STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 9

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sate*. Monthly (continued!. Bnrnslde, Wcdnesc. Woodlands, 2nd TlicraAshbnrton, Tuesdaj day Aldington, Wednesdays ffyndham, last Thurf Waiarcka Rail way Jnno- day tlon. Tuesdays ' Balfour, 3rd Thursday Wallacetown. Tneadays Thombury, Ist Friday Heriot, Thursdays Duntroon & Otautaa, 2nd Friday t Fortnightly. Rlversdale, 3rd Friday mi , m, ..„,!„„. Waikaka. last Friday Clinton. C i y a e vale. last ThursBalolutha, Fridays J , Gore, Tuesdays ' Oamaru, Tuesdays Periodically as AdverWallacetown, Tuesdays Used. Lumsden, Moss'ourn, Monthly. Orepuki, Mataura, Palmerston, Ist Monday WaikouaiH. -tiverWinton, Ist Thursday ton, Ngapara, and Duntroon, 2nd I'-ridoy , Otago Central sales. OTAGO. Another fine week was experienced, and harvesting and farm work were well advanced in Otago. There is more than a suspicion of an autumn temperature in the evenings, -and there are indications of a prolonged winter feeding, and an early call on hay reserves, etc. Prices of stock have not improved, and there are considerable lines of surplus sheep offering, hut few buyers. Cereal crops are yielding well, and potato crops are patchy, but of very fair quality. m. Owing to the preponderance of the Tuscan variety of wheat grown in Otago this eeason, Otago millers are endeavouring to secure first offer of all provincial-grown Velvet and Pearl varieties of wheat, or; failing this, a shipment of the Commonwealth purchased grain for mixing purposes. The increment of £d per bushel per month on the flat rate of 6s 6d per bushel f.Ojb. for milling grain will now commence on May 1. A fair amount of dairy products will be lifted from Dunedin %nd Invercargill centres by the Athenic, and relieve pressure on stores. The schedule of prizes of the Otago Winter Show is now obtainable on application at the office of the A. and P. Society. Some information of value to farmers and others is- also furnished, winch makes the programmes of -more than passing interest. Data such as requisitions under the Government scheme of wool, meat, etc., cannot but be hoteful to producers and others. More, indeed, might be made of this aspect in the publication. Some 500 rams were offered at the Balplutha Ram Fair last week, chiefly Eoraneys and Border Leicester sheop. Although prices were _ not high, very few of the Korrmey flock rams were turned out unsold, tbefe soiling at 2£gs to sgs, a stud Romney ram bred by Mr D; Murray, of Clydevale, making 13gs. Border Leicesters were dull of sale, and two-thirds of the entry were passed out, flocks coiling to 4igs,. this price being paid for some of Mr T. Loohead's breeding. BURNSIDE MARKET. There was a very fair number of fat sheep at Burnside, but the quality for the most part was of a secondary character, and comprised a very large proportion of ewes, there being but few pennings of prime wethers. The demand was good for cost sheep, better than last week, but ewes were in over-supply, and towards the end of the sale were difficult to soil, except at very much lower prices. The qcwility ©f the fat lambs forward Was not go«d. Prices were* about the same as the provious week —rather better, in fact, but under scL®sule rates. Unfinished lambs were cheap, some excellent rape lambs were secured by a grazier at 16s. , The quality of a fair-sized yarding of fat cattle was about the average. Best steer beef made the previous week's prices, but heifers were cheaper. Beef sold to 47s 6d per 1001 b, but secondary quality was under schedule rates. The 300_ odd head of store cattle made no better prices than last week, a lino of Hereford three-four-ycar-old forward steers made £l2 to £l2 10s; boners were cheaper, also vealers. Pat pigs mad» about the same as the previous week, with stores unchanged. ALDINGTON YARDS. The various stock sections at Addington were well supplied, and prices apparently havo not yet touched bottom. Fat sheep Were only of moderate quality, and mainly comprised ewes in just fair average condition. The demand was not keen, an<s prices Were much the same as a fortnight kgo; A big yarding of fat lambs elicited but mild competition. The quality generally was not itoo good, and it seemed that

