THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22564, 7 May 1935, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rttstictts

Feed Prospect* Most districts of Otago report that, contrary to expectations a month or two ago, supplies of feed for winter grazing of stock are holding out well. There is still some growth of grass, thanks to the absence to data of any severe frosts. This will enable farmers to get through the-winter with a minimum of winter feed, provided always that there # is an absence of very rough weather during the next month or so. _ Already, there have been inquiries for winter fed, but this is more or less precautionary, as it is probable that the feed will not be required for another month or six weeks. Roots, however, will be in very keen demand this winter and should bring very profitable prices, either for eating off or carting away.

Northern Stock Markets No very marked changes were seen last week In the Dominion live stock markets, prices at most centres being firm to slightly dearer. There was a record entry of fat cattle at Addington, where best beef made from 22s fid to 25s per 1001 b. In the store sheep section, forward wethers made a sharp advance of 2s a head, ewes being unchanged. A yarding of 3600 fat lambs sold at export schedule rates. Export ewes eased fid to Is a head. At Auckland fat sheep advanced Is to 2s a head, but lambs were unchanged. Fat cattle were firm, best ox beef making to 25s per 1001 b. Fat and. store sheep were a grade firmer at Stortford Lodge (Hawke s Bay), where fat cattle were in short supply, cow beef advancing 15s to 20s a head. At Wanganui fat ewes advanced la a head, lambs were fully firm, and. cattle had 'a good sale. Little or no change in prices was seen at Johnsonville (Wellington).

Tha Dairy Industry There is very little activity in the dairy industry. . Probably the most imEortant news at the present time is a uying offer of 5Jd, i.0.b., for all unshipped cheese till the end of the season. It is understood that advantage will be taken of this offer.

Art of Drenching, Some useful, practical hints are offered on drenching, a practice which always involves risk of choking. In drenching sheep and lambs with copper sulphate, solution, for example, the dosing receptacle must not he so cumbersome as to prevent closing of the mouth, which is necessary for swallowing (states an exchange) . A narrow-necked Yorkshire relish bottle is commonly used in drenching sheep, but this is not very suitable for lambs. A safer drenching outfit is one which, ends in a thin brass nozzle; the ewes can bite this to their hearts’ content, but ib does not interfere with swallowing. In dosing, a man should straddle the sheep and hold it firmly in a corner of the pen. Sheep should be dosed standing on all four legs, 'and the head must not be held too high. They should not be allowed to slip down on their hindquarters during dosing. fc *

White Coat* at Show* A suggestion that attendants leading stock jn the show ring should wear white coats was considered at the annual meeting of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association.—Mr F. S. Yeale said the /appearance of the stock was spoiled by the lack of uniformity in the dress of the attendants. White coats would be smart and clean. This style of dress was adopted at shows in Australia and the United States. —The president, Mr W. H, Miers, said that at the Royal Show exhibtiors were asked to provide white coats, • but only a few did so.—After further discussion, it was decided that when the schedule for the next show was sent out a paragraph should be included recommending exhibitors to wear white coats in the show ring. Roughage as Feed

Those who have failed to use the mower on fields where the grass has become rank usually congratulate themselves that they tbits have a reserve of fodder. New light has been thrown on • this problem by analysis of pasture regularly made during the last few years. It has been fully demonstrated by this means and by feeding tests that mature grass has only half the feeding value of grass in the young, leafy stage. This explains why the milk yield decreases when cows are put on to long grass, a fact that the farmer must have realised (states the Taranaki Herald). Another point of great importance is that the young grass is rich in mineral matter, but as the plant reaches maturity much of this essential bonebuilding material returns to the soil and the' cows are feeding on material which has not sufficient lime and phosphates to supply the bodily requirements of the animal. This accounts for mineral deficiency manifesting itself more during the late autumn and winter. Many farmers would find that it would pay them handsomely, even now, to use the > mower. The manager of the Berry Experimental Farm writes: “ The results of our feeding trials have proved the economy of feeding our cows on pasture during the late autumn, winter, and early spring. Such extra pasturage can only be procured by topdressing with lime, superphosphate, and sulphate of ammonia. For maximum results this rnanurial treatment should be applied to small, well-renovated pastures. Perennial rye and white clover, the former of which grows particularly vigorously during; the winter, respond extremely well to sulphate of ammonia. The value of such out-of-season grass cannot be overestimated,’’ The Butter Market Samuel Page and Son, Ltd., writing from London, March 18, to Dalgety and Co., reviewed the' butter market as it was at that date. “For a short time (they stated) at looked as though values had grounded at 83s to 84s, but, unfortunately, a further considerable decline has since taken place and at present there is no sign of improvement. Trade has not been at a standstill, of course, but the very heavy total of arrivals from the Dominion and the Commonwealth during the first fortnight of this month (290,827 boxes from New Zealand and 173,207 boxes from Australia) ha s overweighted the market already depressed by the falling-off in demand consequent upon the advance of over 20s per cwt between the middle of December and the early part of January. This rise forced many shopkeepers to raise the retail price and in these days the consumptive de-

