FARM AND STATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3574, 12 September 1922, Page 10

FARM AND STATION.

SHOW DATES., 1923. SEPTEMBER. 20- —Christchurch. Horse Parade. 28. —Otago Horse Show. OCTOBER. "• Waimate Horse Show. 8, 9. —Wanganui A. and P. Show. 15, 16.—Hawera A. and P. Show. 19.—Ellersmere A. and P. Show. 18, 19.—Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Show. 21, 22.—Nelson A. and P. Show. 5*5» 26.—Tiinaru A. and P. Show. 25, 26.—Wairarapa A. and P. Show. NOVEMBER. Eelso A. and P. Show. 2.—Ashburton A. and P. Show. 1,2, 3. —Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Show. 9 10.-—Canterbury A. and P. Show. 15.—Wallace A. and P. Show. 15, 16.—Egmont A. and P Show. 16. Waimate A. and P. Show. I®* Taieri A. and P. Show. 21- Tokomairiro Annual Show. 21. 22.—Waikato A. and P. Show. 2-, 23.—North Otago A. and P. Show. 29, 30.—Otago A. and P. Summer Show. DECEMBER. J* 2.—Auckland A. and P. Show. 5» 6.—Gore A. and P. Show. 12, 13.—Southland A. and P. Show. 1923. JANUARY. 26. —Palmerston and Waihemo A. and PShow. FEBRUARY. 14, 15, 16.—Dannevirke Show and Ram Fair. MARCH. •22.— : Temuka and Geraldine A. and P. Show. Secretaries of A. and P. Societies aro requested to notify the dates of their shcwa as soon as these are decided on. These axs published free of charge.

THERE’S MONEY IN 11. This is an age of propaganda, and if farmers have anything worth selling it pays to advertise the fact. Our butter and cheese in the Home Country is known to some few hundreds of thousands, and brings a price pence per lb below the home made article, which is “not so bad, considering that we are thousands of miles away from consumers; but, supposing our “quality” products were made known throughout England, we should have millions asking for New Zea-land-made butter and cheese, thus widening the demand, stiffening up the price a few pennies per lb, and benefiting producers, who would then not feel the increased freight and labour charges to the same exteniT as they do at present. An increase of a few pence on the huge exportable surplus of dairy products from this Dominion would make all the difference between profit and loss. A small fraction of a penny tax on the butter-fat export would provide ample money to boom New Zealand products throughout Great Britain. The Breed Societies understand the art of advertising—some of them. They have become alive to the advantages of propaganda—indeed, to the necessity of proclaiming the merits of their respective breeds. This is an age when one must limelight for “effects.” The raoe is to the man, firm, or society, who, having the right class of goods to advertise, displays the greatest ingenuity and enterprise in appealing to the popular fancy. It used to be considered sufficient to let the merits of a class of stock speak for themselves, hut that does not suffice nowadays. The keen competition demands more direct action in winning new favour. The quality of the animals alone will retain perhaps the ground that has been won, but in the gaining of new supporters well-directed propaganda appears to he of the utmost importance. Any dairyman will appreciate the fact that Friesian cattle have reached their high and deserved position in the cattle world as much by merit as by propaganda. and it pays. Other breed societies are waking up, and scout the idea that there is hut one breed worth while in the dairy world. The Jersey cattle men, in places, take care to let one know that their particular breed, besides yielding milk which is half cream, give room to no Dutch breed ever known. So, too the milking Shorthorn breeders; but the Ayrshire men seem inclined to rest on their past laurels. In this country at any rate they seem to be taking it easy. The beef breeds seem to be running neck and neck. The Shorthorn owners are perhaps somewhat more alert than breeders of Herefords and polled Angus cattle. The Red Polled cattle are appealing to dairymen far more than was the case a few years ago, due in a measure to being duel-pur-pose cattle, like the Friesian and milking Shorthorn,- and testing well. It comes to this: no breed unless it is “boosted” will gain adherents while the other fellow “boosts” his particular breed. In the Homeland they found out this fact some timo ago. The Hereford Herd Book Society was the first of the cattle societies to recognise the importance of makin» a personal appeal to oversea breeders, and sent round the world their secretary, who, it will be remembered, was in New Zealand last year. He visited many of the Hereford studs in the North and South Islands, and also in Australia, and gave several addresses to those interested on the breed generally. The Hereford Society’s example is being followed by the Aberdeen-Angus Society, which is sending its secretary to the Argentine in the autumn to promote the interests of the Scottish beef breed in that country. Although South America is in the “doldrums” at present, that phase cannot last, and the breeders of the Aberdeen Angus are determined to be ready for the recovery in trade when it conies, Although

in New Zealand we may not to-day have sufficient conceit in ourselves to consider sending stock Home and to the Argentine and South Africa —that is to ay, in respect to “all” our stud sheep and cattle breeds, —yet in the future it is not improbable that all British breeds in New Zealand will command markets in foreign lands. It remains largely with breeders as to whether they keep up the quality of their particular breed and proclaim the fact to the world. Our concern, however, at the immediate moment is to stress the fact that although our export of primary goods is praiseworthy both in respect to quality and quantity, yet we do not sufficiently acclaim these facts in the Home Country. The dairy industry is growing. It is interesting to note the registrations of butter-fat conserving plants under “The Dairy Industry Act, 1908,” in the Dominion

If the various factories noted above were to allocate some small sum, calculated on the tonnage of dairy products exported, a handsome fund would soon he available with which useful propaganda work could be undertaken-in the Old Country. CONCERNING DAIRY COWS. Considerable progress has been made in Otago and Southland in the dairying business this season, although the peak prices of the previous year for butter-fat have not been obtainable. Then, too, we have had to rely on our own efforts and enterprise to a great extent. Few Shite stud bulls come our way, while practically the North Island monopoly of dairy instructors is all against the South. The season has been a good one for grass. Whether the cows fed in some instances more than paid their feed is doubtful. The “boarder” cows eat just as much as the good cow, bu'o instead of putting it into the bucket she puts it on her back or wasted it. Herd-testing will locate the “robber ’ cow. Mr Missen, of Hamilton, in an interesting address to farmers at a meeting of the Morrinsville branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, said, inter alia, that he could tell of numerous instances where the “robber” cow had been sold and resold vear after year through the farmer not having some systematic method of being able to identify his neighbour’s “culls. He was in hopes that this state of things would not continue much longer, and that the “cull” would find her -proper place—the butcher’s block or the boneyard. Feeding, weeding, and breeding should, go hand in hand, and who could tell the limits it was possible to attain by the scientific breeding of dairy stock? Who among those present would have thought it possible 20 years ago to have cows producing up to 10001 b or 12001 b of butter-fat- in one year? And yet there were some cows in New Zealand that had done that. He went on to speak of line-breeding and in breeding. Line-breeding involves in-breeding, but inbreeding was not line-breeding. Evolution of types had been brought about by this method. As pointed out, the famous Bates had established their type in the Shorthorn by in-breeding, and maintained it by line-breeding, and probably no other breed of dairy stock was inbred to the same extent as Bates’s Shorthorns. Sires were mated with their daughters, and, again, to their grand-daughters, and brothers were mated with sisters. Necessarily this sort of mating is successful only in the hands of an expert, as the undesirable characteristics are transferred from parent to offspring just as readily as the desirable characteristics, and are intensified. A warning was sounded as to the danger of rushing for big production and sacrificing type. It does not always follow that the nrogenv of a big yielding cow will inherit the characteristics of their dam. Out-crossing might take place through the sire of a different line being used and not “nicking.” Tn respect to grade stock Mr Missen was insistent that farmers should have pedigree animals at the head of their herds. If it was true that half the breeding went down the throat, it was also true that the bull was half the herd. Tt is best to have a bull that came from a line of producers than one whose dam had proved an exceptional producer. The majority of dairy farmers keep their hulls a couple or three years, and then sell them. Provided, however, that the progeny were better than their darns, the owners should keep them and so consolidate type and promote butterfat production. If farmers had to dispose of the bulls thev should buv others of the same strain as those they had sold, and not jump from one strain to another. Then what about giving more attention to the welfare of the dairy cow, providing some extra feeding at the height of the milk flow, and when the grass is going off in the autumn, and “doing” the cowfar better in the “off" season? There is little doubt that if the average cow- in New- Zealand was fed to her maximum capacity the present annual average ot some 1601 b of butter-fat per cow could be increased bv another 1001 b butter-fat per annum—that is, with no improvement in breed : but, taking the two together, it would mean in a few vears a further 1001 b

