THE RURAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22568, 11 May 1935, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD.

FARM AND STATION NEWS.

By Rusttcus.

Items of Interest to those engaged In agricultural and pastoral pursuit", With a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcome* They should be addressed to "Rosticua," Otago Daily Times, Dunedik

Better Wool Prices The May-June series of wool sales in London which were commenced in Coleman street this week have put a different complexion on the market altogether. Conditions' undoubtedly favoured sellers. Under the impetus of keen competition fine wools advanced by from 10 to 15 per cent., and crossbreds by up to 10 per cent. The cabled reports received in Dunedin are unanimous concerning the greatly-improved tone of the market, and there is good reason to hope, in view of the existing statistical position with regard to wool, that the change for the better ie no mere flash in the pan. In the face of such market strength it would seem more than advisable for brokers to make what arrangements they can for an additional sale in Dunedin in June or July for the purpose of cleaning up as much as possible of the large accumulation of held-over wool now in store and woolshed. An intimation from growers concerning their readiness to meet the market in the event of such an extra auction being provided might assist the Dunedin Woolbrokers' Association to make up its mind to move. Reduced Clip*

able increase.. Exports of worsted yarns were 6,416.0001 b, being 527,0001 b above the 1934 total. Woollen and worsted fabric shipments were 20,490,000 square yards, showing an increase of I>OS4,OUiJ square yards on the 1934 total. Ihe quantities of tops, yarns, and fabrics shipped in February were all appreciably higher than a year before. Imports ot fabrics were only 802,000 square yards during the two months, being 35 per cent. less than 12 months previously, thug providing a greater volume of trade for the home mills. The quantity of imported wool retained in the United Kingdom during January and February was 33 per cent, less than in the similar period oi 1934. Statistically the position of the raw material was strong in Great Britain, that healthiness being illustrated by the continued keen demand for wool experienced in Australia from that quarter. German business was a notable factor in the situation. Exports of British-grown wool to Germany during the two months were 4,401,0001 b, being 2,433,0001 b larger than in 1934, exports of tops 6,511,0001 b, an increase of 4,456,0001 b, and worsted yarns 2,757,0001 b, an increase of 1,050,0001 b. Germany has taken less wool from Australia this season, but her purchases from Great Britain have materi-

The prospect of a smaller clip next season In Australia, the much-reduced clip of 640,000 hales in South Africa this season, compared with the original estimate of 730,000 hales for this year, and a production of 887,000 bales last year, also a more rapid consumption of merino wool than -was anticipated, have all tended to make consumers more eager for supplies than was expected some months ago both for direct use by manufacturers and on speculative account. _ .Latterly Germany has been seeking further sup- : plies of treated wool in England..-Her activity in that respect was a-factor in the advance in prices -experienced in December and January last, and is, no doubt, at. present having eome influence on the Doeition.

English Stocks Short That raw wool stocks in Britain are low there appears to be very little doubt. According to an official .report stocks m warehouses and depots in Great .Britain at the end of February were 25 per cent. below those at the end of February, 1934. Stocks in railway and canal depots in Yorkshire, which reflect the position in manufacturing centres were 50 per cent, below the stocks at the end of February, 1934. It i« believed also that in European countries and Japan stocks are low. Some manufacturers are bare ot wool. In Germany some, woollen manufacturing establishments may be obliged to shut down because of depleted stocks. A French Report

In the monthly report of the Comte Central de la Laine, Paris, covering February, reference is made to the indifferent trade experienced, particularly in the early part of the month, in 1 ranee. Turnover in tops was more restricted than in January, but during the last week, some improvement was experienced, export trade brightening. Yarn business was quiet, hosiery yarns being in better demand than weaving types, A fairvolumo of exports was, however, made to Holland, Belgium, and Scandinavia. Sales of fabrics were again limited, tariffs, quotas, and bad debts restricting foreign ordeis. February business was, therefore; not encouraging, but in March and April France bought, raw material more freely, her activity embracing greasy and scoured wool, also sheepskins. Apparently business shows some revival. Aa her imports of wool in 1934 were 38 per cent, less than in 1933, she cannot have excessive stocks on hand. British: Export*

Board of Trade figures covering exporle from the United Kingdom during January and February disclose a healthy trend in trade. The shipments of tops were 12,388,0001 b, compared with 7,865,0001 b during the similar months of 1934, the quantities sent to Germany showing a not-

ally aided in keeping English competition for the staple keen.