Itcmu of Intertat to those engaged In agricultural and pastoral pursuits, with a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed, Thej should be addressed to “Eastlcus t ,, Otago Daily Times. Dunedi*

mand is exceedingly sensitive to any upward movement in the cost of living. “ In addition to this strictly economic reason for the slower market, another reason has also operated, that of speculative or over-buying during the excitement caused by American orders, which has resulted in many wholesale houses and the larger shopkeepers, and not_ excluding importers who bought for legitimate requirements, having dearly-bought stocks on hand. These factors have helped to accentuate the downward tendency. ‘•At present, therefore, there are no signs of the desired recovery, particularly in view of the fact that the expected arrivals from Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina during the fortnight ending March 28 are on a liberal scale, amounting to 673,870 boxes as compared with 529,160 boxes in the corresponding period of last year. But on the other hand stocks at the beginning of this month showed a very considerable diminution as against those of the same date, 19<j*. An interesting and in .seme ways satisfactory feature of the February, imports is that although the total quantity from New Zealand and Australia is less, the value, as given in the Board of Irade returns, is considerably more, being £1.987,048, as against only £1,726,140. — s v NOTABLE OTAGO SIRE COVETED BY SCOTTISH BREEDERS OFFERS FOR GREAT COUNT j i A FORMER ROYAL CHAMPION. A high tribute to Clydesdale horse breeding in Otago is comprised in the recent attempts of well-known Scottish exporters and breeders of heavy horses to secure a Kelso-bred stallion for export to Scotland. The horse, Great Count, was lately sold for export to Australia, and is now the property of Messrs Francis Bros. (South Australia). He was bred by Mr Alexander Thomson, Kelso, and was got by Rosencraig, who was himself sired by one of the .greatest sires of all time, Dunure Footprint. It would seem to be another case of blood will tell. It is seldom that Scottish breeders are sufficiently imptessed to want ; to come all the. way to New Zealand or Australia to get fresh blood for the Lanarkshire strains, which have been both foundation and source of Clydesdale quality since the breed first came into being about 200 years ago. # The offers received for Great Coun u by his Australian owner are referred to in the following article which appeared in Elders Weekly:— “It will be a matter of considerable interest to Clydesdale breeders in New Zealand to learn that recently offers from two sources had'' been paade to Messrs Francis Bros., of Loudoun Stud, Maitland, South Australia, for the purchase of their New Zealand-bred stallion, Great Count, for export to Scotland. . “ The first offer was made by Mr David Adams, who, prior to his return to his homeland, visited the Loudoun Stud, and so impressed was he by the outstanding characteristics of Great Count that he sought to purchase him. Mr Adams considered stallions of the class of Great Count were hard to find; in fact, he did not know of his equal, and he would have liked to have had the horse to travel the Aberdeen district.

