THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22100, 2 November 1933, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rusticus.

1933-34 SHOW SEASON ROSTER OF DATES Agricultural shows have been arranged for the 1933-34 season as follows: ... '1933 , ,1; Not. 2 and 3 .. Manawatn and West Coast, at ' ‘Palmerston N. Not. 2 Ashburton, Nov. 3 .. .. .. ..*• Rangiora. Nov 9 and 10 •.. Canterbury, at Christchurch Nov. 14 Waimate. Nov. 16 and 17 .. North Otago, at Oamaru, Nov. 18 Taieri. at Outrajn. Nov. 21 and 22 .. Otago, at Tahuna Park. . Nov. 23 and 24 .. Clutha and Matau. at Balclutha Nov. 25 \ Winton. Dec. 2 Tokomairiro Farmers’ Club at r Milton. Dee. 5 and 6 .. • • Gore. Dec. 6 Central Otago, at Oraakau. Dec. 8 Wyndbam. Dec 3 .. .. .. .. Maniototo. at Ranfurly. Deo. 12 and 13 .. Southland, at Invercargill Dec. 14 Owaka. Dec. 16 .. .. .. Otago Peninsula at Portobello. 1934 Jan. 13 .. Waitati. Jan. 20 .. .. Waikouaiti Jan. 26 Palmerston and o Waihemo. Feb. 8, 9. and 10 .. Royal, at Auckland. April 2.. .. .... Fairlie. 1 ", April-12 .. .. Ternuka and Geraldine, at Winchester. 1933-34 WOOL SEASON ROSTER OF SALES Wool sales have been arranged as fob lows for the 1933-34 wool-selling season in New Zealand:— , Place. Date. Auckland .. .. November 27 Napier December 1 Wellington .. .. December 7 Christcnurcb «« December 12 Timaru .. December 16 Dunedin'.. .. .. December 20 Napier .. .. .» January 6 Wellington .. .. January 11 Auckland .. .. January 15 Wanganui .. .. January 19 Christchurch .. January 20 Invercargill .. January 31 Dunedin .. .. February 6 Titnaru .. February 9 Wellington .. .. February 15 Napier February 20 Wanganui .. .. February 23 Christchurch .. March 2 Dunedin .. •* March 7 Invercargill .. .. March ® Wellington .... - March 19 Napier .... • • March 23 Auckland .. .. March 27 Christchurch .% April 6 1 Dunedin .. .. April 10 Wanganui .. . April 17, Napier .. .. .. April 20 Wellington .. .. April 24 The April sale dates are tentative only, subject to revision, and will ne held only if sufficient wool is available.

Heavy Horse Breeding A branch of faming, or rather 'stockbreeding, which is deserving of special encouragement at the present time is the production of heavy horses of both sexes, for. which such a keen demand has arisen in Australia. This is a matter that concerns Otago vitally, inasmuch as the considerable export 'trade which exists at the present time between the Dominion and Australia has been sustained very largely by Otago Clydesdale breeders. The matter is referred to in the annual report of the director of the Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture as follows:—“In my last report of last year I remarked that it was regrettable that more heavy ■ horses of the right type were not being bred. This remark has been justified, as the demand for. this type of horse is more in evidence at the present time than has been ■ the case for years. In addition to this, the demand is increasing in Australia, and horses of both sexes , are being exported there in increasing numbers and at satisfactory prices. This is a branch of : farming which could be made remunerative to those who have the time and meant) to devote to it. The health of this class of stock has been good, .and with the exception of a few cases ot strangles in young horses, there has been no disease worthy of mention. < If any part of the Dominion is doing its share in bringing about the revival in horse breeding which is regarded as so necessary it is Otago, where an annual stallion parade has persisted through the leanest years of the Clydesdale, and where breed- * erg' are producing the finest stock seen m any show ring in New Zealand. Tuberculosis in Cattle

The total number of cattle m New Zealand condemned in the field during the season 1932-33 as a-result of clinical examination and the tuberculin test amounted to 4270. The total number of cattle examined at the various abattoirs and meat' export slaughter "houses was 337,301—an increase of 70,453 over last year’s figures. Of these, 17,277, or 5.1 per c»nt., were found affected in varying degrees, a large percentage being only slightly affected.

