THE RURAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22826, 10 March 1936, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD

FARM AND STATION NEWS

By RUSTICUS.

Itoma of Intoraat 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 Rv.sticus, Otago Daily Times, Dunedhk

WOOL-SELLING SEASON ROSTER OF SALES The following wool sales have yet to be held in the Dominion this season;— 1936 Mar. Xl—Dunedin. Mar. 27—Wanganui. Mar. 16 —Wellington. Mar. 31—Christchurch. Mar. 20—Napier. Apr. 4—Dunedin. Mar. 24—Auckland. Apr. 6—Wellington. Otago Provincial Sheep Dog Association Sheep dog trials for the 1936 season have been arranged as follows: Wakatipu.—March 12, 13, 14. Clutha.—March 16, 17, and 18. Warepa.—March 19, 20, 21. Kuriwao.—March 24, 25. Patearoa. —March 26, 27, and 28. Strath-Taieri. —March 30, 31, April 1. Kveburn.—April 2,3, 4. Waitaki.—April 13, 14, 15, 16. Omarama. —April 17, 18. Tokarahi.—April 20, 21, 22. •Tahatika. —April 22, 23, 24. 25. Waihemo. —May 13, 14, 15. Ngapara.—May 18, 19, 20. ■Tarras.—May 21, 22, 23. jWanaka.—May 25, 26, 27. : Lowburn. —May 28, 29. 30. June 10, 17, 18, and 19.—South Island Championships, at Mossburn. *Otago Provincial Championship. 1935-36 SHOW SEASON FORTHCOMING EVENTS Shows have been arranged for the following dates during the 1935-30 season; — 1936 March ll.»-Lake County, at Lake Hayes, Arrow town. March 21.—Temuka and Geraldine, at Winchester. April 13. —Mackenzie County, at Fairlie. April 13. —Strath-Taieri, at Middlemarch. The New Zealand Championship Trials will be held at Hawera this year, commencing on June 1. The Wool Market During the past few weeks the demand for wool has gained strength, and prices have shown an average advance of 5 per cent, (says the Sydney Morning Herald). The appreciation has been more pronounced on 64/70’s spinners’ fleece and skirtings than on other grades. No special revival in business abroad has •occurred to produce the more active market, but the exhaustion of the season’s supplies in Australia is in sight, and the early close of the auctions has stimulated consumers’ desire to obtain raw material. Competition has been more widely distributed than at any previous period of the season. A statement has been made that demand at this season’s sales has in the main been confined to Great Britain and Japan. Those countries have bought with welcome freedom, and have been the most prominent individual purchasers, but the exports of wool from the Commonwealth from July 1 to January 31 show that, of -the 1,698,181 bales shipped, more than 584,000 bales or 34 per cent, have gone to the various Continental nations, embracing 18 countries. .In addition, Australian mi Ilmen and the United States, Canada, India and several other smaller consuming quarters have contributed to the bidding. On a conservative basis it can be estimated that 42 per cent, of the wool sold has been purchased by operators exclusive of Yorkshire and Japan. A Year's Advance At this period of 1935 (the Herald continues) wool values were receding, reaching their lowest point at mid-March. The rise in values since recorded has been excellent, all classes of merino sharing in it, but crossbreds have appreciated to a smaller extent. It is of interest to note the change in merinos which has occurred. The following figures show the clean cost of various types of merino on the floor, Sydney stores:—

grade skirtings show an advance of 60 to 70 per cent, for the 12 months, whilst burry bellies and pieces have risen 85 per cent. Commonwealth Exports From July 1 to January 31 the exports of wool from the Commonwealth totalled 1,698,181 bales, an increase of 237,716 bales compared with the similar period of the preceding season. The increased shipments were due to the larger sales made. Exports to the principal destinations for the seven months of the two seasons were as follows:

The most important feature is the increase of 163,264 bales in the exports to Japan. Notable increases are also shown by United States, 30,431 bales; France, 27,450 bales; Czechoslovakia, 16,497 bales; Poland, 11,080 bales; Netherlands, 10,170 bales. Shipments to Russia appear on the list after an absence since 1929-30, when 17,876 bales were exported to that quarter. Continental Stocks of Top* At the close of December the stocks of tops in France, Germany, and Belgium totalled 41,987,0001 b, being 5,940,0001 b less than"a year before, and 20,002,0001 b below the' total at the close of 1933. The holding in France was 26,351,0001 b, a reduction of 2,855,6001 b on the 1934 total, both merino and crossbreds displaying a decrease, German stocks were 8,021,2001 b, a decline of 3,720,2001 b, and bjing

10,986,8001 b less than in 1933. Those figures bear evidence of the effects of Germany’s restriction on imports necessitated by her financial situation. The quantity on hand in Belgium was 7,614,2001 b, an increase of 635,8001 b on the total a year before, but being 968,0001 b below the 1933 quantity. In December the holdings in the three countries showed a slight increase on the November totals, but the general healthiness of the position is indicated by the strong demand for raw material experienced since the New Year.

England’s Good Export Year Board of Trade returns show that the United Kingdom exported 55,913,0001 b of tops in 1935, an increase of 14,167,0001 b on the 1934 total. Germany took 17,302,0001 b, being 9,186,0001 b more than a year before. Exports of worsted yarns were 33,091,0001 b, a decrease of 1,041,0001 b. Shipments of woollen and worsted fabrics totalled 100,900,000 square yards, an increase of 7.698,000 square yards on 1934, and being 28,068,000 square yards higher than in the 1932 depression year. Japan has been a remarkably active buyer of wool. In view of that fact it is worthy of note that during 1935 Great Britain exported 3,262,000. square yards of worsteds to Japanese buyers, an increase of 1,299,000 square yards on the 1934 quantity. Tn addition to manufactures, the United Kingdom exported considerably larger quantities of home-grown wool, treated and skin wool, noils, and waste. The quantity of imported wool retained in the country for the 12 months was 605,096,0001 b, beimr 70,408,0001 b more than a year before. The latter, however, was a light importing period. The retained wool imports in 1935 were only 5,000.0001 h more than the 1933 and 1932 totals, and consumption has been much heavier on export and internal business than at that time. TOPDRESSING WITH POTASH SOUTHLAND RESULTS OF INTEREST TO SOUTH OTAGO In South Otago, but particularly in Southland, the use of potash in conjunction with superphosphate as a fertiliser for top-dressing purposes is finding favour particularly in connection with high production properties where liming *has been practised for years, and where the carrying capacity has been raised to a very high level. Quality-maximum palatability of plants with high nutritional content, the finest bloom in animals and early maturity of fat lambs from the mothers, is the guage by which returns from potash should be measured. There is at the present time great need for clearly defined information that will enable farmers to ascertain the conditions under which profitable returns from the use of potash may be expected. Many farmers in South Otago are interested in the use of potassic fertiliser for top-dress-ing purposes and the following Southland practices will be of interest and may be the means of giving useful information to top-dressers who have been liming and top-dressing for years. Investigations on a number of farms in Southland show that very payable returns have occurred under a uniform set of condiSxons particularly in the Woodlands, Invercargill, Western and Tuafapere districts. The study of potash responses in these districts has brought to light one fact very clearly—viz., that contrary to the generally - accepted opinion of potash producing beneficial returns on light soils, all the outstanding results that have come under observation have been obtained on medium to heavy loams with a clay subsoil. Profitable results have occurred with one exception on paddocks where the following conditions existed:— The carrying .capacity had been built up to four to seven eives per acre by liming and dressings of superphosphate, but despite this the percentage of lambs fat off the mothers was unsatisfactory ranging from nil to 50 per cent. In some cases scouring was prevalent and in all cases the ewes and lambs were white in the wool and therefore lacked bloom. In other cases previously heavily limed and phosphated paddocks maintained an average of 50 per cent, of fat lambs off the mothers for a number of years, after which the percentage gradually declined despite the continued use of lime and phosphates. In the past varying results from potash on Southland farms have caused disappointment in a number of cases. These disappointments have occurred for the following reasons;— The applications wore made to paddocks where the soil conditions offered little chance of a payable return, on account of the supplies of plant food already being perfectly balanced—i.e., on a field where approximately 100 per cent, of fat lambs off the mothers had been consistently obtained. Farmers had no accurate means of measuring the results, particularly on dairy farms, and where only a small trial strip or area had been laid down for experimental purposes

