NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 8

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

The question whether a summer or autumn show will serve breeders

Spring or best is a matter well worth Autumn Shows, close consideration by all those settlers interested. There is a lot to be said in favour of either, date. It is the custom for one thing to hold the big shows in November-December in thejßouth Island, and old customs die hard. The writer of this column favours the holding of an autumn show in lieu of one earlier, and, if necessary, on account a of fehe cattle section; the one class which might present some difficulty, an annual bull fair, might be instituted with muoh, advantage to all concerned. There is riot much doubt that weather conditions are, as a rule, more settled in, say, February than earlier in the season. As far as the harvest is concerned, some people either north or south are bound to be in the middle of harvesting, and be loath to change. The ripening period of the grain, however, in respect to the era between Christchurch ana Invercargill is so varied that practically no date will suit everybody. In respect to tha * horse sections, no difficulty should be experienced. February may seem late at first thought, but Dunedin, for example, has its Horse Show under ordinary conditions 'n September, a matter which should meat all that horse-breeders require. Fat stock would be quite as well suited in as far as an autumn show is concerned. Then we .have the various sheep sections, which it would suit best of all. Look what splendid classes might be expected of stud ewe arid ram lambs if breeders would but rise to. the occasion. A win in a stud lamb clast speaks something for the quality of a man'i stud flock. His flock is in the limelight right away, and classes might be arranged for pens of one, two, three, four, and five ram and owe lambs of the various breeds, and, to the writer's mind, would prove the - biggest draw of the show. ,

The present slump in prices of stock is a serious matter. There are a

The Slump in Stock Prices.

number of factors to be reckoned with, all tending to ‘depress the markets and generally breed feeling of pessimism, quit© unwarranted. '.Values, as always happens. in regard to store stock when “fate” are being freely absorbed, soared to far, too high a price. Graziers with surplus feed were dubious whether they would be able to fulfil their requirement? and sailed into the market. A culmination of many untoward conditions has shorn the immediate future of many happy surmisings in respect of fat profits on store animals. Fats have oome back, pulled thereto by exporters perforce being unable to operate at the schedule limits. This possibly ia the greatest factor of all, but there are many other*. To mention but a few: Scarcity of ship*, and consequent piling up of carcases in the various works, possibly shortage of butchers, autumn feed giving out, and winter feed uncertain, with every prospect of a long winter. The foregoing, however, ia merely written to enable the writer to express his opinion on a consecutive matter — to wit, that farmers should insist on knowing weekly just what is the position in regard to storage at the various works, and whether export buyers will b© operating a* usual. This information should; in the writer’s opinion, be announced in the daily papers, or if buyers were to be withdrawn or their operations much curtailed, due notice should be given. The present position emphasises the importance of farmer* owning all meat freezing works, or at least having strong representation on _ the boards with the view that the exact position should bo known to the way-back settler, who, as likely as not, is content to fatten his lamb* right up to A 1 quality, and be nipped by having to take 7£d per lb through shee* lack of knowledge of the position. He would have been better off if he had sold his lambs a month earlier as “seconds.” The present cloaked position is not _in the interests of farmers, and it is their own .#Ut. V

Dairymen supplying Dominion towns have, in a measure, got into a groove, and although, peraps, they have managed to t scrape along * during the autumn-winter months with turnips, hay, etc., fairly well, must in many cases be hard pushed when the root crop fails. Their own lands probably have become sick of growing roots continually, and they needs must come into the' • market^—a ris*ky matter when a ,big herd is in milk. We believe that silage_ would help dairymen- in times of scarcity. A sample of silage that had been made from green maize in April, 1909, says an Australian exchange, was recently forwarded to _ the New South Wales Department of Agriculture by Captain F. G. Waley. The- maize had been cut with the cob in the milky stage, and the sample—though kept for bo long—still possessed the rich aroma, of brewers' malted grains, so perfect had been the fermentation. The silos in which thu silage has been stored for nearly; 10 years consisted of a group of four tub silos under one roof of a ,total capacity of 540 tons, which were erected by Captain Waley on his property at Mowbray Park, Picton, in 1907. The silos are 24-sided (practically circular), each 16ft in diameter, and < 24fj high. The framework of each tub is of expanded metal, in Ihe form of a strong webbling, which is fastened round the frame of hardwood, fortified by wrought iron bands to take excess of pressure. Th* webbing is surrounded inside and out with a total thickness of lin of oement, which.

