NOTES FROM THE OLD LAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3234, 8 March 1916, Page 13

NOTES FROM THE OLD LAND

(From Ouh Special Correspondent.) GLASGOW, January 12. The opening of the year 1916 finds us still in the throes of an almost worldwide war. Our sons and brothers continue to fight in the far-flung battle lines, and the determination grows stronger every week that wo must put a period to the militaryiam so rampant in the Central Empires. of Europe. We are all becoming military or naval experts; but I am afraid that our plans for ending the war are more the outcome of an intense desire to see the Huns thoroughly well thrashed than of any well-conceived piece of strategy. The labour question is becoming active, and the Bill now before Parliament to make it compulsory for all men up to 41 years of a,ge to join the army will not help matters. This is particularly so in England. The Earl of Selborno, President of tho Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, has entered upon a crusade, the direst purpose of which is to induce the women of England to "'do their bit'' by coming to the aid of the farmers of the country, and he even goes so far as to suggest that a register should bo set up °f au females who are willing to undertake agricultural employment. In this, as in most other matters, we give a decided lead. The women of England have never deemed it their duty to handle live stock, except perhaps in the hunting field; but it has always been the custom north of the Tweed, and particularly in the higher altitudes of the kingdom, for the wives and daughters, even of well-to-do to look after the animals, to do the milking, and to soo that tho byres are kept clean and tidy. I have seen them, too, driving the horses in tho harrows, and taking their turn when rolling work required to bo done; while in not a few instances it has been the habit for them to render assistance in tending moderate-sized flocks of sheep. Fioldwork is tho common occupation of many women in Scotland. And, as many natives of Scotland now resident in New Zealand must know, these same women can acquit themselves with distinction in the ordinary walks of life. Not many years ago I was visiting at a farm in Northumberland, occupied by a family from Scotland, and tho mother, a lady over 70 years of age, who had taken her full share in farmwork all her life, per-

formed splendidly on the piano, and had her daughters, who were also well versed in tho routine of the holding, wore trained as musicians of no mean order. Then, again, in the cheese-making districts, of Scotland this important work is almost invariably managed in person by the members of tho farmer's family. Women of this class are doing excellent service at the present time", and, in helping to maintain the food supplies of the country, they are as truly asdist.ng to win tiie war as are the men in the trenches. If the women of England take a leaf out of our book there will be no fear of British agriculture, and the end of tho conflict will come all the sooner.

Stiil tho cry most pronounced in the Old Land is the increased production of food. Rats end rabbits are to be exterminated. if some people can have their way, and the advice ot the experts is to increase the fertility of the soil by its liberal and judicious treatment with artificial manures., in the case of the tabbits, it is worthy of mention that there are not a few selfish people in Scotland yet who would prefer to-leave them pretty much alone in order that those who are not prepared to risk their skins in tho battle line may have some living creature to pop at in the course of the year. With all -their enthusiasm for tneir country, there are those who lift .their hands, in holy horror when it is suggested that tho game laws should be suspended, 'inese spurious patriots do no credit to their country.