Potash salts in the great majority of cases have shown no visible results. For example, one prominent farmer in the Woodlands district erected a temporary fence in the middle of a 40-acre field and applied lewt each of potash salts and super to one half in July, 1934. The average carrying capacity of the field for the previous few years had been approximately five ewes per acre, and there had been an entire absence of fat lambs off the mothers. The treated area produced a litte over 50 per cent, of fat lambs off the mothers this season. The outstanding feature of the trial was that there was no visible difference between the half that received potash and that which had not. Nevertheless, the percentage of fat lambs off the mothers increased over 50 per cent, on past performances of the field. POTASH AND PHOSPHATE.

The application of straight potash without one or two cwt of phosphate. With one exception potash without phosphate has shown little or no response, whereas when applied with phosphate the areas have been grazed hard by stock. One farmer reported this experience. Ten years ago he applied lewt of 30 per cent, potash salts, together with approximately lewt of phosphate per acre on half the farm, and gave the same treatment to the other half the following year. This was the first dressing with potash. The following year his lambs matured very early—before Christmas —their wool was yellow and curly, so much so that several inquiries were made ae to why he had dipped the lambs. No dipping had been done, and he attributed the extra good bloom on the lambs to the action of the potash. SUMMARY.

Potash salts give payable returns, on paddocks that have been previously well phosphated and limed, and where the percentage of fat lambs off the mothers has been gradually decreasing for some years. In paddock* of good carryiiy.; capacity where there has been an absence of fat lamlw of! mothers. When applied with a further 1 to 2cwt of super, although previous applications of phosphates have been made. Results are often not visible in the pasture, but nevertheless a considerable increase of fat lanibo off the mothers is obtained. When applied to paddocks that have been producing 90 per cent, to 100 per cent, of fat lambs off the mothers, no results have been obtained. ACCURATE RESULTS DIFFICULT. In order to obtain the full effect of potash on next season’s crop of lambs, it is advisable to apply _ it during the autumn. The information contained in this article is not claimed to be the last word regarding potash, but is based on actual experiences of Southland farmers, some of which have been detailed. The indiscriminate use of potash is not advised.

STOCK EMBARGO

REMOVAL ADVOCATED EFFECTIVE PRECAUTIONS A strong case for the removal of the embargo on the importation of live stock from Britain was made by Colonel H. A. Heid, 0.8. E., F.K.C.V.S., D.Y.H., F.R.S.E., when addressing members of the Hutt Valley and Makara branches of the Farmers’ Union at Wallaceville. Colonel Iteid, who was formerly in charge of the Wallaceville Laboratory, made the point that the fear of foot-aml-month disease in imported stock could he ignored, because ot the thorough precautions taken. Colonel Reid stated that his personal experience of foot-and-month disease went back sonic 30 years when be was in Egypt. In England in 1923-24 he was employed by the Ministry of Agriculture in helping to combat a very serious outbreak. There was no need for him to take up time in describing a disease that those present wore never likely to see. The manifestations of the disease wore definite, and in most cases unmistakable. An important point was that its period of incubation was from two to four days. It was only rarely fatal, but recovery was protracted. The disease was highly infectious. The British Government had established an elaborate system of quarantine. No case of foot-and-month disease had ever occurred at the quarantine station or in connection with it; nor, arising from importations, had any case of the disease occurred in any of the Empire countries.

