for export to West Australia.