THE RURAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22830, 14 March 1936, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD

FARM AND STATION NEWS

By RUSTICUS.

Items of interest 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 Rusticus, Otago Daily Times, Dunedi*

WOOL-SELLING SEASON ROSTER OF SALES The following wool sales have yet to be held in the Dominion this season:— 1936 Mar. 10—Wellington. Mar. 31—Chrlstchurcln Mar. 20—Napier. Apr. 4—Dtmedln. Mar. 24—Auckland. Apr. s—Wellington. Mar. 27—Wanganul. OUgo Provincial Sheep Dog Association Sheep dog trials for the 1938 season have been arranged ae 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. Slrath-Taieri.—March 30, 31, April 1. Kyeburn.— 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. Waiherao.—May 13, 14, 15. Ngapara.~-May 18, 19, 20. Tarras.-May 21. 22, 23. Wanaka.-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 1935-36 season:— 1936 March 21.—Temuka and Qeraldine, at Winchester. April 13.—Mackenzie County, at FairApril # 13.~ Strath-Taicri, at Middle-' march. . The New Zealand Championship Trials pill be held at Hawera this year, commencing on June 1. The Butter Market Messrs W. Weddel and Co., Ltd. (London), advise that the butter market has been very disappointing throughout the whole month of February. They estimate that the consumption has declined about 5 per cent. This and the heavier Continental arrivals, have been the two main contributing causes to the weakness. We are of the opinion, state Messrs A. H. Turnbull and Son., Ltd., that the higher levels ruling for butter during ■ January and February were mainly caused by buyers anticipating a demand setting in from the United States of America and Germany, with a consequent shortage of stocks. United States of America did buy a few hundred tons of New Zealand butter in London, but the demand was not maintained. The Continental position strengthened towards the end o\ February, but ha g now slackened off again very considerably. It does not appear at all probable that the Ui.ited States of America will again come in the market, and with the slackening off of Continental demand, the market has definitely weakened, V/ith little prospect of any recovery in the immediate future. Buyers have shown no activity at the reduced , price for forward butter, and even at buyers are showing practically no interest. The Cheese Position Messrs W. Weddel and Co., Ltd., also state that cheese consumption is still being affected by unfavourable weather and although the stock position of New Zealand cheese in London is sound, and the arrivals during March-April-May are somewhat below last season's, our principals expect a dull market in the meantime. In advice received on March 11, the cheese quotations show some improvement, but Messrs W. Weddel and Co, say that buyers are not disposed to follow the advance in price. There has been quite a fair interest shown by buyers at Old, f.0.b., for unshipped cheese to the end of the season, but factories are not inclined to sell so far forward at this figure. At the moment, however, it looks as though cheese for prompt shipment might be good selling at 5Jd. London Quotations The following arc the London top quotations for the past three weeks: —

Estimated Arrivals Estimated arrivals in the United King-, dom during March, April, and May, compared with actual arrivals last season, are as follows; —

Tussock Top-dressing A number of farmers have carried out experiments successfully with the topdressing of tussock country surface sown with English grasses. The procedure is to top-dress and broadcast with a mixture of super and lime (1 part super, 3 parts carbonate of lime) with as heavy

