NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 8

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Wool-growers will recognise that the requisition of ail wool in the

Imperial Requisition of Wool.

Dominion is a huge scheme, and will, it is hoped, do

their utmost to facilitate matters in every way possible, and assure the smooth running of the many details ircidental to a new business. Certain matters are still unsettled, such as contracts of eale completed before the taking over of wool was announced. It was understood by growers that contracts should be cancelled, but tho buyers maintain that they should hold tho wool, and a meeting is to be held to ('rally decide the matter. It should be clearly understood that farmers have not to find valuers for their wool, as the brokers will value on behalf of the growers and the Government's nominees will also value. All arc specialists in the trade, the brokers* valuers being New Zealand men and the Government's wool-buyers. In the event of a dispute, a specially-qualified wool expert provided by the Government will act as supervisor and arbitrator. Failing the solution being- to the satisfaction of the grower, he can appeal to the local board comprising representatives of the A. and P. Societies, Farmers' Union, and Sheep-owners' Union. If the grower wants an independent valuation, he can have it at his own expense; but the Government will exercise discretion in accepting this; and rightly so, or there would be no finality; but it is not likely to. bo availed of to any great extent. As tho Imperial Government pay all expenses, such as brokers' fees, valuators' _ fees, and storage, tho grow«rs will receive a cash price, less, of course, railage to store, insurance from sheep's back to stove (if any), and such minor charges as customary, for reclassing when desired, putting up in bins, etc. Each lot will bo valued on its merits, as in previous years, so that it is obvious that tho better the wool is got up, classed, and set out in well-lighted stores, the greater tho probability of making tho maximum price in its grade. The usual wool sales will not bo held, and valuations will bo mado' probably as frequently as fair parcels are catalogued as waiting in stores, with the view to getting ships away on schedule time. Tho terms of sale are, as pointed out, not cash at the port of delivery after valuation. No valuations will bo supplied by brokers, and no reserves by growers will bo entertained. Growers aro advised to send their clips to the centre where thoy are best known. At tho moment of writing a few small but material details have to be adjusted to assure as far as possiblo > tho easy running of tho purchasing machinery* so that tho varied interests may be safeguarded; but tho firjal arrangements should now soon bo gazetted.

One method of selecting a ball ■with the idea of Improving the output, of the dairy herd in courso of time ia to buy a yonnpf bull on the strength of the records of his ancestors, and trust to luck that ho Avill bo ono that •will trans-

Selection of tho Bull.

mit the desirable characteristics of his ancestors to a high degree. As a rule such a bull will do fairly well in transmitting these eharacterist-'cs; and it is certainly a better way than taking a bull on his looks. Pedigree of the right sort is of more importance in a dairy bull than individuality. Much is desirable in tho records of a dairy bull; but as yet is not commonly asked for, such as the milk-production and butter-fat content of the female ancestors, especially those close up to the bull in question, and also, in the case of a bull with a reputation, tho records of his daughters.

In another column of this issue will be found an account of some successful feeding of ensilage to dairy cows which should be of considerable interest. At. present there is a great opportunity to lay by a store of useful fodder for use later on. Grass and herbage are luxuriant, in places phenomenal, throughout New Zealand, and stock values ruling to-day are possibly not warranted in many cases, 60 that the opportunity of conserving the superabundance of feed should be seized upon if labour can be obtained. The means are simple. A Victorian farmer gives his experience in making ensilage in tho Pasteralist Review: —"For years I have made it a practice to build a stack about 20ft wide by 40ft long and 21ft high. I then cover the stack with posts, etc., for a fortnight. The weight on top brings the mass down to about Sft high. Then the weights are removed and the stack built up to the original height with fresh supplies. Again the weights are applied, and after another fortnight removed, and a third layer is placed on top. Care is taken to cut the stuff green; but no cape weed ia allowed in tho stack. Thistles, marsh, mallows, and all kinds of grass may be used. It turns into a sort of paste, and throughout the summer every bit of rhis unsightly but palatable mass is eaten by horses and cows. I have experienced no loss, and I reckon the total cost at less than 5s a ton." With a pit silo also good ensilage can be made. All that is necessary is an excavation into which a loaded cart can be pulled, the green stuff thrown off, and the cart drawn out at'the other end. The sides of tho pit should be as near perpendicular as possible, and trimmed down so that the material will sink without hindrance into a compact mass. Cart in, say, the growth off a few acres each day, spreading the material and allowing the horses Vo tramp over the ensilage. Allow to settle, and finally cover with soil, and make a few surface furrows to take away rain water. AGRICOLA.

