THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22326, 28 July 1934, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rusticus.

WOOL SALES, 1934-35 Wool gales for the 1934-35 season hare been arranged a« follows: — Not. 27—Auckland. Feb, 18—Napier. Dec. 3—Napier. Feb. 22—Wanganui. Dac. B—Wellington. Mar. I—Christchurch. Dec. 13—Christchurch. Mar. 4 —lnvercargill. Dec. IT —Tlmaru. Mar. 9—Dunedin. Dec. 21—Duuedln. Mar. IS—Tlmaru Jan. 7—Wellington. Mar. 20—Wellington. Jan. 12—Napier, Mar. 25 —Napier. Jan. 17—Wanganui. Mar. 29 —Auckland. Jan. 22—Auckland. Apr. 1— Wanganui. Jan. 28—Chrletchurch. Apr. s—Christchurch.5 —Christchurch. - Feb. I—lnvercargill Apr. B—Dunedin. , Fab. 6—Dunedin. Apr. 13—Wellington. Fab. IS—Wellington. 1934-35 SHOW SEASON ROSTER OF DATES Agricultural and pastoral ahowg have been arranged a* follows for the 1934-35 •eason: — „ October 24, 25.—-Timaru. November I.—Ashburton. November 7, 8; —Canterbury Metropolitan, at Christchurch. November 13.—Waimate. November 15, 16. —North Otago, at Oamam. November 17.—Taieri, at Outram. November 20, 21.—Otago, at Tahuna Park. November 22, 23.—Clutha and Matau, at Balclutha. December I.—Tokomairiro Farmers' Club, at Milton. December 4, s.—Gore. December 7. —Wyndham. December 7.—Maniototo, at Ranfurly. December 11, 12, 13.—Royal Agricultural Society’s Show at Invercargill. 1935. January 12.—Blueskin, at Waitati. January 19.—Waikouaiti. January 25.—Palmerston and Waihemo County, at Palmerston. April 22.—Strath-Taieri, at Middlemarch. April 22. —Mackenzie County, at Fairlie. Dominion Woo] Sale* Messrs Dalgety and Co.’s statistical department dealing with the New Zealand wool year ended, June 30 report the quantities sold at various centres during the period to be aa follows: — Sales. Bales. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. 68,011 Christchurch .. ~ .. .. 82,773 Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. 103,021 Invercargill 49,177 Napier .. .. .. .> .. 99,277 Timaru .... .. ~ .. 34,380 Wellington 128,566 Wanganui .. ........ 80,634 Blenheim, Nejson, and Gisborne 3,949 650,688 Distribution of Wool The quantities of wool sold in New Zealand during the year were for destinations, as far as can be ascertained, as under: — Destination. Bales. United Kingdom 227,500 Japan, China, India 42,387 France .. .. .. .. ... •• »• 93,150 Germany and Austria .. .. 123.454 Belgium and Holland .. 36,700 United States and Canada .. .. 14,497 Italy and Switzerland 13,600 Russia, Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Spain, Denmark .. .. 9,200 New Zealand manufacturers .... 21,600 Local seourings .. 52,000 Australia and Tasmania .. v. ... 16.70 U s <:• - s ' -;; -•: 650,688' Record Prices Some of the season’s record prices made in the New Zealand sales during ihe year were as follows: — . Price per lb. Description and Brand. d. Fleece—Fl over 21 24 Pieces—Fl over 21 .. .. .. •• 22 Fine halfbred fleece —Rydal Down® 27j Med. halfbred' fleece—C over Stoneburn "5J Coarse halfbred fleece —OB over _ ■ Putiki 23| Pieces, halfbred —Gemlake '.. ■ • 22j Bellies, halfbred—taruna over Sterndale •• •• Fine crossbred fleece —H in Diamond • ■ - ;• 23 Med. crossbred fleece —WK in square • •• •• ••' 20 Coarse crossbred fleece-r-The Crossing 14J Low crossbred fleece —Eyebrow over heart ... .. .. . Crossbred pieces—DCD in square 19i Crossbred bellies—D.C.D. in square 15J Southdown lambs —Various .... 18 Crossbred lambs—B over Rewa .. 19? Local Sales Expand A« showing how local selling of 'wool has grown during the past 30 years, Dalgety and Co. have prepared a table showing the average gross value and average price per bale of wool sold in the Dominion from 1903-4 to 1933-34. The bales sold in the first yfear, amounted to 117,070 bales, and realised £1,139,696, or £9 14k 8d per bale. During the war years 191419 the quantities sold rose from 321,927 bales, realising £4,846,940, and averaged £ls It Id per bale. In 1918-19 the sales reached 627,831 bales, then, and up tJ 1934, a record. The price realised in 1918-19 year was an average of £23 10s per bale, also a record price up to 1924-25, when {as will be seen below) £29 5s per bale was the average. The slump year of 1921-22 had a total sal<> of 467,381 bales of the grpss value of £4,207,367, or f 9 per bale, a mighty fall in value from that of 1918-19, when the biggest aggregate wool cheque ever received was recorded at £14,755,247, with an average of £23 9s lOd per bale. The returns of wool sold for the past 12 years compare as follows: —

