OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL-BUDGET

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 20

OUR CANTERBURY AGRICUL-TURAL-BUDGET

iFnou Ode Own Correspondent A January 17. —Tho Weather, Harvesting, and General.— Although there has been little or no rain to speak of during the past two weeks, the weather has been much cooler, and in striking contrast to. that experienced! during the last month: of 1909, and what is oven more fortunate —there has been an almost entire absence of hot, parching north-west winds. The little moisture that ha.s fallen has effected a perceptible amount of good in the direction of assisting the grain to fill out, but for the most part the continuous dry weather during December last and at the commencement of the new year proved so sever© that the crops received a check from which it was impossible for them to recover. To conclusively prove this, on© has only to go. into a field of oats or wheat that has been reaped’ or is near the reaping stage, and by rubbing out a handful of the grain, it will be found that it has shrivelled considerably, and that many of the husks have no grain in them whatever, being either blighted' or dried up when the crops were at a critical stage. This illustration does not apply to. crops on medium and light soils, but also to grain on. heavy soils where there is straw enough to produce over 60 bushels per acre. In sympathy with the experience of at least tho past eight or ten years early-sown crops have withstood the trying test brought about by the drought much better than those sown at the latter end of winter or during the spring, and without attempting to make the situation more serious than it really is, it may be .said that many of the late-sown crops on medium class lands in the province will not pay for the' expense incurred! in their cultivation and harvesting. A rain that fell 12 days agO' to the measurement of approximately half an inch has done an incalculable amount of good, and was responsible for adding several bushels per acre to the yields of all classes of whit© crop, while it did much towards freshening up the grass pastures, root crops, and gardens, but to look at the parched condition of the country at the present time on© could almost be persuaded to think that rain had not fallen for at least two months. Without any attempt to minc-c matters tho agricultural and pastoral situation is acute, more or less, right throughout tho province, and in the absence of sufficient moisture the prospects of an ample stock feed supply later on are very unpromising. For tho most part the rape and turnip crops are becoming blighted, and are generally .going- off very rapidly, .and, judging by the present appearance of rape, that crop wall stand very little feeding off, and will, therefore, prove of small value for finishing ofii lambs and sheep. Of course, it can be very readily recognised that a good downpour of rain would prove of immense value, and would! put a. much brighter complexion on the situation. The reaping- of the oat crop is well advanced —in fact, on the lighter lands it is completed, and stacking is now in progress. During the past week several mills in midCanterbury have been busy threshing oats from the stock, but the yields have been very erratic and variable. Near the sea coast the yields, as revealed by the thresher, have been, exceedingly disappointing, while in the upper districts lying nearer the hilk, where showers have fallen more frequent!}', the returns so far to hand are well up to expectation. Mr John Fleming, of Lismore, has threshed out 60 bushels of Algerian oats per acre, from a paddock of 20 acres in area; a.nd a neighbour, Mr W. Mulligan, had a. return of 50 odd bushels of the same class of oat per acre from a larger field. In each instance, the crop had! been sown early. At Lyndhurst, Air Oox ha-s threshed a large paddock of dun oats that gave a return of 52 bushels per acre, but in the lower district and on land of mud) better quality, Air, W. ALKay (Timvald) only received a. return of 35 bushels of Algerians per acre, although there was straw enough for at least double that yield. On© farmer, who has a large farm on the seaboard, purchased sacks sufficient to hold 5000 bushels of oats, which ho confidently expected, .but when, threshed the crop only produced a total return of 2300 bushels, and the sample is very indifferent in quality, and difficult to thresh and dlress in consequence of the grain being eo light. Other farmers in the same neighbourhood, who have threshed oats have had equally disappointing yields, and this has given rise to much discontent among the mill employees, who are engaged on the contract system—los per thousand bushels for oats and 12s per thousand bushels for wheat. One. mill for a day of 11£ hours threshed 500 bushels, and during intervals there were two men cutting bands, while in any ordinary season the tally would have been at least 2000 bushels. As a, result of this unsatisfactory work the men have demanded! an hourly wage of Is and found for the remainder of the season, as an alternative to going out on strike. Several millowners have agreed to give the demanded wage, find in return they propose to charge the farmer at the rate of 25s per hour. Whether the farmers will agree to this charge is a matter yet to b© decided, but, of course, the varying of tho system of threshing, as indicated', does not apply to the whole of mid-Canterbury—only to those districts in which the crops are exceedingly rank and blighted. In both North and Mid-Canterbury wheat reaping was commenced last week, and during the present week fully half of tho total area will bo fit for the reaper. In some parts of North Canterbury the' crops are not so badly affected' Lv <-w yaan-

ordinary year, but in Sbuth and Mid-Cam terbury the yields will hot be so large as was predicted two weeks ago, and it is questionable when threshing- 'has been completed whether the total average returns will compare favourably with those of any ordlinarv season. In parts of Canterbury the caterpillars have mads their appearance, and are causing much havoc to the- crops, but. fortunately, areas afficctad by these troublesome pests ere comparatively limited. The j caterpillars also draw the small birds, which i are breaking down a largo quantity of grain ; .in alighting- on the standing corn to catch ibe insect pests. Farmers at Oxford and Rangitata Island report that caterpillars are numerous in the districts named.