Regarding Ensilage

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Dv AnTfTrnr.A

ay AGHIL'ULA. “Concise,” Matakanui, asks why wool is matted on live sheep, and does it apply from the time they were lambs? It frequently results from a lack of sheep knowledge in the breeding from the wrong sorts. The ram, for instance, may have been a hairy wonder, or there may be, as breeders have often noticed, a reversion, or throw-ing-back, to the type. Good wool in a flock turns on good husbanding of sheep; it is the result of skilled selection and care, while certainly undue exposure to rain and starvation treatment tend to mat the wool on the sheep’s beak. Lack of feed results in deficiency of yolk, followed with the loss of lustre in the wool. Longwool sheep are prone to mattincss of wool if neglected. “Scotland Standard Food,” Clinton, delivered 3201 b of oats to the flourmill, and in return got 1001 b of oatmeal, and later on was billed for eight bushels of oats at 6d per bushel. (1) Where did the other 2201 b got to? (2) Was it right to charge mo as above? (3) Is the war tax of j{d pe.* lb on butter-fat made on butter-fat manufactured and sold in New Zealand, or is it only on what is exported ? (4) How is the dairy-farmer who makes butter and cheese at home and sells to the storekeeper affected? (1) and (2) The matter would largely depend on the arrangement made with the miller; but eight bushels of oats should grist about 1701 b oatmeal, the bushel yielding from 201 b to 231 b, depending upon the quality of oats. (3) and (4) The butterfat used in the manufacture of products for export. The scheme of taxation for controlling local prices is void of any application in regard to _ milled butter, whey butter, farmers’ dairy butter, or farmers’ cheese.

"Subscriber," Waitahuna, wishes to .knowhow to treat a horso with puffed legs? ■ If you have the chance, turn him out f ov a spell, shoes off., preferably in a paddock of a swampy nature. Failing- this, bathe his legs frequently with hot water, and allow as little standing in stable as possible, any small yard being better than being tied up on a hard floor.

DISPUTED CONTRACTS.

GOVERNMENT TAXATION A FACTOR. WELLINGTON, December 11.

The Chief Jutice to-day gave his decision in the case of the Waiwera Co-operative Dairy Company v. Wright, Stephenson, and Co. This was an originating summons to determine whether a letter signed by the secretary of the plaintiff company bound the company to a contract; whether the action of the Government in imposing a charge on butter-fat rendered a contract voidablo at the option of the plaintiff; and whether, in the contract, the plaintiff company must have its factory license for export. His Honor expressed the opinion that the mere fact that no resolution was passed by the directors to authorise the secretary to sell did not affect the validity of the contract. As to the arrangement that the contract was " subject to any action being taken by the Government, his Honor thought it must be taken to mean something done by_ the Government which made the contract impossible of performance, and the company had no right to cancel the contract.

Giving judgment in the case of the Hamua Co-operative Dairy Company v. Thomas Gray, his Honor said that the sola question was whether there was a concluded contract between the parties for tho sale of 120 tons of cheese by plaintiff to defendant. There was also the subsidiary question as to whether the butter-fat tax was payable by the defendant or the plaintiff company. His Honor ruled that the defendant was not bound to pay the tax, and that tho correspondence produced could not bo interpreted as an acceptance of a written agreement.