STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 9

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sales. Burnaide, Wednesdays Ashburton, Tueßdaya Addington, Wednesdays Waiareka Bail way Junotion, Tuesdays .Wallacetown, Tuesdays Fortnightly. Clinton, Thursdays Balclutha, Fridays Gore, Tuesdays Damaru, Tuesdays Wallacetown, Tuesdays Heriot, Thursdays Monthly. Palmerston, Ist Monday Wlnt'on, Ist Thursday Duntrocn, 2nd Friday

Monthly (continued). Woodlands, 2nd Thursday Wyndham, last Thursday Bnlfonr, 3rd Thursday Thornbury, Ist Friday Duntroon & Otautau, 2nd Friday Riversdale, 3rd Friday Waikaka, last Friday Clydevale, last Thursday Periodically as Advertised. Lumsden, Mo.?sburn, Orepuki, Mataura, Waikouaiti, lUverton, Ngapara, and Otago Central Sales.

OTAGO.

Very fair weather prevailed in Otago during the week, despite over lin of rain having fallen, the rain showers, indeed, having been helpful in .respect to the turnip ground even if shearing in places has been temporarily held up. Inland climatic conditions have been variable enough, Pembroke reporting squally wind with rain; but the grain crops are just about all reaped, while towards Alexandra exceptionally hot weather has been experienced, with the result .that shearing has progressed, although experienced shearers have been nono too plentiful. The cereal crops generally are looking most promising. .Comparatively few shorn sheep have been lost ■as the result of odd cold nights; but losses have occurred.

Turnip-thinning is making good progress, leading exponents of the art being paid 2s per hour. School boys are making 5s to os a day, while women are to be seen helping in the important work in the Clutha district.

Representations have been made to the Government to curb the increasing' demand of payments for harvest work. In some districts men have been asking 2s 6d per hour, whereas the ordinary rate which farmers . are willing to pay is Is 6d per hour with "tucker." Considering .that the farmers have contracted to sell 'their corn to the Government at a, price under what it would bring in a free market, they consider they have cause for complaint. The dairy produce stores are filling up rapidly; but relief is anticipated immediately. Good progress, too, is being made with the erection in Ehinedin of tho cheese stores for tho Otago Dairy-producers' Cool Storage Company, and the end of next month should see the work practically finished. BURNSIDE MARKET. The red rag which served tho nurposo of denoting where .the sale commenced at Burnside in the past has been added to the collection of some curio-hunter, necessitating the Saleyards Company further expense. The directors, however, have risen to the occasion nobly, and the caretaker's new flag, in the form of a Union Jack, was the cause of patriotic sentiment being indulged in ere the sale commenced. Speeches were made eulogising the flag aa symbolic of the safety under which we are living. AH joined in singing 'the National Anthem, with three cheers for tho Union Jack.. The quality of tho fat sheep yarded was good. Values wero hardly equal to the rates obtainable at the previous sale, while there was a distinct fall ere the last lot was reached. Tho small varding of fa't lambs included but few nens of quality and prices showed little alteration, and may be said to be on a par with the high rates of the previous week. The fat cattle section was but moderately supplied with a number of plain cows and light steers, and odd pens of prime-quality steers. The demand ~ was erratic, and . values fluctuated. Beef generally made about last sale's .values —viz., up to 50s per IOOJb, and in places more, and less for cow beef. About 200 store cattle wero penned, included in tho entry being some 70 fairish two and three year old steers, the balance being cows and young sorts. It was a slow sale, and holders failed to secure their mor.ey for grown cattle, and all wore passed. "Year and a-half to two-year-olds sold at £7 10s to £8 10r>. Dairy cows sold freclv—£lo to £l6 5s for best sorts; others from £6. All pigs were selling at unchanged values. ADDING TON YARDS. Tho yarding of fat sheep at Addington was a moderate one of average quality, the demand being quiet at about last week's values. Some buying for export eventuated. Tho entry of fat lambs was fairly large,' and these wero selling- at up to 27s 10d; light sorts from 23s 6d to 25s 6d. Store shcop .sold at rates hardly up to lato quota- ■ tions, although tho yarding wa3 not excessive; but farmers were not in large ' attendance, owing to harvest and other farm work being pressing. The fat cattle section evoked bright bidding at prices, for best beef beyond exporters' levels. Cow beef was sold under last week's values, and some was secured for export. Good grades of store cattle in forward condition wero easily cleared at late quotations; but lowgrade quality was neglected except at reduced rates. All promising dafrv cows maintained recent values. Pig 3 sold at un-