Autumn-Winter Feeding of Dairy Cows.

settling around the 1 expanded metal, forms a ferio-concrete of extreme _ strength and absolute imperviousness to air. The floors are of concrete, and the doors of all four tubs face inwards, and a wooden shoot { >laced in the space almost enclosed by the our enables them to be emptied with ease. The cost of the four silos, including the shoot, was £350. Jn the first season the silos proved their value, for shortly after erection they were filled with chaffed maize that formed an excellent reserve in a dry season. The silage now being fed out was ensiled in April, 1909; portion of it was fed out three years ago, but 60 or 70 tons were sealed down with wet straw properly weighted, and is now opening up m firstclass condition. A herd of stud cattle are being fed a daily ration of 401 b silage, with a little lucerne and a handful of bran, and fiie cows are milking even better than on good grass. The silage is also being carted out to young stock in the paddock, whene it is eagerly eaten up to the last particle. "It fhows," says Captain Waley, "what one can do by taking advantage of the good years to store up a reserve of fodder, which, while it costs nothing to keep, even improves year after year, and is invaluable when a drought time comes along, like the present. . . . The freedom from anxiety which it ensures cannot be over-estimated." AGRIOOLA.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Timaru South."—The plant sent in for Identification I am now able to place, thanks to \vord received from the Biology fiection of the Department of Agriculture. it is Bokhara clover (Melilotus officinalis), nown sometimes as melilot. When in loom it has an odour like that of fresh ay. "■Gorge Read," Southland, writes: —'In the Witness of April 2, in your notes, you quote what an American authority says about tha weight of a gallon of milk. I only wish to point cut that the American gallon is orly five-sixths of the imperial gallon. This is tha reascn, I suppose, that our kerosene tins contain 4 l-6gal. whioh would be five Americal gallons, and it accounts for the farmer thinking he is getting a bargain when he buys a gallon of American paint for less than British." You seem to have overlooked the fact that the two gallons were not al'ke. - I enclose the weighsts of a gallon of milk worked out to the imperial gallon, at -various tests: Skimmed milk at 025 # per cent, of fat equals 10.326; whole m. ; lk at 3 per cent. of fat test, 10.32; whole milk at 3.5 per cent, of fat test, 10.308; whole milk at 4 per cent, of fat test, 10.296 ; whole milk, 5 per cent, of fat test, 10.224; whole milk at 6 per cent, of fat test, 10,284. Thanks for note. It might oerhaps have been as well to have elaborated in my note, of tha 2nd inst. Read in conjunction with a previous note, however, the matter seemed clear enough. Water (American) may be taken as weighing 8.341 b per gallon, and milk 8.61 b. Water - (British Empire), 101 b to gallon, and milk 8.311 b to gallon. "Romney." Puketiro, writes: —"In your reply to ' Sheep Farmer' you neglected to warn him that lambs must be drenched on an empty stomach. , We use three fablespoons of milk to ona of turps, and always yarded lambs the night' before."-; —"Agricola" replies:—"Yes, you are quite right. I on "not too full a stomach." As a matter of fact, the treatment outlined is not of much use for lungworm, although beneficial in cases of stomach and intestinal worms. Sheep should be yarded overnight in such cases, drenched the following morning, and kept for, say, an hour in the yards after treatment." THE NATIONAL DAIRY SHOW. Palmerston North's Winter Show Exhibition will commence on June 17, extending over a period of four days. Now that the grim tragedy of war is at an end, the outlook from a show standpoint reveals great possibilities. The schedule, which is now ready, is even more comprehensive than those of former years, and many additional trophies have been added to the list. Applef rowers will be keenly interested in the 2-guinea trophy to be awarded to the individual grower securing the championship in that sectiom There should also be a strong competition for the handsome 15guinea. trophy of unique design presented for competition in the home-made butter section. > The various hunting and other competitions will be_ an attractive feature. while the popular Wanganui-Te Ante football match will be, as usual, the premier event of the second day. _ The attractive dog trials will also be in evidence, and the usual open competition _ has been supplemented by a maiden event. Record entries should bo received in the amateur photographic exhibit, as many special prizes have boon donated to foster the photographic art. The purebred cattle exhibition and sale which is being held on the second and third days of the Show will present an opportunity for the farmers and others to secure animals to suit their requirements. General entries close on the 2nd June, and this inoludps > the Manawatu Poultry Association's section, whioh possesses many now attractive features, not the least being the ■peoial Peace Championship certificate to

