THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21978, 13 June 1933, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rusticus.

OTAGO DOG TRIALS 9

Sheep dog trials yet to be held in Otago Under the auspices of the Provincial Sheep Dog Association are as follows: — June 14, 15, 16.— South Island championships at Mossburn.

Disparity in Butter Prices Reference to the "alarming difference” in •-prices between Dominion i butters and those of Denmark and other European countries on the London market was made by Mr P. J. Carroll, Australian supervisor of dairy exports, in an address to the Victorian Butter Factory Managers and Secretaries’ Association. Estimating the collective loss iV Australian dairymen through the discrepancy in value between Australian butter and its competitors,' Mr Carroll said the Australian industry was making a present of £2,000,000 a year to consumers both in Great Britain and AusThe margin of" difference between Danish and dominions was now greater than it had ever been, averaging 24s cwt for the season, said Mr Carroll. The dominions seemed to have lost at least some of the advantages which should have resulted from the Ottawa Agreement. Dutch, Norwegian, and Swedish butter commanded the same prices as Danish. Even Latvian was quoted 10s higher than Australian. With the blending of butters it was safe to say that 50 per cent, of the butters consumed in Great Britain were bought at prices from 2d to 3d and even more a pound than Australian or Hew Zealand. The subject was one for immediate investigation! If by better marketing methods or by improved quality they could raise the return by 10s a cwt, the financial gain to the Australian dairymen would be £2,000,000 a year.

Prospect* for the Wool Market With the sharp advance in the price of merinos some improvement may be expected in the position of medium and low crossbreds, though in general t tins is only likely to occur on an appreciable scale when a point is reached at which the substitution of lower qualities will be encouraged (says the Wool Record, Bradford). ... Even on the new basis of values merino wool is still cheap, particularly in. relation to the cost of production, and it yet remains to be seen whether the new level caa be consolidated. In some quarters the opinion is freely expressed that tne pace now being set in* the primary markets is too hot and that when the first and most pressing requirements have been filled, there is likely to be a reaction. Against this many contend that the recent rise in prices must he regarded as marking the turn in the tide of depression, and it is argued with some snow of reason that if -prices of commodities can be gradually advanced to an economic level, confidence will be restored and it - will again be possible for owneig oi machinery to make some departure from the hand-to-mouth buying policy of recent it would 'he better for all concerned if the demand for the raw material could be traceable to an expanding demand for finished goods, but apparently the lead must come from the raw material end. "Without, stability in that section manufacturers cannot be expected to commit themselves far ahead, and buyers of fabrics will most certainly have to be satisfied that the wool market is sound. ■ , . At- the moment many buyers of piece goods profess to be indifferent to the recent advance in values, but if during the next few weeks it can be established that the rise is likely to be maintained they will be forced to face the situation. And here it may, be remarked that buyers of cloth would heartily welcome stability in the raw material market. Nothing is more harmful to seasonal trade than a widespread feeling of uncertainty regarding, the immediate future of values. In a market subject to more or less violent, fluctuations buying for future requirements is naturally, curtailed, and buyers wait till the last possible moment before committing themselves. If, therefore the rise in the wool market can be. maintained, it should tend to re-establish confidence among fabric buyers and encourage them to operate with more freedom.