Wool-growing in Germany Efforts are being made in Germany to revive sheep grazing, the object being to make the country more self-supporting in regard to raw material. The Bremen correspondent of the Wool Record and Textile World, of Bradford, stated a special fillip has been given to 6heep farming, the Government assuring growers that the present internal price for domestic wool will be maintained until 1939. Education on pastoral matters is being undertaken, and it is hoped that by scientific breeding and the study ot soil and climate the quality and character of eheep and wool will be improved. Forty years ago Germany pastured 7,000,000 sheep, some of which were renowned for the superfine wool which they grew, wools grown in Silesia being considered the finest in the world. _ With the growth of industrialism less interest was taken in rural activity, and ample supplies of the staple became available from Australia and other countries, lne latest available figures show that German flocks totalled 3,500,000 head. Ihe Great War to some extent emphasised to the Government the almost total dependence of the nation on outside sources tor supplies. Difficulty in providing funds for the purchase of imports has latterly accentuated the desire to increase the clip. Hindrance on exports ' due to tariffs ad exchange rates is largely responsible for that position. Barter arrangements in regard to reciprocal trade have not given the results expected, in Germany, as in many other countries, the opinion is gaining ground that until some international agreement is reached regarding debts, and finance generally, and tariffs are made less onerous, full recovery in business is impossible. Potash in the Orchard

Muriate of potash is at present claiming the attention of apple growers, particularly in the districts where the trees make good growth and have abundant foliage. Poor colour is. generally evident under these conditions, and may be remedied by applications of potash and also by pruning, so that the maximum amount of sunshine reaches all parte of the trees. The use of potash might help to constitute an insurance against the effects of unforseen dull weather. When trees make a large growth of loiia"e and potash is introduced the large leaves become more efficient as carbohydrate producers. As the carbohydrates are formed within the leaf, they are carried to all parts of the plant, where they are utilised to .form additional growth, fruit, etc., or store for future requirements. Ihus trie leaves may be likened to food, factories in the plant. Potash is nothing more or less than crystallised sunshine, and long experience by orchar diets * has tended to enhance the appreciation of this fertiliser.

RECIPROCAL TRADE MEAT BOARD'S MESSAGE TO NOTTINGHAM VISCOUNT GALWAY'S SUPPORT The last public engagement of Viscount Galway in his own district, prior to leaving for New Zealand to assume the office of Governor-General, was a visit to the New Zealand exhibition promoted by the Meat Producers' Board in conjunction with the Dairy Board in Nottingham, a eitv of 270,000 inhabitants. The publicity drive on behalf of New Zealand meat products took the form which has been found most effective, of conducting a competition among retail butchers for the best decorated window utilising New Zealand lamb, prizes being also given for the best-decorated trade cycles, and a painting competition attracting over 2000 entries from the children, all of whom were entertained at a moving picture show including New Zealand pictures in the programme. Reciprocal trade between Nottmgnams industries and New Zealand producers was brought prominently before the notice of the public by arranging that the usual exhibition shop for the Dominions products should also include displays of goods New Zealand purchases from that cits', including hosiery, lace, typewriters, and bicycles. The response of Nottingham manufacturers to the invitation to send material for display wag so good that the whole available space was insufficient for all they offered. The reciprocal trade aspect was effectively demonstrated by showing Nottingham products on one side, and New Zealand food products on the other side of the exhibition shop, which was of large dimensions. Across the Nottingham exhibit wa ß a " streamer " directing attention to what New Zealand buys from Nottingham, while on the New Zealand side was a similar notice suggesting that here were the products New Zealand

His Excellency the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, made his final public appearance in his " home town," Nottingham, a few days prior to his departure for the Dominion when he visited an exhibition of meat and dairy products arranged by the New Zealand Meat ProJ 5 Board and the Dairy Board, which also included a fine display of the Nottingham manufactures bought by New Zealanders.