changed rates, with porkers, perhaps, a shade easier.

COUNTRY STOCK SALES

There wore good yardings of cattle and sheep at the Palmers'ton sale, and a fair demand experienced, stock passed at auction being in most cases subsequently placed. A lino of shorn two-tooth open-wool ewes made 28s lid, and a lot of some hundreds of fine wool six and eight tooth wethers 5:265; medium ewes and lambs wero passed at 17s 3d all counted; heavy ewes sold at 31s 3d to 35s 6d; fat wethers, 32s 6d; six and eight tooth ewes, 30s; shorn fourtooth ewes and lambs (a fair-sized line) made 25s Id all counted; two-year-old Shorthorn heifers, £9 17s od; three-year-olds, £11; ordinary, £8 10s; aged cows (delivered) passed at £6 Ids; year and ahalf Shorthorn heifers, £7 10s, and the steers £lO Is; good calves, £3 2s; bulls, £6 12s; cows, £l4. The Olutha stock sale proved none too exhilarating, little stock being sold at auction. About 1200 sheep were penned, three-fourths of the entry being two-tooth wethers. The best of these wero passed at 28s, and the culls also Were withdrawn at 19s 9d. A yard of 150 two-'tooth (small) ewes made 30s 6d; some fine-woolled six and eight tooth wethers were passed at 28s 6d; a line of aged but big ewes with lambs made 23s all counted. Fat ewes and wethers made late Burnside values. Fully 300 cattle were yarded, but 'they were not rushed, and practically but 'two yards were sold. The attendance was only fair. NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. The stock markets in the North Island owing to the holidays have been stagnating, I and any transactions made have been on a par with the previous week's quotations. OTAGO WOOLS. | At the fourth series of appraisements of wool under the requisition scheme a't the | Duftedin centre an excellent selection of | wool was submitted in the various stores I for valuation purposes. Some of the more j or less well-known clips from the various 1 districts under their respective brands, with E rices, may. prove of general interest, dealing first with the finer wools, the : merino, Puketoi (Central), realised for ram ; combings 22£d; ewe, 19£d to 20^d; hogI got, 20d; wether to 19J>d; clothing, 17|d; j Waipori (Waipori)—the merino, 20d; half- ' bred, 19d; hog, 17A_d; crossbred, to Malvern Downs (Central) —for merino, 18d to 22d; halfbred hogget, 17^d; Elfin Bay (Lakes) —for merino, 18d to 19d; Birchgrove (Lakes) —the merino, 18d; halfbred, l'/*d to 19Jjd; M R (Central)—the merino, 13d; halfbred to 19d; crossbred, 17gd; the Downs (Central) —the merino, 18d; halfbred, 19gd ; crossbred, 18d; Earnscleugh (Central) —the merino to 18d; . halfbred, 18A.d; Phoenix over horseshoe (Lakes)—the merino, 15£d; halfbred .to 17d; S 8 (Central)—the merino, l'/d; halfbred, 18d; crossbred, 15fd to 16id; two bars under a bar (Waikaia)— j halfbred, 20d to 22d; halfbred hogget, 21d ; ! J B