a dressing as possible. The phosphate increases the clover growth and makes palatable what otherwise would be lowgrade herbage. The establishment of clover raises the fertility of the land and enables the better grass to grow more vigorously. Farmers on this class of country should in their own interests mark out experimental blocks. The Rabbit Pest It was recorded in the Christchurch Press the other day that a rabbiter in Mid-Canterbury had caught 750 rabbits in a very short space of time with the aid of traps. The statement draws attention to the unnoticed spread of the pest in many parts of the country. A Christchurch man recently in Central Otago remarked the other day that he had seen more rabbits this season than for many years in that part, and this condition of 'affairs extended down into the lull country of Eastern Southland. There appeared, he said, to be a general disregard of the growing prevalence of the pest. Tliis was the usual experience. Little notice was taken of the rabbit until it actually threatened the country. Then there was a panicky agitation for systematic destruction, and repressive measures then could only be made effective at much increased expenditure. The Canterbury visitor (says the Press) expressed the opinion that the point had been reached when the rabbit would take the upper hand in some parts of O.tago if the present indifference continued. Butter-fat and Phosphates Dairy farmers have for many years recognised the importance of consistent top-dressing of both pastures and hay paddocks. They realise only too forcibly that, although prices have been low for some years for butter, top-dressing has, by increasing production, reduced the cost of production of butter-fat, and thus enabled them to carry on. A 6tirvey of hundreds of farms by the Department of Agriculture showed that the lowest costs in producing butter-fat were secured from farms using the greatest quantities of superphosphates. Autumn .top-dressing is of material assistance to dairy farmers as- well as to sheep farmers. It enables cows in calf—the period when the extra drain on the cow is apparent —to winter better, and, by hastening the early spring growth, it starts the cows off well in their lactation period. AUTUMN TOP-DRESSING AN ESSENTIAL PRACTICE EARLIER SPRING GROWTH FERTILISERS SUITABLE FOR OTAGO During recent years evidence lias been accumulating as to the highly satisfactory results secured by top-dressing in autumn. The more widespread adoption of this practice by South Island farmers will have the effect of providing more and better feed in the " back end " . of the season, thus carrying the 6tock better into the winter and economising on the turnips. The top-dressed paddocks will come away much earlier in spring, and will give clean, nutritious feed for ewea and lambs or for hoggets. Herein lies the main argument in favour of topdressing in autumn—to shorten the winter period when little or no feed is produced by pastures, and to shorten it at both ends by carrying on the autumn growth into the early winter, and by starting the spring growth earlier. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS. I Trials to determine the effect of applying superphosphate and basic slag at different times of the year have been carried out since 1928 by the Department of Agriculture at Marton, and are described in detail in the Journal of Agriculture for November, 1031. The summary to this article contains the following conclusions: —"Of the super applications, those made in summer and autumn have tended to give higher yields over the year as a whole than winter and spring applications. An important aspect of the summer and autumn dressings is that they have given a greater percentage of their production during low-production part's of the year than any of the other manure treatments. All manure treatments have given a greater percentage of their production during low-production periods than no manure. During the winter and early spring the autumn application of super has yielded best." QUALITY OF FEED. The superior quality of the feed ptoduced on top-dressed paddocks is a matter of general experience. It is of special importance in grazing hoggets and ewe? in lamb, since they require feed of high palatability and richness in mineral matter. In some districts of Otago and Southland the natural unmanured grass growth has been shown to be rather poor in this respect. Tlie value, as an adjunct to the pasture or green crop of a good bone-flour salt lick mixture _ during the autumn and winter months is well seen in many parts of the South Island, and furnishes a proof of the need of minerals by stock. ON DAIRY FARMS. From the dairy-farmer's point of vie* autumn top-dressing is a most valuable practice since the milk yield tends to fall off very sharply at this period; this falling off can be considerably checked by rotational grazing of properly-manured paddocks. All dairy farms will have a few paddocks which have been cut for hay, and these should carry during the autumn months a heavy second growth of clover; after this is grazed down such paddocks need a run over with the tripo I harrows and application of top-drowsing, or it will he found that the bottom of (he pasture onen.s up. and further production is very light on account of so much being taken off the land. Farmers who milk for town must, of course, keep their milking herd at full strength through the winter, and they could in many cases make much better use of. their grass paddocks bv extending the autumn, growth through the application of a ouick-ncting top-dressing mixture such a« ammoniatod super. FERTILISERS TO USE. So far as the kind of fertiliser to use is concerned, this depends very largely on the soil type as well as on the purpose in view. Superphosphate being watei soluble is the foremost of the phosphoric fertilisers for use in the autumn. For dairv farms where quicker results ar« required together with as s much late autumn feed as possible, use amnioniated super, which is a well-cured mixture of one part sulphate of ammonia with two parts of superphosphate. Use lime and super for the free-working types of soil, increasing the proportion of lime accordin" to the nature of the soil from equal p.'irls with the super to three or four limes the weight of super. . For heavy soils or those containing a good deal' of iron—i.e., the reddishcoloured soils—use reverted phosphate, or as an alternative, basic slag. I he sing can be used either alone or mixed half and half with super. This mixture is inclined to set if 'mixed before it is required, and is best mixed in the drill or top-dresser just before sowing. USE OF POTASH. The above recommendations are made with the idea of scouring satisfactory results at 'the minimum expense as conditions are at present. Under many conditions a complete mixture will prove b<-si —that is, a mixture supplying nitrogen, phosphates, arid potash. With the more intensive treatment now being given t" grass land and its consequent heavier production, the use of potash is becoming essential. Potash increases the palatability and digestibility of the feed, benefits the

