THE RURAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23885, 12 August 1939, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD

FARM AND STATION NEWS

FARMING IN NORTH OTAGO

PEDIGREE RYELAND RAM

“ Lauderdale ” Friesians One of the outstanding performances I yet recorded by any dairy herd under official test is credited to the “ Lauderdale ” herd of grade and pedigree Friesians for the 1938-39 season All of the cows milked, with the herd, which is owned by R. H, Dickie, of Tuturau, Southland, with the exception of two cows tested, under government C.O.R. test and two old breeding matrons, were tested under Government official herd test and returned an average of 11,186.21 b milk and 410. 521 b fat in 266 days for 38 cows—the highest average yet recorded under this test by any herd of over 10 cows The cows tested included 38 pedigree Friesians (seven two-year-olds, four three-year-olds, six four-year-olds, and II mature cows) which averaged 11,031.81 b milk and 4001 b fat in 266 days, and 10 high grade Friesians averaging 11,618,4 milk and 440.041 b fat in 267 days. Seven cows (four pedigrees and three grades) produced over 5001 b fat during the season. This is believed to be the highest number of cows in one herd ever to produce over 5001 b fat in a season under G.O.H.T. A further 15 cows (12 pedigre'es ana three grades) produced over 4001 b fat.

Wool Publicity According to a report issued by the Australian Wool Board, many women throughout the world have been nersuaded to wear trousers as the result of an extensive publicity campaign bv the International Wool Secretariat The secretariat also has partially succeeded in persuading women to discard rubber and rayon beach wear and wear wool, the report adds. The decided trend is favour of rayon has been arrested, it is claimed.

The production ot last dyes for wool is likely to open an immence market for wool in the furnishing trade, the secretariat has reported, and effort is being made to compete successfully with rayons, satins, and other materials used in furniture manufacture.

Australian Wheat According to information from Canberra low export prices ,for wheat will be reflected in Australia in the 1939-40 season by the retirement of about '610,000 acres of wheat land from production. Present estimates are that about 13,500,000 acres will be sown for the season, compared with 14,110,000 acres for the 1938-39 season. The Commonwealth Statistician (Dr Roland Wilson) said that it was too early to giv.e an official estimate, but information suggested a decrease in area in the current season. Estimates of wheat production in 1938-39 issued by state authorities remain unchanged at an aggregate of 154,500,000 bushels, with an average yield of 10.96 bushels to the acre.

Australian Export Rates In'a report issued by , the Australian Meat Board it is stated that Australian beef, lamb, ‘ and pig meat sell at cheaper rates in the United Kingdom than the corresponding products of Argentina. .New Zealand, and Denmark* The report urges growers to raise the general standard as the only possible means of increasing returns at a time when limitation of present markets is a possibility. On the basis of the 1938 exports the price differences would represent an increase in the Australian meat export cheque of up to £A2,500,000, or about 25 per cent The board gives the following table of average prices of, imported meat on the United Kingdom market for the year, as published by the Meat Trade Association:—

AVERAGE PRICES IN UNITED KINGDOM. 1938. Beef. Mutton. Lamb Chilled Best Best Bacon hinds, quality, quality, (shgs.

(d. per (d. per (d. per per Source. ■ lb.). lb.). lb.). cwt.). Australia ~ .. 5.19 4.02 7.05 89 New Zealand .. .. 5.48 7.73 Argontlnla .. 6.25 Denmark .. .. .. .. 99

The extent to which we succeed in bridging these margins, the board points out. will be a measure of our success in quality improvements. “If we secured a 25 per cent, increase in the volume of our exports we should consider ourselves fortunate. That is a development largely beyond our control. Increased returns from better quality, however, are within our own power to achieve.” Farm Shelter The value of adequate shelter on the farm was emphasised by Mr T. E. Rodda. manager of the Ruakura Farm, when speaking to students at the farm school recently. In the planting of shelter belts, said Mr Rodda. care had to be taken to ensure that there would be plenty of bottom growth, because it was little use having a belt of trees thick at the top but absolutely bare at the bottom. In such a case the wind would whistle through the tree trunks and the thick foliage on the top would be practically useless from the point of view of shelter Training of Refugees