butter-fat per cow. The matter is worth thinking over. It is a trouble, too, the world over—dairy cows do not get fair play if w-e take the whole year’s round. In the winter thev too often “rough” it in a paddock “out back,” and in a dry summer often lack a succulent bite and adequate clean water, and are tormented by flies. W hat says the poet Rube Harrison m Heard’s Dairyman? Before we knew the dairy game, we had a pasture lot that had scant grass little shade, believe me it was hot. Ihe flies and gnats Hew- round in swarms, and kept the old cows mad, while they stood round and switched and switched with all the strength they had. In those blue days we’d go to milk, but we could never tell why cows we thought were good as gold were not a doing well. I said, Now, dad, we re going back, those cows are hoarders all, we’ve got to sell c n ! .hv jing, or we’ll go to the wall’ bo dad, he ohew-ed a long rye straw and puckered up his eye and said, ‘Bv gum, lm gran’ out. and pure-hloods I’ll buv.’ He brought them home but still the milk was scanty in the pail, and those fine cows we saw at once began to pine and fail. So then we fixed our pasture up, we planted every grass the conntv agent said was good, all kinds that he would pass. \\ e fenced a bit of meadow in and willows by a creek and set some speedv shade trees out that grow both tall and thick ; we got some ointments for the gnats, and poisoned all the flies until those cows I thought would die from pleasure and surprise. Oh, then when we went out to milk the pearlv streams would flow until some records soon were made and cheques began to grow. Those dear old cows would eat their fill and then in some cool spot they’d lie and cliew their rich, full cuds where thev were never hot. When our next cream-rv cheque came back liow dad did squint his eves and try to argue it was wrong, it took him bv surprise. He figured back the months and years his pasture wasn’t good and thought of all the cows he’d sold—at last he understood. NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS. Periodically we are asked for information in regard to feeding a foal Rearing an which has lost its mother. Orphan Colt, and now endeavour to forestall inquiry by presenting he method adopted in Wisconsin In case the mare dies or has no milk the loal may be raised on cow’s milk, if the attendant conducts the work patiently and intelligently. Choose the milk of a cow that has recently calved, preferably one "•inch gives milk low in butter fat for mares milk, while rich in sugar, is poor in tat. sweeten the milk with molasses i r sugar and dilute with warm water. Give a little of this modified milk, from a scalded vessel, at short intervals. Add an ounce of lime water to each pint of the prepared milk and allow Half a cupful once ail hour at first. As the foal grows, gradually increase the amount of milk fed and lengthen the intervals between meals? I„ a few days food may be given six times a dav, and , er, four times daily. The foal will soon learn to drink from a pail, if allowed to suck the attendant's fingers at first. Keep the milk utensils scrupulously clean. 1 ntil the bowels move freely, give rectal injections night and morning. If the foal spoors at any time stop feeding milk for two or three meals, allowing: sweetened warm water and liine water instead. Bet the foal eat oatmeal as soon as it cares to do so, and gradually increase the amount and add wheat bran. In five or six weeks some sweetened skim milk may be given, and tile amount gradually increased daily until, in three months or so, it may be given freely three times a day in place of new milk. The foal at this age also will he eating freely of grass, grain, and bran. .Supply pure water as soon as the foal cares to drink. Bet the foal run out in a lot or grass paddock for exercise, accustom it to be handled daily. Feed small quantities of nutritious food often, keeping all food vessels clean, and the foal should thrive and develop well. Remember that a colt should at all times be adequately fed so as to develop it perfectly. Practically half of the full weight of a horse is gained during the first i2 months of his life. If stunted during this period the colt never develops properly; it therefore pays to feed generously. It has not been customary to look upon sulphur with the same Sulphur in degree of interest as say, Agriculture. nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid, but one is always learning. In a recent bulletin issued by the agricultural station of the State l niversity of Kentucky, some interesting particulars are given regarding the position of sulphur in agriculture. " The author. Mr D. M. Shedd, states that scientific investigation shows that sulphur takes a< important a position in the quantitative composition of some plants as phosphorus. Hart and Petersen, wellknown agricultural chemists, have shown that ordinary farm crops (turnips, rape, and their allies), remove nearly as much sulphur from the soil as nitrogen, potash, or phosphoric acid, and probably more in proportion to the amounts contained in the soil. In treating upon the sulphur requirement,? of farm crops, they say. inter alia: “It is a well-known fact that the wool of sheep is of a protein nature. This protein belongs to the class known as albuminoids. and is rich in sulphur, containing about two per cent. i„ an air-dried condition. Besides the sulphur in organic combination in tile pure wool fibre, there is a eertain amount of sulphur in other forms of crude wool there may be approximately two pounds of sulphur. so that the supply of sulphur in the common feeding materials of sheep (grasses, roots, etc.) becomes an important problem. Apart from tire amount of sulphur taken out of the soil bv growing crops, which is believed to average from 12ll> to 181 b per acre per year, there is a considerable amount of loss due to drainage and other causes. <>f course, nature to some extent makes good the waste of sulphur in soiis by providing a supply through the rainfall, and the farmer supplements (lie supplythrough stable manure and certain chemical fertilisers, but at the same time there is abundant proof to show that the addition of sulphur or sulphur compounds to th« soil may be well worth while.

A brief summary of the main points touched upon by Dr CockClub Root ayne in a recent address in and the Southland on Club Root in Bassica Family. Xurnips. which appeared in tiie \Yyndham Herald, and is timely. The trouble is whrld-wide, due to a spore resting in the ground, very limited in its movement, only waiting the opportunity to develop in the roots of turnips, cabbage and certain weeds —any plant belonging to the brassica family. Some turnips appeared to be immune, but in course of time every kind would succumb to it. It is after the turnip begins to rot that the infection spreads. ihe soil is the means of spreading it. The chance of seed spreading it is very remote, and could only he by means of particles of infected soil adhering to the seed. Cattle tramping on infected soil would carry some portions on their feet and spread the infection, as would be noted specially at gateways. Drainage water would carry down the spores from higher land. Certain manures would favour the development, though the spores were not in the manure but in the soil. Manures with an appreciable amount of nitrogen in them should not be used. Avoid the use of stable manure on land to be used for turnip growing, but apply it to permanent pasture land or that which is to grow white crops. Feed turnips to stock on permanent pasture land, not on that to be broken up for turnips. It is courting disaster to grow turnips on the same land twice in succession. Let there be long intervals between turnip crops; say, ten years. Avoid unnecessary contamination. Lime as a means of controlling disease is out of court. f The growing of field carrots is worthy of consideration by Southland dairymen. It is better to turn oaten hay into butterfat titan to sell oats at Is 6d a bushel. The voidings of cattle do not contain the spore. If it came from the manure of stall-fed animals the probability was that the fragments of diseased turnips left uneaten by the cows were the means of spreading the infection. A paper was read by Mrs Wild at a recent meeting of the William sTo Cure town branch of the AgnBacon. cultural Bureau of South Australia on bacon curing. The carcase, she said, should be allowed to hang all night, in order to eet the meat. Next morning it should lie cut into convenient pieces, and as many bones removed as possible, and the joints broken before cutting up. The following recipe for dry-salting was recommended: 21b salt. 21b brown sugar, lib bicarbonate of soda, lib saltpetre, lib ground cinnamon. Place the pork on a slab, cover with salt, and allow the meat to drain for two days. Then rub the mixture into the pork, Allow it to stand one day, and then pile the pieces one on top of the other. Turn every other day, adding more of the mixture as required. The bacon will take two weeks and hams four weeks to cure. Next soak the meat in clean, cold water all night, and then wash it in warm water. Finally rub with olive oil, and hang up to dry. To keep free from ru&t, store in a 000 l place in a box of bran. —AGRICOIA. PROPOSED DAIRY CONTROL OTAGO FARMERS’ PROTEST. The farmer delegates who met in Dunedin on the 7t.h in connection with the estaJbliehinont of a co-operative butter factory in Dunedin, wht a they had dispensed with that business formed themselves into ft meeting for the purpose of discussing th*s proposed dairy control. Mr W. J. X*ee (Goodwood) was appointed chairman. The discussion was started immediately after a provisional committee had been set up to deal with the other matter. By

this time luncheon adjournment was overdue, and it. was suggested that the meeting should adjourn. Mr A. Craig, who was then in the chair, agreed, however, to put an- resolution to the meeting, if the discussion were kept short. Mr Lamb, secretary of the South Island Dairy Association, said ,jt was not a dairy pool but Government control that was now proposed, on the lines of the meat control. There was to be a meeting in Wellington on September 14, and if the majority then expressed themselves in favour of control, the Government would put a Bill through Parliament on the same lines as the Meat Control Bill, altering the word meat to butter and cheese. By this time Messrs Lee, Mason (Middlemarch), and Birtles (Waikouaiti) had spoken very briefly against dairy control. Mr Mason then rose and moved —“That seeing that the whole of the cream suppliers tf Otago and Southland will be absolutely unrepresented at the conference in Wellington this representative meeting of the dairy farmers of Otago enters an emphatic protest against any dealing with our produce without our consent.’’ Mr Birtles seconded th e motion, which was put to the meeting and declared to be carried. Objection was taken, however, to tlie fact that no discussion had been allowed, and it was agreed to reopen the matter ’after lunch. Mr Lee was appointed chairman, Mr Craig remarking that the meeting was then finished so far as the Farmers’ Union was concerned. When the meeting resumed at three o’clock Mr Mason again put forward his motion. There were then about 25 present. Mr Bryant (Henley) said the question was were they satisfied with the method of marketing their produce. It was well known that a certain firm in the North Island had made £IOO,OOO bv buying New Zealand butter last season. He said he was not against the motion, but was still a strong supporter of the marketing scheme that had been brought forward two years before. After a more or less informal discussion, largely as to the operation of the Cooperative Wholesale Society, the motion was put to the meeting and carried. Tt was agreed, at the instance of Mr .T, Christie (Clutba), to add the words “cheese factory representatives” to the motion before the words “dairy farmers.” The Chairman suggested that the resolution should be sent to the Prime Minister. Mr Waite later informed a Times reporter that the committee had already guarantees of 7000 cows. TIIE MEAT POOL MR JESSEP'S NEGOTIATIONS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, July 21. Mr J. S. Jossep, vice-chairman of the Now Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, has been for some weeks in very close touch with the Port of London Authority, and with the shipping companies trading to New Zealand and he is very hopeful that substantial reductions will be made which will enable the New Zealand growers to show a better return for their produce. On behalf of the Producers’ Board, he has taken offices in Lincoln's Inn. These are very conveniently situated in relation to the Smitlifield markets, and to the great body of trading concerns who deal with New Zealand meat. Mr Jessep has been pointing out that the present low prices being paid for New Zealand mutton are apparently unwarranted by the supplies likely to come to hand, and he has emphasised the point that practically the whole of the New Zealand meat will be shipped from the dominion during this month. His representations to the Port of London Authority have been along the lines of showing that the high storage charges in the cold stores here make it very expensive for holders to keep mutton back. Consequently, it is difficult to regulate supplies on the market. On top of the already high storage charges, an extra surcharge of 33 1-3 per cent, is laid on every parcel of meat under 100 carcases. This penalty, of course, will largely disappear if the New Zealand growers cut out the small consignments.