unfinished lambs suffered the most in a demand lower than the previous week for all classes. A. yarding of fair average store sheep, including Norm Island ewes, evoked a spiritless demand, and values receded Is to 2s, and in some instances more, per head. A nice lot of store ewe lambs made 193, and lambs were back at least Is 6d a head. No improvement was experienced in the fat cattle demand—in fact, barely last sale's prices were obtainable, despite some cattle of pleasing quality. Store cattle were dull of sale, and many lines were passed in. Best dairy cows were eelling freely at £l2 to £l7, others from £4 15s. Fat pigs and store sorts were keenly sought after, weaners only meeting a listless demand. NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALES. Prices obtained for 6took in the North Island "show little, if any, change since last report. In the Auckland district forward store" wethers make up to 25s 6d, moderate sorts, from 18s, lambs 7s 6d to 12s* 6d, year-and-a-half steers £4 to £5, two-and-a-half-year-olds £7 15s to £lO, beef sells at up to 51s per 100. In the Manawatu, two-tooth wethers to 255. lambs 4s to 9s 6d, year-and a-half steers £4 to £5 ss, two-year-olds to £9 17s 6d;""Tn Taranaki, weaner steers £3, year-and-a-half steers £6 to £7 ;> heifers just in calf £5 ss. In the Wairarapa, the markets are dull, young wethers 20s to 25s 6d, rape lambs lis to 14s, year-and-a-half steers £7, two-three-year-old steers £l2, year-and-a-heifers in calf to £6. In Poverty Bay sheep are slow of sale, with store cattle not in demand; good breeding ewes made 18s, 22s 6d, steers £6 ss, extra two-and-a-half Hereford or Polled Angus cross steers £lO ss. NEW METHOD OF DRYING MEATS. Dr Arthur H. M'Kee, professor of chemical engineering at Columbia University, announced in December that he and his staff had developed a drying process for meats and fish that they thought was superior to any other, and would cause a great saving of shipping space and refrigeration, without deterioration in food value. So little change in the flavour and food content of the dehydrated meat was caused, Dr M'Kee said, that Columbia faculty members and soldiers were unable to detect any difference from fresh meat. Use of the method by the army would require only one-twelfth of the shipping space used at present, Dr M'Kee said, making unnecessary the use of brine, refrigeration, or any other mean 3 of preservative. Bone, waste fat, and connective tissue are removed from the meat or fish, and it is then cut into cubes or steaks, placed in a vacuum enclosure, and subjected to a long period of drying at low temperature. He said no other treatment was neoessary. " For many years attempts have been made to dry meats by methods used in drying vegetables," said Dr M'Kee, "The product obtained, however, emerged with the protein coagulated, and was far from palatable. By this new process meats and fish return to their fresh state when the water is added. There is no chemical change in the' food except that all water is removed, and the meat is sterile or free from putrifying germs, so that it can be kept indefinitely. This dried meat could be shipped in burlap sacks or packages with a saving of tin containers, and it would remain in perfect condition for months. Addition of water restores the meat or fish to a state of freshness, so that it is impossible to tell the difference when it is used in hash, stews, or other dishes that do not require large pieces of meat. Of course, it is not possible to treat a roast in this way so that it will be preserved ; but it is possible to preserve smaller pieces, some as large as steaks, so that they may be used months later. The cost is small, not more than refrigeration, and I think the process will lower the cost of meats in the ordinary household where roasts and choice cuts are not desired. It would be of particular use in relief work in Europe, where large cuts of meat are not demanded. The chief quality is the saving of valuable shipping space. Major Muxfinig, of the) Army Sanitary Corps, who investigated the process for the army, agreed that it" would be useful in saving shipping space with the armies, and under his direction about 3001 b of the dehydrated meat was served at Fort Oglethorpe in experiments. The meat was kept in its original packages for weekß before it was served." Experiments in dehydrating meat for the armies were begun more than a year ago in the Harriman laboratories at the Roosevelt Hospital by Drs K. G. Falk and E. M. Frankel, and were taken to Columbia laboratories so that the inyestiSators might have additional facilities. >r Falk is a graduate of the university, and was an instructor there. Dr Frankel is a graduate of City College, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale, and i 3 now assisting Dr M'Kee at Columbia. NAURU ISLAND. A Press Association cablegram oame/ through the other day: "The problem of Nauru Island Ijas been finally solved by Britain, Australia, and New Zealand each acquiring one-third interest in the Island's

phosphates resources." This would appear a tip-top solution from our point of view and a feat alone justifying our Ministers stay in Europe. The island, which is 12 miles in circumference, contains unlimited quantities of phosphate deposits. While the island was still under German rule the phosphate deposits were worked by British enterprise, and large quantities .of this fertiliser were imported into Australia. The imports amount to about 50,000 tons a year, whilf double that quantity come? from Ocean Island, whioh is other British rule. Both Australia and New Zealand are keenly interested in the, control ol both these islands, which supply our farmers with an indispensable fertiliser. Nauru is about 160 miles from Ocean Island, and it would seem to be wise to encourage the Germans to seek phosphate? nearer home, as our lands can do with all in this part of the world if the price is right, while we also prefer to develoi. our own natural resources.