looked to Nottingham people to buy in return. These two messages were linked up by another suggesting the value ot mutual trading, while outside shop a large poster emphasised the fact — .New Zealand Buys British." w^ii.. Lord Galway'a visit to the exhibition, in the company of representativea of tne city's civic, industrial and commercial leaders, gave the opportunity for a public farewell and the expression of good wishes for the success of his term of office in New Zealand. Having made a tour of the exhibits, Lord Galway said he had been impressed by their marvellouß quality, and he trusted that similar efforts would be made leading to more trade in each direction. Among the many congratulatory messages was one from Lord Trent, former president of the Nottingham Chamber of Commerce:— "Best wishes for the success of your campaign for a two-way traffic between this country and New Zealand. Voluntary development of mutual trade withm the Empire is of special value to-day, when business with foreign countries is so much hampered by restrictions and reduced purchasing power." The reciprocal trade aspect was again effectively stressed at another gathering in connection with the campaign, when the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, who distributed prizes to the successful competitors in the window-dressing classes, gave three reasons why the local public should support New Zealand: It was a very,loyal part of the British Empire; the quality of the goods; and its policy of reciprocal trading. , .. . Over 10,000 people visited the exhibition, and the reports of the Meat Board s officers suggest that the whole campaign not only stimulated interest in New Zealand food products among the consumers, but increased the friendliness of the wholesale and retail traders, with the ;e----sult that their turnover of New Zealand mutton and lamb has shown a definite vance. The way has been well paved for a further campaign next year. FARMING IN NORTH OTAGO WINTER ON THE LAND THE TIME TO PLAN J Contributed.) From a long experience I have found that May is a good month in which to plan out the farm operations for the succeeding year. It is well to do all our work according to plan, so far as that is possible. Lord Bledisloo told us more than once, when he was here, that there was always a market at Home for all the farm produce we could ship, so long as it was of the highest quality; and it is only by planning in advance for the needs ot our stock, and the best paddocks to utilise for different purposes, that we nan hope to get the best results. Farming is no haphazard business; it requires just as much care and thought as any of the professions, if it is to be carried ou suecsssiully ■ e At the present time the farmers of North Otago arc in good heart, generally speaking, despite the cold weather with which May was ushered in and the longcontinued talk of quotas. Ihe fact that there exists a good demand for farms here speaks for itself. The farms most in request are chiefly small ones, ranging from about 50 to 350 acres, and it is the small holdings that give the best returns when they are properly worked. When the rain fell, following the long period of dry weather, the ground was warm and responded very quickly to the moisture for which it was thirsting, so that at the present time there is a wealth of feed such as is seldom seen at this time of the year. The feed is certainly on the soft side, for fattening, but it is splendid for store stock and milking cows. And the way cows have come back to their milk, after having been nearly dry. is very gratifying, though butter-tat has not yet reached a payable price; still we must live in hope and keep on working. GREEN FEED.

Green feed has done wonders this season, and where the land had been fallowed or prepared for a turnip crop which failed, the growth of the green f ee( j has been nothing short of remarkable; and oats and grass eight inches to a foot high win be seen. Even where they were gown after a grain crop good fields of green feed are already rather the rule than the exception, and the problem is to kpow

the most profitable way of utilising this abundance of feed. On small farms the most profitable way probably is to allow the crops to grow, and later on, in July and August, cut them and cart them out to stock on clean grass paddocks. Thus dealt with there will be the minimum of waste. On large holdings, where a lot of stock has to be fed, it is perhaps wise to keep these paddocks of green feed m check by turning sheep into them, but the feed should not be fed down too closely, and if it is not it will continue to grow all winter, and will make rapid growth in the spring. By spelling the grass paddocks now, and with the sub-soil saturated as it is, there will probably be a satisfactory growth until July, especially where the arrass has been top-dressed. It is most important for winter grass that it should be at least four or five inches long before the frosts set in. Plants breathe through their leaves, and if grass is kept cropped short it will make nothing like the growth of a similar paddock in which the grass was a fanlength before the approach of winter. 1 saw a paddock of old grass top-dressed last year and allowed to get away; it grew all winter, and last winter was the most severe one experienced in .North Otago for many years. Where one has a paddock saved like that he should only put stock on it for a few hours daily, having another paddock available as a camping place at night. It is surprising how long a paddock of feed will last when "nursed" in this way. THE TEAMS.