Prophecy as to the wool market, even in normal times, was always regarded as extremely risky, but it is more so to-day than it has ever been in its history. A hint of what Australia may expect when it presently resumes its local sales for the current season is contained in comments made by the Yorkshire Observer on the present obscure market for the staple. France, ’ Germany, and Italy, it is suggested, are not likely to be represented at these sales, at any rate at their opening, and of a total of 2,735,370 bales shipped from Australia for the 1033-34 season, 1,300,000 were shipped to the Continent. If France, Germany, and Italy are absent from or merely onlookers at the coming Australian sales, the market will be supported in the main by Great Britain and Japan, who together had shipped to themselves 1,400.000 bales of the total. The value of wool will be determined at these Australian sales, for the next London series does not open until September 18. Fortunately for New Zealand,’ the local- wool sales will not begin before thp end of November, and, although estimates of the quantity of greasy wool held over

Item* of Intern* to thorn engaged in agricultural and pastoral pnrm!t% with a view to their publication in these columns, will be They should be addressed to “Kusticua,” Otago Daily Times, Dunedin,

in the Dominion vary, it is far from unmanageable. Much may happen to raise or depress the price of wool before December next, but the course of the Australian market about to open will well repay observation.

Confidence Impossible At the moment general confidence In rates is impossible (sayg the Sydney Morning Herald). But though stocks of wool in some countries are fairly plentiful their moderate balkiness does not generally embrace merinos and the finer crossbreds. Latest figures indicate quite moderate holdings of those types in England. End-of-May mail advises report that holdings of merinos and the finer crossbreds were limited in Germany. The position is, therefore, not devoid of aspects which would encourage more confident feelings if general conditions showed signs of, more stability, but German news is to*the effect that orders from that quarter are not likely to be plentiful as it is of paramount importance that her financial affairs should be placed in order. The agreement reached by the German and British Governments on the debt question is likely to lessen nervousness. The new Australian selling season does not commence until sales in Brisbane on August 20 and Sydney on September 3. Meantime trading prospects may improve. Those interested in the sheep industry would be injudicious to be optimistic considering present circumstances, but no good Tmrpose can be served by allowing recent events to unduly cloud their outlook. Prices of Woollen Goods

If prices for woollen goods abroad were quickly readjusted to. the present cost of raw material there is little doubt that retail trade would display some revival; but it will take time for those reductions to become effective (the Herald continues), The merchandising section of the industry, however, cannot be blamed for the slowing-up in business which occurred. That branch offered great resistance to higher figures for fabrics, realising that the public has the final decision on values, and if the latter advance too far purchasing activity must slacken. Recent European events accentuated the easing in demand for the sheep’s staple, but since early in 1934, when prices for goods rose appreciably in sympathy with the wool market the turnover showed signs of reduction.

