NOTES ON RURAL TOPIC?.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 10

NOTES ON RURAL TOPIC?.

There is an idea about that space in the freezing works- throughout Sheep Prices. Otago and Southland is Are They assured and adequate, and Justified? that any restriction hi regard to curtailing the slaughtering of sheep is unlikely. The consequence is that values of sheep, which were gradually coming back to the export equivalent rates, have steadied, and it may easily happen that agents may get busy and influence a tremendous turnover. Someone will be landed with dear sheep, as values must come baok to the legitimate export buyers' prices, which, _ under the Imperial purchase agreement, is at per lb of meat: and we know what they are, or should do so. A first quality 601 b wether in the works is worth, say. 26s and there is the pelt, worth, say, five weeks after shearing, 9d per lb. or, at the most, 3s to 4s a sheen. "Say. then, a prime 601 b sheep is worth 31s; and yet we see forward store lines change hands for "topping up" at 325. It takes, too, a very good line indeed to make an average of 601 b freezing weight. Then there is the question of the supply of slaughtermen. Will 'the Australian men bo allowed to operate here? What about shipping? Despite the assertion that the ships are "in sight," there is no justification for the present high values of sheep, except the wealth of feed and the gambling spirit which tempts a man to buy on the chance of a turnover at a profit. Yes, a profit is made, but it is spelt " commission." The following schedule of prices' may be of timelv use to fatteners: Per lb. ■Wethers, first quality—--721b and under sgd Over 721 b and up to 851 b 6Jd Over 85lb and up to 98lb (subject to

special approval fey the Inspector).. 4Jsi Wethers, second quality 5J3 Ewes, first quality—--721b and under ». 4J<3 Over 721 b and up to 85lb .. ... ... 4§d Ewes, second quality .. ... 4-gd Lamb— Specially prime and Canterbury quality, 421 b and under 6J<3 First quality, 421 b and under «* .. 6jjdl First quality, over 421 b 6j}<J Second quality 6jic|| The foregoing rates are given by the Imperial Government.

Where hay or chaff containing Treed seeds of various kinds is fed to Pile the Manure live stock it is in the nature and KIM of things if the neglected Weed Seeds, farmyard manure becomes

badly infested with weed seeds. Certain weed seeds may militate somewhat in the value of a manure, although possibly only costly experience would deter most farmers from taking all or any manure offering. In other countries more care is taken in regard to this matter, however. How, it may be asked, can the danger of spreading the weed seeds in, manure bo lessoned? Quite easily, as a matter of fact. 'lf the manure is "kept in heaps 6ft to Bft deep for five or six weeks a fermentation sets in which with the heat generated will practically kill all suspected seeds, with possibly a few escapes on the surface. These can be destroyed by placing, say. the outer foot of manure of the heap after six weeks at the bottom of another heap of manure. The method is surely simple enough, and worth while the trouble incurred, if one can keep the spread of harmful weeds in check.

The mangold, as a plant from the seashore., one would naturally Salt for expect to benefit with a Mangolds. dressing of salt, and on _ light lands salt is an almost essential dressing. The most suitable quantity, however, is a matter on which there is considerable difference of opinion. To obtain definite information on this point experiments were made for three years with quantities per acre of 2£cwt, scwt, lOcwt, and 15cwt respectively. The salt was applied in the middle of April (September here) and thoroughly worked into tho_ soil by cultivation, harrowing and rolling three times before rowing l up, the ridges being again split before sowing. Special care has to be taken to ensure the salt being completely mixed with the soil, otherwise the seed is liable to be damaged. The dressings were made across all the manurial and variety trial plots, and the weights are the average of the different plots. The result was the following: The application of produced an average increase of about four tons roots; scwt produced an average increase of about five and a-half tons roots; 10cwt produced an average increase of about eight and. a-half tons roots; 15cwt produced an average increase of about four tons roots. The big application of 15cwt was tried just to see what the effect would be. The experiment seems to demonstrate that the quantity of salt that can be used with the best result is lOcwt per acre for the mangold crop.

It is useful to be able to tell the age of a horee when occasion reTelllng Age of quires it. The following , a Horse. guidance in verse from j Biggie's "Horse Book" can _be easily 'committed to memory : Two middle nippers you behold Before the colt is two weeks old); Before eight weeks two more will come; Eight months, the "corners" cut the gun*. The outside grooves will disappear Prom middle two. in just one year; In two years from the second pair; In three the "corners," too, are bare. At two, the middle nippers drop; At three, the second pair can't step; When four years old the third pair goes; At five, a full new set he shows. The deep black spots will pass from view, At six years, from the middle two; The second pair at seven years; At eight, the spots each "corner' clears. From middle nippers, upper jaw, At nine the black spots will withdraw; The second pair at ten are white; Eleven finds the "corners" light. As time goes on the horsemen know The oval teeth three-sided grow; They longer get, project before Till twentv, when we know no more. AGRICOLA.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. ( By Ageicola. "New Chum/' Clydevale, asks: "(1) Docs cocksfoot grow satisfactorily in Southland? (2) "What is the amount of seed to sow per acre? (3) What variety? (4) Is it advisable to sow in the autumn? ii) Does seed mature • the first year, or otherwise? (6) What is the average yield? (7) Can cocksfoot be cut every year? (1) Yes. (2) Sown by itself, up to 161 bof good seed is required. (3) There is but the one varietv (Dactylis glowerata), but seed saved somewhere in Otago would provide the , acclimatised article, and is to bo preferred in ordinary circumstances. (4) Sown at any time from now on to the autumn, will do. (51 Seed sown now will ripen seed next summer. (6) and (7) The yield is necessarily verv wide, depending upon the season etc.; but, once established, the cocksfoot can be 'cut every year.