THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21918, 1 April 1933, Page 17

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

1933 SHOW DATES Shows for the 1932-33 season yet to be held are as follow: — March 30.—Temuka and Geraldine. April 17. —Strath-Taieri, at Middlemarch. 1933 WOOL SEASON Wool sales for the 1932-33 season in New Zealand yet to be held, with the allooations made to each centre, are as follow: April 3—Wellington, no limit. April 6—Napier, no limit. April 10—Wanganui, no limit, OTAGO DOG TRIALS Sheep dog trials to be held in Otago under the auspices of the Provincial Sheep Dog Associdtion have been arranged as follow: April 3,4, and s.—Omarama, April 6. 7, and B.—Kyeburn. April, 20, 21. and 22.—Strath-Taieri. May i 3,4, and s.—Waitaki. May 10, 11, and 12.—Palmerston . May 16, 17, IS, and 19—Wainerao (provincial championships). May 25 and 26.—Miller’s Flat. May 29, 30, and 31. —Warepa. June 1,2, and 3.—Clutha. June 8,9, and 10.—Ngapara. Wool for Japan The prospects of wool-growing in Manchuria are discussed by a correspondent of the Melbourne Argus. The writer says that 60 years ago a Welshman transported a flock of sheep to Japan, and began the attempt to produce wool, m which the Japanese have persisted since. He settled on the Boshu Peninsula, across the bay from Tokio—a very pleasant land, but not inhabited by a sheep-minded people, and still less a country where one would expect to see sheep. The enterprise ultimately died a natural death, but the Government of Japan has never given up the idea of providing its own wool. Large sums of the taxpayers’ money have been sacrificed to this end. To-day farmers are encouraged tb keep ■heep by a subsidy of five -yen a head a year, but little progress has been made, and the Japanese are among the principal buyers of Australian wool. An official report states that there are 30,000 sheep in the country, the Government expending £15,000 annually as a sub-

eidy. It also states that the possibilities of Manchuria are greater, and that the military authorities are now looking in that quarter to supply their needs. For many years they have subsidised the Senju woollen mills, on the outskirts of Tokio, which supply cloth for uniforms, etc. They complain that the farmers produce only 200,0001 b against the 200,000,0001 b of wool consumed by the factory. Nor is the Japanese supply of good quality. The military authorities feel that a new policy is needed, and, in conjunction with the Tokio Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the prospects of Manchuria will be studied thoroughly. For many years the South Manchurian Railway Company has maintained an experimental farm at Kungchuling, 25 miles south-west of Changchun, the new capital, where native sheep and imported stock

•re crossed with good results. _ The sheep population of the Manchuria-Mongolia Borderland area used for pasture is less than 10,000,000, very small when we coneider the vast areas available for pasturage. If the Japanese wish to be selfsufficient in the matter of wool supply here is their field of activity. The Mongolians are an animal people, the Chinese less eo; the Japanese most decidedly are not. What has failed in the grassless, volcanic islands may very well succeed on the mainland, but it will take time. Estimated Shipments At the moment New Zealand will have an estimated export of 1,400,000 cases, or 200.000 cases less than last year. This fruit will be mainly for the British mar-

By Rusticus. Items of interest to those engaged In agricultural and pastoral pursuits, with a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be addressed to “Rusticus,” Otago Daily Times, Dunedin.

ket, but it is expected to find outlets for 70.000 cases of apples in South America, 30.000 cases in Eastern Canada, and up to 100,000 cases on the Continent. About 20.000 cases of pears will go to Sweden, 80.000 to England, and 1000 to Canada. Economic conditions on the Continent are making it very difficult to market New Zealand fruit there. Had conditions been normal it is the opinion of the New Zealand Fruit Control Board (from which

most of the material for this article has been obtained) that fully 560,000 to 60,000 eases of New Zealand fruit would have been sold on the Continent this export season. The Argentine alone, in ordinary circumstances, could take 160,000 cases, but the exceedingly difficult character of the control of finances has made importing almost prohibitive, and New Zealand now has difficulty in disposing of 40,000 cases in Argentina and 30,000 in Brazil. Conditions of marketing New Zealand fruit in Continental countries are exceed-

iugly difficult this year, the result of duties, quotas, and hard times restricting the purchasing power of the public. A Bill was recently introduced in the French Legislature for raising the duty on fruit from the equivalent of 3s to 11s per case. So far as the Fruit Board is aware, this Bill has not yet been passed. Sweden has a duty of 4s a case on fruit; Germany has a quota. The prospects of doing a substantial trade with the Continent and to that extent relieving the pressure on the British markets are by no means reassuring. Increased shipments direct to ports on the west coast of the United Kingdom will be made this season, and the board hopes to still further widen its outlets in central and northern England, also in Scotland, through Glasgow.