THE SEASON IN AUSTRALIA. The eastern States have been blessed during the month with some good rams (says the Pastoral Review). New South Wales, however, did not benefit as much as was hoped and further heavy falls are needed in the north, north-western plains, northwest slopes, and central western as well as in parts of the western division, particularly over a large part of the West Darling. The north and south coast districts' the southern tablelands., south-west-ern slopes, and portion of Riverma had very hitrh totals. In Queensland it may be said that the drought has entirely broken, except, perhaps, in parts of the far southwest, out towards the South Australian bordor All over the rest of the State this position should now be safe, the rams having come just at the right time to promote grass and herbage, and ensure a good winter. Victoria shared in the general falls, and the prospects are good from the point of view of both the grazier and the Farmer, the latter now being able to get on with his cultural operations. Feed is showing up nicely, and the "weather, fortunately, has not been hot enough since the rain to do harm. The same may be said of conditions in South Australia, although in the far north and north-west graziers are still experiencing great difficulty in carrying on. Apart from this, the break in the season and the promise of a splendid supply of herbage has made the outlook for stockowners far more promising. Tasmania has had general rains, which have given- the grass a good start, and with a few more showers and cool weather, feed should come on quickly. In Western Australia the East Kimberley province is in good order. West Kimberley has had some useful falls, but more is wanted to make the season sure. Elsewhere the country is very dry, and if this month goes by without any rains prospects will begin to wear a gloomy aspeot. Eractically all the wheat-growing districts of South Australia, Victoria, southern New South Wales, and Queensland received a good soaking, but the falls were lighter and not so general in central and northern New South Wales. Since then a considerable portion of the dry area has recorded thunderstorms, although a general rain is still needed. The coastal _ districts have received very heavy falls since last writing,* and some flooding has resulted. Wool appraisements, despite _ difficulties entailed by the health regulations, have proceeded steadily during the month in Sydney, and with the advance of the season offerings have been of a varied and interesting character. Catalogues have been drawn from the southern and central tablelands, where the season has been more propitious than in the north-west, and. the product of those districts combined with New England wools has appreciably lifted the average range of values. The original itinerary of appraisements has, "in the f?.pe of the difficulties occasioned by Queensland quarantine methods, been amended, but without sacrificing the offering power. In Victoria the month has witnessed a general good collection'of wools,, the standard of quality being well maintained, some choice merino clips being, handled. feature has been the high prices attained by what are known as hill wools, which right through the piece have held their own with the product of the more favoured western side of .the. State. The Fremantlo (in Western Australia) round in the middle of last month totalled some 10.000 bales, the collection of wools being described as a representative one. In Brisbane appraisement figures will be brought up to date in a series of three appraisements to. be held in the current month, commencing on the 10th, 24th, and 31st, covering 110,000 bales, although it is not quite certain that this quantity will bo available. Tho Work will be proceeded with, concurrent with Sydney appraisements, the necessai-y experts having been provided after conforming with all the necessary quarantine regulations.

COMMONWEALTH WHEAT. A/ocordinjr to the Industrial Australian the total yield of th 6 Australian wheat harvesi for 1918-19 will W approximately

40,000,000 bushels short of tho yield for 1917-18. With tho exception of Western Australia and Tasmania, the quarterly summary of,- Australian statistics estimates, a substantial _ drop in every State. The expected decline in New South Wales is more than 50 per cent, (from 37,843.000 to 18,000,000 bushels), whilst that in Victoria is 13,000,000 bushels—a drop from 37,737,000 to 24,596,000 bushels. South Australia is expected to suffer a decline of 7,000,000 bushels. The yield of Western Australia is estimated to advance from 9,303,000 to 10,854,000 bushels, and that of Tasmania a matter of 25,000 bushels. Queensland, whioh produced 1,000,000 bushels last year, Has not yet furnished an estimate.