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES

Weekly Stock Sales. Burnside, Wednesdays. Addington, Wednesdays. Waiareka Railway Junction, Tresdays. Wallacetown, Tuesdays. Fortnightly. Riversdale, Fridays. Ashburton, Tuesdays. Heriot, Thursdays, iVinbon, Thursdays. Wyndham, Thursdays. Clinton, Thursdays. Balclutha, Fridays, Gore, Tuesdays. Monthly. ?alnierston, 4th Thursday. Wintoo, 4th Tuesday.

Monthly (continued). Duntroon, 2ud Wednesday. Woodlands, 3rd Friday Milton, 2nd Tuesday. Balfour, 3rd Thursday. Thornbury, Ist Friday. Duntroon, 2nd Wednesday. X Otautan, 2nd Friday. Riversdale, 3rd Friday. last Friday. Olydevale, last Tuesday. Periodically as Advertised. Lumsden, Mossburn Orepuki, Mataura. Waikcuaiti, Riverton, Ngapara, an a Otago Central Sales

OTAGO. A capital week’s weather, “the friendlier air betokens spring,” and matters generally in the farming world in Otago are moving in the right direction. BURNSIDE MARKET. The yarding of fat sheep at Burnside totalled 1976, as against 2232 the previous week, the quality ranging from indifferent to good. The demand was firm at last sale’s rates for prime sheep, unfinished and grazier’s sorts being a shade to Is per head better. A few hoggets were sold along with sheep and made unchanged rales. llio yarding of fat cat lie, 312 (172 the previous week), was the biggest for some considerable time, the quality being very fair to choice. Bast week’s high prices were unobtainable and rates from the start were about £2 a head lower, but firmed up a few shillings on the bust two races, beef selling at around 30s per 1001 b. *1 he store cattle numbered over 200 head, being made up of some 35 yearlings, 35 two and a-half year-olds, 20 plain three-year-old steers, a few dozen station cows and heifers, and the balance old cows. Young Hereford sorts sold fairly well at £2 2s to £3 a head, one year and a-half steers £3 2s, two and a-half-year-olds £3 7s 6d, station in-calf cows (thin) £2 10s to £3, other sorts unchanged. Fat pigs improved 5s a head, bacon sorts making to 6d per lb, and porkers to Bd, small sorts unchanged. ADDINGTON YARDS. There was a large entry of fat sheep at Addington, the range of quality being wide. An irregular sale resulted, with values generally Is 6d a head under last week’s prices, a good many pennings being

PRICES 0E BEEF, MUTTON, AND LAMB.

GRAPH SHOWING COMPARATIVE RANGE AT BURNSIDE.

By Agricola

With a view to enabling readers to readily follow the trend of stock prices at Otago’s chief market from week to week, the following diagrams showing approximately the weekly averages of top prices at Burnside market of beef, mutton, and Lamb from January 4 to August 30, 1922, have been prepared, and for comparison the ruling prices for the same period for 1921 are given. Beef is quoted at per 1001 b and mutton and Lamb at per lb dressed weight.

THE BEEF GRAPH

MUTTON AND LAMB GRAPH.

passed in at auction. Some Heriot, Southland, wethers made up to 36s 6d and hoggets to 30s. In the store pens ample sheep were forward for the somewhat weak demand, both hoggets and wethers “hanging” somewhat, but a yard of five-year-old halfbred ew'es, with 100 per cent. of lambs, sold well, making 13s all counted. Thirty spring lambs sold under brisk competition at 20s and 35s per head. Another large entry of fat cattle greeted butchers, over 400 head, a fourth of them from the North Island, all of good quality. Values receded 10s to 25s a head on the previous sale prices, re line of 50 HerefordAberdeen cross steers from the Manawatu arrived late for the sale, but over 30 were sold at £l4 17s 6d to £ls 7s 6d. The store cattle penned were of indifferent quality. The best of the grown steers yarded sold fairly well, while the dairy cows were not in the front rank as typical of milkers, and had but scant attention, Ihe best of them making to £l2 While porkers sold at rates fully equal to last week’s values, baconers were easier, and in respect to stores, the large entry knocked back prices very considerably, woaners making from 7s 6d to 14s each and slips to 22s 6d. NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. The weather generally in the North 1 Island is favourable for lambing ewes and dairy cows, which are now coming in fast, while bidding at auction at the various stock markets is fairly good. Store stock is not offering in any quantity. At the Matawhero yards, in the Poverty Bay district,. fair hoggets made 16s 9d, good 18s to 19s Id, Hereford bulls (purebred) made from 23gns to 44gns (13 of them). In the Wan ga n ui -Fe i Id in g areas, although there have been slight frosts, the grass is coming away, and lambing ewes are piling up our sheep numbers with nothing abnormal in the way of deaths. In the Wairarapa conditions are fair, but no reports have come to hand, and presumably stock business is slack. In the Taranaki district dairymen are busy with their cows, which are now coming in fast. In Hawke’s Bay, despite cold snaps, grass is coming away in a satisfactory manner, and values generally show an improvement; ewes with over ICO per cent, of lambs made 35s 3d, fair in-lamb ewes 22s to 26s 9d, two-year-old steers to j £3 14s. three-year-olds £4 12s. best heifers j (springing) to £lO 10s, medium sorts £4 to £5 ss. BALCLUTH A -CLINTON STOCK SALES. Some 4000 sheep were yarded at Balclutlia, and 400 head of cattle. The former sold well, store slock at an advance of I about Is a head on last sales rates, while

a capital demand was experienced for forward bullocks. Dairy cattle wore slow of saLe, and except for those of real merit would have }better at home. Fourtooth in-lamb ewes made 30s 4d, six and eight tooths 28s, full and failing to 255, failing 16s to 20s, extra 255. wethers 20s to 235, ewe hoggets 19s to 21s, wether hogget* 15s 6d to 18s 3d. Fat cattle mode values on a par with recent Burnside rates, forward four and five-year-old bullocks £8 to £9 4s, three-year-olds £5 to £7 ss, two-year-olds £3 to £4, yearlings £2 Is. I>airy cows in all stages and all qualities filled the pens, some 220 head; the relatively few good sorts made £8 to £lO 15s, others from £2 10 to £4 15s. There were a lot of small and store pigs marketed, and theso sold very well in comparison with prices ruling in other provincial centres. No stock were forward at Clinton. STOCK NOTES. Values of store stock in Otago remain very much the same as a week ago, but there i 3 not much “doing” as offerings at auction aro on the small side. There is no change in fat sheep values, but fat bullocks at Burnside, owing to the entry being excessive, receded in price from £1 to £2 on last week’s quotations The Waitaki Farmers’ Freezing Company, after the protracted negotiations natural to a deal of such magnitude, have obtained (says the Oamaru Mail) a six months’ option over the l’ukeuri works of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company for the amount of £192.250. The terms of payment given by the sellers aro liberal, 15 years being allowed for completion of the undertaking. The testimony of the experts as to the value of the propety goes to show that the fanners’ directors have made an excellent bargain. 'I he demand for Taranaki dairy stock for Waikato and North Auckland speaks well of the fame of Taranaki-bred animals. Only the other day the New Zealand Farmorsr Co-op. Association sent 300 heifers from the Inglewood district to meet the requirements of dairy farmers north. The same firm are sending a consignment comprising 13 truck loads, in the same direction. 'Phese included three trucks of Jersey bulls, two trucks of in-calf Friesian heifers, and eight trucks of yearling pedigree and grade Jersey heifers. 'Hie dairy farmers in Taranaki, or at least many of them, have paid considerable attention to improving the breed of their dairy stock, and aro now reaping the reward. They deserve it. 'live Moumoliakl Experimental Farm, Waverley, has for private sale yearling- Ayrshire and Guernsey bulls, also Berkshire boars and sows. r n l>o obtained from tlw farm manager. u>_i* nly ihoro vroro shipped frr.«ni Brh* b.me C2O heifers, 20 lyulls, and six hox&OB

for Messrs Kitchen and Sons, who have oooonut plantations in Papua (says the Pastoral Review). The cattle are. required to keep down the grass on the plantations, and were to be l ken to Milne Bay, near Sam ami. In 1917 an exeh nge of pedigree dairy aaitlo was effected between the New Zealand Department of Agriculture and that of Victoria (says the Journal of Agriculture). Among other Frie-ians sent from the Central Development Farm, Weraro.i, under this deal was the heifer Dominion Segis Foies. Deter she wars disposed of bv the Victorian Department to a Werrihee farmer. Mr (1. A. Waite, by whom 1 her second calf) she has been tested re civ under the official Victorian system, i i which the testing period is nine me. . and the records are taken in milk yield -tated it. gallons. In the peri; d 25th A 1 -t to 24th May. 1921 22. Dominion Segis robes registered a production of 1831. lg d. exceeding by over 500gai the previous Victorian record. At the conclusion of the test she was still milking well, the daii. average for the last 14 days being 491 b. l)crninioii Hegis Fohes de•c*mlß from gre r producing families on both sides. Her dam, Jessie Fohes Beets, is still I.reeding at Weraroa. Ilur sire, Woodcrest Joe, is an outstanding Friesian who has left his mark on the Weraroa herd. Domiriion Wooderest Beets, one of the present herd sires at Weraroa, is full brother to Dominion Seeds Fohes. A good trado was experienced in July last for Mr O. Wordworth's “Brooklnnds*’ herd ’of Friesians (England). when 45 head averaged £l3l, an imported heifer making llOOgs. This was Rrnuklamh Prince's