Dairy Produce Market While the dairy market has not advanced as the dairy farmers would, like,, it has moved up slightly and the latest reports indicate that the upward trend will be 'continued. The advance that has already been made will have a very good effect on the finances of the country generally. as there is still a great deal of dairy produce on the way to the Home market, but the farmer cannot be blamed for wanting to see the prices go still higher. ■ The latest quotations from the Home market, compared with those ruling a week ago, are as follows, the mean of the price range being given:— BUTTER'* ' June 1. Juno 8. s. . d. s. d. Danish 87 0 94 0 N.Z. (finest salted) 79 6 82 6 Australian (finest unsalted) 78 6 82 6 (finest salted) .. 80 0 81 0, CHEESE. N.Z. (white) .. .. 47 / 6 49 0 N.Z. (coloured) .. 53 0 54/ 6 Canadian (white)... 66 0 67 0 Canadian (coloured) *6B 0 68 0 New Zeeland Friesian Association -Particulars of the championships won by Friesians are contained in the annual report of the New Zealand Friesian .Association for the year ended March 31 last. The championships at the New Zealand Royal Agricultural Society's show at Palmerston North in November, 1932, were won by:—Bull, Totara Colantba Cavalier (Piri Land Company. Orini); cow. Bloomfield Fayne Fobes (Piri Land Company, Orini). The New Zealand Breweries, Ltd., 100-guinea gold cup for the best female Friesian at the Royal Show was won by Bloomfield Fayne Fobes (Piri Land Company). The North Island championships, competed for at the Waikato A. and P. Show, Hamilton, in November, 1932, resulted:—Bull, Totara Colantha Cavalier (Piri Land Company, Orini): cow, Duchess Alcartra Gin (Whewell Brothers. Tamahere). The South Island championships, competed for at the Canterbury A. and P. Show, Christchurch, in November. 1932. resulted: — Bull, Melrose Model Echo Burkeyje (R. E. A. Gillman, Woodend); cow, Fendalton Svlvia Posch (J. I. Royds, Christchurch). The derby winners during the year- were;—Totara Oljve Gift (Pin Land Company), 607.991 b fat; standard lb fat 278.4, percentage above standard 118 3: Totara Clothilde Ruby (Piri Land Company). 609.88, 279.6, 118.1; Ahikouka Ormsby Beets (0. A. Cadwe leder), 583.69 276.6, 111.0; Totara Netherland Amber (Piri Land Company), 578.74, During .the year 1932, 73 C.O.R. (71 yearly and two 305-day test) were gained by Friesians under C.O.R. test. -The Yearly certificates averaged . 15,80-.41b milk and 583.611 b fat. The certificates of record (yearly test) gained by Inesians

Items Of interest to those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, with a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They abould be addressed to “Rustious,” Otago Daily Times, Dunedin.

now total 2003, with an average production of 13,821.61 b milk and 48.551 b fat. This compares more than favourably with the record of any other dairy breed in the Dominion. Totara C. R. Buttercup (Piri Land Company), 27,108.11 b milk, 1,079.141 b fat, was awarded a special certificate of merit for breaking the previous record for the senior four-year-olds. There are now seven honorary members of the association, two lifri members, 588 members, 35 junior members, and 163 associated members, a total of 785 members.