The average for the above five records is 677.431 b fat.

A Consistent Producer The most desirable dairy cow is one who breeds regularly, and maintains a high standard of production year after year. Many dairy farmers would, therefore, be proud to own the pedigree Friesian cow Kosevale Sylvia Plus Keyes (Echo Svlvia Sir Griselda —Kosevale Sylvia Keyes, 777.231 b fat), who completed her fifth consecutive season on C.O.R. test in H. North and Sons’ herd at Omimi in January. This cow’s records are as follows: —

PASTORAL HOMES AND STUDS OF OTAGO PROMINENT FLOCKS AND HERDS XXIII ELDERSLIE THOROUGHBRED STUD Few, if any, country estates in the Dominion can boast the reputation, amounting almost to celebrity, which has gathered around the picturesque paddocks and pastures of the Elclerslie Estate, near Enfield, in the 68 years which have elapsed since the late Mr J. B. Reid purchased from the Crown the parcel of land that was to form the nucleus of one of the finest pastoral and breeding establishments in the southern hemisphere. Its English grasses and fertile acres have grazed all kinds of livestock in its long history, but no stock has brought it greater renown than the thoroughbred horses which are still produced by the syndicate of New Zealand and Australian racing enthusiasts who operate as Stud, Ltd. The estate is best known To-day for its thoroughbreds, inasmuch ‘as most of

the great performers of the turf in New Zealand and Australia of recent years have had some connection with it. Artilleryman, one of the greatest colts that ever won the Melbourne Cup was out of an Elderslie-bred mare, as were such other champions as Danube, Menschikoff, Carlita, Kilboy, Sunart, Anna Carlovna, Songbird, Sasanof, Warstep, and All Red. Nor would Phar Lap have been known to the world had it not been for Mr J. B. Reid's importation of the William 111 horse, Winkie, the maternal grandsire of the champion.

MR REID’S BEGINNINGS. The property, which lies near Enfield, 12 miles from Oamaru, was first purchased by Mr Reid in 1865, when the land was in its native state. The first acquisition was comparatively small, but within a short time the estate was extended to embrace many thousands of acres, of which 3000 acres were early sown down in grain and grasses, Mr Reid first turned his attention to merino sheep, but as the English grasses he had introduced began

to flourish he turned his attention to heavier breeds, notably Border Leicester and English Leicester's, his allegiance to the merino finding expression in the establishment of a small stud of Vermont merinos, which rejoiced in a long pedigree which dated back to 1822. This flock was so carefully bred, its purity of strain so jealously guarded, that at the time of its dipersal its blood was as pure and as beyond reproach as that of the Tudors or the Plantagenets. In 1879 M> Reid began exhibiting long-woolled sheep on a generous scale, and his class awards at no fewer than 50 shows ran into a total of 2000, while he was the holder of 72 championships as well. Elderslie in its early days was also famous for its Clydesdale horses and Shorthorn cattle, and it was only after some years that its proprietor turned his attention seriously to the breeding of thoroughbreds.

Elderslie House, a handsome twostorey structure in Oamaru stone, stands on rising ground which commands a nable view of the surrounding country. A magnificent avenue leads up to the house, and the grounds, even to-day when they have been shorn of so much of their Old World glory and attraction, are the envy of thousands. In fact, as a sylvan landscape the Elderslie property is unsurpassed in the Dominion. There is an atmosphere of English quietness and peace about its tree-grit: pastures and parklikc woods, and although the charming artiiical lakes which were once so admired have had to give way to more utilitarian features, it still remains a retreat from the modern world of traffic and machinery which can always be relied upon to induce rest and case. Mr Reid’s ambition to transplant a bit of England in the Dominion has been amply fulfilled, and the succeeding years, as the trees grow up and spread their branches wider and wider, bring even more perfect attainment of the old ideal, MODEL STUD FARM. Pastorally the estate is ideally situated for the production of high class stock. It now comprises not more than 400 acres, however, but every square yard of that area consists of rich, sound land, particularly fitted to the raising of thoroughbreds not only on account of its