Eirene. Her daughter, Brooklands Ymkje, a oalf by Wychnor (imp.) made 700 gs. Other good sales of Friesians during the week at Slough, England, include some of the Northdean herd, 13 of them averaging £122, with a top of 320 gs for a two-year-old heifer, Northdean Lotus. Forty head from the Hache herd averaged £139, the top price being IOSOgs for a seven-year-old cow, Wiginton Soak.je 2nd. The Kingston cattle averaged £204 for 24 head,, a heifer, Kingswood Zena, making top price—viz., fiOOgs. The loss of 146,629 sheep from one group of holdings, mostly through the depredations of dingoes, during the 15 years ended last year is the heavy toll experienced by Mr F. H. Coward, of Beerbank Station, in the Warrego district of Queensland (says the Australasian). The average. loss amounted to 22 per cent. D'og-proof fencing had been erected at very heavy cost, but in spite of all that could be done the loss continued. The cost of dog destruction and maintenance of the fences was more than £BOO a year. The dingoes destroyed between 1912 and 1921 inclusive numbered 26,929. An experiment carried out at Crichton Royal Institute Farm, Dumfries, Scotland, mating a Red Poll bull with Ayrshire cows, has so far had fair results. The result of the cross has been to eliminate the horn on the female, but a large percentage of the male calves have developed horns. The average yield of milk of the first cross has been 70001 b per cow. An average of £95 was secured for Mr Ezra's dairy Shorthorns at Lock, Sussex, in July last., the top price being paid for the young cow' Lacy Tulip 2nd—viz., 300 gs. BUSHEY PARK SHORTHORNS FOR SOUTH WESTLAND. Last week Mr W. D. Nolan, of the firm of Messrs Nolan Bros,, station-holders, of South Westland, paid a visit to Bushev Park Stud Farm, Palmerston, Otago, for the purpose of securing from Mr J. A. Johnstone’s well-known herd of Shorthorns a selection of high-class young cows and heifers to form the nucleus of a herd that his firm has decided to found at Okuru. This new departure on their part is the result of a decision of Westland settlers to establish a dairy factory in their district. Mr Noland was fortunate in obtaining 15 young cows and heifers at Rushey Park. The choice of these was mainly due to the fact that most of them are the descendants of exceptionally good cows, which Mr Johnstone purchased from Mr Leonard White, Canterbury, when his herd was dispersed a few years ago. These cows were as much celebrated for their copious milking powers as for their excellent beef-producing qualities, and it is generally conceded that no L iter cattle of the dual Shorthorn type were lo be found in Canterbury than those bred by Mr Leonard White. It may be noted that his cattle were descendants of such noted sires as the imported Irish bred Orphan Clansman (2740) (a frequent

prize-winner at the Canterbury metropolitan shows), Taumutu Stamp (3688) by the imported bull ft road hook’s Stamp (2590), Taumutu Style (4118), Westburn Marquis of Bute (2718), etc. The yearling heifers purchased by tne Messrs Noland include some fine animals by the Busbey Park stud bull Knapdale Diamond Victor (4712), one of the best sons of the late Hon. Robert M'Nab’s imported champion hull Diamond Prince (3402) out of a very heavy milking purebred cow, Te Auto Rose (6201), from the famous herd of Mr W. T. Williams, Te Ante, Hawke’s Bay. ’The calves by this cow’s son, Knapdale Diamond Victor, are of exceptional merit, and do great credit to their ancestry. The Messrs Nolan aro to tie commended for the enterprise they have displayed in securing for their foundation stock such well-bred animals, arid we believe these Otago-bred animals will do credit to the province.

THE CLYDESDALS WORLD. Mr James Patrick, late of Lee Creek, Otago, has cabled his agents, Wright Stephenson, and Co., Dunedin, tliat. he has ptmehased in. Scotland five stallions and three Clydesdale fillies. Particulars will follow in due course. These Clydesdales, it is anticipated will be shipped per s.s. Durham, which leaves the Old Country immediately. The Clutha Clydesdale Horse Club, Ltd., decided to travel the imported horse Finest - Blend in the Kelso district during the incoming season. The Clutha and Mataura A. and P. Association will hold a Horse Parade on October 7. M.r James Birtles’s (Cherry Farm), well and , favourably known Clydesdale stallion “Shanter” will travel the Waikouaiti district during the incoming season. the 33th annual Horse Show, held under the auspices of the Otago A. and P. Society, will be held at Talruna Park, Dunedin, on Thursday, the 28th inst. The Clydesdale Horse Society offers tile Wright, Stephenson Challenge Cup, valued at 50 guineas, for best Clydesdale or entire colt registered in the Society’s Stud Book (passed as free from hereditary unsoundness) ana entered in the Clydesdale Horse classes. Messrs Thomson and Co. offer a challenge cup, valued at. £lO 10s for yearling stallion, to be won twice in succession or three times at intervale. Other classes include (1) Clydesdale stallion (aged). (2) Clydesdale stallion three-year-old, (3) Clydesdale stallion two-vear-old, (4) Clydesdale stallion one-year-old. Entries close on Monday, September 18, 1922. AGRICULTURE IN PARLIAMENT. In reply to questions in the House anerit Naura phosphates, the Minister of Agriculture stated that the price of the raw phosphate, which, he had announced, was only, for large shipments. If farmers in the south wished to ge full benefit of this price they should utilise their organisations to group orders. His attention having been called to the disparity between the latest quotation for raw phosphates (£2 12s) and a charge of £5 17s 6d to farmers, the Minister said the latter was for ground phosphate. Prices were being closely watched ; but merchants could not give the benefit of the latest quotation, as no shipments had c-ome to hand at tliat price. It was suggested to the Minister of Agriculture that the Government should, in view of the. serious nature of the rabbit pest, purchase rabbit-proof netting for supply to Government settlers at cost price, and if possible on deferred payments. The Ploti. W. Nosworlhy stated that he was constantly in touch with the High Commissioner regarding the price of netting, and a few days ago he received information showing that the price was still too high. The p roposal for deferred payment when netting' became available at a reasonable price would be a matter for the Cabinet’s decision. The member for Temuka asked for reconsideration of the request from the five associated dairy companies in his district to appoint a dairying instructor in their area, seeing that 19 such officers work in the North Island l and none in Canterbury. Though the South Island only produced 14 per cent, of the dairy products exported, lie thought, it unfair that, the whole of the instruction staff should be located in the North Island. The dairy companies were prepared to pay £250 towards the instructors’ salary. The Minister replied that lie would go into the matter and consider the possibility of transferring two instructors lo the South Island TRADE WITH THE ARGENTINE. A representative of a number of Belgian commercial syndicates visited the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs in June last.,

says the River Plate Observer. In the course of the interview which followed, the representative stated that the syndicates referred to wished for details of the negotiations which had been set on foot for the exportation of meat anil live stock to Germany, on the understanding that payment for the same should be made in goods. He explained that the view of the syndicates he represented was that a similar agreement