over H (Central) —quarterbred, 22d; . halfbred, 21£d ; crossbred, 18d; Greenvale I (Waikaia)—halfbred, 18£d to 214. d; cross- j bred, 17J>d to 20£d; Lakeside (Central)— halfbred, 19Ad to 21d; crossbred, 18d to 19d; T E (Tapanui)—halfbred, 17£d to 21d ; Hukarere (Tapanui)—halbrcd, 18£d to 20id; crossbred, 17d to 19d: 55 (Tapanui)— halfbred ewe, 20d to 20^d; hogget to 17£d; S C W over Traquair—halfbred wether to 20id; hogget, 19d; crossbred wether, 19d; crossbred hogget to 19d; 4 (Waitahuna) — halfbred, 18d to 20d) crossbred hogget, 18id; crossbred ewe, 17id; H R over sheepshears (Central) —halfbred ewe, wether, 17£d to 19d; Cowan Braes over D 2 over bar —halfbred to 19Jkl; crossbred i to 16Jd ; Grdenbank (Central) —halfbred, j 18d to 19id; Sunnyside (Palmerston) —halfbred, l&acl; crossbred, 16Jd ; N over Abbots- I ford (Taieri)—crossbred hogget to 19|d; ! wether to 19d; C B in square—halfbred i ewe, 19d ; Ballantrae (Tapanui)—crossbred, I 18d to 19d; Flag (Centra])—halfbred. 19d; ! P 5 over Gladsmuir (Central) —halfbred, j 19d; crossbred, 16icl to 17d; Chestermains j (Central)—crossbred. 16id to 19d ; Blackstone (Central)—halfbred, 17d to 19d; Clover Hills (Palmerston)—halfbred, 17Jd i to, 182 d ; M K (Tapanui)—Romnev, 17£d to 18Ad; Eurolie (Palmers'ton)—halfbred, 18Ad ; G H (Balclutha)—halfbred, 18^d; crossbred, 17£d; M O over Ivy Bridge—halfbred,. crossbred, 15£cl to 16£d; G S in oblong j over T in square (Central) —halfbred, 17d to 18£d; crossbred. 15Ad to 16£d ; W I (Clydevale)—halfbred, 18-id ; crossbred, 16id ; R T (Central)—halfbred, 18id; J X (Central)— I hogget, 18d; crossbred ewe, 17|d; HH conjoined (Tapanui)—crossbred. 17id to 18d; O R (Tapanui)—crossbred, 17d to 18d ; Foulder Hill (Middlemarch)—halfbred, 18d : B over W J (Central)—halfbred ewe, 18d ; crossbred. 16Ad to 17d ; Salisbury over N Z (Taieri)—hn If bred to 17|d; crossbred, 15jd to 16gd; W J in circle (Central) —hogget, 17gd; g 9 (Central)—ewe and hogget, 17|cl: C O (Central)—halfbred, o.7£d to 17|d; R H over K (Central)—hogget. 17£d; Lone Gully (Central)—halfbred, 17d to 17id! crossbred. 16£d; To Wepu (Waipahi)—halfbred, l7Ad; crossbred, 17d to 17£d ; V (Olutha )—hogget. 17|d; ewo, 17id; Invcntiel (Clutha)—Romney, 17kl; Fassiforn (Tapanui)—crossbred, 17d tfo" 17id; N i (Waitahuna)—halfbred, 17£d ; D (Tapanui)— hogget, 17id ; cwo, 17d ; 4 over B (Central) —halfbred, 17d; G D B over arrow (Lakes) —halfbred to 17cl; crossbred, 15d to 16id; W K (Central)—halfbred, 17d j crossbred - owe, 17d to 18id; T G (Clinton)— hogget, 17d; 7 V (Clinton)—crossbred, lod to l7d; Eon its back over M (Tapanui)— ' hogget, 17d; crossbred ewe, 16^d; 2 F

(Central) —hogget, 17d; crossbred, 16d; Ayrburn over horseshoe (Lakes) —crossbred, 15id to 16±d. Lisrht fine pieces. 15d 'to JBid; fine bellies to 12Jd; fine necks to 15id; extra locks, 9d; best crossbred pieces, I2d to 14|d.