Group Herd-testing Some 259.857 cows were systematically tested, during the 1931-32 season—a decrease of 11,547 cow a from the preceding’season. Over 90 per cent, of these cows were tested under the group sys tem, while 25,111 cows were tested under the association own-sample system, ana the balance of 219 by dairy companies on behalf of. their suppliers. The tested cows represented approximately 16.4 per cent, of the total cows in milk. The average butter-fat production of the test cows was 230.871 b, as compared with 241.051 b for 1930-31. . Herd-testing received considerable assistance for the past season by way of subsidies. The New Zealand Dairy Produce Board made a grant of £6OOO, while the Government contributed approximately £7700. This meant that newly-formed groups were in most cases fully reimbursed for expenditure on purchase of plant, and that herd owners received lid per cow if testing under the group system, or 6Jd oer cow if testing under the association own-sample test. The Herd-testing Centra] Executive or its sub-committee met on various occasions during the year, and rendered considerable assistance to the herd-testing movement by way of allocation of subsidy and general organisation.

Certi:scate-of-record Testing First-class certificates of record were issuede to 486 cows in 1932, and of this total 443 cows qualified in the yearly test

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

TOPICS ~ OF > INTEREST OFFICIAL NOTES

division and the remaining 43 in the 305-day division. In addition, 25 secondclass certificates were issued. These totals compare with 737 first-class and 35 secondclass certificates issued in 1931 (says the annual report of the dairy division of the Department of Agriculture). During 1932 a new classification, to be known as “ 111 Class C.0.R.,” was introduced at the request of the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association and with the approval of those other breeders associations whose breeds are represented in the C.O.R. testing. This class is for those cows which qualify for first or second-class C.O.R. in all respects save subsequent calving. The outstanding feature of the past year's testing was the performance of the four-year-old Jersey cow Woodlands Felicle, whose production of 1220.891 b butter-fat from 17,332.61 b milk was a world’s record for the Jersey breed, and is still so on an age basis. This cow was bred by Mr H. C. Sampson, of Hillsborough, Taranaki, and was owned and tested by Mr P. J. Petersen, of Waitara. Another individual performance worthy of mention is that of the Friesian cow Totara C.R. Buttercup, bred and tested by the Piri Land Company, who last year gained a certificate for 1079.141 b butter-fat' from 27,108.11 b milk on a record commenced at the age of four years 267 days. Up to the close of 1932 nine New Zealand cows had gained first-class certificates of record on production of 10001 b butter-fat or over.

Ensilage-making Three correspondents during the past week have inquired about the practice of ensilage-making and the points to be considered in the conservation of winter fodder in this way. An answer to their queries is contained in the October Journal of Agriculture, which summarises common and important faults,in ensilage as follows :t—----1. Inadequate consolidation of the green material in pits and trenches, leading to avoidable wastage as a result of decay at the sides; the more mature and stemmy the green material the greater the need for specific measures to bring about consolidation. The weight of workers and of equipment can at, times be made to serve usefully for effecting suitable consolidation.