might be concluded between Argentina and Belgium. Dr Pueyrredon informed his visitor that the object of the negotiations alluded to was to promote an interchange ot trade between syndicates operating in Germany and Argentina respectively, those in this Republic lining granted credit facilities through a bank, which would undoubtedly be that of the Nation. The Argentine Government was prepared to favour any initiative of the kind as being calculated to improve the conditions of Argentine production and bring about increased activity in the interchange of commodities with friendly nations. The representative thanked the Minister for his information which, he said, would suffice as a basis upon which to take further action towards putting tile scheme into execution. RED POLLS IN SCOTLAND. If is a little more than throe years (write* a correspondent) since a Red Poll herd was founded in Scotland, but since then the breed has made such substantial progress that the number of herds of these milk and beef cattle from East- Anglia now borders on a total of 30. with an eaily prosjiect of that number lieing considerably exceeded. They extend in almost one direct line from Dumfries to Golspie, in Sutherland, and there aro now over a dozen counties in which herds of these essentially dual cattle are to be found. Their value as milk, beef, and butler cattle is afforded by tlieir persistency in milk-giving, ihe fine quality of the beef at early maturity, and the high butter-fat content of their milk. While 4 per cent, of butter-fat is a fairly common percentage, numerous herds have cows giving 6 per cent, and even 7 jer cent. of butter-fat. 'J lie utility of Red Polls in j milk-giving is furnished by the cases of the large number which yield more than 3j gallons a day. and yet give 800 to 1000 gallons of milk in the lactation. Longevity and breeding qualities are another feature of the Red Poll breed. The unbeaten champion Red Poll hull, Necton Gloucester, was bred in a herd which is remarkable for the longevity of its stock, and which includes an 18-year-old cow which has averaged 86841 b of 4 per cent, butter-fat milk, and has bred 15 calves. Two other herds represented at the Royal are also notable for the same reasons. Lord Folkestone, who was a successful exhibitor there, has a 16-year-old cow which has just had her 15th calf, and with 14 she has averaged 1 52 gallons; she is still giving over three gallons a day six weeks front calving. Mr A. Carlyle Smith. from whose herd there were several which were winners at the Royal, has an equally meiitorious yielder who has bred 17 calves. The herds here indicated, like 4 many others, have furnished not a few winners in the fat stock shows, most of them bred from 800 to 1000-gallon cows. NEW ZEALAND MEAT SOUTH AMERICAN COMPETITION. MR EWAN CAMPBELL'S VIEWS. WANGANUI, September 7. Mr Ewan Campbell, chairman of directors of the Wanganui Meat Freezing \\ orks ; who is looked upon as one of the best New Zealand authorities on the meat question, referred at the annual meeting of his company to the dominion’s competitors in South America, who had the advantage of Id per lb freight. Britain, he considered, should put New Zealand on an even footing with the South American countries. Since the war there had been a. great decrease in the consumption of moat, that in England amounting to 71b per head of the population. It was to bo hoped that, the return of prosi>crity would bring about an increased consumption. So tar as flocks were concerned, the Argentine had dropped from 75.000,000 sheep to from 25,000,000 to 30,000,000. Cattle, on the other hand, had increased enormously. “ That .means,” said Mr Campbell, "that so far as mutton is concerned, we have no competitors above the horizon. Our meat must retain its present prices, or obtain better ones. So far as beef prices were concerned, he was very pessimistic, as he could not see that the prices of former years would ever return. He referred to the ho go herds in South America, which could undersell New Zealand by reason of cheaper labour and freight. Mr Campbell spoke eulogistically of the Meat Producers’ Board, which had been set up, but he considered it would be absolutely foolish to form a pool until the standard of the whole output of meat had been raised. Some companies set a very high standard, but others were very care less in that, respect, and the latter class would ruin any pool. Referring further to the Moat Board, Mr Campbell saw great danger if the members became settled in London. “It is an extraordinary thing, but absolutely true,” he said, " that anyone who lives in London for any time becomes a Londoner, and becomes obsessed with London and nothing else. We found that in connection with our own agents. I’hough the stores in London were filled, the agents said ‘ send on.’ and we, like children, did so, only to find the market glutted, while in other jiorts. not including Glasgow and Manchester, there was space for 850.000 carcases.” In regard to shipping. Mr Cainplie.il said there had been be’tor service to West of England ports. Other ports should be exploited, but the trouble- was that ships could not profitably take small consignments to special ports. Ho had nothing to say against the Loudon market, which, if kept bare, was the best for New Zealand, but, glutted, was the worst, as the beags. bulls, and suchlike there then got their chance. "We want to keep the London market as hare as we can, so that we may got the full benefit from our produce,” observed Mr Campbell. 1M PER IAL GOVERNMENT'S WOOL LARGE SHIPMENT LEAVING. TOTAL PURCHASE OF £64.000,000. Vi ELLING TON, Sej U mber 3. The lion. \\ . Nosworthv (Minister in charge, of. the Imperial Government. Supplies) states that the departure of the Westmoreland on Saturday will mark the completion of the shipment from New Zealand of the last of the wool that was purchased by the Imperial Government during the four seasons 1916-1920 inclusive. The first shipment was effected by the s.s. Port Lyttelton on December 8, 1916. and the

departure of the s.s. Westmoreland tomorrow brings the total quantity of wool shipped from New Zealand on behalf of the Imperial Government to 2.364,604 bales. Owing to the state of the wool market during Hie greater part of 1921. the shipment of the remaining stocks was postponed. and when, towards the end of that year, loadings wore resumed, there remained in store 314,903 bales, which have now all been shipped to the following British ports during the last nine months: —London, 142,433 bales; Liverpool. 41,609 bales; Hull. 43,565 bales; Manchester, 87,806 bales; - total. 314.903 bales. The total amount of w r ool and sheepskins purchased by the Imperial Government during the four season stated above represented 2.348.143 bales of wool and 7,666,864 sheepskins, representing payments (including storage, shipping, scouring, and follmongering charges) totalling £63.908.701. Of the above purchases, the whole of the sheepskins and 417,770 bales of wool were treated at various scouring and fellmongering works in the dominion working under contract with and under the supervision r.f the Department of Imperial Government Supplies. NEW ZEALAND FRIESIAN ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL BRANCH. A well-attended meeting of breeders of Friesian cattle in the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay provinces was held in Palmerston North, when it was decided to establish a branch of the association to cover the two provinces named, with the headquarters at Palmerston North. Mr C. E. Robertson, who was voted to the. chair, read reports referring to the activities of other branches throughout the Dominion, and, on the motion of Messrs N. P. Nielsen (Tiakital.una) and John Donald (Wanganui), it was decided to form a branch to cover the territory in the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay provinces, but which in the meanwhile would be known as the Wellington Provincial Branch. The following office-bearers were appointed : —President. Mr C. E. Robertson (Ashhurst), vice-presidents—Sir A. H. Russell (Hastings). Dr R. A. Cameron (Wellington). Mrs A. M. Budd (Carterton), Messrs G. A. Trott U pper Hutt). M. R. Murphy (I’ateu). W. D. Hunt (Wellington), H Best (Te IIoro). 1). Dickie (Wellington), W Barton (Keatherston), J. Liggins, sen. (Tokomaru), and W. Reran (Manakau); Executive Committee —Messrs H. R. Green (Palmerston North), John Donald (Wanganui), A. Burgess (Rongotea). H. Voss (Tiakitahuna). W. I. Lovelock (Palmerston North). B. Borkett (Pohangina), N. P. Nielsen (Tiakitahuna). W. E. A. Gill (Wellington), R. Melvin (Ma.sterton). W. .T. M‘Cutlough (Weraroa State Farm). Major R. A. Wilson (Bulls!, A. C. Morion (Silvethope); secretary and treasurer, Mr M. J. '! hornson. Various methods of improving the breed were discussed, and as a Grst step it was

decided to offer the following special prizes for competition at spring shows within the province. At the Manawatu Spring Show it was decided to ask the A. and P. Association to replace the yearling heifer class with a special class for yearling Derby heifers —i.e.. yearling heifers eligible for entry in the New Zealand Friesian Cattle £SOO Derby,—when, in addition to the customary prize money, the branch would donate a silver cup of the value of £25 to the winner. The cup will become the sole property of any one breeder on being won twice in succession or three times at intervals. In addition, the branch will present a gold medal of the value of £3 3s to the winner each year. It was also pointed out by the secretary that at the Manawatu Spring Show in November the North Island championships of the Friesian breed will be contested. A silver challenge cup and a gold medal will be awarded to the winner in each section. The cup becomes the property of any one exhibitor winning it twice in succession or three times at intervals. The cups are at present held in the names of the Dominion Government's Dominion Woodcrest Beets (male) and Mr Vernon Marx’s Alcartra CMothilde Pietje (female). Favourable comment, was passed in relation to the encouragement given «o breeders of Friesians by the Wairar&pa A. and P. Society at its annual Spring Show’, held at Carterton. It was decided to offer this association a sum of £lO for a special class for yearling heifers, competing breeders to he eligible must not. have won a firs! prize in female classes at any show. This prize money is to be divided as follows: —Frst, £5; second. £3; third, £2. It was also resolved to invite this association to substitute a yearling Derby class for the open yearling class, and to offer a gold medal of the value of £3 3s for the winning heifer. The members were thoroughly in favour of encouraging competition in yearling classes, holding that every incentive should be given to breeders to develop their young stock. At this show a £lO 10s cup will also be competed for at. the two-year-old heifer class. It was decided to endorse ihe nomination of Mr T. IT. Overton, of Lakeside, “Canterbury, as judge at the North Island Championship Show at Palmerston North. The question of subsidising prize .money or donating cups and medals at the Auluinn Show's held at. Feilding, l/evin, Dannevirke, and Masterton was held over for discussion at the first quarterly meeting to he held in Palmerston North in October. A proposal by the chairman that quarterly meetings he held in rotation at various centres in addition to Palmerston North

