THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21990, 27 June 1933, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

.: : By ItusTicus.

July Top-dressing In view of the serious decline in prewinter top-dressing of pastures there is a possibility, which it is to be hoped will be realised, that the autumn decline will be largely counterbalanced by a spring expansion in top-dressing. It is known from extensive field experience that topdressing, if not already done, often may be carried out with good results in July. Usually it is desirable to have pasture growth stimulated as early as possible in spring, and, when this is so, then ordinarily superphosphate should be used. In some of the main dairying districts, even on relatively wet, cold soils, superphosphate applied in July • may be expected to produce appreciable increases in the amount of feed available in August. From this it is iiftt to be concluded that July is the moiuh which should be selected for the application of superphosphate; repeatedly in these columns the application of superphosphate and of other phosphates to grass land mucli earlier in the season has been recommended. But many who have not topdressed in the autumn would be wiser to do it in July or thereabouts than to omit top-dressing for the season.

A Balanced Mixture If the season is not such as to lead to an unusually late growth of grass, then the apnlication of sulphate of ammonia, or similar nitrogenous fertiliser, about midJuly to suitable pastures may be expected to result in .a material increase in tlie feed available from the treated fields during August and September, For a lew weeks prior to the middle of July it is usually inadvisable to apply such nitrogenous fertiliser; it appears not to be capable of stimulating growth in plants, which are dormant primarily because ol cold conditions, and when quick-acting nitrogenous fertiliser is applied under such conditions its potential fertilising effect appears to be not so much deterred as wasted. As a general rule superphosphate should be used in conjunction with sulphate of ammonia. While soluble nitrogenous manures such as sulphate ot ammonia may be expected to be of some service as emergency means of increasing the growth of grass in the early part of the ensuing season, especially when there is prospect' of injuriously scant suppb.es ot early feed, the current prices of tarm produce make it advisable to consider carefully the amount of prospective service in relation to the value of that service. It is impossible to supply specific guidance on this matter, for much depends on how acutely additional early feed is needed and how it could alternatively be supplied. Harrowing of Pastures \

Harrowing of pastures is work which widely calls for attention in July. It. is likely to be especially necessary to break up and to distribute droppings on fields which have been heavily stocked during May and June. Suitable harrowing of swards containing rubbishy matted growth is considered or substantial value as a means of cultivating such swards—by tearing out the rubbishy growth to some extent and opening up.the surface. Hence on matted pastures a much more drastic treatment is likely to be justified than on well-grazed, healthy, vigorous swards on which thorough distribution 'of animal droppings -is- of outstanding benefit.-. To facilitate thorough distribution a section of chain harrow attached behind the grass harrow is generally found to be of value.' :■ ■;" ;'■'■■'■

Give Pastures a Spell It is .very advisable to/avoid, any early set-backs in early, calving cows and pi early lambing ewes, and so attractive, suitable feed Bhould be available for these. To provide such feed it is often well to shut up in July suitable paddocks—ones which preferably are well drained, provided with shelter, and supporting swards in which ryegrass is prominent. An early' dressing of such paddocks with superphosphate, if they have not had the benefit of pre-winter top-dressing, is likely to be of assistance. Winter poaching of wet, soft paddocks requires to be guarded against as_far as possible. Young pastures especially are prone to suffer. Hpavy trampling ot soft paddocks leads not only to the direct loss of valuable plants by burial, but also to the possibility of the establishment ot such weeds as thistles, rushes, buttercups, and daisies on the bare portions which result from the burial of valuable constituents of the sward. This explains why a wet winter is at. times followed by a seemingly unaccountably heavy invasion of such weeds on pastures in which they were not previously prominent. In practice two of the main ways of preventing avoidable poaching are, first, the stocking ot low-lying paddocks as little as possible, and, secondly, the feedmg-out of hay on the drier portions of the farm (that often are also the poorer portions), which benefit most markedly by the_ increased fertility which feeding-out brings.

