SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 11

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(From Oub Own Cokeesfondent.) Whilst there ia neither a general nor a, permanent change in the stock which may bo taken as a change for tha better, there have been a few spasmodio upward movements at some of tho sales, bub nothing to indicate a healthy and vigorous demand or even inquiry for store stock in general. There has been a conviction that any rise in values could bo attributed to causes not quit© satisfactory. There has, however, been more spirited and evidently" genuine bidding at sales for cattle in good forward condition, and likely to fatten within a reasonable period. No one seems to have any hope of real improvement until, the winter is fairly over and tho spring open 3 well forward with every ■ prospect, and probably an assurance of abundant feed. If there is no further fall in the prices for both sheep and cattle the ques* tion of feed will be the determining factor. In regard to sheep the first move is gener« ally expected to bo in ewes with lambs "at foot, or in dry sheep in good condition for their wool value.

Although we have not as yet had heavy frosts, the weather has been very unfavourable for the growth and development of bulbs in tho ■ turnips, consequently the prospects for winter feed have not improved', and the position is not very pleasant to contemplate, especially for those who can now see how much they are to be short in winter feed. Not so much during the wax' period, but for some years previous, many farmers made a strong effort to have- a fair-aized acreage of their grain crops sown in the autumn or even in mid-winter, so that they might not have so much to harvest all at once, so that they might have feed earlier. This _ season the weather has made that almost impossible, and whatever, the area under crop during the incoming season, there will not, in Southland, be much of it autumn-sown.

Potato-digging has been _ very much iif terruptcd by weather conditions, but they havo been gathered wonderfully clean anq quite clear of blight Tho crop is no{| generally a heavy one, but, being sounder than for many years, helps to make up for so much less under crop, and it may bo classed as a fair average. The_ embargo being raised by the Government is hardening tho price, and creating a little mora inquiry. Ploughing is still very backward in most localities, end it will now require a fairly open winter to get sufficient, lea ground turned up to ensure a fair amount of grain being sown On account of the scarcity of turnips, fewer cows are to bo seen feeding in the paddocks on breaks, and in more cases than usual are being fed in grass paddocks, the turnips being carted out. Tho same course will be adopted with straw. It entails more labour, but is very much healthier for the cows, and, in short, they should not, if possible, be put on turnips as store cattle may. The operations of the Meat Trust, whiob, arc always insidious and far-reaching, are stirring Farmers' Unions and other podiei to some extent at present. Tho shipping question is perhaps the most vital, and tb.o\ experience just passed through _ from a, shortago of shipping is bringing it nearetf homo, and different sections of the com* munity are beginning to perceive how diffi* out it may be to cope with the strangling operations of such a strong corporate body when once they get hold of any of the arterial sources of distribution and have 1 them under full control. More drastiq measures than we have yet dreamed of may have to be zesorted to.

In view of certain possibilities and whafl we have at stake, there is much encourage" ment for the future as well as warning in Messrs W. We'ddel and Co., Ltd.'s,_ revievrt of the frozen meat trade. While it givea us cause for pride and satisfaction from the very clear and convincing statement respecting past operations, it also show* what a great asset we have for our futur* prosperity, and. if kept in our own hands r what a valuable source of productiveness. A i etrospective view sometimes necessary to show convi.nomgly even to ourselves wha.t an important part 3STew Zea« land has filled in the exportation of frozen vayat to the Old _ Country. It also shows how our commercial interests are involved, and dependent upon the export of frozen meat, and to an extent too many have not the least conception of. Just think for a) moment that of tha 235 million torn pi

frozen meat and lamb imported into Britain during the last 30 years, New Zealand has supplied nearly one-half. South America, the next largest exporter, sent 74 million tons as against New Zealand's 112 million tons. Without going into dotails, Now Zealand has during the last six years _ supplied over 63 per cent, of tho total imports of frozen meat. Leaving out lamb, in mutton alone it has been 42 per ©ont. During the last six years, despite the loot of shipping facilities not being available for 1917-18, when only one-half was

exported from the- Dominion, tho average was about six million carcases. Although we aro only Little Benjamin among the world's producing nations, we have all the requisite conditions and requirements in our soil end climate to supply in meat and dairy produce tho want 3 of tho teeming millions of the industrial world; and until suoh time as our own industrial population increases to require all of our products to supply requirements of our own people. It appears, therefore, all the more urgent that wo use all moans conceivable and possible

to conserve our own interests and future possibilities.