Reports to hand from the various districts show that Algerian oats are yielding the highest returns or promise to d'o so, while Storm Kings, where threshed, have yielded ■better than Danish, Roseberries, Gartens, Tartars, dun, sparrowbills, or Canadians. It would thus appear that both Algerians and Storm Kings are better able to withstand! the effects of dry weather. Tuscan and Pearl, of the wheats, promise to give the beet returns, and appear to be less susceptible to blight. This is no doubt attributable to the fact that both varieties of wheat named send their roots, deeper, and are thus enabled' to secure a greater quantity of moisture, than other classes of wheat in dry weather. A commencement will be made at threshing wheat from the stook at the end of the present week on the medium quality lands. Ryegrass-threshing has been almost completed, and in every instance satisfactory returns of well-developed seed are reported. The harvesting of cocksfoot is now in full progress, and, should nothing untoward occur to damage the seed, the results of this season’s harvest should be remunerative to growers and contractors. The dry weather has materially checked the blight among potato crops, and notwithstanding the fact that the wet weather did considerable damage by causing many of the planted tubers to rot, there are prospects of fairly good yields of well-grown potatoes. The crop, however, will only be an ordinary one at the best. Labour Conditions. —■ During the past two weeks an unusually large number of harvest workers have arrived in the province, mainly from Australia and the North Island, and the majority of these have already found employment. When, stacking operations commence. however, it is questionable whether there will be sufficient surplus labour to supply the demand; but additional men are expected from outside sources during the present work, when harvesting in all its branches will bo at its height. Farmers are offering Is and found and weekly wages, ranging between £2 bo £2 ss, and found. In consequence of the season being a dry one the hourly system appears to be the most popular. As an alternative to the hour wage a. number of men are asking for £2 10s and found per week, but for general workers farmers in most cases decline to give the sum asked. It is satisfactory, however, to note that there is every prospect, so far of the harvest passing over without any industrial disruption. ’■ I think I mentioned in a former letter that there was a great scarcity of domestic servants, and from inquiries 1 have made I find that the position in this respect is as acute as ever. The majority of the helps are required for country districts, and wages ranging over £1 per week are .being offered. —The Slaughtermen’s Dispute. — Matters in connection with the frozen meat export industry have, as telegrams will show, been very unsettled of late, and as far as Canterbury was concerned export buyers and farmers were becoming: very apprehensive in regard to the situation, as it was feared. that a strike was imminent. It is satisfactory to note, that an, agreement lias been arrived at which appears to be satisfactory to all concerned. The men are to get 25s per 100 sheep and lambs, but it ; .s understood that the butchers have given way on other miner points, in dispute. In consequence of the diminished supply of feed, with no immediate prospects of an improvement, farmers would have been placed in a very serious position had the slaughtermen) gone out on strike, inasmuch as there is a possibility of lambs going- back in condition. In connection with the frozen meat export trade it may be said that there is a large proportion of the lambs now ready for killing, and the works will be kept in full swing for some time to. come. The average price offered by buyers for lambs is still under 12s —from 11s 6d to 11s lOd, — but there appears to have been a. slight improvement last week as a result of keener' competition among buyers, brought about chiefly by the appearance of entirely new buyers in the market. Some farmers positively declare that the buyers had formed “a ring,” but whether there is any grounds to substantiate such a statement I am not prepared- to advance an opinion, but the, keenly observant may have possibly noticed incidents that would lend colour to the assumption. Agricultural Workers’ Union.— The North Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Labourers’ Union, has cited over 120 threshing mill-owners to appear before the Conciliation Council at Christchurch on January 31 in regard to- an industrial dispute respecting the rate of wages, hours, system, etc., as applying to threshing work. The union’s demands embody many drastic changes, and there is every indication that the mill-owners and farmers will strongly oppose the whole of the claims of the union being embodied in an industrial award. Tho union is asking for three men at the bags in place of two; that the men be paid at the rate of Is 3d per hour and found (the band-cutter Is 5d per hour), and that wages be paid while the machine is being shifted from stack to stack; that etookthresiling be abolished; that the contract system .be substituted by the hour system; that 75 per cent, of wages earned be paici weekly, if so- desired by the men; that the band-cutter bo paid while the machine is being shifted from one farm to another; and that the hours bo so limited so that no threshing be done by artificial light. The union claims that it is justified in askng that, its full demands be acceded to. Many of the mill-workers I have spoken to eay they are in favour of the contract system, as compared with hour work, in any ordinary year for tho reason that they have greater liberty and are able to earn better money. One man, who ha-s followed threshing work for over 30 years, assured "■ - that he was not aware that there was