WOOL MARKETING

Preparation for Lucerne Judging from the amount of "culture" sent out from the Plant Research Station last season, several thousand acres were sown dtfwn in lucerne during the year. This is gratifying, for success with lucerne in New Zealand has been prolonged and extensive enough to demonstrate definitely that the present total area of lucernecould profitably be greatly extended. Expansion will probably not take place as rapidly as is well justified until the truth that lucerne is not especially exacting is more popularly accepted. Actual field experience indicates that lucerne can be grown successfully on practically all types of naturally well-drained soils. Deep, open, fertile soils are undoubtedly best for lucerne, and the crop has enough intrinsic worth to justify its being given the best possible location on each farm! If preparatory cultivation for new areas of lucerne has not already been started, it should, as a commenced at an early date. In the selection of an area it should be remembered that young lucerne ■is not capable of battling well against weeds. Lucerne may often well follow old pastures, and if this is to be done the land should usually be skim ploughed well ahead of the time of seeding, and subsequently ploughed deeply once only in ample time to allow of the preparation of a fine, farm seed-bed. Stocktaking of Pastures

As certain important weaknesses of pastures stand out prominently during the winter, it follows that a cntica scrutiny of pastures in winter is likely to be serviceable as a means of disclosing weaknesses . which on account ot relatively gradual development may go unnoticed until they have become so marked that it proves unnecessarily costly to remedy them. A healthy green winter colour ot pastures suggests good supplies of nutriment, effective drainage, and management which has avoided matted or coarse growth. Conversely, lack of a health/ green colour may be indicative of the advisability of top-dressing, of poor drainage or of poor utilisation. In addition to notiug the colour, an effort should be made to compare the present composition of the pasture with that of a season or so previously. In view of reductions in top-dressing which are occurring, evidences of deterioration are specially worth watching for. lucreased prominence and spread of perennial ryegrass

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,

may be taken as evidence of all-the-year-l'outid improvement. Cocksfoot plants possessing freshness, leanness, and vitality suggest at least well-being, if not improvement. On the other hand, a gradual decrease in perennial ryegrass or a somewhat moribund condition of cocksfoot, especially if coincident, as is probable, with a rise in prominence of brown-top and flat weeds, such as plants of the ribgrass and dandelion type, may be taken as unwelcome evidence of a need to examine whether methods which would avoid deterioration could not. profitably be adopted. Factors in Pasture Weakness

A relatively- sudden falling-off in the proportion of perennial ryegrass in a pasture, while possibly due to decreased fertility or unsuitable treatment, is not at all necessarily so. It may be due to the ravages of the grass grub. Especially in a pasture of one to two years of age it is more likely to be due to the use of an inferior type of ryegrass, which, though spoken of as perennial, really lacks persistency; Great prominence of white clover and the rapid replacement in young pastures of ryegrass by sucn weeds as sorrel, and even rushes, are also at times due to the same cause. The only thoroughly reliable way of avoiding unnecessary untimely disappearance of ryegrass is the use of the true perennial strain available through seed certification. V ;■".'• i Winter is an excellent season m which 'to study whether the inferiority of a pasture is due to poor drainage, which drives out the-better species of pasture plants. If drainage is good and yet any ryegrass present is not thriving, then top'dressing may be expected to give good results. Grass Grub Control

Recent findings in respect of grass grub control are summarised in the latest issue of the Journal of Agriculture, as follows: egg-laying by affanging to have land as bare of vegetation as possible in Novem iber and early December. This means /that arable crops and young pastures 'should not be far enough forward to provide appreciable cover, that established pastures should be kept as short as possible during this period, and that the sowing of. arable land should take place at a time which will give little or no time for the development of vegetation. (2) Conditions should be as good as possible for the recovery of injured crops. In this connection appropriate top-dressing and consolidation by trampling are of known value. To obtain the maximum effect from trampling it is advisable usually to concentrate feeding out of hay, etc., on to those areas in which grub infestation is most severe. (3) Various dressings such as lime, sulphur, and salt are not recommended, but arsenate ot lead is recommended for use on lawns High-Priced Jerseys

