OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 19

OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

(From. Ou» Owh Coeeespondkht.) THE WEATHER ANu FARM WORK. Typical autumn weather prevailed last week, and although the atmospnere •humid at times, comparatively little rain foil, consequently those farmers who had the fag-end of harvesting to complete were enabled to make profitable use of their time. The foliage on deciduous trees is now assuming autumnal tints, and with Che pereeptiblo shortening of the days one is forcibly reminded that winter is approaching very rapidly. It is pleasing to note, however, that the condition of the country for the season of the year has never been more encouraging for at least 15 year B past, and there is simply a wealth of stock feed of all classes, which in many instances is going to waste, as many farmers are considerably understocked, but with the high current prices for forward stock they (the fanners) do not care to speculate. Owing to the late harvest, the work of preparing the soil for the reception of next season's crops is backward, and much land that should bo skimmed will be ploughed up for crop as soon as the grain-carting has been completed. From reliable information received and from my own observations I learn that the area to be sown in cereals during the coming season will bo quite as largo as that for last season, the good all-round prices ruling for cereals and the pi-ospects of the market continuing stable having proved an incentive to farmers to ease off stock-raising and to confine their efforts mainly to cropping. This, however, is only one of many other reasons why farmers are giving greater attention to the purely agricultural side of farming. The soil is now in remai-kablv frood condition for working, but when deep ploughing becomes- general at the end of the present month farmers will bo anxious for a heavy downpour of rain, sufficient to penetrate the soil at least 6in in depth. Judging by conversations I have had with farmers, the gras3 grubs have already commenced to work havoc in gra.?s pastures that were sown down with the last cereal crop. THE HORSE MARKET. In view of the approaching heavy season for farm horses, a great deal of attention is being centred in the fairs hold at the various marls up and down the province-. The vendors of light horses at present, in most instances, have not accustomed themselves to look eye to eye with buyers at tho lower basis' of values ruling for this class since the advent of the motor—in lact, about half tho value'of 18 months ago is about tho limit, except for something extra and showing lots of quality. Few of this class are offering, but when on offer always find ready purchasers. Good young, active draught horses, from four to six years are badly wanted at from £3O to £45, but buyers are ever careful, and they must be good. Inquiries are daily mado for extra good hacks and harness horses, but tho ordinary or medium sort have to go at sacrificial prices. FARMERS AND MILITARY TRAINING. The Ashburton Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union had before it at its last meeting a letter from the Defence Department regarding the regulations for camps and parades. Mr W. T. Lill said that the question was a big one. Ho had horses idle in his paddocks, and could not got anyone to work them. He felt suro the present defence system would break its own neck in time. He knew some farmers were not sending their boys to the camps and the compulsory drills during tho busy season, and he knew of one fanner who valued his son's labour at £1 per day during the grain-carting season. Another farmer had told him that ho was obliged to keep two teams idle, but ho would work one himself. Mr G. W. Leadley remarked that the farm-labour problem was a very difficult one, and what labour they had could not bo spared during the busy season. With Mr Lill. he was of the opinion that the present defence system was going to break down. Incidentally it may bo mentioned' that business people have been much inconvenienced in respect of the Territorial camps that were held last week, and tho new system of defence is being viewed with much disfavour by all sections of iho community, while the instruction imparted, together with the Inke-warm interest taken in the proceedings by the Territorials, api>oars to bo a mere travesty of military training. ■\ SLAUGHTERMEN'S COMPLAINT: DAGGY SHEEP. During the past few weeks farmers' organisations in the province have had before them for consideration a circular letter from the Canterbury Slaughtermen's Union ca.lling attcnlion to the dagiry condition of sheep and lambs which wero being sent to the works, and statins that consignors wero not complying with the request f.nd conditions made last year. Unless the request were complied with tho slaughtermen would not handle the sheep