The German Position Though wool purchasing for the German mills at recent auctions has been negligible, Yorkshire is reported to have sold sorted raw material and semi-manu-factures to that quarter. The consignments may have been sent on credit or arrangements made whereby manufactures made in Germany have been sold to English purchasers, the accounts for the two classes of transaction balancing. In a few instances credits to buy in small quantities have been obtained. Actually an embargo on wool entering Germany is not in force; the prohibition is on the transfer of funds out of the country to pay for purchases. That embargo has now been prolonged indefinitely, but eventuallly it will be partially lifted, the rationing of funds for the buying of necessary raw material being certain. Advices received by German wool operators in Sydney emphasise the decision of the authorities in Germany to distribute the purchasing of wool requirements over the full 12 months in contrast to the usual activity for seven to eight months. By that means the strain of financing business will be reduced, as less capital .wilj.be involved. In addition, the sale of manufactured goods would keep better pace with the purchases of wool made within a given period, freeing a proportion of the funds available for re-use in the buying of raw material. Italian woolbuying will possibly be conducted on similar lines. In neither country is there any desire to curtail the consumption of wo.ol; the regulation is due to lack of ability to find money to send out of the country to finance imports. If the two countries extend their wool-purchasing period as mentioned, Australia may be called upon to revise her arrangements for the sale of her clip. Germany and Italy combined bought over 600.000 bales of wool in the Commonwealth during the past season, valued approximately at £12,000.000 in Australian currency. It ia desirable to maintain their direct competition. Possibly if sales proceeded as usual buyers from elsewhere would purchase the wool and subsequently resell it gradually to German and Italian millmen. but the demand under that procedure would not be as satisfactory aa with direct bidding from the two consumers quoted. The Australian trade is consequently likely to be faced with an unusual marketing problem; On the one hand growers want their clips sold as promptly as possible, and by way of contrast two important operating sections find themselves in a situation demanding an extended period in which to buy. The difficulty might be overcome by making financial arrangements in Australia so that the wool could be sold with usual promptness, full proceeds being paid to the grower, but the buyer concerned only paying a satisfactory deposit until such time as he is capable of completing his payment and taking delivery of his purchase.

English Mill Profits Since January receding values for wool, tops, and yarns have resulted in substantial losses for those who had bought the staple. The rising prices seen from early 1933 to last January, however, provided a good earning period for purchasers of wool and for millmen producing goods. Illingworth, Morris, and Co., Ltd.. Bradford, worsted spinners, showed a profit of £136,526 for the year ended March 31, compared with £64,924 for the previous 12 months. This company suffered very lean years in the depression, failing to pay dividends on ordinary and preference shares. On this occasion, £35,269 was allotted for the payment of 18 months’ arrears of preference dividends. It is proposed to pay a further year’s preference dividend arrears, after -which £47,830 will still be owing on this account. The experience of the company is typical of that of roost Yorkshire concerns. The decline in rates for wool and manufactures seen during the past five months, however, is no more pleasant for those who have bought wool than for those who grow it. The impression is held by some people in Australia that buyers always desire to see the raw material cheapen, but advancing prices provide the periods when manufacturers as a whole show good monetary results.

A Crutching Record As a rule the sheep farmer does not look to erutching time for anything in the way of records, but one Hawke's Bay grazier has experienced what almost constitutes n record erutching clip ( rom a mob of 1750 woolly Romney hoggets. These sheep had been grazing on the Havelock Hills on fairly steep country, the paddock being ideal for feed. The wool filled three well-packed bales. When it is borne in mind that the average crutchings run out at about 1000 hoggets to the bale the result achieved in this instance is seen to be out of the ordinary. South African Woo! Clip Authorities are of the opinion that the coming South African clip will show a decrease of TO to 20 per cent, on the current season’s reduced production, which is estimated to be approximately 880,000 bales. If even the lower figure is accepted the reduction would amount to 88.000 bales. The estimated increase in the new Australian clip is 150.314 bales. Those estimates mean that the increase in the combined quality of wool available in the Commonwealth and South Africa will only be 62 314 bales. The estimated total is 290,000 bales below the dins grown by the two countries in 1932-33. South Africa’s Customers Threats have been made by_ some consuming countries that they will transfer their wool-buying orders from Australia to South Africa. A change In that re-