of mill hands, and that the demands had been drafted by men —agitators he called them, —who wore not in any wy.y conversant with threshing conditions. Another worker said,, in reply to questions, that three men were required at the bags, and that the hours should be regulated. The mill-owners as a whole consider the, demands outrageous. “At the present time,” said one mill-owner, “and for years past, we have been threshing in. Mid-Can-terbury and North Canterbury on an average of £lO per thousand for oats and £ll per thousand for wheat, as against £ll 10s for cats and £l3 13s per thousand for wheat in South Canterbury. The rate of wages obtaining : n, the North Canterbury district a.re; —Stackmen, 10s per thousand bushel for oats, 12s for wheat and barley; bagmen (two), 11s for oats. 13s for wheat and barley; band-cutter, 13s 6d all round: engine-driver, 18s to 20s per thousand all round; in every case each-man to pay his share of the cost of the food at the end of the season. Tn any ordinary season the men made £2 12s to £2 15s per week, wet and dry, after paying expenses. If the demands were embodied in an award the millowners would have to raise the price of threshing, so after all it was a matter that chiefly affected the farmers.” The farmers are bitterly opposed to the demands, because they recognise that if they become an award the price of threshing will have to he substantially raised. They also strongly oppose the proposal to abolish etcok threshing. The farmers aro to be represented at the hearing of the dispute. —The Stock Market.— The continued dry weather is causing l farmers to become anxious regarding a future stock-feed supply, and, as I predicted in a former letter, it has had a prejudicial effect on the store sheep market. During the past few weeks store sheep have been practically unsaleable at reduced rates ; but prions for fat stock have held their own, both as regards ewes an.d wethers and fat cattle. Lines, of forward lambs occasionally sell at fairly good prices, but for ewes and wethers and backward lambs there is little or no inquiry. —Mi see! I ancons. A small line of Tuscan that had been threshed in a soft and damp condition in. North Canterbury was sold last week a.t 3s 9d per bushel, and farmers in. South Canterbury are offering hand rubbed samples of wheat to merchants at 4a per bushel. A number of lines of this season’s ryegrass have changed hands at Is fcd per bushel. Recently I interviewed Mr Donald Gunn, lamb buyer for Messrs S.orthwiok and Sons, who has been on a trip through the Australasian States. He informed me that the export buyers were purchasing vat ’anrbs, from the mother, at prices ranging from fes 5d to 9s, or on aa average of 7s 3d. The weights would range, he said, from 31’s to 36's, and in some cases the buyer had a railage Over 350 miles to pay. Mr Gunn ©peaks of the Australian-bred lambs this season being of first-class quality. “At Eteripfc,” said Mr Gunn, “a. distance of 100 miles from Melbourne, I attended an auction sale, and saw 40 acres of land' gold at £l2O per acre.” Mr John String-fellow, of Chertsey (Ashburton County), has threshed a fairly large* paddock of Algerian that yielded 50 bushels per acre. Many of the Mmal crops in Canterbury are taking fnStrirTlb to 91b of twine: per acre, so sank has been, .the growth. Ira some of these instances thh 'probable yields have been computed at from 27 to 30 bushels per aero. In view of the large amount of harvest work, draught horses have been selling more freely an.d at increased prices of late, more particularly good young horses of reliable breed and eiaminaj l • The farmers of Hinds, near Ashburton, are favourably considering a proposal to establish a dairy factory to serve several of the surrounding districts. Although it has been contradicted oy many, a few fa.rm.ars I have snokeni to are of opinion that the disappointing yields of cereals so far threshed are due, in a. great measure, to the rust. _ Large_ quantities of Teviot fru.it aro arriving in Canterbury weekly, and one feature of this year’s fruit frovn Teviot is -its fine quality and the greater care that has been taken in its packing. Last year tons -of fruit from Teviot arrived in Canterbury in a rotten condition. A light, drizzling rain is falling .this (Monday) morning, but there are indications that it will turn to heat. I hero enclose a small sample of firstquality Dun cats threshed this season, which, on any favourable year, would bo considered poor seconds. The oats ini question were grown on land that Invariably gives a. return exceeding 45 bushels Per -acre, but this year the yield is not half that quantity;