clovers, and prolongs the fresh autumn growth into the winter. .There can be no doubt that many soils, particularly in Southland, are in urgent need of pfltash, and that its use will increase in the near future. PREMIUM FOR DANISH MARKETING METHODS MANY DOMINION BRANDS NO CONTINUITY OF SUPPLY Discussing reasons for the present wide disparity hi price between Danish and New Zealand butter, Mr F. J. Nathan, of Palmerston North, in a letter to the New Zealand Herald, states that, in his opinion, the quality aspect has less influence on the difference in values than the methods of marketing the produce of the two countries and the general conduct of the business. Mr Nathan states; ''Denmark exports as great a quantity of butter as New Zealand, but it has one brand and oiie grade. No second-class butters are allowed to be exported, and the butler is graded at the time it will be sold on the market to which it is going. New Zealand butter is graded months before it reaches the market. "New Zealand has three grades going to England. Denmark holds that the one grade is sufficient for its first-grade butter, cheese, and bacon, and the result of this is being able, over the course of many years, to build up a goodwill. There are more than 500 brands on the butter and cheese exported from New Zealand. Some of the brands used are difficult Maori names, unpronounceable to the people in England, and almost impossible to spell. " The Danes have followed the principle of building up confidence and continuity between their agents and the factories. The agent in England is assured, and has been for many years past, of a definite supply of the same quality and the same brand of butter, and he has built up a goodwill between himself and the retailer who disposes of the butter. It is a common practice in New Zealand for co-oper-ative factories, of course depending on their output, to have from two to five agents and many of the factories have more than one brand. Factories frequently change their agent. Many consign one year and sell another year, or consign a portion and sell a portion. It is in nobody's interest to get behind a particular factory in this country and build up a goodwill with retailers, for the reason

that the importer never knows fioin year to year if he is going to handle the output again. "The essence of trade is confidence and goouwill, and everything that the factories have done in this country has been against the building of these two factors. THE WOOL CHEQUE WELLINGTON FEBRUARY SALE LARGE INCREASE FOR SEASON The wool cheque for the third Wellington sale of this season, held on Febiuary 15, totalled £303,091, an increase of £173.7(14 or 70.22 per cent, on that from the corresponding sale of last season. For the three sales so far held at Wellington this .season the total gross proceeds amount lo £1,112,593, or more than double the total for the corresponding sales ot last season, which produced £552.928. This season's total for the first three sales is only £352,220 below the £1,464.810 for (he corresponding sales of the 1933-34 season, when prices were at an unex-

pectedly high level. The gross proceeds of the January, 1934, sale alone were £637,222. . , „ . The official returns tor (he l'ebruary sale at Wellington, compiled by the Wellington Wool Brokers' Association, are ns follows: Bales offered ' M^,{ } Bnles sold 2S >,4o;j Bales passed *•. Net weight sold (lb) .. 10,708,197 dross proceeds £393.09/7/8 Average price per bale .. £l3/h/10 Average price per lb .. S.rfflDd At the February sale last year. 27,450 bales were offered, of which 23,993 bales were sold at auction, 3457 bales being passed in. The gross proceeds were £219,327 14s 3d, the average price per bale being £9 2s 9d, and the average price per lb 16.888(1. The' gross proceeds (shillings and pence omitted) of the three sales at Wellington this season compare as iollows with those of the corresponding sales of the 1933-34 and 1934-35 seasons:—

The following table compares the aver- |

age prices per bale for the first three Wellington sales for the last three seasons: —

The following table compares the average prices per pound for the first three Wellington sales of the last three seasons:— 1933-34. 1934-35. 1935-36.

Tlie figures show that of the total offerings over 93 per cent, was sold at auction.

Feb. Ma rch March 28. 3. 10. N.Z. finest .. 88s 88s 84s Kangaroo .. 88s ,88s 84s Danish .. 135s 135s 127s Market Better demand Weaker Weak Cheese — White .. .. 51s. 50s 51s Coloured .. 54s 54s 53s Market Quiet No demand Slow

BUTTER (in tons) 1935. March .. .. 13,172 April .. .. 11,809 May .. .. 10,874 1930. 13,031 12,913 11,712 35,855 37,670 CHEESE (in tons) March .. April .. May .. 9,427 9,922 8,587 8,188 8.572 9,000 27,930 25,700

Snlc Dec. Jan. Feb. 1033-34. £ .. 415.500 .. 037,222 .. 412,001 1034-35. £ 112,308 221,203 210,327 1035-30. £ 320,043 305.858 393,002 Total £1,464,810 £552,028 £1.118.503

1933-34. 1934-35. 1935-36. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ 6. d. Dec. 14 4 OJ 8 17 9 12 12 0J Jan. 20 5 8 A 9 14 14 13 2 33 Feb. 15 8 3 9 2 9 13 0 10

d. d. d. Dec. . .. 9.452 5.983 8.339 Jan. . .. 13.333 0.355 8.710 Feb. . ..' 10.204 0.188 8.709 The quantities of wool offered and sold at auction at Wellinston tins season are as follows: — Offered Sold Passed bales. bales. bales. Deo. .. 30,434 20,157 4277 Jan. .. 31,080 30,182 81)8 Feb. .. 30.020 29,405 1155 Total . .. "92,134 85,804 0330