2. Harvesting when the herbage, is too mature, which leads to the following undesirable results: (a) Unnecessarily woody silage, which as a feed is characterised by all the disadvantages attaching to over-maturity in pasture growth; (b) less likelihood of a heavy leafy aftermath available in the latter part of summer, when it is usually acutely needed; (c) avoidable injury to the pasture, due to the unnecessarily prolonged shading effect of the tall growth, 3. Development of excessive temperatures in the material, leading finally to silage of dark brown'to black colour, instead of the greenish to light brown colour which is indicative of better feeding value. The high temperatures which lead to the dark colour are held to bring about not only an avoidable wastage in material, but also a substantial falling off in quality due to a disproportionately heavy loss of digestible protein. L Inadequate covering of the stored silage with material weighty enough to reduce the air in the material as much as possible; the covering is speciallyTikely to be insufficient round the sides. Lucerne Cultivation As a fine, firm, seed bed is most favourable for successful establishment of lucerne, preparatory cultivation should be early and thorough. Apart from exceptional conditions, such as occur, in a sandy soil subject to a very dry summer spell, there is as a rule no advantage in sowing before the latter part of November or December. On the other hand, early sowing associated with cold soil conditions may lend to weakly seedlings of such slow development that they are poorly fitted to compete against weed seedlings. Successful results commonly follow from sowing 12lb to 18lb an acre of seed, of Marlborough origin, though every coulter of the grain drill. Satisfactory results may be expected from broadcasting the seed and covering it by light harrowing. Liming is as a rule advisable, and when it is so, may be carried out advantageously before, the final cultivation preceding seed sowing.

The following are the two wise-cracks for the week:—

“A man is not paid for having brains, but for using them." “Experience is what you get while you are looking for something else.”

# * , « The next meeting of the Provincial Council will be held on Monday, when many matters of importance will be discussed.

A meeting of the directors of Producers’, Ltd.—the Farmers’ Union Trading Department —will be held on the same day.

Messrs M. A, Kinney (Hyde), E. H. Murney (Tapanui), J. D. Revie (Crookston), and F. Waite (Balclutha), attended the recent meeting of the Dominion Executive. Many important matters were considered, including alterations to the present Mortgagors Relief Act, Central Bank, and final evidence for Tariff Commission, etc. A full report will be made to the meeting of the Otago Council next week. ,

Hundreds of farmers have recently received letters from the Controller of Accounts in Wellington instructing them to fill in and return the U.B. form No. 58 for unemployment tax. The accountants of the Farm Accounting Association have, in consequence, had a very busy time. In many cases the form sent in by the farmer lacks the particulars required. Some farmers have put in a nil return and now find that this will not be accepted. Judging from the language of some of the farmers concerned, the efforts of the Government department are not exactly appreciated.

One of our readers writes in “How will the following do for your column? The clock of life is wound but once, And no man has the power _ To tell just when the hands will stop— At late or early hour. Now is the only time you own, Live, love, toil with a will; Place no faith in to-morrow, The clock may then be still. Still another sends in the following;— Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece so fine did show; ’Twould fetch at least two bob a pound, If only it would grow. 5* >!« *

A farmer who was greatly interested in the school boy’s essay which appeared in our notes recently sends us the following. He clipped it out of an agricultural journal years ago. It is entitled “ What is a Farmer ? ” “ A capitalist who labours, a man who works eight hours a day twice a day. “A man who has every element of Nature to combat every day in the year. “A man who is a biologist, an economist, and a lot more ’ists.” “ Who gives more and takes less than any other human being. /‘Who takes unto himself for his own sustenance and that of his family those of his products that other people will not utilise. , , “Who does more than the inhabitants of big cities to infuse red blood into a society that is constantly decadent, and whose only salvation is the vitality that it draws from rural sections. “Who sells his products for what the other fellow cares to pay for them, and who buys the other fellow’s products for what the other fellow cares to charge for them.”

The half-yearly accounts of the Otago Farmers’ Union Mutual Fire Insurance Association were considered by the directors last week. The results of the last six months’ trading reveals a steady increase in business. Premium income has increased at all branches, and a substantial profit has resulted for the six months under review. The increase in new business during the past month has been phenomenal, and testifies to the increasing popularity of the association. The development of the association’s business in Nelson and Marlborough has more than justified the opening of a branch at Nelson. The Southland and South Canterbury branches also show very substantial increases in new business, whilst the business in North Canterbury and Otago has more than held its oivn. Warm appreciation was expressed by the directors at the loyal support accorded the association by the branches and members of the Farmers’ Union.