high fertility, but also by reason of the high lime content of the soil for which the Camaru district is famous. The foresight and energy displayed by Mr Reid in the sowing down of its many paddocks in the best English grasses, planting its borders with sheltering trees and avenues, have borne full fruit, and the ; result is one of the finest properties in the Oamaru district, a matter of pride to owners and neighbours alike. The estate is subdivided into a great many small paddocks, which are tended with as much care as the best of modern golf courses.

Assiduous harrowing allied to frequent top-dressing have worked wonders, and, strange as it seems in a region so rich in lime, a great deal of lime is applied, on the principle that the natural deposits are not sufficiently soluble for quick results. The chief value of the heavy lime content of the country lies in the influence it exerts on the production of strong, clean bone and general soundness in horses. No stud in the southern hemisphere has better appointments, a fact which is testi-

fied to by visitors from all parts of the Commonwealth and New Zealand. The commodious stone stables built by Mr J. B. Reid have been modernised to allow of a maximum of light and air for the horses, and altogether method and practice at the stud may be said to follow out the advice of the great American breeder, Edward R. Bradley, whose charge to studmasters was contained in four _ cardinal points: Food, light, water, and air. The standard of these available at Elderslie is of the highest. No food is too good, sunlight cannot be overdone, water cannot be too pure, and the air inhaled by the stock cannot be too sweet. The accompanying illustrations show in some measure the ideal surroundings and ap-

pointments in which the stock are born and reared. COMING OF THE THOROUGHBRED. The name of J. B. Reid, and that ot his brother, Mr J. F. Reid, quickly became well-known throughout the Dominion among fanciers of the thoroughbred. Mr J. B. Reid was not only favoured with an intimate knowledge of the pedigree side of the business to which he devoted so much time, but he combined that attribute with exceptional ability as a judge of horseflesh and export salesmanship. Eloquent testimony of that fact is contained in the record pf successes which attended his efforts in this sphere. Such stallions as Vanguard, Stepninfc." St. Ambrose, Varco, Charlemagne 11, Solferino, Kilbroney, Winkle, and Paper Money have all left their mark in the thoroughbred world of Australia and New Zealand, making real turf history, and with their names must always be connected that of the Elderslie stud. Mr Reid held a dispersal sale in 1912 at Elderslie, and the list of transactions at that auction shows the type of horse that was to be found on the Elderslie pastures. Among the stallions sold at that time might be mentioned Downshire, Varco, Vasco, and Charlemagne 11, the first three of which were bought at high figures by Australian breeders. Of

the mares the best were Shepherdess, the dam of Boris, Whirlpool, the grand-dam of Danube, lugoda, the dam of the Melbourne Cup winner. King Ingoda, Water Chute, from whom Limerick and Ballymena were descended, Demeter, responsible for the much-discussed Croupier, Armigera from whom came the brilliant Australian performer, Poitrena, Couronne, sold almost for a song while suckling Carlita, who finally turned out to be one of the finest mares ever seen in Australia, Cyre, dam of the A.J.C. Derby winner, Kilboy, Latchet, the dam of

Sunart, a New Zealand Cup winner, and Janet, the dam of Scotty, who won over £SOOO. THE SECOND SALE. After this sale it was thought for a time that Mr Reid was giving up breeding, but the love of the thoroughbred proved far too strong for him and in a very short space of time he again set about the establishment of a collection of highclass niares. He continued breeding with great success, and when in 1925 another

dispersal, this time of the whole stud, was held, ho again had a memorable assortment to oner to buyers. At this time Mr Reid had decided to return to England, and after the dispersal of the Elderslie and Burnside studs, made ;«r----raugements for (he sale of the property to Mr lan G. Duncan, president of the AVellington Racing Club, and a well-known North Island breeder. At this sale some of the principal transactions were entered into by breeders who are to-day among the members of the syndicate which controls the property, among them being Mr Duncan, Mr R. M. Greenslade, Mr E. Riddiford, and Dir V.V Ricldiford. Archery, the imported son of Tracery, bought in England under the name of Charley Chaplin as a yearling for 9400 guineas, was sold to Mr J. J. Leahy (Australia) for 4500 guineas. It is interesting to note that Archery was a comparative failure in his new