celebrate the "healing of the breach iri the fancy." All information can be obtained from the secretary, Mr W. T. Penny, Box 85. Palmerston North. STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES. Weekly Stock Sale*. Monthly (continued). Burnslde, Wednesc Woodlands, 2nd ThitrsAshburton, Tuesdai day Addington, SVyndham, last ThuraWaiarelca Railway Juno- day Uon, Tuesdays Balfour, 3rd Thursday Wallaoetown, Tuesday* Thornbury, Ist Friday Heriot, Thursdays Duntroon & Otautau. 2nd Friday Fortnightly. Eiverßdale, 3rd Friday Clinton, Thursdays, aka ,' la6 , fc F Tl rs? 7 Balclutha, Fridays Clydevale. last ThursGore, Tuesday* aa Y Oamaru, Tuesdays Periodically as AdverWallacetown, Tuesdays tlsed. „ ... Lumsden, Mossburn, . Monthly. Orepuki, Maraura, Palmerston, Ist Monday Waikouaiti, BivertVinton, Ist Thursday ton, Ngapara, and Duntroon, 2nd Friday Otago Central Sales. OTAGO. In most parts of the- country sleet, with snow and cold showers, fell at odd times during the week. The temperature has remained low along coastal Otago, and conditions were generally, unfavourable > for stock, with farm work held up at times. Harvesting has been hindered, and considerable areas under cereals are still in stook, with crops south still uncut. The root crops where drainage is satisfactory. have done fairly well, but it is a short crop in any circumstances, and there is bound to be a heavy call on damaged sheaf stuff and oaten and wheaten straw this winter as cow feed, etc Inland it has" been rough, with snow on the highlands, but towards the close of the week frosts were experienced, and the days have been fine. The Palmerston district apparently is becoming alive to the rabbit nuisance. Ratepayers are moving in the direction of setting up Rabbit Boards, who will endeavour to tackle the rabbit problem _ in a commonsense manner. Systematic poisoning, undertaken with the goodwill of all settlers whose lands are infested by the pests, may well serve to, if not eliminate, at least greatly curtail, Brer Rabbit's toll on stock feed. Poisoning with method, followed up by netting areas with* rabbit netting secured from the Government at cost price would seem the solution of the trouble. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, at least seems to understand the need of connecting up. newly-setled land areas with town communities m the most modern methods. Cabinet, he says, has agreed to connect up by telephone settlement blocks ere disposing of same to settlers... Three extra steamers, originally destined for Australia in May are to come our way instead. They can move some 500.000 freight carcases, which, with the other vessels already announced as coming, should achieve some easement in the pressure on our storage spape. BURNSIDE MARKET. The yarding of fat sheep at Burnside was large, but tho bulk were of medium quality. For best sheep last sale's rates were improved upon slightly, but competition for medium stock was lacking, and were shillings lower than formerly, some "keg meg" quality being ridiculously cheap. Store sheep sold at 22s to 24s for two-tooth Romney cross ewes; well-conditioned merino ewes, 4s 6d; old ewes, 2s to 4s 6d; rams, 20s 6d. Considerably under 1000 fat lambs were penned, and mostly of poor quality. Sales wei-o in the absence _ of the usual export buyers (one was buying) slow indeed, lambs making about 7£d per lb all sunk. The quality of a moderate yarding of fat cattle was very fair, but this section was rather overloaded with pens of heifers and cows. Prime steer and heifer beef made last sale's rates, but plain animals were cheaper, and under the export level. Beef sold to 46s 6d per 1001 b. Only a few store cattle were yarded, about 50 head, but no improvement on late quotations pan be recorded. Few good dairy cows were yarded, and more could have been placed. Up to £l4 10s was paid for the best animal. There was only a small yarding of fat pigs, which met with a steady demand. Small store pigs were dull of sale, and lower rates had to be accepted to clear. ADDINGTON YARDS. The yarding of fat sheep at Addington was large, and tho quality rather better than last week. The demand was brighter, and exporters were operating more freely than earlier in the month. Prices improved on tho previous sale's rates by Is 6d to 2s per head on prime stuff, with secondary quality making 2s to 2s 6d a head more than could be secured at tho previous sale. The 1000 fat lambs . were of very fair quality, and were rather more freely sought after than was the case last week, with the consequence' that some slight improvement in price ensued. There was a very fair entry of store sheep, the quality being wide, all sorts being represented. The better-conditioned stock in all seotions met with an improved demand—say, up to la 6d

per head, —athough travelled lots, unless of distinct merit, were hard to place at improved rates. Some improvement in the demand for fat cattle was evident, possibly due in a measure to some excellent Otago stock being 1 forward. A line of bullocks from Stirling (Hereford-Shorthorn crosses) made £2B. to £32. Cow beef was unchanged. The yarding of store cattle was large, but the demand was practically - nil, and. the sale was considered one of the worst experienced for many years in respect to prices. Owing to the difficulty in regard to space even conditioned bulls and dry cows were hard to sell at under scheduled rates. Dairy cows sold freely at £l2 to £l7. Fat pigs maintained recent values, bu£ store sorts were not apparently wanted, and prices Were low.

NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. In the North Island, as with ourselves, the bottom seems to have dropped out of the stock market, yet land values hold. In the Auckland district beef touched 51s 6d per 1001 b, rough, and plain being several shillings cheaper. Store wethers sell at 203 to 24s 6d; lambs,- lis. In Poverty Bay store wethers made 21s to 245; medium year and a-half steers, £4 to •. £6; twoand a-half to £lO 10s. In the WanganuiFeilding areas two and four-tooth wethers, 21s 6d to 265; small mixed two-tooths to 225; lambs, 5s 6d to 14s; weaners, 22a to 40s; year and a-half steers, £4 10s; two and a-half-year-old steers to £9 ss; dairy cows, £ll to £lB. In the Wairarapa district twotooth wethers, 20s to 235; lambs, 4s 6d to lis; yearlings, £3 to £5 10s; store cows from £4. In the Taranaki district store wethers to 255; culls from 14s; lambs, 5s 6d to 13s; weaners, £1 15s to £3 ■ 10s; store cows, £5 to £8 10s. In the Hawke's Bay district two-tooth wethers, 19s to 235; ewes, 21s to 24s 6d; shorn lambs, 8s to lis; cull lambs, 2s 6d to 5s 6d. Cattle were dull of sale.

THE BEEF TRUST AND THE MEAT PACKERS' DEFENCE.

The Meat Trades Journal (London) says: " While the United States Senate in "Washington is debating the effect of the famine fund on the fortunes of the packers, the Interstate Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives are taking the evidence of the packers themselves as to their business and its profits. Mr J. Ogden Armour denied absolutely that his firm, was party to any pool agreement or combination of any kinds for the regulation of the purchase of live stock or the sale of'products. Mr Armour warned the legislators of the consequences which would follow if they threw the 'monkey wrench' into the machinery of the packing industry, and declared that, while he was perfectly willing to relinquish control, the effect of Government management, if the Government decided to take the packing industry over, could not but result in red tape, inefficiency, and increased costs to the consumer. In his statement, which occupied four hours, he said the profits he made in 1918 represented a return of less than 2 per cent, on every dollar of sales. The total volume of sales amounted to 861,000,000 dollars (£172,200,000), compared with 575,600,000 dollars (£115,000,000) in 1917. Mr Armour declared that the margin of profit was the smallest enjoyed in any industry, and revealed the fact that his borrowings amounted to 2,000,000,000d0l (£400,000,000). He said the reason why bacon now costs 70 cents (2s lOd) a lb, or 40 or 45 cents more than in former years, was that prices for live hogs had risen 245 per cent., and the cost of labour and fuel had doubled. His firm, whioh was owned almost exclusively by members of the' family, employed 60,000 people. An attempt was made to show that Armour's went into the South American business to prevent the products of that continent from flooding the United States and forcing prices down. Asked whether, if the South American business had been developed by British packers, they would have been able to compete with Chicago packers in the United States, Mr Armour said that ultimately the effect of- imports from South America would have _ been to break Chicago prices. He promised the committee to have another statement prepared showing profits in South America. Mr Armour said that he himself had worked since ho was 19 years old in the devolpment of the gigantic business. He displayed great pride in_ its performances, and said that, despite enormous supplies Bent in conditions of the greatest difficulty to Europe during the war, there had been no complaints. It was a source of legitimate satisfaction to him, he declared, that his firm, by the vastness of its resources and its efficiency, had been bo potent a factor in winning the war. He virtually challenged the Government to serve the publio with anything approaching the same efficiency." BIBLICAL BUTTER. Butter wherever it occurs in the Bible Is ohomah, signifying curdled milk (says Hoard's Dairyman). In _ Deut. xxxii, 15, we find, among the blessings whioh Jeshurum had enjoyed, milk of ldne contrasted with milk of sheep. Butter was much in