Something of a check will no doubt bo given this year to the scheme of the Board of Agriculture for .Scotland for improving heavy horses. It will be ot only a momentary character. Tho hnancial demands for purposes offensive and defensive are very great, and the money at the disposal of tiie board will be considerably loss than what was disbursed during recent seasons; but now that the scheme has got a good start there will be no material slackening of the pace in horse-breeding for the sake of a few odd pounds. Among no class ot men is the national sentiment stronger than in the case of the small larmers of Scotland. Tho pity is that there are not more of them. in 1915 no fewer than 7200 mares owned by small farmers were, under the scheme ot the board, served by stallions placed, after examination, on tho register as sound, and there is no reason to fear that the number will be much less in the coming season. For the purpose of this scheme —and it is one whion might with profit be adopted to some degree by the Government of the British dominions —a "small fanner" is a man who occupies land the annual rent or value of which is not more than iliOO, or, if it be more than £IOO, tho area of which does not exceed 100 acres. In addition, he must bo a person who derives his living mainly, if not altogether, from his holding. Last year tho board paid not only part of the service fees, but also part ol the foal tees, and tho annual subscriptions to the approved societies. During the year now running the Board of Agriculture for Scotland is only to pay one-half of the service fee, and tne maximum sum which it will contribute under any circumstances will not exceed 25s for any one mare. Should a horso which was hired in 1915 be re-engaged for 1916 at higher terms, the payment to be made by the board will bo calculated by the fee for 1915. There is one feature oi the scheme of tho board which deserves special mention. This is the system of " certificates of service." The secretaries of the approved societies are required to distribute these to the members who propose to use tho horse which has been hired Then every member who has a mare served must fill up and sign one of these certificates of service, and return it to the secretary when completed. The secretaries of approved societies are required to collect those certificates and return them to the board at tho close of the season. No payments of service fees will bo made by the board in Edinburgh until the certificates are lodged. It will be admitted, I think, that in its broad outline the scheme of the Beard of Agriculture for Scotland is an admirable one, in that it ensures tho use of sound stallions and gives assistance to thoso who are most in need of it. In .Scotland now tho "poaching" horse which cannot bo guaranteed sound is a poor investment, and the advantage to the country is very great. There must bo localities in our British dominions where a scheme such as this would bo of great advantage, and it is up to the Executives of these self-governing countries to devise the means of enabling the most humble of their agriculturists to use nothing but stallions which aro capable of undergoing the most severe veterinary examination. Tho policy of tho Board of Agriculturo has resulted in great material gain to Scotland, and there is no reason why similar facilities should not be afforded farmers in Now Zealand. Very few transactions of noto have of late boon taking plaoo in the export trade. In Scotland at any rate the principal piece of business of the kind since I wrote last was a shipment of Border Leiccstor sheep Selected from somo of the principal flocks by Air E. Smith, of Worcester, for clients in Australia. Two finely-bred ram lambs were

got from Low Hedgeley, and there wcro 10 females of the most aristocratic lineage. The sheep formed a uniform lot, and they will no doubt enhance the reputation of the Border Leicester in the Commonwealth.

Tho exportation of Clydesdale horses has been upon limited lines in 1915. In all there were shipped to places abroad 46 head. Their destinations were as follow: 29; United States of America, 6; South America, 4; Australia, 3; South Africa, 1; and New Zealand, 3. Prices, however, remain at high water mark, and the boom will come -when tho war is over. Breeders are in the best of heart.

CANTERBURY MARKETS. GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORT. (Lyttclton Times, March 4.)