The most complete answer to the question whether importations of pure stock were necessary was furnished by the fact that at the greatly increased expense of £IOO to £l5O per head live stock was being imported into New Zealand, via Tasmania, by a few privileged persons, and also from U.S.A. and Canada. Was the United States so free from disease other than foot-and-mouth that we could afford to bo complacent about this new development? At the annual meeting in 1932 of the National Veterinary Medical Association of New Zealand, comprising some 45 duly qualified members of the veterinary profession, it was agreed that the importation of blood stock was necessary in the interests of the country. A resolution was carried that the association approved of the introduction of live stock from Britain. Evidence to the same effect was given before the Parliamentary Committee appointed by the late Government to inquire into this question. This committee collected evidence from all available experts in New Zealand with the object of advising the Government of the day on the question of removing the embargo on the importation of British livestock. After hearing the evidence, which’ included that of Sir Arnold Theiler, justly reputed to be one of the leading veterinary authorities in the world, the committee reported in favour of removing the present restrictions. Lord Bledisloe had also expressed his opinions on this point. The Australian Government now subsidised the importation of stock from Great Britain. Australians wore amazed at New Zealand’s attitude towards this question. Another point was that Britain first became infected in 1839 and stock had been imported into New Zealand since 1840. In the case of cattle, they were quarantined for 14 days in London. 60 days in Tasmania, 40 days in New Zealand, and were 35 days on the voyage—a total of 149 days. Sheep were quarantined 14 days in London, 30 flays in Australia, and 28 days in Now Zealand. Swine were quarantined 14 days in London, 14 days in Tasmania and 14 days in New Zealand. WHENCE THE OPPOSITION? The bigger farmers in certain cases bitterly opposed any relaxation of the embargo. Having failed to bring any evidence to show that actually diseased stock might come in, they fell back on the theory of “ carriers.” A “ carrier ” wae a recovered case that might still harbour infection. But since all infected stock and anv in contact with it were slaughtered there could be no “ carriers.” Dr Doyle, veterinary research officer to the Department of Agriculture, stated; “It is extremely doubtful if any indisputable evidence exists in support of the contention that carriers of virus exist. The claims of Waldmann that the virus of foot-and-mouth disease had persisted in blood 150 days after infection and in urine 246 days have not been confirmed. According to the British and American foot-and-mouth committees no evidence of carriers among recovered cattle has been found.” But the case in point was that there were no recovered cattle. There was no case for the embargo. Opposition to its removal arose on the one hand through ignorance and prejudice and on the other through selfinterest. His own important farming interests in New Zealand would restrain him from advocating the removal of the embargo had he the 1 least fear of the introduction of the disease, said Colonel Reid. But he had grave fcars'for the future prosperity ot the country if the embargo was allowed to go on. and these fears were based not only upbn fears of the deterioration of our stock and hence our produce, but also upon the commercial relations with Great Britain which the embargo threatened. An outbreak of foot-and-moutb disease in New Zealand could be controlled, as was the outbreak of swine fever in 1932. MR POLSON’S VIEWS. The president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union (Mr W. J. Poison, M.P.) said he agreed with Colonel Reid’s views. He had always been one of those who opposed the embargo on stock, ho said.

March, Feb, 1935. 1936. d. d. 70’s spinners fleece . 22 35 04/70’s spinners 64/70’s topmakers . 21 34 . 18J 32 C4’s spinners’ . 19 33 . 18i 32/33 30 . 17 J . 16" 27 Burry bellies and pieces . . 14 26 Prices for fleece wools and the better

United Kingdom 1934-35. Bales 606,819 1935-36. Bales. 596,500 Japan 309,413 472,677 Belgium 223,578 227,211 France 141,655 169,105 Germany .. 54,173 59.981 Netherlands 31,128 41,298 United States 5,806 36,237 Poland 21.403 32,483 Czechoslovakia 2,906 19,403 Austria 4,824 7,807 Italy 32,620 7,394 Sweden 7,262 5,370 Canada 2,801 5,267 Switzerland 4.337 5,237 Spain 7,719 4,130 India 1,325 - 2,544 Portugal .. 257 1,702 Greece 141 1,138 Denmark .. 944 746 Bulgaria .. 42 354 Mexico 137 338 liussia 277 Jugoslavia (• • 361 238 Egypt \ — 200 China and Hongkong 451 190 Norway 117 138 New Zealand 92 110