been discussed, but no definite decision had been arrived at. . «n D iriiixiiD«i jtirn dactodai AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL i NEWS. I There appears to be some anxiety among i farmers regarding the supply of wheat sacks (saya the Oamaru Mail). Stocks at present held are known to be light, and as the harvest promises to be exceptionally oarly, it is a question of some doubt as to whether supplies will be sufficient to meet the earlier requirements. That will largely depend upon the condition of the wheat when reaped. From Canterbury comes a report that the wheat this season will be much, softer than for the past two years. If a similar condition prevails in North Otago, which is not improbable, owing to frequent rains and the fact that the heavy crops havo been borne down, it will mean that threshing from the stook will not be generally possible, unless farmers are prepared to take the risk of putting their grain into bags in a soft condition. If, then, thrashing from stook is generally impossible, there should be no anxiety in respect to an adequate -supply of sacks being available when required, for we understand that weighty shipments are already upon the water and should reach the market 'before the demand becomes anything like general. "I would like very much if the department would be a little easy on us this season in the matter of cutting thistles," said Mr Robertson when acting as spokesman of a deputation which waited on the Right Hon. Mr Massey at Middlemarch on Saturday. The speaker went on to ex--plain that the farmers in the district had no. desire that the penal clauses of the Noxious Weeds Act should be suspended, nor that farmers should abstain from keeping the thistles in check, but, he added, "wo are working twelve hours every day, and still .cannot cope with the most essential work on the" farm. We would like the Act toned down a little." Mr Mason pointed out that the root crops in the district were being neglected owing to the scarcity of labour, and. it could not therefore be expected that the destruction of Californian thistles could receive the attention which the department desired they should. He knew of one farmer who had been threatened with a summons- if he did not comply with the command of the Agricultural Department's officer to destroy thistles growing on his property. Mr Massey, as a practical farmer, grasped tho position instantly, and replied: "I will see to it."

FOOD CONTROL IN THE UNITED STATES.