During the last three weeks there ba» been a steady decline in the price of wheat, and now values have reached the comparatively low level of 4s 2d to 4s 3d per bushel at country stations, whereas some time ago the same grain would readily have found buyers at from 5s 2d to 5s 4d. The position which has arisen is rather difficult to explain, and even those in the trade are at a loss to understand the circumstances which have brought about the slump in values. It is recognised that the abundant yield in the Commonwealth, coupled with the uncertainty which prevails regarding its ultimata destination, has something to do with the extreme slackness which holds in New Zealand, there being a strong belief that if tho Imperial Government does not acquire the vast surplus, the New Zealand market will, if shipping is available, be flooded with tho Australian cereal. During the last week an increasingly large amount of wheat has been placed on the market, and, although growers are reluctant to accept the prices which ara being offered, quite a number, from financial and other reasons, find themselves impelled to quit their stocks immediately to tho best advantage possible, and a fair amount has been sold during the last few days. It is noticeable that, while a number of farmers stored their grain when prices were _ss and over, comparatively few are now doing so, and the only deduction to be made is thab they prefer to sell rather than incur the expense of storing. To-day a large line, for which the owner a short time ago refused to accept 5s Id, changed hands at a 2d station at 4s 2d on trucks. At the moment the market can be described as extremely slack, millers and merchants being entirely indifferent about buying. Although only a small amount is being turned over, the oat market is rather better than it was a week ago, but it cannot _bo said that there has been an advance in price. The offerings of oats have not been large. Many growers still are doubtful whether the feed supplies will be sufficient for winter requirements, and, consequently, they are retaining their oats in view of contingencies. The collapse of the Sydney potato market has not had an appreciable effect on local values, and, although the business that i» boino- clone for forward delivery is inconsiderable, values have shown no change, the majority of buyers being still prepared to give £5 for April and May delivery. Lines for immediate delivery command about £6 per ton. Inquiry continues for good malting barley, but the number of lines on offer is not large, and the impression prevails that the supplies in "the Dominion will not be up to the usual volume. It is expected that later it will be necessary to import barley from tho Commonwealth. . With increasing supplies, the price of onions shows a weakening tendency, and tho current quotation is £2 ss. The following quotations, are for purchases from farmers, net cash, sacks extra, delivered at country stations:— Wheat. 4s 2d to 4s 3dj oats—Gartens, 2s 9d to 3s; Algerians, 3s 6d; Duns 3s; Danish none offering; Barley, 5s 6d to 5s 9d; Partridge peas, 4s 9d (nominal) • Blue Prussian peas, 6s (nominal) J bran £5; chaff, £4 10s to £5; pollard. £95 oatmeal, £2O; flour £l3; onions £2 ss; ryegrass seed, 5s 6d; cocksfoot (131 b), l£a to lid; white clover (farm dressed). Is to Is 2d; cowgrass, 7d to 8d; dairy factory cheese, 10£d; dairy cheese, Bid; local factory butter' (Ist grade), Is sd; farm separator butter. Is 2d; farm dairy butter, Is; hams. Is; sides, lid; rolls, Is; rolled hams, Is Id I lard pats, lid; eggs, Is 2d.

TIMARU MARKET. (Christchurch Press, March 4.)

Values on the local wheat market hav« receded during tho week, and sales of Tuscan in straight lines have been recorded at 4s 5d on trucks at a Id station, and at 4s 6d delivered Timaru. These prices are tho market value to-day. Earlier in the week sales were made at 4s 8d and 4s 9d for good milling- Tuscan, delivered Timaru. Buyers for straight lines of Tuscan are not numerous, oft the market has a falling tendency for this description. Hunters is worth 4s 7d delivered Timaru. Velvet, which is comparatively scarce, is quoted at 4s 9d to 4a lid delivered. General \ speaking, buyers

aro apathetic, and arc content to purchase from hand to mouth and await developments. Buyers aro afraid that carriage facilities between the two islands will bo seriously curtailed during the next few months, unless arrangements aro made for a, regular service. Against this, however, it may bo that the servioo between Australia and New Zealand will also bo curtailed, in which case New Zealand millers will not have so much to fear from extensive importations of Australian flour. Locally tho price of flour has been reduced £1 per ton, and tho price hero is now well below tho level of Australian quotations. Oats, —"What practically amounted to a collapse of tho southern market took placo during tho week, and tho price quoted today for immediate shipment is 3s Id, f.0.b.,5.i., Bluff, for B grado Gartons, which this year are of a very high standard, weighing 441 bto the bushel. The value to-day

in South Canterbury to compete with Bluff export last week were valued at £1,033,967, prices is about 2s 6d on trucks, but buyers eluding . -Butter £141,343; cheese, who have to buy to fill orders in hand may I £93,688; meat, £86,206; wool, £590,701. bo able to give a little more. * Oatsheaf chaff is quoted at £4 5s per ton. Cocksfoot is quoted nominally at 8d to lOd per lb. On the potato market intermittent speculation has been going on. but in the- face of tho collapso of the Sydney market to £6 per ton this speculation has ceased. _ Advice to band from Sydney this week indicates that there is not likely to bo any demand for New Zealand potatoes for some time to come at least. Crop prospects here are poor. It is estimated that tho average yield will not exceed four tons per aere