STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3293, 25 April 1917, Page 11

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sales. !umside, Wednesdays shburton, Tuesdays Addington, Wednesdays Walareka Railway Junction, Tuesdays ‘ Fortnightly. Clinton, Thursdays Balclutha, Fridays Gore, Tuesdays Oamaru, Tuesdays Wallacetown", Tuesdays Heriot Monthly. Palmerston, Ist Monday Ngapara & Wiutcn, Ist Thursday

Monthly (continued). Mataura & Waikouaiti, 2nd Thursday Riverton, 3rd Thursday Wyndham, last Thursday Balfour & Thornbury, Ist Friday Duntroon & Otautau, 2nd Friday Riversdale, 3rd Friday Waikaka, last Friday Periodically. Waipiata, Lumsden, Mossburn, Orepuki, Olilden

OTAGO. Early in the week the weather was showery; but although the temperature is considerably lower, very little rain has fallen, and it is cold and seasonable. Fair growth has been made, and the prospects of winter-feeding stock in the Central area have improved. Once again we have it demonstrated that if land is netted from rabbits, bare hillsides will, if climatic conditions are at all favourable, revert and becomo clothed with something very like their original herbage. It costs something certainly; but this old-time practice has been proved again and again as the only sane way of tackling the problem of vegetating naked lands. Rabbits from the Central district are in splendid order this season, and good money is beincf made by trappers. It is understood that for tinned rabbit lOd a pound is paid for export, while trappers will make anything from £5 upwards per week at the present price paid—viz., 7d a pair on the fence. , A good demand has been experienced this season for the Gladbrook polled Angus cattle and stud sheep. The Commonwealth and the North Island have been big buyers. The sheep dog trials at Dunback elicited good entries, and the opinion was expressed that the work of former years in some of the classes would have compared very favourably indeed with this year's exhibition.

Cheeso factories have been Icept fairly busy right up to the present, but some slackness from now on may be expected. It is anticipated that there will be a fair winter "make" owing to high values ruling for cheese.

Potatoes are being rushed into stores, and some thousands of sacks mutt have been delivered since trains have been curtailed. It is alleged that while steamers and trains cannot move produce fast enough, yet beer in quantity is being moved north. On account of the clouded outlook in regard to shipping, the sheep market is more or less sensitive, and an easement in lamb values is apparent. Yet there is no good reason for holders to be pessimistic and depress tho market for tho benefit of the other fellow. Why allow him to come along and lift lambs at shillings cheaper than a few weeks ago. Surely mixed store lambs aro safer property than doubtful ewes at 30s to 40s a piece. BURNSIDE MARKET. Thero was a wide selection of fat sheep at. Burnsido with a fair proportion of light and unfinished sheep. The demand was erratic, and prices fluctuated considerably, but generally on a lower range of values compared with the previous sale, light carcase animals sustaining the greater decline —say Is to 2s 6d a head. Export buying in a quiet way was effected. The yarding of fat lambs comprised many pens of lambs that were merely good stores, and seconds" were frequent with odd pens of primo quality. This section slumped badly, and exporters secured their quota at muchreduced values, while .graziers, being confident that no such decline was warranted, secured yards at prices which should in tho spring mean money, as 14s 6d to 18s 6d cannot bo deemed bad investing, dospito the shipping "bear." The fat cattlo yarded comprised an ordinary lot with a few pens of choice beef. Tho demand was good at about 47s 6d for best to 41a per 1001 b for cow beef, easing a shade ere tho close of the sale. There was a bi;r yard in-? of store cattle (550 to 400 head), but nothing- of very great merit, except some lots of fairish two-ycar-off *teers. Boners and condition animals wore keenly sought after at late rates, while best steers wore rather firmer. Fifty fat pigs evoked tho usual keen demand, but small and moderate stores wero somewhat easier. ALDINGTON YARDS. A?l stock sections at tho Addington Yards evintod a firmness for tho better grades of ftock. Competition fo- a good entry of fat Sheop was excellent, and prices advanced J 3 to 2s a head. About 6000 fat lambs Were yarded, and the quality was rather better, with a steady demand at late rates. Ewes and lambs comprised a small entry

in store sheep, which generally met with a good demand; inferior sorts were, however, dull of sale.

Export buyers were operating in a medium yarding of fat cattle, and prices wero very firm at late rates. Cows and heifers formed the bulk of the entry. The small entry of store cattle evoked a keen demand for good sorts; but values' were not up to holders' ideas, and passings were frequent. .The demand was keen for young springers. Values of fat pigs were maintained, while a small entry of small stores made from lis 6d to 17s for weaners, and medium to 325.

NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. Weather conditions are varied, and stock prices in the North" Island are maintained or lowered in accordance, whether the district is in want of rain or not. In the Wanganui-Feilding district welcome rain has fallen, and a fair demand is evident: Store wethers made 27s 6d to 32a, good ewes 26s 6d te 30s, forward lambs 17s, others from 9s; year-and-a-half steers £6 to £7 12s,- two-and-a-half steers £ll 2s, dairy heifers £B'to £8 18s, small weaner steers and heifers 40s, good £3 4a to £5 ss, cows with calves £l2 ss. In tho Manawatu small yardings rule, and a number of lines were passed: Fair lambs 18s, others lis 6d to 15s 3d; best dairy cows £l3 to £ls 10s, others from £9. In the VViairarapa the weather continues dry, and sales are infrequent at late quotations. In Poverty Bay fat sheep and fat cattle sold readily: Ewes 31s 6d to 355, wethers 35a to 375, empty store ewes 19s 3d to 225, two-tooth wethers 29s 3d, mixed sexes 26s 6d, four and six tooths 325. In Hawke's Bay there is a slackness in demand: Weaner steers £7 to £7 10s, heifers £6, year-ancka-half steers to £9 6s two-and-a-half-year-olds and three-and-a-half steers to £l3, two-tooth wethers 22s 6d to 328 9d, mixed-sex shorn lambs 9s 6d to 16s 6d. six and eight tooth ewes 26s 2d to 28s 6d, lour and six tooth wethers 32s 9d to 34s yd.

CENTRAL OTAGO SALES. The third series of stock sales in Central Otago were held last week, when fair entries or sheep were entered at the various centres. J.tie attendances were good, and sheep were secured both by Canterbury and Southland buyers, who were not to be deterred from buying good, strong, open-woolled sheep. Feed promises to be fairly right on the hills; but on the farms turnips are lacking, and, although there is a tinge of fresh greenness in the paddocks, there is no bulk of feed, and an open, fine winter is a desideratum if no stock troubles are to be incurred. Lambs probably ranged about 2s lower than at the previous sale; but ewes were firm and also good wethers, and very few lots were passed at auction. At Lauder some 15C0 sheep were yarded and mot with a brisk demand for best sorts; but few good lots were penned. Some prices obtained include:—Two-tooth ewes, 2Js; two-tooth and four-tooth ewes, 28s; six-tooth and eight-tooth fine-woollcd wethers passed at 25s 4d; sound-mouth ewes 24s Id; failing-mouth, 3s 6d to 10s; wether lambs, 15s; mixed sexes, 17s; others (to hold over), 12s 6d to 14s. At Ranfurly there was a small yarding of about 2000 sheep. Ewe lambs made 18s 7d; fats, 28s 6d; store lambs to 19s; others (to hold over), 10s 6d to 13s 6d; twotooth wethers, 24s 9d; failing and full mouth-ewes, 17s 2d; done old owes as at other centres.

At Oturehua from 9000 to 10,000 sheep wero penned, and values ruled as follow: Draft station merino ewes, 8s lid to 17s 3d; forward six-tooth ewes, 28s- two-tooth ewes, 28s; full-mouth halfbred ewes, 20s; sound-mouths, 14s 6d ; full and failing ewes, 3s 6d to 14s 6d ; eight-tooth Romney-Corrie-dale cross wethers, 31s, and tho second yard at 24s 9d; cull wethers, 16s lOd to 18s sd; forward lambs (mixed sexes). 21s 7d; small wether lambs, lis 8d; mixed culls, 7s 7d to 13s id. At Waipiata some 8000 sheep were yarded, chiefly lambs and ewes. A station draft of merino ewes made 3s lOd; soundmouth Corriedalc cross owes, 28s to 30s, and wethers, 28s to 30s; medium two, four, six, and eight-tooth ewes, 24s to 28s 9d; failing, Bs_ lid to 10s; lambs, 14s 3d to 16s 6d; mixed sexed lambs, 13s 6d to 17s 6d; wethers, 10s. . At Middle-march there was a small yarding, but the demand was keen, and tilers was a good sale at prices on a par with other centres. STOCK NOTES. Tho announcement by the general manager of tho New Zealand Refrigerating Company in regard to the allotment of space by tho Overseas Committee, Wellington, has had a "bear" effect on the market prices of lambs, and, in sympathy with sheep, they have receded in value. Thero is not exactly a slump, but exporters in Otago are at the moment securing offerings at lower rates. Graziers, too, who have tho nerve and aro optimistic in regard to the future aro buying at somo shillings cheaper than they could a month ago. With the feed available and the present open- weather, tho writer is convinced that holders of lambs should take heart and hang on to their early purchases rather than "get from under." Farmers should view the matter from all aspects, and if need bo arrange to carry over until next shearing more sheep, ft i< -.- "ih considering whether lambs will not pay hotter (ban owes. Whatever tho position is nt_ tho Burnsido Works, it is not improbablb that space may bo secured