Ici and Refrigeration (U.S. America) says: "The State of New York has passed I a Food Control Bill which provides for the j appointment by-the Governor of a State Food Commission of three members, who ! will have a general supervision of the food i su .ppl.v in the State, and are to co-operate ; with the Federal Food Administrator. It defines hoarding of food and provides | penalties therefore; prohibits destruction of , food for the purpose of limiting the supply |or enhancing prices, and provides for I seizure of foods that are being held for I speculative purposes. Provision is also j made for the establishment of municipal | te . rl P m Markets land for purchase and sale of food by municipalities under the direction of the Commission. The Commission is also granted power to compel common . carriers to give preference to the transpor- , tation of necessities, not inconsistent with i directions by Federal authority. All powers and duties of the former State Food feupply Commission, which, it succeeds, are conferred upon the' new Commission, of which Geo. W. Perkins was appointed head In a statement issued by the Food Administration Department, Washington, D.C., August 14, it is declared that there is a decrease in the wo'rld's food-producing animals of 115,005,000, as compared with i pre-war conditions. In this country there was an increase of 7.000.000 in cattle and a decrease of 3,000,000 in sheep. Hogs increased 3,000,000 in number, but decreased in average weight, so that the production of hog meat is about maintained. The increasing demand upon tho country for meat is shown by the export record, "which for a three-year pre-war period was 1,055,614,0001 b, while for tho year cndiri"June 30, 1916. it was 1,512,375,0001 b. The waters of our coasts, it is added, are enormously rich in food fish. By proper preservation, and by establishing plants for frozen fish, we can increase greatly our supply, and thus relieve largely tho pressure due to inadequate supply of meat, lho Food Administration Department is planning a.campaign of publicity in order to stimulate apple consumption and storage, thus to some extent conserving wheat and meats needed for the Allies. Tho estimate on the apple crop of 1917 is about 190,000,000 bushels, or 63,000,000 barrels. 'W« must eat up at home more than 2,000,000 barrels of, apples which would ordinarily be exported. To get the best of the crop to market in prime condition it must be picked carefully at maturity and promptly cooled in temporary storage, and then skilfully graded and packed. The . Government will eiioom-a.ge apple-eating j and apple storage, but discourage apple speculation, which abnormally raises prices.' Thf Food Administration called a special conference of apple-growers, apple-shippers, I and others 'to meet at Portland, Ore., [ September 13, to discuss the pressing need for conserving crops/ such as apples, ior the public, and determine how this may best bo accomplished." - \ " | COLD STORAGE IN 1 CANADA. ! At a time when the Brjtish .Government ! is looking into _ cold storage resources at Home, with a view to examining their sufficiency, it is interesting to hear from Canada a record of the refrigerating facilities of that Dominion, contained in one of a series of reports on the cost of living in Canada, prepared for the Canadian Ministry of Labour There are., it is stated, about 110 cold storage warehouses in Canada, operated Joy 76 different companies, two being Arfccrican-owned. These warehouses have a total refrigerated space of over 24,00,000 cubic feet. Of tho companies referred to above five are largo export houses exporting chiefly dairy products; 12 companies deal chiefly in fish ; and 39 deal in general cold storago commodities, including meats, dairy products, eggs, aiul fish, tho proportion of each commodity handled depending upon tho location of the warehouse. The largo centres of cold storago operations and the approximate number of cubic feet of cold storago space available at each are: Montreal, 3,350,000; Toronto 3.600.O0O; Winnioeg, 2.500,000; Calgary 1.350.O0O; Moosejaw, 600,000; Edmonton 800,000; and Vancouver, 1,500,000.--Cold' Storage, London. * i HARVEST PROSPECTS. SHIPMENT OF AUSTRALIAN WHEAT. CHRISTCHURCH, January 8, The Hon. Mr MacDonald remarked today that the general opinion appeared to be that the prospects were never better for a fairly good harvest. Some figures relating to the possiblo yield had been compiled, but in view of the weather and other possibilities he preferred to wait till tho threshing re- ! turns came to hand before making anything ! public. Another shipment of Australian wheat is expected at a North Island port in tho very near future, and ho_ is of opinion that all tho wheat purchased in Australia by tho Government would bo required. Asked respecting tho plans for next seaeon's wheat-sowing, tho Minister said the question of guaranteeing next harvest's wheat had been before the Cabinet and had

Owing to the abundance of feed in the lakes and rivers of the thermal district, a considerable improvement has taken place this" year in the condition of the rainbow trout. Good fish have been taken from Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti, and in the river at Okere. Pish are plentiful at Taupo, in many instances in better condition than at this time last year. Anglers report I that, owing to the cool weather, fish are | not rising to the fly as freely as usual, but it is anticipated that excellent- sport will bo obtained later in the season. The Waikato River has provided some excellent rainbow trout, but owing to the abundance of feed they can only be taken as the reward of much patient effort. The fishing in the Wanganui River is also reported as being patchy up to the present time. Mr Mosley, of Clydevale (one of the judges of the Shorthorn and crossbred cattlo at the Owaka Show last week), in the course of conversation (writes our Balclutha correspondent), strongly condemned the Go-, vernment for not doing more to assist the farmers in the South Island to improve the breed of their cattle. It had always seemed strange to him that, while there wero experimental farms in the North Island for the improvement of stock, nothing was done by the Government for the farmers in the South. The time had come when the South should get its due, and the State, in view of the fact that taxation would bo increased, should face its responsibility. The more the individual farmer was helped the mox - o the State was helped, (he State being simply an aggregation of farmers. The largo companies in tho past used to import stock which improved tho strain of cattle for both beef and milk purposes, but since the breaking up of largo estates this had ceased, and it was now the duty of the State to see that the right class of cattlo was imported. The Minister for Lands (Mr Frank Clarke) stated recently that unless stern measures were taken at once thoso persona who a year ago prophesied' that rabbits had become an. asset were likely to experience a rudo awakening. At the beginning of this year rabbit exporters made strong representations to the vermin destruction branch of tho Lands department that tho extermination of rabbits by means of poison should cease owing to the demand for rabbits in England. Thj department immediately ceased! poisoning, but its misgivings expressed at the time were now being fully -justified by an abnormal increase of tho pest. Owing to tho fine growth of grass, the largo State forests,