If any farmer is doubtful about the wisdom of encouraging closer trade relations with Great Britain let him read through the evidence presented to the Tariff Commission by the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. , ■ . The evidence, which is incorporated in a booklet entitled “The Case for Closer Trade with Britain,” is a model of clarity. The ease for the farmer is presented m a dignified yet forcible manner, and the whole makes an overwhelming case in favour of reduced tariffs on British goods. Every main argument is supported by authoritative data. Several very effective graphs are also given, together with a gross return of 720 representative farms showing a comparison of the 1928*29 season and 1932-33 seasons. The figures speak for themselves. We accord our warmest congratulations to the Meat Board for their splendid work in this connection.

Paragraphs appeared in the last few weeks’ notes in connection with manuring. It might interest readers to know that experiments in wheatgrowing have been carried out in Great Britain for the last 90 years. At a place called Brodbalk, there is an area of 10 acres on which wheat has been grown continuously every year without any change. The present crop is the ninetieth successive one, and is looking extremely well. The field is divided into plots which are differently manured; one plot has had no manure or fertiliser of any kind since 1829. For the past eight years it yielded an average ofi>l7 bushels per acre. Last year it averaged 11.6 bushels. There is no evidence that the wheat plant will ever be killed out by starvation. This good result, however, is obtained only because the land is cultivated. Whenever weeds are allowed to come in the yield falls. By use of suitable fertilisers the yield can be raised to an average of 34 bushels. . . * >:< *

Recently the provincial secretary had a call from an old South Otago fanner who, though still keen and alert, owned to having passed the 70 mark some years since. A few minutes later another very old Clutha farmer walked into the office, and the two were introduced for the first time. It is impossible to convey the full conversation in a small paragraph, but it was good to hear those two stalwarts reminiscing. “ Do you mind Begg's Hillend Station. “I mind it well—l have seen 70 of us in one hut and one cook for the lot three harvesting gangs. Three sheep would be killed for a meal and made from head to tail into chops.” “Yes, and nothing left but the jaw bone for the bashful new ; chum who couldn’t push his own barrow.” “ Do you mind William Rae —the big, red-whiskered Scotsman who used to have the hotel at Stony Creek? ” “Yes, many’s the parcel I picked up thcr6«^ “Do you remember the old toll gate there? ** And so on. Names of families were mentioned —families which have playec their part in the history of the province James Adam, of Bon Accord, the Mit chells and Sampsons, ,of Wangaloa, th Kinders, of Stony Creek, the Rev. Wil liam Connor, of Clinton, with his flowm; puggaree. However, work had to be done, anc business over, the two stalwart representatives of an earlier generation were courteously ushered out of the office. Ai they went down the stairs they were heard discussing some pithy story about Dannie Munroe’s father. I wonder who you and I will be discussing 50 or 60 years hence?

There is a fairly full agenda for the meeting of the Provincial Council which will be held on Monday next. The remits from branches include several on frozen meat matters, dairying matters, power board offices and daylight saving. Reports will be received also in connection with wheat matters, and matters considered recently by the Dominion Executive. * # *

The Otago and Southland Harvest Hands, Threshing Mill and Cbaffcutter Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers is anxious to have an award covering the industry, and has issu'ed citation papers to certain farmers in Otago and Southland requesting them to be represented at the Arbitration Court on November 16 next when the application will be considered. The union is asking for the old 1931 conditions, and appears to have ignored the fact that agreement was reached in regard to new conditions at the last sitting of the court in November, 1932, the obstacle being the question of wages. The question of representation for the Otago farmers will be considered at next meeting of the Otago Provincial Council on Monday next. Mr A. C. Cameron is also’ in communication with the Southland and North Otago Executive.