home mainly as a result of his new owner s action in confining his services entirely to bis own mares. No outside mares were mated with him at all, so that his opportunities were somewhat restricted. Mr Leahy is now the owner of the highlysuccessful stallion Silverado, sire of Silver Ring and Silver Scorn, and racing enthusiasts will be interested to learn that his stud at Bathurst is to be dispersed this month when many lots by Archery, Silverado, and another well-known imported New Zealand stallion, Leighton, will he offered. ' Colts by Paper Money and Solferino brought llOOgns at, this sale, and Mr G. Kaiii purchased Sollermo at 675gns. Other stock among the offering which are worthy of mention were the imported mare Eastern Melody (COOgnsl, Taringamutu fSOOgns), Rose Wreath (400giis), the Sunny Lake mare, Munhiki (250gns), the Thrush mare, Grey Linnet (400gns). the Rokeby mare, Zia (275gns), the Kilbroney mare, Rosellate (210gns), another Kilbroney mare, KillaU (350gns), yet another, Kilroy (400gnsj, another Sunny Lake mare, Sunny Corner (300gns), the Kilbroney mare, Kiltimo (400gns), Kilteel (275gns), and Kiltartan (275gns). Then there was the brown colt by Solferino—Nada (525gns), and a brown filly by Paper Money—Grey Linnet (400gns). The total proceeds from the

Elderslie and Burnside sales on this occasion were 15,265gn5. ELDERSLIE STUD, LTD. , Shortly after the sale in 1925, Mr lan Duncan transferred his entire stud from Waikanae to Elderslie, and, after carrying on for some time as a private breeder, he formed Elderslie Stud, Ltd. At this time stallions like Tea Tray, Paper Money, and Weathervane were acquired by the various shareholders, and a number of very ■ high-class mares were also added to the stud. Among the share-

holders were such well-known racing men as Mr R. M. Greenslade (Dunedin), Mr J. M. Samson (Dunedin), Messrs B. and V. Riddiford (Canterbury), Mr B. H. Edkins (Wellington), the late Mr 6. D. Greenwood (Canterbury), Mr G. hi. Magill (Australia), and Mrs Ronald Mackay (Australia). Mr Duncan became chairman of directors, and Mr K. Austin, who, incidentally, did the selling at the dispersal, was installed as managing director, a position which he still holds with conspicuous success. . , .

THE PRESENT STUD. The stallions at present in use at Eiderslie are the imported horses Iliad (by Swynford—Pagan Sacrifice) and Night Raid (by Sentiment— Radium). The former is a six-year-old horse whose progeny are now foals and may be expected to make their appearance at the next yearling sales at Wellington. He is developing into one of the most command-

ing-looking horses in the Dominion. He was just beaten iu the Derby in .1930, and introduces the badly-needed Isonomy staying power into New Zealand strains.'' Night Raid, as the sire of Phar Lap and Nightmarch, has already teade J his ; name, but-he may be' ekpccjed f;o do even better with , the greater opportunities that are his at Elderslie. Among the Elderslie mares just now may be mentioned Entreaty, the dam ofPhar Lap; Epitaph, the dam of Tea, Trader, who is now in America; Refinement, the dam of Mystic Peak, one of the few horses to beat Phar Lap;. Fleeting, the dam of Inflation; Kilteel, the dam or Metro; Zany, the dam of Tankard; Dancing Doll, the dam of La Poupee; and Elba, the dam of the present two-year-old champion of New Zealand, Dole. A .... Several yearlings are now being broken in, among them being a full brother ty Phar Lap, a chestnut colt by Hunting Song out of Oratrix, the New Zealand Cup winner, a half-brother by Night Raid to Star Stranger, and a three-quarter sister to Phar Lap.

Years. Days. lb milk. lb fat. 2 .. 224 17,860.1 619.98 3 .. .. 282 19,485.1 660.57 4 .. .. 326 20,204.9 699.11 6 .. .. 22 19,116.1 743.16 7 .. .. 77 18,627.0 664.35