private lands, and railway tracks wero being- overrun. He had directed his officers* that in this case economy could best bo served by thoroughly energetio action, an 4 that the Government was prepared to copo with the danger whatever the cost. At thd same timo private owners would have td make special efforts in conjunction with the department.

The problem of the- farmer with regard to tho question of grass seed becomes increasingly acute, and imported grass seeds, particularly, are steadily risinjf in price. Locally-grown grass seeds {say* Auckland Sltar) aro also increasing in price and with the exception of Now Zealand* ryegrass the prospects are for higher! prices this season than ever. Ryegrass should not show a very great increase owing to tho good crops m Canterbury and Hawke's Bay. Quotations for the new crop of cocksfoot, however, opened at la 4d per lb f.0.b., s.e., at Lvttlton recently, and theso prices seem likely to be maintained. In tho Auckland district . tho principal demand is for autumn sowing.Tho continued fine weather will probably mean earlier burns than usual, and so far as oan be seen tho now orops of rye and cocksfoot will not be available for theso sowings, a fact which will certainly not tend to lessen the prices. It is ost.im.ated that where a farmer could formerly sow his burn at about 23s per aero, it will now cost him something in the vicinity of 40s per acre. With rogard to danthonia, which is practically tho only locally-grown; crop, tho indications aro that it will be very much smaller than usual and consequently higher prices may be expected for this also.

Mr Frank File, son of the late Mr Chas, File, tho original breeder of Romney Marsh sheep, is at present on a visit to Ne\yi Zealand. Ho is manager of Mr S. M. Osborne's station at Cooma, N.S.W., ana five years ago purchased some 2000 Romney. sheep in the Dominion. Ho came to New Zealand on this occasion to purchase a few stud rams, but was unable to get those ha desired, tho suitable animals not being for sale. Speaking to a Wellington Peso reporter, ho expressed tho opinion that tho Romney breed in New Zealand was changing, taking on more of the Lincoln character, and was not now suitable for tho New South Wales country. Mr File will return to Australia shortly. Growers of fat lambs say that -buyers aro offering them - 4s to 5s per head less for such stock this year than they were paying at this time last year (according to the Timaru Heralgi). Tho Clutha Free Press says that farmers in that district are paying 2s an hour for skilled turnip thinners just now. A large number of school boys are also being employed at ss. and 6s a day, and in many parts women are being employed at this work, which is being pushed forward at & great rate. A Banks Peninsula farmer states thai there is a surplus of labour for tho cocksfoot harvest, and that every day ft largo number of men return from there. Many of these meh have come from the North Island and tho West Coast. Shearing operations in tho district ar* now nearing completion (states the Alex* andra Herald). There has been a shortage of shearers, and cases are reported of novices and retired hands co miner forward to- meet the emergency. In another weak or two most of tho wool will be on the way to the market. The growth of the Northern Wairoa pastoral industry can be gauged by the | fact that last season 500 bales of wool were shipped from Tangowahino wharf, whereaj this season the shipments will total over 600 bales. In connection with the shortage of grain sacks in the Ashburton district (says the Guardian), a local firm, after considerable searching, managed to relieve the pressure, to a certain extent by procuring 50,000 second-hand sacks. These are being graded out and supplied to farmers, who are purchasing them eagerly. Club-root is prevalent in tho turnip crops of the district (says the Stratford Post), being particularly noticeable in second cropping of the root about Cardiff. * There are some magnificent-crops of grass seed in the Nightcaps district, and a recent visitor to the locality expressed the opinion that they would thrash record yields.