The despersal sale of the Te Kinga. Jersey stud on behalf of Mr R. S. Tuck, Waharoa, was held oh Tuesday. There was a'large and representative bench of buyers from all parts of the North Island and bidding throughout maintained a steady 'average.'. A feature of the sabwas the demand for good quality yearling bulls with butter-fat backing. Yearling heifers were also keenly sought. The top price the sale was secured for the cow "Ivondale Oxford Lass," the, 1927 junior two-year-old class leader and gold medallist, with C.O.R. 731.29 butter-fat. who fell to the bid of Mr G. Peterson, of Waitara, at 103 guineas. Mr M. Trotter, of Katikati, was the purchaser of Brampton Welcome Lord (imp.), at 90 guineas, this being the highest price obtained for bulls. Altogether a .nwst successful sale was recorded. The following excellent averages were obtained: —Fifty-nine cows averaged 20 1-3 guineas. 3 stud sires averaged 54 guineas, 22 in-calf heifers 16 1-3 guineas, 20 yearling heifers 14 guineas,, and 12 yearling bulls 22 guinea's/ The average for the sale was slightly over 19 guineas..

IMPROVING THE METHODS : —■ ' / No. .4/ TJlie following is the fourth of a series of five articles supplied by Mr L. Whittingham Bagley, of Dunedin, in which possibilities of wool and flock improvement are discussed:— . In respect of standardisation in the classing of wool, there is evidence in plenty to show that the introduction of a standardised .classing would go a long way towards the better marketing of wool. Sir John Higgins, K.C.M.G., chairman of the Central Wool Committee, and later chairman of the directors of 8.A.W.R.A., in an address to the shareholders in 1922 made the following statement:—"As a primary step every lot of wool should be typed and the yield determined, and this information should be disclosed in, woolbrokers' catalogues. This method will be declared to be impracticable. The reply to that argument is that during the Central Woo] Committee's control period, every lot of wool, comprising parts of the 1916-1917 clip, and the three complete subsequent clips, was so appraised by two experts on behalf of the Central Wool Committee or British Government, and one expert or appraiser attached to the approved wool selling broker, representing the woolgrower's in the wool. The method proved eminently successful, and gave the greatest satisfaction to the owners (large and small) of the wool. The benefit did not end at this point; hundreds of thousands of bales of wool were sold to allied Governments on such types and yields, and the Australian appraisements were accepted, and, after the experience gained with the first parcels, were sold without discount. Again, I repeat that this is not some ultra-theoretical idea, but one which has been tested on a practical scale and proved to be highly satisfactory."

Want of space prevents the-making ot quotations of other authorities in full. Very similar opinion was expressed by the International Wood Textile Organisation at a recent wool conference, at which representatives were present from France, Belgium, Germany,' Italy, Szechoslovakia, Holland, Poland, Hungary, and England. There was a report on New Zealand wool from the British Wool Federation as publicly announced to the. British association at its meeting on September 25, 1931.

in last year's copy of Dalgety's Annual Wool Review some pertinent remarks are made in regard to the get-up and classing, especially of the smaller clips. In the bulletin issued by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Wool Research by D. J. Sidey, B.Ag., we find the following:—"There is in New Zealand a wide field for an economic survey into the question of methods of preparing the clip for marketing, and marketing methods. The question of the classing and sale of small clips is one requiring attention, owing to the continual demand for more standardised sale lines, and the fact that the number of small clips will ehow a

steady increase." Mr Sidey'g report is very analytical of marketing methods, and makes most poignant criticism of the subject. OTTAWA EFFECTS ON WOOL.

The Eight Hon. J. G. Coates, in his report, stated: " In meeting competition and in finding new markets the keynote for success for New Zealand producers will be attention to quality. At our institgation a sub-committee of the conference was set up for the purpose of examining grading standards in relation to agricultural products. The suggestion was that action should be taken towards the adoption of uniform standards of grading, at least as far as minimum grades are concerned. This is now being followed by all Governments interested."

Definite and satisfactory arrangements have been made in regard to meat exports. The astounding increase of small flocks since 1929 and the added inducement of preferential treatment guaranteed for five years on mutton and lamb exports indicates that the long term general tendency will be to pay more attention to the carcass, rather than the wool. Any further deterioration of quality in New Zealand wool, must be checked if we are to retain the competition so far enjoyed for the product. Better quality of wool is the responsibility of those whose valuable work is directed towards the better production of wool. However, standardisation of wool classing or grading will assure that each grower will obtain the fullest recognition for the particular types of wool he produces. If the leaning is towards a better carcass rather than higher quality of wool, then the grower who breeds and feeds for wool as well as for the carcass and pays due attention to the covering of the sheep should not be penalised by any general tendency which, under existing conditions of classing, would probably lower the general competition and drive special orders for wool to other competing countries. ■ STATISTICS AND QUOTATIONS. At present, market quotations are of questionable use to woolgrowers. This is due to the fact that under the present system it is more or less impossible to generalise and convey the true idea of the market. Standardisation would enable market news of supply, demand, and price to reach its maximum of accuracy. Statistics and ability to gauge the supply and demand and general market trends, all in terms of a known classing standard, would induce the stabilisation of values and minimise the tendencies for steep fluctuations in prices. RECLASSING CENTRES.