As indicative of the importance with which business men view the seriousness of quotas as applied to our New Zealand exports, the following resolution was carried unanimously at the recent conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce:—“That the free and unrestricted entry of our exports into Great Britain is so vital to New Zealand that negotiations should he initiated to ascertain on what terms this right can be secured, and we should be prepared to make concessions to achieve this end." It is interesting to note that this resolution was originally carried at the Dunedin Chamber on the motion of Mr James Begg, and subsequently endorsed by the Canterbury Chamber. A similar resolution was carried by the Otago Provincial Council at their annual conference and subsequently by the Dominion Conference at Wellington.

WOOL FOR JAPAN WHO WILL SUPPLY IT? SOUTH AMERICAN COMPETITION DEVELOPMENTS AND POSSIBILITIES. Can the woolgrowers of South America compete with the growers of Australia for the raw wool requirements of Japan? A great deal has been said about the extension of Japanese trade. Naturally other countries which are competitors for the sea-borne trade of the world are alarmed at the invasion of almost every market by cheap goods from Japan, and intensive propaganda designed to achieve advantages over Japan has been going on for some time. The Japanese also have been quick to appreciate the value of skilled propaganda, and have set out to remove from the minds of foreign peoples the impressions unfavourable to the trading interests of Japan (writes R. V. 8., in the Australasian). Wool is one of the items which figures conspicuously whenever the subject of Japanese international trade is discussed, ana wool is scarcely of less importance to Japan than it is to Australia. Wool grown in Australia and made into fabrics in Japanese mills, reaches every market of importance in both hemispheres. Japan purchases 20 per cent, of the entire wool output of the Commonwealth. Without her consistent competition at our wool auctions most likely a slump in values would occur, and would result in demoralisation of the woolgrowing industry. The competition of Japan for the wool supplies of this country is therefore a necessity to the well-being of Australian growers, and in the same way the continued imports of raw Australian wool into Japan is something essential to the economic stability of Australia. TRADE WITH URUGUAY. According to news from Tokio, however, Japan is looking for other sources of supply. Negotiations are proceeding between Japan and Uruguay for an agreement to encourage the exchange of com-