Meal: Producer*’ Board In connection with the election of three producers’ representatives on. the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, the regulations under which the election is conducted provide that the various districts shall elect 25 delegates who will constitute an Electoral Committee, and will 1 assemble in Wellington on August 30 and 31, 1933, to consider the, board’s annual report and balance sheet and to elect the three producers’ representatives on the board; In accordance with the, provisions of the Meat Export Control Act, the members of the hoard who are to retire in August are Messrs' H. D. Acland,' Christchurch; J. S. Jessep, Wairoa, and Sir William Perry, Masterton. : These gentlemen offer themselves for re-election as producers’ representatives on the board. NOVEL FARM SCHOOL ■■■ \ - A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME INSTRUCTION FOR YOUNG FARMERS Next Saturday between 80 and 90 young famei’s from all parts of _ Otago will assemble in Dunedin to participate in a week’s educational and cultural course. The course has been arranged by Mr A. C. Cameron (provincial secretary for Otago of' the New Zealand Farmers’ Union), and has received the cordial support of his council. The selection of the lads has-been left in the hands of district committees, who in making selection have had'special regard to character and leadership ability. In some districts there has been very keen competition, and had the district allocations been larger it is certain that double the number would have been forthcoming. Each district is sending its quota of one, two, or more boys. For instance, lads are coming from Glenorchy, Arrowtown, Hawea,’ Pembroke, Cromwell, Maniototo, Gatlins, Clinton —in fact, from practically every part of Otago. In many cases fares are being paid by the local branches of the Farmers’ Union. Where the lads have no friends with whom to stay hospitality ha« been arranged by members of the Dunedin branch of the Women’s Division, Through the courtesy of the executive of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce the morning lectures will be held in the chamber’s board room in Dowling street. The following tentative programme has been arranged:— Monday Morning.—Short speeches of welcome by his Worship the Mayor and presidents of various bodies, roll call, etc, Monday Afternoon. —Visit to Messrs Cadbury Fry Hudson, Ltd., and to some other manufacturing, business. . . Monday Evening.——Visit to Dominion Fertiliser Works at Eavensbourne. Tuesday Morning.—Talk by F. B. AdatriS, 8.A., JbL.M., lotii “ Our Debt to the Empire.” Talk by-Hon. W. Downie Stewart, M.P., on “ Citizenship.” • Tuesday Afternoon.—Visit to Otago Medical School." Short address on eorae aspects of the research being carried out there by Professor C. E. Hcrcus. I Tuesday Evening.—Free. . •I Wednesday Morning. Talk on “Health.” by Mr J. Renirew White, F B C.S Wednesday Afternoon:—Visit to Otago Mui?eum. Talk on items of special interest and Maori, section by Professor W. Benham and Mr H. D. Skinner, M-A- . Wednesday Evening.—Evening at picr.lures. Guests of Dunedin branch Women’s Division New Zealand banners • Union for supper. _ , ~ Thursday Morning.—Talks from leading Duendia business men on business activiThursday Afternoon-Visit Mosgiel Woollen Company at Mosgiel. Thursday Evening.—Talk by Mr,,J. T. Paul on “The Modern Press, followed by visit to Otago Daily Times, Company. Friday Morning.—Talk from Professor G. E. Thompson on (‘The Meaning of Education.” Final short talks by Messrs ■A. B. Strothers, M.A., and A J C. Cameron. . , Friday Afternoon.—V isit Dunedin Art Gallery, where interesting points about paintings will be explained by speakers. A cup of tea will be provided at 11 o’clock each morning, and a half-hour interval given between the morning lectures. Discussion will he encouraged. All arrangements will be under the direct supervision of Messrs A, C. Cameron and A. B. Struthers. It is evident "from the foregoing that the course will, be intensely interesting, and should have the desired effect of widening the horizon of those attending And stimulating their interest in cultural matters. FARMING IN NORTH OTAGO WINTER WORK BRIGHTER PROSPECTS AHEAD Though it cannot truly be said that the " elusive corner,” of which we heard so much, has been definitely turned, there are indications that such may have been the case unknown to ns. At all events, it is up to us to work as if the worst of the depression is over; if we do that we will be in a position to get the full advantage of better prices when they come along. We have had the cheering news within the past, few days of an advance of id a pound in the price of lamb, and though most of us have disposed of our lambs there are some to whom the rise in price will be quite welcome. We know also that there is now a mild boom in rabbit skins, and this will enable ns to clear our holdings of the pest and to-make a little money in so doing. Rabbits have become very plentiful in North Otago, as they invariably do when the price of skins is low. Rabbits demolish a lot of feed—they always go for the youngest and most succulent growth—and to clear the farm of bunny means that more stock can be carried. It is not only what the rabbits eat that count; they poison a good deal of ground if they are present in considerable numbers. Tt is safe to predict that through the present price of skins a big clearance will be made this winter.