use among the Hebrews, and was prepared as is done to-day by the Arabs and Syrians, but it was not used by the Greeks and Romans except for medicinal purposes. The Arabs of Hejaz put milk in a large copper pan over a slow fire and a little sour milk or portion of the dried entrails of a lamb is thrown in. Milk then separates, and is put in a goatskin bag, Which is tied to one of the tent poles and constantly moved back and forth two hours. The buttery substance then coagulates, the water is pressed out, and the butter put into another skin. In two days the butter is placed over the fire, with the addition of a portion of burgoul (wheat boiled with leaves and dried In the sun) and allowed, to boil for some time, during which it is carefully skimmed. It is then found that the bourgoul has precipitated all foreign substances, and that the butter remains quite clear at the top. This is the process used by the Bedouins, and is also employed bv the settled people of Syria and Arabia. The chief difference is that, in making butter and cheese, the townspeople employ the milk of cows and buffaloes, whereas the Bedouins, who do not keep these animals, use that of sheep and goats. The butter is generally white, of the colour and consistency of lard, and is not much relished by English travellers. It is eaten with bread in large quantities by those who can afford it, being, taken in a mass with a morsel of bread and not spread as with us. The butter of the Hebrews might have been sometimes clarified and preserved in skins and jars as at the present day in Asia, and, when poured out, resembles rich oil (Job xx, 17). It acquires a rancid taste that is liked by the natives. All Arab food considered well prepared swims in butter, and large quantities are eaten independently of other food. Butter and honey were used together, and were esteemed among the richest productions of the land (Isa. vii, 15}, and Arabs us» cream or new butter mixed with honey as a principal delicacy. SELF-SUCKING COWS. On this subject G. C. D., of Nebraska, writes in Hoard's - Dairyman:—"l saw the inqury of T. T. A. for a means of preventing a cow. from sucking herself, so- I thought I would tell you of a way my father used on one of his cows. A piece of wood or iron is bent into the form of a horse collar, so shaped as to bring the ends nearly together. This Was placed over the cow's neck just in front of the shoulders, with the open side down. Half-way down on either side of this collar the end of a short rod was attached, the other end being securely fastened to rings in her halter. When she attempts to turn her head to supk, these rods stop her." A Massachusetts subscriber gives his method a 3 follows: — " Put a head halter on cow, also a 'surcingle just back of "front legs, not very tight—in fact, mine is quite loose. Fasten an ordinary harness snap on one end of a stick about sft long; a fork handle is about the right size. When you turn the cow out, put stick between front legs and through surcingle, snapping into ring in halter. She can eat, drink, and do anything necessary except to lick or suck herself. When she lies down, the stick prevents her from sucking herself. Take it off when she Is in the barn,"

A. A., of Chardon, Oho?, writes: —"My method of preventing a cow from sucking herself is to place a sack over her udder. It coats but very little, and is the most satisfactory method. A surcingle is placed around her body just back of her forelegs, a strap runs from this to and around the tail, the whole being similar to the usual back pad, back strap, and crupper of a harness. Two half-inch straps are attached to the back strap just in front of the hips so as to cross diagonally, one end of each 6trap extending over the hips to the rear of the udder and the other straight down to the front quarter on the opposite side. A piece of canvas or grain sack is cut to proper size to cover tho udder, each corner of which is attached to the ends of the half-inch straps by means of a ring and snap. The half-inch straps should have a buckle at the top, so they may be conveniently tightened up." Leslie Myers, of Kansas, states "thta experience as follows: —"If the reader will put a straight bit bridle on the cow it will not harm her, as my cow Was able to eat, and didn't seem to mind it. The bit prevents the cow from lapping her tongue around the teat. Usually one or two months will be sufficient to break her."

F. A. C, of Winfield. Kans., suggests the following for a self-sucking cow: " Fasten a common pointed bridle bit in her mouth by means of a halter headstall. Let her wear this continually.- .Adjust it so it will not mate her mouth sore. Have triea it, and it works. THE PRICE OF HIDES AGREED ON. At a conference held in Wellington recently- proposals were agreed upon which have been approved by the Minister. It was estimated that if the freezing companies were allowed the right to export approximately 20,000 hides no other difficulty would be raised in making all the

balance available for use in New Zealand, A sub-committee was set up to work out an equit.ible allocation of approximately 20,000 hides among: the various companies, th© tßnners undertaking to free the quantity so ascertained for export. It was also deoided that the Order-in-Conncil be amended—(a) That ox hides offered a| auction Jn th© following grades and at th* following prices, and not purchased by tanners, *hall be deemed to have been refused in such circumstances as to ehow that the /roods are not required for local purchase at those prices:—Superior. 33-44* Hid} 46-52. ll|dj 53-58. 12Jdj 59-69, 13±dl 70 and over, 14d (all f.o.b.h first grad* Id let*; second grade lid lesij (b) that cowhides offered at auction in the f ollowy big gradai: 33-39, 40-49, 49 and over, ana not r.urchaeed at the prices fixed in th* schedule of the regulation, shall be deemed to have been refused.