“ During last month an offer was made for Great Count by Mr Hugh M'Gregor, who, it will be remembered, brought out several Clydesdale colts and fillies along with Mr David Adams last year. Mr M'Gregor is returning to Scotland, where he proposes residing, and he was anxious to procure Great Count, for whom he made a bold bid. Had he been successful in the purchase he had intended shipping the horse immediately, with the idea of showing him at the Glasgow Stallion Show. “Great Count (2162 N.Z.C.5.8.) (vol. 8 C.C.5.8.) is a black horse, rising eight years old, whose sire is Rosencraig (imp.), probably the most outstanding breeding sire in New Zealand, and one of the best sons of the famous Dunure Footprints _ Rosencraig is now 18 years old, and his name has be'en kept well to the fore by the successes of his sons and daughters in the New Zealand showrings. He was, it will be recalled by visitors to the last Melbourne Royal Show, the sire of Mr J. M. Smith's two roan geldings, which were the subject of considerable admiration on that occasion. They were a great advertisement for any sire. The dam of Great Count was Camperdown Countess, a mare that made good in the showrings as well as the stud. Camperdown Countess died in November last after giving birth to twin foals, which are being suckled by a Shorthorn cow. Her sire was Baron Bold (imp. in utero), one of the greatest breeding horses imported to New Zealand. “ It is not only flattering to the owners of Great Count to know that he is of a class worthy of consideration by buyers seeking such a sire for export to the home of the Clydesdale, "but it is also something to know that there is in the midst of Australian Clydesdale interests a stallion that is regarded by Scottish authorities < as equal to, if not better than, the best in Scotland. It is. therefore, .good to know that the Messrs Francis Bros, did not yield to pressure to sell Great Count, as, if he is good enough for anyone to propose taking all the way to Scotland for stud uses there, it is evident that he is of a class that is most needed here.” BRED IN THE PURPLE. Great Count is a black horse with four white legs, and was foaled on October 0, 1927. He was bred by Mr Alex. Thomson, Camperdown, Kelso, Rosencraig. his sire, who has his G.Y.L.C., was sired by Dunure Footprint, and was imported to New Zealand in November, 1923, by Mr Arch Wilson, of Henley, Otago. In addition to breeding Great Count. Mr Thomson also bred his dam, Camperdown Countess, a black mare by Baron Bold, G.V.L.C., from Gipsy Countess, a black mare by Prince Cellus (imp.) from Lady Alexia, G.Y.L.C., a bay mare by Lord Cranbourne from Blossom, by Richmond. Among his many showring successes Great Count numbers a Royal Championship won at Invercargill ‘ in 1929, when he was a three-year-old. EXPORT OF FRUIT A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION OTAGO’S OUTPUT 138,000 CASES PROGRESS WITH NEW MARKETS. New Zealand fruit exports this season are likely to be down on those of last season by 500,000 cases. The quantity of apples and pears exported last season 'was 1.570,000 cases, and the estimated exports of apples and pears for this season are expected to be 1,065,000. The export season is now almost over. Although definite quantities shipped from each district are not at the moment ascertainable, it is expected that they will be as under; — District. Cases. Auckland 62,000 Poverty Bay .. .. 4,000 Hawke's Bay .. .. 244,000 Wellington 19,000 Marlborough ~ ~ 47,000 i Nelson 522,000 Canterbury .. .. .. 29,000 Fruit Control ~ .. 927,000 Otago 138,000 Grand total .. .. 1,065,000 It is estimated that Auckland could have shipped 126,000 cases of apples, but the Delicious variety being affected by codlin moth this season it was thought inadvisable to ship any of it from that

centre. Last year Auckland had a total shipment of 119,292 cases of apples and 4922 cases of pears. Otago is shipping 138,000 cases tins year, and shows a great advance on 1934, when shipments were 10,464 cases of apples and 1918 cases of pears. I‘or however, Otago shipped 153,059 cases oi apples and 6613 cases of pears. Nelson is short shipping this year compared with 1933, when 908,641 cases of apples and 39,929 cases of pears were shipped. Unfavourable weather accounts for the fall in exports from that important district. ... « ,• Efforts to do business in the Continental markets are being made by the board through Antwerp, where the Fort Bowen was to discharge fruit to the amount of 31,700 cases. Shipments are also being made through the Hook of Holland. Some 31,700 cases of fruit are expected to he sold for Germany. A curious reminder of the seeming futility of shipping coals to Newcastle is provided by the Argentine, which this season is sending shipments of apples ana pears to Great Britain synchronising with arrivals there of New Zealand fruit; *rnd. yet New Zealand is sending fruit to the Argentine, Uruguay, and Brazil. The explanation of this seeming anomaly is to be found in the flavour of the lNe;.y Zealand fruit. On that account this fruit is much preferred in the South American markets to Argentine fruit, which is its equal in colour and grading. . The shipments of fruit to all countries this season are set out as under: — Destination. Cases. London .. . 583,500 Southampton 43,000 Glasgow 40,000 Liverpool 81,000 Manchester 40,000 Avonmouth 7,000 United Kingdom .. 801,000 Sweden 73,000 Holland -- 53,800 Belgium ._. - - 26,300 * Continent 153,100 Montreal 47,400 New York 20,400 North America .. .. 67,800 Buenos Aires 10,200 Montevideo .. .. . - .. 3,000 Santos 10,000 •' Rio de Janiero ~ .. 13,000 South America .. .. 42,200 Shanghai 300 Hongkong . • .. 100 Manila 100 Sourabaya 100 Singapore 100 Calcutta 200 Eastern markets .. 900 Grand total 1,065,000 To London 115,000 cases of pears will be shipped, including some 30,000 cases destined for Sweden. Of the 138,000 cases of Otago fruit, some 1 38,000 will be shipped to West Coast ports of the United Kingdom. The shipments to the Eastern countries in the above list are experimental, as will also be some trial parcels for Jamaica and the West Indies and Pales-