was approved. It is proposed that at the same time field days be held in the various centres—llutt, Masterton or Carterton, Levin, Dannevirke, Feilding, and Wanganui. A motion was enthusiastically carried congratulating Mr Vernon Marx, of Majrgatoki, i pon the great record established by his Friesian cow Alcartra Clothilde Pietje, winch was the first cow of any breed in Australasia to produce ICOOIb of butter-fat in one season. No cow of any other bleed had produced a similar amount of butter-fat in 12 months, whereas Mr Marx's chat £>:on had given slightly more than 10001 b or fat in 10 months. The Chairman stated that lie had recently inspected this fire cow in the company of Mr W. D. Hunt, the president of the New Zealand Eriesian Association. She promised to give about 30,0001 b of milk and about 11401 b of butter-fat in the full 12 months. Moreover she would calve again within 30 days of finishing her test. This cow had never been housed, but ran out with other cows on her. owner's farm throughout the year. Under the conditions or this test her performance was a world’s record for all breeds. It was decided to endeavour to arrange with the owner to have his cow on exhibition at the Manawatu Spring Show. Mention has been made of tne fact, that a heifer in Taranaki which had milked m only three-quarters throughout the year, promised to finish up her year’s test with a production of about 8001 b of fat This would also be a record for all breeds, and was an astounding performance under the circumstances. The following subscriptions levy on members within the provincial area was dooided upon : —Owners of herds no to 10 head £1 Is owners from 10 to 20 head, £2’ 2sowners over 20 head, £3 3s. 'I he question of co-operation with all oilier breed societies (Jersey, Milking Shorthorn, Red Polls, and Ayrshire Societies) in an endeavour to advance the interests of dairy cattle breeding generally was discussed, and several proposals in this connection were held over yintil the next meeting. In the meantime it was decided - to write to the Manawatu and District A. and P. Associations pointing out that most of the big prizes offered at the societies’ shows were awarded in the dairy produce sections. In view of this it was thought that the dairy factories in their turn might be prepared to encourage the dairy cattle breeders by offering trophies for competition at agricultural shows. The donations made could be pooled and prizes of equal value offered in the various sections. The chairman pointed ouL that in Southland and the Wairarapa the dairy factories were large contributors to the prize lists. A £5 donation frotr. each factory in the district would provide good prizes. The factories had everything to gain by encouraging the breeding of lioiter dairy stock ft was intimated to the meeting that dairying interests in Taranaki hail presented the Stratford A. anil P. Association with two handsome trophies of the value of £IOO cadi, one to be awarded to the breeder securing most points in Friesian cattle, and

the other for a similar honour in the Jersey cattle. In Southland and Otago proprietary factories had also donated shields for competition. At the quarterly meeting in October a scheme will be considered dealing with the er couragement of semi-official testing, and it is hoped to institute provincial championships for production. The present champions for the Wellington province are: Mature Cow.—Mr W. Barton’s Mutual Pearl of Rook, 9031 b of butter-fat. Senior Four-year:—Mr 11. R. Green’s Buttercup 3rd of Ashlynn, 8311 b of fat. Junior Four-year.—Mr John Donald’s Westmere Princess Pietertje, 9391 b of fat. Senior Three-year.—Mr C. Hopping’s Manor Beets Daughter 2nd of Ashlynn, 8631 b of fat. Junior Three-year.—Mr R. Melvin's Segis Van Buttercup, 6581 b of fat. Senior Two-year.—Mr John Donald’s Netherand Princess 4th, 8051 b of fat. Junior Two-year.—Mr H. R. Green’s Rosa Posoh of Oakviow, 7181 b of fat. THE OVER-RUN FACT SUPPLIERS SHOULD KNOW. , Mr E. W. Hughes, B. Agr. Sc., A.A.C.1., writing in the Dairyfarmer, says: — Assuming that ’one pound of butter-fat is worth Is 6d, the following figures show the values of ditferent over-runs per 100 tons of butter-fat.

Or, each additional percentage in the over-run means another £l6B to be added to the price per 100 tons (or o.lßd per lb) butter-fat. ‘ In other words, it makes the over run worth approximately another fifth of a penny per lb butter-fat for each additional per cent, increase in the over-run. This latter figure varies directly with the price per lb of butter-fat. READING DOWN THE TEST Differences in reading the butter-fat in cream .tests affect the over-run to a very marked degree. For purposes of argument, let us take the case of a factory making a standard butter containing P 0 per cent, of butter-fat. Assuming that there was no loss at all in handling or manufacturing—the theoretical over-run would be 25 per cent. In actual practice this is not attained, partly awing to the above-mentioned losses, and partly owing to the fact is usually more than 80 per cent, butter-fat in butter, thus reducing the honestly obtained overrun. (The actual working over-run obtaine-d is usually about 20.5 or points less than theoretical.) Det us take -the case of a cream testing 40 per cent, of butter-fat. In reading the fat column in a cream test, the column has to be doubled to give the percentage oi fat. Therefore it will be readily seen that by reading the test merely half a point less makes the actual test one full point lower —i.e., makes the test 39 per cent, instead of 40 per cent. Strange as it may seem, this very slight reading down of the test makes the working over-run approximately 3 per cent, higher than whit might he honestly obtained by fair reading. Furthermore, bv ihe same reasoning, if the fat column in a cream test, is cut down (or read down) by one single point (and it, does not sound much), an addition of v. 5 per cent, to the over-run may be easily but dishonestly obtained. From the above data it is quite easy to see what, happens to a farmer’s butter-fat, when comparing the treatment from a cooperative company with that, of a proprietary concern. In the former case, the whole of the over-run is paid back to the suppliers, while in the latter case apparently the same over-run is paid back; the rest obtained by reading down the tests is pocketed by the proprietors of the company. To take a concrete example. With but-ter-fat- at Is 6d per lb a proprietary concern would apparently be able to make the over-run worth another 1.17 d per lb but-ter-fat (by reading down the fat column one point). Therefore on 100 tons of but-ter-fat, they would have to spare over and above the normal over-run, a sum of £IO9O approximately. On this 100 tons < f butter-fat they would even be able to pay suppliers. Even if an extra halfpenny a and still have £620 to juggle with. in the ease of a factory with a supply ' f 500 tons of butter-fat per annum (and this is not a large factory), by reading down the column in the test, a mere one point, a sum of £5460 would be lifted from the suppliers. .-veil if an extra halfpenny a pound butter-fat were paid out, the suppliers would lose approximately £3430. The above figures, of course, represent the probable loss to the suppliers on a small proprietary factory. To enlarge somewhat look into the figures for the N.Z.C.D. Do. for the past, season—viz., 18.000 tons, of butter. By the same proeess of reasoning as above, suppliers of the same amount of ’ butter-fat to a proprietary company might, easily have been out of pocket to the extent of £196.580. The suppliers could easily have been paid (apparently) the extra halfpenny per lb but-ter-fat, and still be lacking approximately £111,750. WEIGHTS. .his seems only a small item, but really represents another means of enhancing the over run obtainable from butter-fat. If an addition to the over-run—dishonestly obtained by cutting the weights slightly—is aimed to that obtained by reading down the teste very slightly it will readily be seen that a proprietary concern really has tlie suppliers at its mercy, and can use them as a source of never-ending profit, although the suppliers (by being paid, say, an extra halfpenny per lb butter-fat,) think that they are far better off. A little solid reasoning on the part of the supplier will soon show him from whom I.e will ultimately get the best returns. CANTERBURY CRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. (Byttelton Times, September 8.) There was a good inquiry for potatoes this week, and prices showed another rise.