Standardisation of wool classing enables the concentration of classing at the selling centres, without raising any likelihood of interference in the relationship existing between selling brokers and their clients whether buyers or growers. This centralisation encourages the use of mass handling methods on the flow-through principle with attendant benefits. Standardisation of classing need not destroy the individuality of a clip, but will encourage it along the lines where individuality counts most. It will enable more thought and energy to be directed towards efficiency and economy both in the production and marketing of wool. Standardisation will develop co-operation among the groups which have similar interests. Business rivalry which operates to the disadvantage of the clients' interest will be superseded by a better understanding on the , part of different selling brokers and their clients, and all will work to the one recognised standard. STANDARDISED DESCRIPTIONS. The sale of wool is at present hampered by. the varying descriptions of the same class of wool. It is also handicapped in that various wool' classers carry out their own ideas of a standard of classing. Under a national system of standardisation both buyers and sellers would know what was meant when a certain description was used. In other words, they would be able to speak'the same wool language. •-. ' . •. ■ ' ECONOMY. Mass handling methods in classing wool at the selling centres would unquestionably lower the costs of handling through the efficient use of mechanical apparatus. In the course of time so well would the standard of classing become known amongst buyers that they would require fewer sample bales to be displayed, as buyers could rely more definitely on the description. ' : '.-..'."' /HIGHER CLASSING STANDARD. ' The standardisation of classing is of the greatest importance to the sheep farmers, the buyers, and the manufacturers. Such a standard would have to be intensively studied from all angles necessary for manufacturing purposes. Properties which are present in wool, and which influence values,- are condition and vegetable matter, content, .fineness, length, appearance* handle, character, soundness, strength, elasticity, colour, lustre, and felting capacity. Some of these factors are of more importance than others, and some can be definitely defined, while others must be left to the art of judgment. CONCLUSION..,.

Woolgrowers or their organisations will not get out of their unhappy position by resigning themselves to existing conditions or by passively awaiting higher, world prices. Action, along the lines indicated is essential and opportune. There is a present ready demand for wool at'a price. When the price level rises a greatly enhanced position and prestige awaits the wool-producing country which has courageously tackled and reduced the costs of production and marketing or has improved the efficiency of marketing and, therefore, made buying easier. Now is the time for growers to build for a brighter and more stabilised wool future, based on progressive and efficient marketing principles. FARMERS' UNION MEETING, The-monthly meeting of the Pine HillWaitati branch was held at Purakanui on Tuesday evening, at which there was quite a good attendance. The president of the branchrMr A. Spoor, occupied the chair. Mr Spoor dealt fairly fully with the minutes of the annual Provincial Council of the Farmers' Union, and members showed a keen interest in what had been done. Considerable discussion took place regarding the price received by the dairy farmer at the present time for his produce, and it was decided to confirm the remit previously forwarded by the branch asking the Provincial Council to go into the question of inaugurating a municipal njilk supply in Dunedin along the same lines as the Wellington scheme. It was decided to write the provincial secretary, Mr A.. C. Cameron, expressing the branch's appreciation of the good service he had done the farming community in organising the Young Farmers' Educational Week, which was turning out so successful. Mr Spoor said that he was sure that everybody present realised the good thig week would do, and thought that they should show Mr Cameron their appreciation of the work he had done to make the week the success it was undoubtedly turning out to be. At the conclusion of the meeting supper was provided by the , members of the Women's Division. A ftearty vote of fchanks was passed to them.

To enable those who like ski-ing to practise the sport in summer, a German engineer has invented what looks like a cross between skis and a pair of roller skates. They are equipped with large wheels, and the rolling-ski riders shove themselves along with sticks similar to those used by skiers.