The teams have been kept busy all the month sowing green feed and preparing for wheat. Although there was more than the usual amount of moisture, there was no extra heavy fall, and consequently there was no hold-up of the work. Ihe result is that all team work is now well advanced. Green feed that is being sown now is intended for the lambing ewes in September, but most teams are preparing for wheat which most farmers like to get in not later than May. Wheat sown in the autumn or early winter gets a good root hold and makes rapid growth when the warmth of spring arrives. No effort

is spared in giving wheat' ground good cultivation, and experienced and successful wheatgrowers have found that it is a paying proposition to sow lewt of super per acre with it. THE TURNIP CROP.

On the lighter and colder land, and more especially on land that is back lying, some very good crops of turnips can be seen. Although attacked by the Diamond Back moth they were not seriously damaged, and since the March rams have made good growth and are now looking excellent. On the heavy and the hot sous, what with aphids and dry rot, they have practically disappeared, and most farmers drilled in two to three bushels of Algerian oats tier acre. The oats are making great headway and will supply a lot of feed in July and August. Swedes are almost a total failure, and what was left of them has been assailed by dry rot. This 1 is playing havoc with them. TOP DRESSING. Early autumn is the best time to topdress. When fields are top-dressed in the autumn with a quick-acting fertiliser like superphosphate, there is renewed growth of grass in early winter, and the feed comes away earlier in the spring, when a fresh bite is very welcome. Topdressing has not taken on so well in North Otago as it has done further south, the reason for this probably being that by some farmers it is thought that the rainfall in North Otago is not sufficient to allow of the maximum benefit being got from it. When we do get a good season with plenty of rain we cannot buy enough stock to keep the grass down. It is a fact, however, that from topdressed paddocks, a much larger percentage of lambs will go away fat, first draft, than from a paddock which has not been top-dressed, and good perennial rye will retain its vigour for very many years if given 2c\vt of super per annum. It is an excellent plan on hilly or down country to top-dress the dark and shady faces. This encourages the clover, and the latter stores up nitrogen which aids the ryegrass, and the combination of clover and ryegrass will choke such undesirable plants as fog and sweet vernal. At least 2cwt of super per acre should be put on. THE PRICE OF STOCK. Contrary to expectations, although we had three successive falls in the price of lambs the ewe market kept wonderfully buoyant, especially for good young sheep. There were two or three bumper yardings at Waiareka and Duntroon, and most of the sheep offered changed hands. There is apparently a shortage of good sound sheep, for the price of wool and lambs does not warrant 32s 6d for two-tooth ewes, and up to 22s 6d for sound-mouth ewes. Four years ago, when fat lambs were worth 10s to 12s, two-tooth ewes could be bought for about 14s, and now, with lambs at 17s to 19s, two-tooth cues are 28s to 31s. If present prices for wool and lambs hold there will still be 10s owing on a two-tooth ewe next autumn, not allowing for keep, interest and deaths. At these prices it would pay to breed ewe lambs. At present ewe lambs are dearer than fats. There is not now the keen competition that existed a mouth ago, mainly because most farmers' orders are now filled, but prices are very little back for all good sound sheep. The export price for fat ewes and wethers has also dropped, and this has affected the price of rape ewes and culls, which realise very low money. Fat cattle are still coining forward, and meet fair competition at prices perhaps a shade better than they were. Dairy cows coming to profit are in demand, but store cattle are neglected. THE EWE FLOCK.

The dipping of the ewes was finished early in April, and with the warm springlike weather and luxuriant growth of grass, they went to the mating paddocks in good fettle. Quite a number of farmers use the second growth of rape for Hushing their ewes. It is very good for this purpose, and the rains are best fed on oats for two or three weeks before being put out with the ewes. It is pleasing to notice that more farmers are striving to improve their flocks by culling all the weak-constitutioned and badly-woolled ewes. LAMBS. Most farmers have very few lambs of their own breeding left, and with the drop in price the bought lambs look too dear, especially as April was not a good fattening month. The freezing works had been very busy up to March, but they have been very slack during the past month —so slack that they closed down for 10 days at Easter. It would appear that their busy days are over for this season.