THE RAIN. The rain has come at last, and it will now be possible to push on with ploughing operations. The ground was so warm after the long, dry spell that the rain has already caused a noticeable greenness on sunny faces, especially in fields which had been top-dressed, but we can hardly hope for a repetition of last winter when grass continued to grow until the middle of June. The climatic conditions are different this winter in that the weather is very much colder. There is no need to ask for an explanation of this when we look at the back country and see the snowcovered hills. It is usually the case, however, that a very cold winter is followed by good growth in the summer. There is’ nothing like snow and frost to sweeten the soil. LAMB FATTENING. The dry weather for the two mouths prior to the rain was excellent for lamb fattening and an enormous number of lambs and ewes have been sent to the freezer. Many farmers and fatteners bought lambs at 2s 6d and 3s in March and they have been able to fatten nearly every one of these. This work was quite profitable with fat lambs fetching 10s and 12s per head. A lot more money has been made out of cull lambs thau out of rape lambs, for the latter were selling at. 7s to 8s 6'd, thus leaving a comparatively small margin of profit when the cost of feed is taken into consideration. It is satisfactory to be able to say that the death rate was low among fattening lambs this seaspn, the dry state of the ground being one of the chief causes of this. There were fewer turnips than usual, and more dyy feed, arid this also may have had something to do with the lower death rate. A veterinarian once told me that we give our sheep too many turnips and that in the winter such cold, wet feed did not promote the health of the sheep. All the same when we have the turnips we use them. _ This year it was a case of having only a limited supply. It is a fact, however, that sheep do best on a well-balanced ration; care should always be taken to see that a sufficiency of dry feed is fed with the turnips. THE WHEAT CROP. The absence of rain for so long and the consequent hardness of the ground has been responsible for a much smaller acreage having been seeded to wheat than was the case up to- this time last year, but now - that the drought has broken there will doubtless be a great rush to get wheat sown. Those who did sow, on the chance that rain would fall in time, will reap the benefit, for the seed will soon push through. In a few localities the young wheat can already be seen showing nice and green, but such crops are few and far between. It was interesting to be told by Dr Hilgendorf, on the occasion of his recent visit to North Otago, that the old statement about Australian wheat being superior to New Zealand wheat is largely a myth. Dr _Hilgendorf said that only, in a few specially favoured localities in Australia was wheat superior to New Zealand wheat grown and that generally speaking New Zealand was just as good as Australian. This surely will be a matter for surprise to many yfho have been led to believe for years that it was necessary to import a certain proportion of Australian or Canadian wheat to mix with our own if we wanted really good bread. Baking tests tell the tale, qnd it seems that we can have an excellent loaf with bread made solely from New Zealand wheat. The doctor also told us that there is room for improvement in our drills. Too often, he said, a coulter fails to function properly, with the result that much valuable ground is wasted. WINTERING THE EWES.

There are not half the turnips to be seen in the districts this year that were in evidence last year, but with a plentiful supply of oats and hay ewes can be brought through the winter in the very best of condition—much better than with turnips alone. A most important point to remember is to have a sufficient number of feeding troughs, so that all the sheep are able to feed at the same time. Lincoln College has issued what seems to me a very useful bulletin on the winter feeding of sheep in the absence of'green feed or turnips. Referring to feeding in troughs, this says that troughs at the rate of six inches to nine inches a sheep should be provided. They can be made of inch timber seven to 12 feet long, with au eight-inch board in the bottom and sixinch boards nailed to the sides, giving a trough, of eight inches wide and five inches deep, with, , for the longer troughs, two 'division bars. One hundred feet of troughs requires about 200 super feet of timber. This is sufficient to feed 130 to 200 sheep. If looked after these troughs wilj last several years. ‘ A less costly, trough can be made'• from sacks split as for sheet-making and doubled over along their length. Only a sprinkling of feed should be put in the troughs at first until all the sheep have learned to eat from them. After this only sufficient feed should be put in the troughs to keep the sheep feeding for 20 minutes. The bulletin referred to says it must be clearly understood, that if dry feeding is to be successful it should begin before any loss of condition is indicated. Feeding should, therefore, start at once on any farm where there is a shortage. THE MARKETS. Very little is being done in the sheep • line: There is a strong demand' for fat. ewes and wethers, and anyone who acted upon the hint given in these notes last month and held fat ewes and wethers will be well repaid, for butchers are giving, for fat ewes, more than double the price exporters ; were giving, and fat wethers have also advanced several shillings per head. Breeding ewes and ewe hoggets are inquired for, with more buyers than sellers, good young ewes being difficult to get. Canterbury is very short of ewes, and an enormous number will be required as soon as the spring comes. Farmers in North Otago would be well advised to get sufficient sheep before the spring, as the Canterbury demand will not be easily satisfied.

The rise in the price of wool in London and Australia is _ very gratifying, arid halfbred and Corriedalo are now at payable figin-es, but crossbred must advance a lot before it equals the cost of production. Oats, grass seed, and clover seed are also firmer, and most farmers are much more hopeful and cheerful than they were.

Prime quality cattle are also firmer, but unfinished sorts are still bringing very low money. Good cows at profit sell readily, and if butter-fat were to advance materially in price, there would be a big scramble for cows.. Some of the stock and station firms only allow some farmers the cream cheque and the egg money to live on.