In the British House of Commons recently, Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith (Minister of Agriculture) announced that the Home Secretary had agreed to the admission of 1500 refugees for training or employment in agriculture. He added that the question of admitting a further number to meet the present shortage of labour in agriculture was under consideration

Dehorning Cattle At a recent council meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of Great Britain the Federation of Wholesale Fresh Meat Traders asked whether any steps could be taken to make the practice of dehorning cattle more general in England. It was pointed out that breeders in Eire had adopted the practice very widely The veterinary committee of the council replied that it was aware of the advantages of dehorning, but “ could not imagine ” how the practice could be made general in England. Wandering Stock Hhe practice of selling wandering stock which stray on to one’s farm is illegal. According to Mr F. A. Martin, solicitor of the Counties’ Association. the occupier has no legal right to sell stock trespassing on his land, and no right to retain the proceeds. Under the Act he might impound stock on his own land for only two days. He was entitled to charge the trespass rate and the driving rate as set out in the Act, as also he might charge the rate payable for sustenance. There was no statutory or other authority for selling the impounded cattle The auctioneer also, had no authority to sell and he would be liable to the true owner for conversion. Further, if he handed over the proceeds of the sale with the knowledge that the cattle were not the property of the person ordering the sale he would be liable to the real owner for such money. As provided by the Act. at the end of two days the cattle, if not already released to their owner, should be driven to the nearest pound and there dealt with by the pound-keeper. ,

By RUSTICUS.

hems 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. Dunedin

A ROUGH WINTRY MONTH SPRING AT LAST On every hand there are signs of spring, and we are not sorry that this is the case. What with snow and frost and bitingly cold winds, both man and beast had a pretty hard time during July. Now we are in August, and with signs of spring on every hand we feel that winter is oast; and we rejoice accordingly. In the coastal areas the rainfall, including six to seven inches of snow, amounted to 2.65 in, and during the whole month of July there were only 12 days on which moisture did not fall. There is now sufficient moisture to ensure a good spring. Further inland, however, conditions are not so satisfactory. About Tokarahi, Duntroon, Otekaieke, and Otiake a good soaking of rain at an early date would be very welcome. To date, the districts named have only registered 7in of rain, compared .with 22in at the corresponding date last year. This is the driest half year for them since the disastrous drought of 1935, when only 6.42 in had fallen up to August 1. The dry weather suited the stock all right, but green feed and wheat are very backward. What is most unusual, and has been commented on by many, is that the snow was much heavier in the coastal areas than it was further inland. On one occasion there were Sin to 4in near Oamaru, and only a dusting at Duntroon. Some people say that snow acts as a manure on the land; and I have noticed that we generally have a good season after a winter in which we have had snow. Wheat and Jthcr Crops Our all-important wheat crops have not had much chance to make headway so far as can be seen above the ground, but they have been quietly working underneath, and with the rooting system well developed, we can expect to see a marked difference in about a month’s time. Green feed is in much the same state, but the early-sown crops in some localities are particularly good, and are providing a lot of feed. Turnips on the heavier land are almost a failure, and are providing very little feed. But on lighter and colder country—about .Hilderthorpe and Richmond—they are much better, and many flocks from the downs are being wintered on them. The rough wet weather, especially where there is little or no shelter, has been very hard on stock. A good plantation is of inestimable value under such weather conditions. If ewes and hoggets hold their condition, it is all that can be expected under such adverse circumstances. With plenty of good hay, sheep wil do infinitely better on their own sheltered hillsides; and- most farmers who ard wintering their sheep on hay say that the ewes are keeping their condition -emarkably well. It is from now on that great care will be required, and it is advisable to give something in addition to the hay. When we remember that 70 per cent, of a lamb’s weight is out on during the last six weeks, We realise how necessary it must be to give the ewe an abundance of nourishing food. It has to be remembered, too, that there is a wide range in the quality of hay. Some of it is dry, stalky, weathered stuff, with very little clover in it and of very small feeding value, while other hay is sweet and mellow, wellcured, and possessing plenty of leaf and clover Sheep fed on poor hay require ground linseed, meat meal, or molasses. If they are not given one of these things with their poor hay it will be impossible for them to hold their condition. But sheep on good hay with a good grass paddock run-off, plus a few mangels, will keep in the very best of condition. Exercise It is very important that in-lamb ewes should have sufficient exercise, if they are on turnips. They should be driven 2 miles a day—one mile on and one off their feed. In driving they should be taken along very quietly. This, besides checking the condition known as red bag gives the shepherd an opportunity of seeing and checking any sheep with a wedge of hardening mud between the toes, which often leads to footrot. Lambing Time Lambing in a sporadic way has started, but the main lambing will not start until next month. The very early lambs come often more by accident than design. They come into a cold, inhospitable world, and if they are in exposed positions they very often perish. But most prudent farmers put them under cover. Unless the ewes are given special feea these extra early lambs often receive a check, and though they make good weights, they have not the quality of later lambs that have never been checked. Teams anc Tractors Teams and tractors lost a lot of time as the result of the stormy weather, and this has now to be made up. There will be a rush of work during the next few weeks in an endeavour to get turnip and rape ground ploughed, and spring wheat sown. Some of the phenomenal wheat crops of last year are sure to induce some farmers to have a gamble by sowing wheat under unsuitable conditions. If it is heavy land only improperly prepared it is a good gamble, but if it is light land it is robbery—robbing the land of its fertility, which in some cases takes years of careful farming to return Planning the Year’s Work When planning the year’s work on mixed farms where sheep are the prime factor, some hints which some, at least, of our most successful farmers adopt may be of use. I have found that the farmer who is not open to take a hint never makes a success of his business. For myself I never miss an opportunity of learning; and I find j that, though I have had a long experience, I learn something every year.