spect was stated to be taking place last season, but returns showing the exports of greasy wool from South African ports from July 1 to April 30 last indicate that reduced quantities were taken by all the principal purchasing countries, but the supplies available were smaller. The shipments for the period were 205,000,000 pounds of greasy wool, or 28 per cent, lower than 12 months before, the supplies sent to the principal destinations, with the percentage decrease on the total for the similar months of the previous season, being as follows: — Decrease, lb. per cent. United Kingdom .. 52,000,000 23 France .. .. .. .. 50,000,000 41 Germany .. .. .. .. 49,500,000 9 Belgium 21,500,000 32 Italy 16,750.000 43 Japan 2,550,000 24 The United States took 700,0001 b, an increase of 622,0001 b. In South African currency the average price secured for the wool sold for the 10 months ended April 30 was 10jd per lb, the figure to April 30, 1933, being 4.7 d. British Agriculture Concluding an article on agricultural policy The Times says; There are still, of course, grave anxieties and difficulties. No attention need be paid to those who would deny, however, discreetly, the necessity for making farming pay. They make the old mistake of forgetting that the producer is also the consumer of his own and of other people’s produce. As for suggestions that the whole of better prices For the farmer can be extracted from the retailer, that is an unproved assertion, implying, if it imples anything, the formidable and questionable task of controlling or replacing the retail trades. At the moment it is sufficient to note that the gap between wholesale and retail prices has, in some cases, been contracted. For example, the farmer is obtaining 20 per cent, more for his sheep and the retail price of mutton has risen by only 6 per cent. Far more pertinent are the questions of those who ask what the principle of allocation of the British market, already defined, will mean in practice. How much and in what directions is British production to expand, and what share of themarket will be left to others? There are limits beyond which expansion would be unwise and, it may be, branches of agriculture which had better be left to justify themselves economically. Only broad principles can be determined in advance. It is impossible to lay down a definite schedule covering years ahead. The capacity of producers themselves depends upon the course of Nature. Who would have thought, for example, at this time last year that Russia and other grain-growing countries would, now be buying wheat? Again, effective demand, and indeed the success of the marketing schemes themselves, depends upon the efficiency of the British farmer in working the new system. It may safely be said, however, that al] concerned with the British market will be well advised to co-operate in maintaining a better and a steady level of prices. The task still presents many difficult problems, but there can be no doubt that it has begun on the right lines, and that neither healthy expansion of production nor healthy expansion of consumption can be based upon collapsing prices. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH RECENT WORK AT ROTHAMSTED LIFE OF THE BEES SOIL CULTIVATION. From time to time one has an opportunity of going over the laboratories of the Rothamsted Experimental Station. The director (Sir John Russell), always an ideal host, is especially pleased that representatives of the dominions should know something of the work that is being carried on. Recently, when over 100 guests attended the luncheon to celebrate the acquirement of the freehold of the farm lands, a number of these people spent the morning inspecting the classical fields and the afternoon in a tour of the laboratories. Each head of a department had a very limited time to explain some of the more important features of their work.

Chief work in the Physics Department is the study of crop development under different systems of soil cultivation.' The rotary tiller has been especially under observation. Comparisons of soil are made by means of a series of sieves. These are set one above the other in a cylindrical vessel. A certain quantity of the soil is put on the top sieve and the whole amount is gradually urged downward to the lowest level —the final sieve being of so fine a mesh as to permit only particles of dust to pass through. The amount of soil in each of the six or seven sieves is then measured and the quality examined, and comparisons are made with other soil cultivated by other methods. In all these comparisons the scientists have found that climate and not methods of cultivation is the dominating factor. The subject of the “ golden hoof ” was also studied —that is, the advantage of grazing sheep on the stubble of barley land. Ag a result of experiments, it was definitely shown that the effects of the tramping feet are felt in the soil even after climatic conditions have apparently undone the good. MOISTURE IN SOIL.

Another investigation is the effect of water on soil. This has especial value in relation to irrigated lands in India, where there arc alkaline soils. When they are comparatively dry they are productive, but with a superfluity of water certain damaging salts are brought out. Sensitive electrical methods are being used to study soil moisture content, and clay investigations are already throwing light on other problems beside those relating to soil. For instance, the stickiness of dough is being studied in association with the Research Institute of the Flour Millers’ Association. This particular property is much used by the baker in assessing the value of the dough. For soil survey purposes new methods of characterising soils are being studied in both the Chemical and Physical Departments. and then tested on groups of soils known to differ in properties. An important survey of the soils of a large rubber estate in Malaya is now being made. A comparison is being made of certain tropical and sub-tropical soils by someof thoae methods to see how far the relations already found are likely to hold true generally. FACTORY EFFLUENTS. As for human beings and animals, so for plants there are certain food substances which must be supplied, or normal growth does not take place. In one of

the first investigations made in the Chemical Department, small quantifies of manganese were shown to be advantageous to cereals. Later work at the Waite Institute, Adelaide, showed that in its absence the oat plant is especially liable to “ grey speck ” disease. The Chemical Department ie now engaged in a study of availability of manganese in deficient soils liable to this disease. It was also shown that small quantities of boron are needed, and from various parts of the world there have since come accounts of plant diseases associated with boron deficiency. Some very practical work is being done in the Microbiological Department. The effluents from sugar beet factories have been destroying fish in the east coast rivers. It was found that the sugar in the effluents caused rapid plant growth in the slow-moving rivers. This took up so much oxygen from the water that the fish were suffocated. A method has been devised to use up tbe plant feeding properties of the effluent liquids before discharging them. Another investigation is the treatment of the liquid discharged after washing milk pails. ACTIVITY OF INSECTS.

