WELLINGTON AGRICULTURAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 20

WELLINGTON AGRICULTURAL

NOTES.

Having been on "the trudge" since last week's notes were penned, Th« it is hard to describe what Weatker, the weather has been like.

A youngster put it thus: — '"Every hour a change — one hour sunshine, the next rain." Still, always mild and warm, and the grass and crops that are in are coming away at a great rate. Those who have seeds to put in are now- trrowliT? at tho rain having- retarded operations

So far there ha« not been much shearing done, and shoaiers are Shearing. badly wanted, especially men with the blades. Small farmers who have not got the machines installed are having- trouble, and machineinstallero have a big opening. The oldfashioned shed is now passed by with contempt by the professional. There is no trouble am regards the rate of pay. one pound a hundred and found being accepted. What wool I have seen is well grown and light in grease, and should command good money.

From the Ronmev Flock Boole (vol 111,

1907, just issued) I gather Koaiu«y there has been a few flocks. Flack Book. added to the- register, but there is not much differonce in the numbers of aheep, except that the number of lambs kept for rams is more than last year, the numbers being approximately : Ram lambs, 8000 : ewe lambs. 10,000; and breeding ewes, 21,000 The number of ram lambs last year was about 6500. This does not mean much, only tha* the increased demand has encouraged breeders to do less culling. Still if they do not go any further the status cf the flocks ehould be fairly kept up. In stud breeding there can be no hard and fa=;t rule, as it may happen that a rani's whole progenr may turn out useless, while at best there is alway? a percental of owes given to the ram that do not ui"k '-veil under the be3t of management-. Of cour*o, only about 2030 out of the ejghi viiM be ipqnired to -<-f. " the stud ewes, the other 6090 co.ng info the general flock of the Dominion, which t« oi'hr a fln n Mte ulicn taken in conjunction wf''i 'he lt^rr, 'r»',* of Agijtulturo" 1 ; last *ai ii-i ii i „!".' <\],>. ' jtiy*'} the E-omnoy laitiiberj ox. iLe 33. 1 ioi

April last as* Stuct rams, 3679; flock rams. 68,549; ram lambs, 21,000; or a total of 93,228 rams in sight on the 30th April. Talcing only stud or purebreds, and eliminating 20 per cent, of the old rains on account of old age and misadventure, and 10 per cent, of the ram lambs that are now two-tooth, this leaves 76,681. What tho expoits have been during the -ast six months I have no means of arriving at, but as near as can be judged by last year's export figures and ports of shipment the number will be under 2000. In this case a hundred or two does not affect the matter. We may take it that at this date there are 74,000 Romney Marsh rams fit for service for the coming season, which means that there will be 3,700,000 ewes to put to Romney rams. I have compiled the following table from the argieultural report: — ESTIMATED NUMBER OF RAMS AVAILABLE FOR THE COMING SEASON.

It will be seen that there are available 272,243 rams of all breeds after deducting 20 per cent, of the aged rams and 10 per cent, from the two-tooths. Estimating tnat there will be it) million ewes to breed from in the Dominion, this would take 200,000, showing a surplus of over 70,000 rams. Already a large number of the most prominent breeders have sold at about last year's rates, and good sheep will always command fair prices, only this, large surplus, many of which arc very inferior, will probably Lave a dragging effect on the market later on. ANTIQUA OTIS.

Breed. Merino Uncold .. Romnay M*rsh lorder Leicester EngUshLeiceater Shropjhiros Joutndowns . . Dther Breeds .. 1 09 871 2,272 -3.678 1,321 1,955 776 453 60S m 28,380 39 572 68,649 38,485| 87,719 11,609 6,619 21,«42 246,565 I . a £ _& S_ 4.880 84,181 14.057, 65,931 21,000 93,228 11.0C0' 44,806 11,500 61,172 5,200 17,675 2,600, 0,672 2,650 : 24,706 72,717i:3',210 & o _J_ 2V.79J 46,! 55 76,682 36,94! 42.08S 14.68 C 7.00E 20,091 272.21J I 11,628!