modities between these two countries. It is suggested that. Uruguay will accept goods manufactured in Japan for raw wool produced in Uruguay. Although Uruguay is referred to in particular, South America generally may be taken as the field for the prospective supplies for Japan. It has been stated that the shipping facilities between the two countries will be improved as the trade increases, and that the shipowners are prepared to cut the freights on wool down to the rates paid from Australia to Japan. The claim is made also that South America can increase her wool production considerably, and in a few years capture a good part of the Japanese raw wool trade at the expense of Australia. There are points which should not be brushed aside lightly. The situation would be full of possibilities if South American countries had the country and the foundation flocks available to build up their annual wool output to a stage of real rivalry with Australia. It is questionable, however, if they have. Already most of the country capable of depasturing stock is occupied. Sheep might be expected to displace cattle over fairly extensive areas, but the bulk of the stockcarrying land in South America is more suited to the mutton types of sheep than to first-class wool producers. The present requirements of Japan are between 600,QU0 and 700,000 bales of woo] a year. It is estimated that these requirements will increase until in about 10 years time her needs will be 1,000,000 bales a year, Reduced to the equivalent of Australian bales, the clip of Uruguay, as shown by Dalgety’s “ Annual Wool Review,” seldom exceeds 400,000 bales. For the last seven seasons the 1929-30 season was the best, when 420,000 bales were produced, and for the season 1931-32 the yield was below 300.000 bales. The Argentine clip ranges from about 900,000 to 1,000,000 bales measured by the Australian scale, the supplies from all South American countries would not be more than 1,500,000 bales, and it would not be prudent for manufacturers to rely upon that output regularly. Moreover, the wool clip or South America already has its markets. About 30 per cent, of the exports go to the United Kingdom, some 63 per cent, to European countries, and only approximately 7 per cent, to all other countries, including the United States. Less than 15 per cent, of the South American wool production is merino, and ot that quantity more than three parts are faulty to ordinary top-making sorts, as distinct from good to super style merinos. Ot i the crossbreds which make up the bulk of 1 the clip, less than one-tenth is super style or prime-fina, 1,2, 3 60-.)4e, as it is termed, while ordinary style, medium, and low' 50’s and coarser and bellies, make up as much as half the entire crossbred ! output, SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT. But the wool of South America can be improved,'it may be contended. Inat would be a sound claim. In recent years a marked improvement taken Place, and it would be reasonable' to expect that the South American growers might increase their quantities ot fine crossbred and comeback wools, although by doing so they might sacrifice to some extent the mutton and lamb .production value ot their flocks. Although Australia would seem to be in no immediate danger ot serious rivalry from Uruguay or all the South American countries combined in the production of superior wools, it would be foolish to ignore the possibilities of increased and better wool output m those countries. If more fine crossbreds and comebacks are produced there it will be Victoria and Tasmania more than any other Australian State that will ieel the additional competition most; and upon this phase of the wool situation interesting comments were made in Melbourne a few months ago by Mr M. Kawamura, of Mitsui, Bussan, Kaisha, Ltd. In a most instructive and friendly statement upoi trade between Australia and Japan Mr Kawamura analysed fully the P rlnc ’P'V elements which went to make up this trade, and in the course of his analysis he asked what would happen to Japan it she be driven to the extremity of boycotting Australian wool and wheat, which, m his opinion, would. not be impossible. “No doubt,” he said, “Japan will not be able to, obtain enough wool for her requirements, and the people will be forced to return to the wearing of all clothes made of . cotton and silk, She would return to other countries for wheat, and if that be impossible the people will eat rice, barley, and oats and other foods “ In such a case Victorian wool will be the worst suffered. Victoria produces approximately 275.000 bales of comeback and crossbred, which is equal to approximately 61 per cent, of the total of this class of wool in Australia. Japanese imports from Victoria include about 150.000 bales of crossbred and comeback—i.e., about 55 per cent, of the total production of this class of wool of the State, so Japan is absolutely the backbone ot the Victorian crossbred and comeback wool trade. In so far as merino wool is concerned, Australia is _ literally the dominant factor in its quality and quantity, but in the eases of crossbred and comeback she has strong competitors— New Zealand and South America. Japan has obtained the bulk of her requirements of comeback and crossbred in the Victorian market because of her handy geographical position. If necessary Japan’s total demand for crossbred and comeback could be fulfilled in markets other than Victorian. Therefore Victoria most probably would be the greatest sufferer should Japan seek her supplies of wool outside Australia." IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.

The exports of Japan to Australia in 1932 amounted to 36.895.000 yen, or £2 767,125 in Australian currency, and the imports from the Commonwealth amounted to 134,277,000 yen (£10,070,775). The balance of trade with other woolgrowing countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, and South Africa is much more favourable to Japan. Each of these countries imports a greater value of goods from Japan than it exports to Japan. It is not difficult to appreciate then the tendency of Japanese public opinion to foster trade with those countries willing to take her goods, and it would not be surprising if special efforts are made to strengthen the sources of wool supply that compete with Australia. But it is difficult, as pointed out by the Melbourne Argus special correspondent in Tokio, to shift the source of wool supply from Australia to any other country. “The Japanese manufacturers,” he says, “have been used to Australian -wool for many years, and the experts in the various manufacturing companies do not like to change to wool produced elsewhere.” That statement sums up the situation accurately, hut Japan may be forced to take action contrary to her desires, and if she be compelled to favour other woolgrowing countries, where her goods are welcomed, in order to stimulate competition with Australia for wool supplies to Japan, the woolgrowing industry of Australia will be fortunate if it escapes unscathed as a result. There should be no need for Japan to look elsewhere for her wool supplies, and in the interests of growers here, as well as of the country at large, attempts might well be made to modify in some way those phases of Australian policy which are straining the relationships with Japan and promoting plans of retaliation, some of which go to the length of suggesting the boycott of Australian wool.