and lambs after April 30. Tho Ashburton Branch of the Farmers' Union decided to call the attention of consignors to tho matter, and express a hope that a remedy would be adopted. THE THRESHING SEASON: HARVEST RErUKiNS. As I pointed oat in my last letter, the threshing rouis •are revealing very satisfactory yields, more particularly in regard to tile oat crops, but tJio wheat returns, while being generally above tiiose ot any ordinary season, are not by any means yielding well according to bulk, and tho sample is not uniformly good. Quito a number of threshing mills were obliged to pull iu temporarily last week as a result ol a shortage oi grain sucks, and this week many more will be ; compelled to do likewise. Some very good yields ot wheat and oats have baen recorded in the Kirwee district Mr J, Smith had a line crop of dun cats, which yielded To bushels per acre, and his wheat averaged 55 bushels per acre. Messrs M'Olellond Bros.' wheat averaged 45 bushels and Garton oats 70 bushels per acre. Mr G. T. Robertson obtained ob bushels of wheat per acre, and Mr Hudson 47 bushels. Mr H. M'Nae has just finished stacking a very fine crop of Algerian oats, which were sown very Jato in the season. It should yield at least 80 bushels per acre. At Charmg Cross Mr W. Shipley had yields of 48 bushels in ono paddock and 55 bushels per acre in another, both being oats. I lie yields in both North and South Canterbury are generally gratifying, but' the bulk of the wheat crops is stiil in the stack. Labour conditions in regard to threshing have, so far, passed over very satisfactorily, and practically the whole ot the machines have been working under the contract system. I know of ono mill in Mid-Canterbury that has a tally this season of close on 100,000, and the men, from the beginning of the season, have earned an average ; wage, alter paying for food, of about ib per week. MISCELLANEOUS. There is stiil a small quantity of cocksfoot on die Peninsula to bo harvested, principally on the higher slopes Tho seed will doubtless'bo discolound. All the dairy factories report a good supply of milk considering tho season of the year, and expect to carry on for another month or six weeks, as feed is plentiful everywhere and cattle are in good condition. There was a fairly good entry at tho pig-sales in Christchurch last week. Suckers and weanc-rs brought from 10s 6d to 14s 6d. and stores from 14s 6d to 245. There was an exceptionally good entry of poultry for Easter, and all classes were in gool demand. Table chickens brought from 3s to 6s lOd, ducks from 3s 6d to 6s 4d, hens from 2s to 3s Bd, turkeys from 9s to 245, geese from 5s 6d to 6s 6d, pullets from 3s to 8s 6d For the annual tain fair held at Rangiora recently there was an entry of 3000, chiefly from the flocks of .Mrs Jonathan Brown, Messrs 1). G. Mathcson, D. Pilil, G. Milne, T. D. Boag, J. Boag, S. Gibbs, A. W. Lvford, W. Cunningham, YV. Stalker, T. Skevington, J. Johns, C. Threlkeld, and Gardiner Bros. For the better-class rams thero was keen demand, but the sale was a very dragging ono for all other sorts. One-shear English Leicesters sold at 2gs to 2£gs while ono from Mrs J. Brown's flock realised Bgs, tho highest price obtained at tho fair. Birder Leicesters made l£gs to 3gs, Shrooshires 2gs to 3gs, one bred by Mr J. Johns reaching 6gs. Other rams sold at 10s to l£gs, An Ashburton lamb buyer states that Shropshire-bred Lambs have given the best returns this season. Lambs from first anc' second cross ewes by Shropshire rams, slaughtered on his account last week, averaged 45ib and gave s!b of fat. Mr Turner, of tho Agricultural Department, Christchurch. inspected Mr Thomas Dowling's Springfield Estate, Methven, a few days ago, with a view to its purchase by the Government as an experimental farm. It is stated that Mr Turner was favourably impressed with tho estate, which is well adapted for the purpose. Tho land in question is part of tho late Mr Duncan Cameron's estate, and is generally rich soil, THE LABOUR MARKET. Had tho weather been continuously fine during the harvest ther<j would have been a fairly pronounced shortage of labourers ; but owing to many breaks farmers were enabled to work short-handed. Now that the harvest is practically completed, one would imagine that thero would bo • many i men out of employment, but such, however, is not the case, and as it is there are comparatively few men idle in tho province A large proportion of tho surplus labour has been absorbed by tho farmers, while itinerant workers have moved southwards It fs also stated that a large number of men are reouired on tho Government railway works in Canterbury. Good teamsters aiv> in demand, and, judging by present conditions obtaining farm workers should have a fairly good winter before them. SHEEP AND LAMB MARKET Prices for prima fat sheep and Jambs are hardening, and the samo remark is applicable to fat cattle. During tho past week fairly largo lines of lambs were disposed of at 17s to 17s 7d, which must be considered most satisfactory to vendors. Now that prices have improved, it is safe to assume that tho freezing works will be kept fairly busy for several weeks after tho holidays- So far tho whole of tho

works in the province, have had a very poor season. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that milch cows are strongly in demand, and last week, at a clearing sale in Mid-Canterbury, a cow that was milkine and due to calve in a few weeks realised the high price of £lB 10s.