at the Pukeuri Works. These works increased their accommodation largely, and tho cool storage there could probably hold all, the f ozen meat provided by North Otago, oven if no shipping space was available- for a considerable term. It. is possible, of course, but improbable, that shipments will cease for any very lengthened period. Finally, the markets are moro or less sensitive, Mid a rush of sheep is consequently inadvisable in everyone's interests. A record sale of fat wethers is reported from Western Australia, where there were sold privately, on behalf of the owners, De Grey Station, Port Hedland, 10,000 merino wether, four, six, and eight-tooth, for delivery _ off shears about the end of June. This is the largest sale ever made in one line in the Port Hedland district. The wethers have been purchased by a goldfields buyer, and when shorn will be driven overland a distance of 750 miles.

The first annual meeting of the Australian Clydesdale Horse Society was hold at the R.A.S. Showground, Mr G. L. Jones presiding. The report stated that the entries for the first volume of the Stud Book numbered 840. The membership had increased from 52 to 116. TRACTOR PLOUGHING. Although the ideal tractor machine has not been made, yet they are being used to advantage on Victorian farms, where experienced labour is scarce. On the Lindenow flats (reports the Weekly Times) are two, one of local make, owned by Mr Jeffers. It is of 30 horse-power, is compact, easily worked, and responsive. Kerosene is the fuel. Its chief jault is that the wheels are perhaps not sufficiently wide. Mr Jeffers uses the machine for a diversity of purposes. Besides ploughing and harvesting with it, ho hauls wood, chaffs, .and presently he may employ it for pumping for irrigation. In ploughing, Mr Jeffers draws two disc ploughs, one of six and one of five furrows, and a roller. The tractor travels at the rate of one mile and a-half an hour. Thus in an eight hours' day he turns over 12 acres. All his ploughing is now done with the machine. He does not bring it out in wet weather, and says he can do so much in the fine days that it is not necessary. Only one man is required. The tractor is set going: in a minute or two. It is self-steering, and the ploughs follow "like a dog." The practice is to plough round a paddock. In harvesting the machine draws a 9ft harvester on the high gear, and travels at four miles an hour. In making a comparison between tractor and horse ploughing, Mr Jeffers emphatically gives the preference to the former. Twelve horses* and three men in three teams would be required to do the work accomplished by one man and the machine. When-the horses are not employed they havo to be fed; when the tractor is idle the costs stop. The outlay on the whole plant—tractor and ploughs —was £7OO. One tin of kerosene is consumed in two hours; so that one_ tin ploughs three acres. Kerosene is obtained at the rate of 5s a tin. The man costs 10s and the kerosene £1 a day. Lubrication oil runs into about 6d an acre, and the total bare costs of ploughing are 3s an acre, without reckoning wear and tear and interest. If the ploughing is done by contract it would cost 10s an acre. When it is remembered that the machine is used for harvc: ng, chaffcutting, wood-sawing, and hauling, its value will be understood. Working easily, Mr Jeffers ploughed a 60-acre paddock in six days. That it can be made of service in small paddocks is a decided advantage; but it stands to reason that it would be still more valuable in large. A BARE-FOOTED EUROPE. " A barefooted Europe is not improbable if this war continues," said John F. Stucke, vice-president of tho American Chamber of Commerce in Italy, and general manager of an American shoo machinery company, in an interview concerning supply and business conditions met by Americans abroad. "At tho present time a pair of heavy mountain shoos lasts a soldier but six weeks," ho said. " These shoes have their heels and soles studded with nails at that. The shoes aro largely made in Italy; but with American machinery and American leather, and tho quality of the materials is the best we can furnish; but that quality is, of course, inferior to that sold before the war. When manufactured by the hundred thousand those shoes cost the Government about 4dol each. But the supply i 3 always behind tho demand, since materials arrive very slowly from America. On ono ship, tho Palermo, which was torpedoed in the Mediterranean, off the coast of Spain, in early December, the material for nearly half a million pairs of shoes was losfc - , . T , . "The retail store trade in Italy is now obliged to pay nearly 7dol wholesale for shoes that before tho war cost and it is probable that Amerioan shoes will be selling in Italy soon for lOdol and 12dol tho pair, because of their shape and fit, have long been tho chief product on the market here, and particularly since the war, as tho hand-made shoo cannot bo made quickly enough."