Merchants are now freely offering £5 5a per ton on trucks at country sUt.iau* for good whites, and for other varieties about £5 is being offered. During the week was a Particularly keen demand from Wellington for ixitatoes, but good inquiries wore also received from other places in tho North Island, including Auckland, where, it is reported, the market is firm with low stocks. Between them the s.s. Kuromiko “£& the , Op,'h. are taking only about 5500 sacks of table and seed for Auckland from Oamaru, Timaru, and Lyttelton this week. Presumably these two boats will have on board only about sufficient Labia potatoes to keep Auckland going for tiiroo days Local merchants expect that thera wi I be an increased inquiry from Auckland within the next few days. Offerings from ttm country are still very light, and it is either a case of there not lining manv polar toes held in the country, or else farmers arc holding on waiting for still bolter prices Certainiy some farmer’s are inclined to hold with a rising market, but indicar tioris are not wanting that there are not i? e quantities held in the country. .bowl wheat is showing a tendency to irm up just now, there being a better damaud from retailers. The statement mite by the Hon. \\ Noswoithy (Minister of Agriculture) m the House last Tuesday has not tended to flear up the situation" with regard ,o the surplus undergrade wheat, ihe Munster s statement that ho had insti noted the Wheat Controller to begin immediately to puroha.se good milling wheat that came to the standard defined i„ the regulations, even if the wheat did not reach the high standard lhat had necessarily to he fixed for export, is taken by some to moan that the Government intends to reduce its standard for milling wheat .somewhat If this is done, a fair quantity of wheat at present classed undergrade (hut not very much so) will presumably lie bought by ihe Government at milling prices, ibis, of course, will mean a big thing for the farmers who hold this class of wheat, and naturally they are not inclined to dispose of their holdings just now. In’ his statement Mr Nosworthy said that the Y\ heat Control Office would he prepared to arrange freights and market to the l>eafc’ advantage all undergrade wheat entrusted to it by growers. Jf the Government can find a good overseas market for undergrade wheat it is not known to local merchants. As one of them pointed out yesterday good New Zealand milling wheat brought only 44s per quarter in London recently, and on this basis he reckoned that the price our undergrade wheat would command in London would make it worth about 8s per bushel, f.0.b., to the farmer. At the present time farmers could obtain considerably more than this for their undergrade wheat. Personally not think Mi Nosworthy’B statement Wad tended to ciear up the position. Oats are very dull, and there does not seem to l>e much chance of their reviving. Lately about 10,090 sacks were shipped to Australia, but it is reported that they wore sold there at a loss. C haff is also very dull. There is very little doing in seeds just now. On account of the competition from Da.nish seed, cocksfoot has again eased, and it is now not worth much more than 4£d per lb to farmers. In the same way the competition from American seed has resulted in the reduction in red clover values, and today the maximum price to farmers is al>out 8d per lb. So little business is passing in linseed at present that only nominal values can be quoted. On the basis of the present offers from Australia it is worth from £l2 10s to £l3 per ton on trucks at country stations. However, there appears ro lie very little about, and farmers who have it are holding on. A good many inquiries are being received from Australia for bran and pollard. Some pollard lias been sold, but apparently there is not sufficient bran about to satisfy local needs. The following are quotations for produce to be paid to farmers ai country stations, free of commission, sacks extra,* except where otherwise stated : Milling Wheat. According to G<v"'-n-------ment prices. Tuscan, 5s per bushel, f.o.b. ; Hunters, 6s Ojd ; pearl, 6s 6|d. Fowl Wheat, 3s 9d to 4s Id per bushel, f. o. b. Oats. —Garlons, 2s to 2s 3d per bushel; Algerians. Is lid to 2s 3d ; Duns (dark coloured). 2s 6d to 2s 8d; light coloured, 2s to 2s 2d. Chaff. £2 15s to £3 per (on. Potatoes, £5 to £5 5s per ton. White clover, lid to Is 3d per lb. Red clover, 8d i**r lb. Perennial ryegrass, 3s 6d to 4s per bushel. Italian ryegrass, 3s 6d to 4s per bushel. (Cocksfoot, 4?d per It). Barley. 2s 6d to 3s per bushel. Cape barley, 2s to 2s 4d per bushel. Linseed, £l2 10s to £l3 10s per ton. Flour. —According to Government prices. 2001 b sacks £lB, lCOlb bags £l9. 501 b bag* £l9 10s. 251 b bags £2O, all per ton, f.0.b., Lyttelton. Timaru, and Oamaru. Bran. —According to Government prices £5 to £5 10s per ton, according to poking. f.0.b.. southern ports. Pollard.--According to Government prices. £8 to £8 10* per ton, according to packing, f.0.b., southern ports. THE WHEAT MARKET TO THE EDITOB. Sir,—For some time past Ministerial and other statements have appeared in your paper on the subject of the wheat market, and as I have been in communication with the Minister of Agriculture, through Mr Malcolm, M .P., I cannot let some of the replies go unchallenged. It is common knowledge to your readers that the Government contracted with the growers of wheat, to take over all milling wheat at a minimum guaranteed price of 5s 6d. I take only the Tuscan variety as a base for argument. It is also known that there is a milling surplus of wheat in the dominion and that there is a financial pinch embarrassing almost all industries, and also causing the Minister of Finance more than usual concern. The farmer is affected by the financial stress more than persons engaged in any other calling of life in New Zealand at the present time. He has only one option—that is, to keep on producing. He cannot mark time and wait, and while the price for his produce has fallen much below the pre-war values, he has yet to expend 50 per cent, on some things to more than over 100 per cent, on others to enable him to do so. In fact, most of the farmers have had to spend some of their capital. The farmers who grew wheat for tho 1921 1522 harvest accepted with all good

aith the* conditions stated by the Government The Government guaranteed 5s 6d per bushel for his wheat; ihe crops have now been harvested, the farmer has his wheat and wants ids money: and, according to my above* statements, wants it urgently. Some farmers threshed their wheat and submitted it through the Government. brokers for side, but the result Was so disappointing to many that others held back and some declined to thresh. The wheat lias been classed as under-grade in many cases, and on account of the sellers’ financial position fie lias in many cases sold at the best offer—a matter of cash at any price. It is known, and is always reported, so by your commercial column, that millers are well stocked and have confined themselves chiefly to the prime milling wheat that they require for immediate gristing. It Is also reported that the millers have got hold of a lot of wheat that was under grade at about per bushel and have re conditioned it. Under the. pie-

sent Government regulations this practice is illegal, as well as very detrimental to the producers’ interests, and the farmers are very naturally beginning to lose faith in the promise given them by the Government. Their feeling is aggravated by their reflection on what occurred with the 1920-1921 wheat. This the Government likewise guaranteed at a fixed minimum price of 7s 3d. with a free market in the dominion. That season yielded only a bare milling requirement, and the Government in February, 1921, fixed the price at a limit, granting 3d per bushel extra, taking away the free market as promised. I mentioned all the above in my letter to Mr Malcolm, stating that if the free market had existed in 1921 the price for milling wheat would have been 9s to 11s per bushel. IF"is the Minister’s reply to the above contention that 1 wish to challenge; or, as my know ledge of the wheat and flour markets of Australia and elsewhere is obtained from reading of the commercial column and

other news in the Otago Daily Times, I wish you to explain how the following dif- . ferenees can exist. In answer to my statement that the millers were reported as having acquired slocks of undergrade wheat, and to be reconditioning it, the Minister said: “Millers have always done a fowl wheat trade, and any wheat, purchased as undergrade must be notified to t.ho Wheat Controller. . Competition between flourmillers this year is such that a miller gristing other than milling wheat cannot hope to compete with his rivals.” This answer does not get past my contention about the reconditioning of lines of wheat bought undergrade at 3s 9d4s> (vide your Canterbury market report, September 2). Mv contention was and is that millers are getting hold of undergrade wheat prices round about 2s less than the present day Government price of milling ! wheat, and such is the case if I accept what lias appeared in your paper.

Further, in answer to my statement to Mr Malcolm that in February, 1921, the Government took from the farmer his promised free market and fixed him at 3d per bushel extra, making the price 7s 6d per bushel, when, if the farmer had been allowed his promised free market, the price for milling wheat would have gone to 9s31s per bushel the Minister quotes the following Australian figures:—‘‘At the time the Otago farmers were threshing it was possible to buy flour f.o.b. Sydney at £ls, and by August the price was dovvn to £l3 f.o.b. Sydney; further, when the price was fixed in February, 1921, at 7s 6d per bushel, it, was possible to buy wheat in Sydney f.o.b. at 6s 3d.” Seeing that the price for flour had dropped £2 per ton by August, 1921. we can surmise there was a corresponding casing in the price of wheat, flaking the above for granted, however, there seems to be something wrong "if we accept a price for wheat at 6s 3d per bushel and quote the flour at £ls per ton, when at the present time our millers are gristing, say the blended grades of wheat at 6s 3d per bushel, and the Government fixed maximum price for flour is £lß—a margin of £3 per ton. The Minister, however, gave the f.o.b. price of flour in Sydney in August, 1921. as '£l3 per ton. Hie wheat must have been less than 6s 3d per bushel, which was the price quoted when flour was at £ls per ton. Place these quotations against the quotations in August, 1921. as published by the Otago Daily'"Times of that month, or compare them with your quotations in last Saturday's issue, where the two years’ figures are compared with each other. I* or August 19, 1921, you quote flour at £2O 15s and wheat, at. 9s per 601 b bushel, and the lion. Mr Nosworthy quotes against von flour at £l3 per ton and wheat at under 6s 3d per 691 b bushel. Your paper has a solid reputation as a reliable commercial calendar, and Mr Nosworthy is, I am sure, an honourable gentleman, but between the two of you I am likened unto the I ramp who was on" the act of entering the garden gate when he drew np short at the growls of the owner’s bull-dog. fl’he owner said, “Come in, old chap, he won’t bite you; he’s pleased: he’s wagging his tail.” Put the tramp did not know what end to be--1 ieve. By the comparisons I have made on the 1921 wheat cropfc. 1 do not want your readers to run away with the idea that the farmer ivas disappointed in not being able to operate in that year on a market that would have made bread dearer. He accepted the conditions in the spirit of “it’s a good enough price.” although not over remunerative when placed against the cost of production, but he realised that a sharp increase in the price of the daily leaf would have hit very bard, on top of the collapse of the markets at that time, those who were forced out of employment, and others who had to tighten lip the belt of economy. What the farmer did realise was tb % at the Government committed a breach of contract without first consulting him on the matter, and now that we are told that the definition of milling wheat is wheat lit for muling and weighing on or over 601 b tier bushel we are inclined to have our faith shaken regarding any future Government, deals. It is supposed to be illegal for millers to buy milling wheat at under the fixed prices, but you report in your issue of Saturday last that they are only accepting the primes l , lines, and will merely pay the Governments April prices—that is. cutting 2id off the present day fixed Government price. Again, in the same issue you state that millers are buying fowl wheat at 3s 8d to 4s. We farmers want to know for what use. We can only surmise- one tiling'—namely, that, it is for reconditioning, or dressing it, and mixing with the prime wheats fov gristing. This wheat .s conveniently called fowl wheat. A lot of the wheat called such is. however, truly speaking, wheat that was threshed when a bit raw and was therefore not up to the required hardness, but lias hardened considerably in store, and the miller can soon put the finishing touch to it, especially when he has a margin of Is 9d to 2s per bushel. The Minister’s statement that millers have always done a fowl wheat trade is apt, to -mislead the unwary. With fowl wheat a drug on the present market, no miller, I am sure, is using his present hard cash in that direction. What he does do is to sell to the poultry trade as fowl wheat what he takes out in small and broken wheat, after putting wheat that is to be gristed over the cleaner. When mentioning the definition of milling wheat as at 601 b or over per bushel measure, I omitted to state that no stipulation of this sort was specified when the farmers were asked to accept the Government’s offer as an inducement to grow wheat. Moreover, a 601 b bushel is the standard set by the world’s trade, but there is plenty of good milling wheat that will be of less weight to the bushel measure. flhe farmer is not given to making a grievance about things in general, but he relishes a clean deal as much as he does a bumper crop. At the present timp no is not satisfied with what is happening. He is doubtful whether things are quite as they should be, and he not only wants to know how he stands with his stocks of wheat, but he seeks th e assurance that he is not being imposed on again. In conclusion, I wish to state that all my correspondence on this matter to Mr Malcolm, M.P., has been written from my position as chairman of the Te Hooka branch New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Of this present letter the union is not aware as yet, -I am, etc., Oswald P. R. Theop. fle Houka. September 4. FEEDS AND FEEDING FOE PIGS. DAIRY BV-PRODUCTS. The food most commonly used in New Zealand for pig-feeding consists in dairy by-products—skim milk, buttermilk, and whey. Skim milk and buttermilk arc about i equal in food value, but wliey as received from ihe dairy factory to-day, with the fat residue taken out, is worth only about one-third of skim milk. It is not generally recognised by the average farmer what a valuable food he has in dairy by-products, not only from the actual feed value, but 1 in imparting to the carcase a quality which is not obtained when such products are left out of the ration. Skim milk and buttermilk are recognized as nearly a balanced ration. They form ideal diets for very young pigs when still on the sow or newly weaned, and until they are three to four months old. on acount of the protein and carbohydrate contents being nicelv balanced. As the animals increase

