SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3526, 11 October 1921, Page 10

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

'From Oop. Own Correspondent ‘i i That we have enjoyed a wonderfully good ■winter, with an abundance of feed light through, is not to be questioned. Also that the spring up till now has been, for Southland, equaly good, can be conceded. When, however, one hears them spoken of as the very best we have ever enjoyed, those with a, long experience and whose observation has been quickened by being j affected by flic nature of the season can speak more authoritatively, and the verdict of such is that equally as good seasons have been enjoyed, and possibly sometimes even better. It is quite certain, however, and be yond all dispute, that no one has ever seen so much feed and so much that could not be consumed. Moving about in any direction, it is quite common to see quite a profusion of turnips in flower, running to waste, and many paddocks ipnly partially eaten, and having- to be ploughed under. There is now an abundance of grass in most localities, anti it has not been much checked with unfavourable weather, even though we have had frosts, which in some seasons retaul the growth as much as anything. Those who had early potatoes through, especially in gardens, must have suffered from a vorv eh a■p frost on the i morning of the 4th inst. Despite the fact of a large number of stock requiring pasturage from this time forward, there is a very considerable area of ground being brought under the : plough, and the intention evidently is to grow summer feed or put it into turnips for next season. Sheep are looking remarkably well, and lambing is now quite general. The weather has been quite favourable, and if the same conditions prevail for another month we will have a splendid lambing. Many farmers do not believe in early lambing, preferring to have it in October or even in November, when the grass has come well away, and the ewes are sure to have a full milk supply, and the lambs grow unchecked. Those who can grow plenty of early feed find August and September lambing the best period, if they can find a local sale for their lambs. This, however, is not so much taken advantage of as it was at one time, when the price of lambs for freezing w;:» much less. It may safely be affirmed that cows at this time of the year have never looked better, which is chiefly due to the splendid winter, with an abundance of feed. There seems a'so to be a large number of fat sheep on hand, despite the fact of a good supply coming forward for disposal and even butchers picking up lots not sent to the sales. Two successive sales at Wallace town have been noted for the entire absence of store sheep at one and only 40 at the oiher. On the Other hand, fat cattle showed a large yarding, as also dairy cows, but very few of the latter of good quality were disposed of, and. the bulk being of inferior i class, not many eofis actually fell under the hammer. Many farmers have large numbers of store cattle on hand that they cannot dispose of. Others have sheep they might dispose of as fat, at a figure; "but with the hope of an improvement in the meat market, and the possibility of the wool recovering, they feel disinclined to put them on the market, but hold on to get the probable benefit of a rise in meat and wool combined. The wool market may be better, but the outlook is not very enc-ouVaging, and even an advance of 10 per cent, per lb docs not amount to much. The returns from wool shipped home are coming to hand, and are verv disappointing. A farmer realising about 61d for his best fleece wool, and the price obtained for locks and pieces being absorbed and hardly covering the cost of shipping and other expenses, exclusive of the cost of shearing, makes him feel anything but pleasantly agreeable to shearers being urged to refuse to shear under last year’s rates. It is therefore expectpd that

many struggling farmers will combine to shear their own sheep, rather than pay 20s per hundred. The state of the labour market is not yet in a satisfactory position. Many farmers could employ more labour, but the rate of wages they consider out of all proportion to the returns obtainable for primary products, and the uncertainty for the future makes it deterring. The still high cost of j all kinds of material, both timber, iron, I and other things that may be required, j will have to be lowered considerably ! before there is any possibility of ihe do- | main! for labour improving. Although i some are engaging cr lower than war rates. | others, it is asserted. Will not yet consent | to a reduction. Many additions and irni provoments are urgently wanted to be j done that would be helpful ar.d beneficial, but, must just be done without for some time. CANTERBURY CRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET (Lytielion Times, October 7.) j Little movement has taken place in the | grain and produce market, this week, and j business in ail lines is stil very quiet. A i dull period was exp rienced about (his time j last. year, but about the middle of October | thing's brightened up considerably, and mer- ! chants are hoping that this experience will ' be repeated this year. j Gar ton oats are still quiet, with an ! easing tendency. A few orders are being j received from the North Island and elsewhere-, and while the offerings from ! farmers are not large they are sufficient ! to give prices a downward tendency. ReI p ,rts front Auckland indicate that the Gallon cal market there is quiet, and (his is being reflected locally. Wholesale merchants are experiencing a quiet time as far as seeds arc concerned, j though it is rep< . led that tie retail trade

jis fairly active. Values, however, have I been mairitnned in all lines. The Cor- | inthic, which left Lyttelton recently, took a considerable quantity of red clover for England. There was a . big crop of barley produced in New Zealand this year, and, as i the demand is comparatively small, merchants are wondering what is to become of the surplus. The barley market has been stagnant for some time past now. There has been no change in the potato market since last week. The demand and the supplies from the country just about balance, and so late rates have been maintained. A certain sum her of orders are being received from the North Island, but noi them merchants arc sot showing any particular keenness to buy, and their offers ' range from about 60s to 65s per ton, f.0.b., The following are quotations for produce to be paid to farmers at country stations, free of commission, sacks extra, except where otherwise stated: —- Milling Wheat. —According to Government prices: Tuscan, 7s 10jd f.0.b.; Hunters, 8s ltd; Pearl, 8s 4£d. Oafs. —Gartens, 2s Sd to 2s lid; Algerians, 2s 2d to 2s 4d. Chaff. —£5 to £3 ss. Perennial Ryegrass.—3s 6cl to 4s 3d. Italian Ryegrass.—3s 6d to 4s. Cocksfoot.—6d to Bd. Harley.—3s to 3s 6d. Cape Barley.—2s 6d. Red Clover. —Is to Is 2d. White Clover. —ls to Is 4d. Potatoes.—£2 to £2 sd. Peas.—Partridge, 7s to 7s 6d. Linseed.—£ls to £l6. Flour.—According to Government prices: { £2l per ton, f.0.b., Lyttelton, Timaru, and j Oamaru. Bran.—According to Government prices: j £5 to £6 lCs, according to packing, f.o.b. j southern ports. 1 Pollard. —According to Government prices: £9 to £9 10s, according to pack- | mg, f.0.b., southern ports.