An appartus for trapping insects at night has now been in nse for 17 months. The insects are attracted by a strong electric light, and fall dazed into the poison traps. These traps revolve by means of clockwork, and the time of the trapping is thus recorded. The total number of insects caught since the trap was installed is 110.000, the bigeest catch for one night being 0000. With data over a number of years it is considered it will be possible to predict the years when certain insects will be especially troublesome. Already, because of reports of past years, it appears that certain insects become more numerous at regular intervals. Factors governing the activity of insects appear to be clouds and moonlight. Photographic apparatus has been made to record roughly the presence of clouds, and the intensity of moonlight, and these records arc being compared with the quantity and tvpe of insects raptured LIFE OF THE BEES. The study of- bees is also being pursued. Young bees are marked with different colours and held under observation. One interesting thing that has been revealed is that there are not specialists in the hives as previously ...thought. The very young bees are first employed as scavengers. After 10 days of life they have the duty of feeding the older larva. When they have spent a few days at this duty they are promoted to the more difficult duty of feeding the youngest larvaj. After that they go out 1o collect honey. -By colouring the bees it lias been found that it is not mainlv the young bees which swarm, but that the swarm is made up of a proportion of the bees of all ages.

Again, by a scheme for the continuous and accurate weighing of hives, data is obtained which show how long bees are at work on specified days and bow much honey they obtain. Some days they work for long hours, and get much less honey than on other days when their hours of work are shorter. CULTIVATION OF LUCERNE BELTS FOR FIRE PREVENTION HINT FROM NEW ZEALAND Lucerne cultivation forms the most important work carried on by the Bacteriological Department of the Kothamsted Experimental Station. Most parts of England wore previously unsuitable for growing lucerne, owing to the* absence of the appropriate bacteria in the soil. Now. however, a system of inoculating seeds of lucerne and clover has been devised and put on a commercial basis, with the result that on a good many widely separated areas lucerne is growing to-day. One interesting point discovered by tbe scientists was that the bacteria in the soil, which have a mobile period, enter the roots •through the hairs on the roots, but they cannot enter except at a stage when the hairs are twisted. It was found that a soil rich in nitrates prevents the twisting of the hairs, and the nodule-forming bacteria could not cuter the roots and do their work. Another development in regard to lucerne has a special New Zealand interest. Writing in the Journal of the Department of Agriculture of Now Zealand, in 1924, Mr F. W. Greenwood, an instructor of the department, mentioned fire value of lucerne as a fire break He described a case in which a fire threatened to sweep miles of' grassland, and destroy much valuable harvested crop. Thanks to a lucerne field which intervened, however, it was possible to keep (he fire under control, and little actual damage resulted. Mr Greenwood went on to suggest that where grass fires are liable to occur, protection belts of lucerne should be established at certain points. Dr Hugh Nicol, assistant bacteriologist at Rothamsted, recently came across this statement made by Mr Greenwood so many years ago, and he has brought it to the notice of those who are likely to be interested in the subject in this country. CHOPS FOR PERMANENT WAYS, Dr Nicol recently said that if lucerne was able to check a lire already raging, its value for smothering sparks from rail-

way engines needed no stressing. The utility of lucerne as a fire-arrester was due to its unusually deep-rooting habit, which, by enabling the plant to obtain and make use of the perennial sub-soil moisture, ensured that a crop remained green and sappy throughout the longest drought.

Dr Nicol has expressed his opinions in regard to this matter in “ Modern Transport,” in an insurance magazine, “ The Policy,” and in a fire brigade magazine, “ Fire.” As a result, officials ot two railway companies have been to Bothamsted to interview him. The railway companies not only sec the benefit of fire prevention, but they consider that crops of green lucerne on each side of the lines would be not only an economic proposition, but would present a pleasing outlook for passengers and make railway travelling more pleasant.

Gross value. Per lb. Ymr. Bales sold £ d. 1922-23 476.966 7,930,942 10.85 1923-24 603,890 11,623,924 15.78 1924-25 462,795 13.537,344 20.21 1926-26 491,582 8,262,847 11.93 1926-27 • 513,461 9,208,118 12.70 1927-28 643,712 13,004,200 16.67 1928-29 m 675,632 12,217,382 14.88 1929-30 m 425,902 5,130,897 8.53 1930-31 445,196 3,558.587 5.67 1931-32 475,135 3.571,776 5.26 1932-33 576,224 4,327,692 5.15 1933-34 V. 650,688 10,451,665 11.07 Obscure Wool Market