Whatever crop you decide to grow, plough the minimum area necessary, and give it the maximum amount of working, manuring, and liming (if lime is needed). If by so doing you can make 14 acres grow as much as 20 acres prepared in a less efficient way, you w’ill have 6 acres to save for hay which is absolutely immune from all insect pest. If practicable, pul an area in lucerne. This useful crop—the king of fodders—should find a place on every farm. Think if the feed which it provides in a dry season when everything else fails In addition to this, it improves the appearance of a farm; and that is an important consideration when a farmer wants to sell his place. Prepare a small area for mangels every year I know if no other root which gives the une weight per acre as the mangel If your land is not naturally rich, add to its fertility by spreading and ploughing in stack bottoms, stable and woolshed manure. Mangels are greedy feeders, and respond to good ground and good cultivation. They have the very great recommendation that they take no blight.

Topdress and lime all your good permanent pastures, especially the back and shady faces. Wool and Stock Prices

The substantial rise in the price of wool at the last London sales is very comforting. This is sure to be reflected in the price of sheep as soon as the spring grass comes away. There is a distinct shortage of hoggets of all descriptions, and good ewe hoggets, especially open-woolled ones, are already in keen demand. Ewes are selling better by several shillings per head, and at a recent sale at Waiareka a line of sound mouth ewes, with a few failing mouth, made 225. The greatest advance has been in fat sheep. Last March in these notes I said that fat ewes were selling at such ridiculously low prices—5s to 7s —that it would be better for all who could do so to hold them on the chance that the market would rise. They were certainly not worth fattening in the autumn, and to-day those same ewes are selling at 20s to 27s fid. I wonder how many took the hint. Fat wethers are also in keen demand. Fat cattle are improving in price and the few good cattle about are very firmly held. At present it appears as though fat cattle will soon have to come from outside the district. Bumside is cheaper than Addington, and the railage is less from Burnside, so it is likely that that is the source from which we will draw our supplies.

BOUGHT FOR MASSEY COLLEGE (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON July 17. A pedigree shearling Ryeland ram was bought for the Massey Agricultural College at the Royal Show at Windsor. It will be shipped by John Thornton Hobson and Co. to New Zealand via Australia, and will leave England on August 15, _ . , The ram. Holme Lacy Quicksilver, won second prize in its class at Windsor. and it was first at the recent Royal Counties Show. It was bom m 1938. and is by Holme Lacy Origin. Its dam was bv Graiggoch Wonder 1316. and its granddam was by Hatton Hopeful 1230