in age, however, the carbohydrates should bo increased also. 'll]is is done by the addition of grains, either whole or in the form of meal. In general practice the farmer feeds as much skim milk, buttermilk, or whey as the pigs will consume. This is a mistake (though one which the feeder is not usually aware of), as it has been proved conclusively that dairy products should not be fed alone, but in conjunction with something else, if the best results are to be obtained. The feeder in the past has been wasting a valuable material, which could have been put to much better advantage had he been aware of this. Comparing the analyses of skim milk, buttermilk, and whey, a very large difference is found in the protein content. Whereas skim milk and buttermilk show 3.6 and 3.4 per cent respectively, whey shows only 0.8 per cent; while in the carbohydrate contents a point or two only covers the difference. It is thus easy to see why farmers in whev-feeding districts have a difficulty in getting their young pigs to come away and grow quickly—the material which promotes growth and helps to build up the frame is present in such small quantities in whey. Some feeders realise the importance of adding something to the whey, arid it generally ends in the purclia.se of sonic meal with a high carbohydrate content. What i* repuired. however. is a food containing a very high protein content, and this can be obtained by using intuit meal, blood-meal, or linseedmeal, or by allowing the pigs to graze as much pasture or forage crops as they wish. Some pastures and crops are very ricli in their protein content, this being very little below that of skim milk. It is advisable to mention here that many troubles may arise in the piggery from the injudicious use of these milk by-products. Overfeeding is one which farmers often do not consider, and it. is most important. Keening the trough filled all day i* a bad practice; the animal should have orlv what it will clean up at feeding time. Tf allowed to sip and sip all day, indigestion and constipation are likely to occur, and from the.se many other ailments may follow. Dairy products should l>e fed fresh and in a sweet condition. Rkim milk should 1)0 given a few hours after being separated, this allowing anv gases to escape. A good practice is to feed in the morning what has been separated at night, and vice versa-. Avoid the practice of some feeders who allow* the skim milk to remain in the tubs or barrels for two or three days, and then feed it in a hard, eurdv. sour condition. Tin's i« looking for trouble, for not only is there the danger of perm infection from the barrels, but most of the

rheumatic ailments among pigs have also been traced to the feeding of sour milk. Always feed whey as fresh as possible; there is danger of it fermenting, which may cause serious trouble.

SUGGESTED ARRANGEMENT FOR PIG CROPPING AND GRAZING AREA— U ACRES. Each of the smaller divisions (which may be kept in grass) is occupied by a light, movable pig-house. The larger divisions can be used for growing any suitable forage crops; one might ba kept in lucerne. The fencing between the smaller divisions—indicated by broken lines—is temporary. Shelter trees or hedging can be planted along the permanent fence-linos if desired. FORAGE CROPS. For using dairy by-products to the best advantage, the farmer should try jmd balance the ration as far as practicable by the growing of various forage crops suitable to local conditions. The farmer who provides forage crops for his pigs whenever possible is the one who stands to make the most profit. Green forage is essential to the eoonomical production of pork. If the farmer, instead of making his dairyproducts the maintenance ration, would adopt forage crops for grazing as the first ration, and use his milk foods as a supplementary on 3, he would find that not only has he healthier and more robust animals, but that the milk foods will go twice as far and allow him to keep nearly double the number of pigs. The system of the grazing ol forage crops and pasture by pigs in not confined in practice to the dairy firmer, but it suitable for anyone who wishes to engage in pigraismg. The only difference is that while the dairyman uses milk as a supplementary food, the other allows the pigs a liberal supply of grain to balance the ration. Most feeders use a ration of lib to 31b of maize, barley, wheat, or oaU for every 1001 b weight of pie's. Lucerne ranks first, among all forage crops for pigs. It pays to go to some trouble to establish this cron, as there is nothing better than, a good lucerne stand if looked after and not grazed too heavily. Lucerne hay has proved a valuable food. It can be fed in open racks, chaffed, or ground, and the pigs accept it readily. Rape ranks next; it is a splendid crop for pigs, and, moreover, can l>e grown in almost any locality. Two feedings can lx» got off each sowing, and for pigs it can be sown much earlier than the usual planting for other stock. It should lx* l remembered that pigs must not remain long on the rape crop at the start, as i( is verv laxative and liable to cause scouring. This means that until the pigs have become accustomed to it. they should be allowed bn if onlv a few hours dailv. It should not be fed till iC is from 12in to 14in high. Peas are a very valuable crop, and can be fed down either in the r.-reen or ripened stages. When green, with the pods just forming, the pigs will clean lm every bit. Whe.d, barlev. maize, oats, i vc com. and millets are all good when in die green and succulent -tage, end .ir> improved when peas or vetche* are sown with them. Pumpkins are a good crop for wilder use. and do well when sown in conjunction with maize for grain. All the root crops are valuable, hut owing to hirer •« and swede,: being often affected with di-eases, such ns club root and dry-rot., there is some risk in depending on them for winter us.-. Ollier roots. such ns carrots. mangolds. and parsnips. entail considerable labour, but fire eveellent foods, especially mangold-. This latter crop should be stored for at

least three months in older to allow the sugars to form, in which stage it gives the highest feeding value. Artichokes. —Owing to the amount, of labour required in sowing and tending loot crops ’t may not always be within the power of the average dairy farmer to raise these for pigs. As an alternative, feeders may l>e advised to plant an area of artichokes. In the writer’s opinion artichokes, with their high feed value, bid fair to become the staple winter food for pigs in the future. One acre of the crop has a carrying capacity of 20 sows or a large number of big store pigs for four to five months, while in rooting out the tubers the pigs do all the harvesting. It is not advisable, however, to plant artichokes in any ground that will be required, for other purposes,, for they take charge and. are very hard to eradicate. The best plan, is to select a piece of land that can be used for artichokes alone. With judicious working it will continue to grow tubers for 20 years from one* sowing, provided a liberal amount of manure is supplied and the bare patches which may occur from time to time replanted from the seed already on the ground. —(By K. W. Gorringe, in Journal of Agriculture.) CATTLE RETURNS. A STEADY INCREASE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 5. The following return shows the number of cattle in the dominion for the years mentioned :

IMPERIAL WOOL SIOCKS LIQUIDATION PROCEEDING STEADILY'. (From Ol t r Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 5. 'Jdie report of the Department of Imperial Government Supplies states that the liquidation of the Imperial carry-over wool stocks has proceeded steadily during the year, the position at Juno 30, 1922, being as follows: — A us- New Total tralian. Zealand, bales. Stocks at July 1. 1921 1,554,844 739,753 2,294,597 Sales by auction United Kingdom and Continent, July 1, 1921, to June 30, 1922 *■ 701,844 309,753 1,022,59* Stocks, June 30. 1922 (approximate) ... 853,000 430.000 1,283,000 These stocks are approximately made up as follows:

i he stocks of Imperial wool in New Zealand, which are included in the above, and which amounted to 314,903 bales ,;l July 1, 1921. had been reduced to 54.895 bales at June 30. 1922. arid under the present shipping programme will all be cleared from New Zealand by the end cf August, 1922. OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET. (From Our Own Correspondent.) AN UNPROMISING OUTLOOK. Owinir- to the continued dryness of toe weather farming prospect s are far from hrisdit. Food is rather scarce, and the only point, in the favour of the farmer is that ilia weather is splendid for lambing. Lambs are now fairly plentiful, and percentages promise to !*■ good. (Vroal crops showing above ; 1 if round would benefit by a good

steady rain. The pastures on the lighter Unais are languishing from want of a sufficiency of moisture. Fanners who have green feed in the shape of early autumnsown oats or western wolths available are feeling the benefit of them Unless good rains come during September the outlook for the farming community of Canterbury is very far from bright. Very similar conditions to tile present ruled in 1915. one of the years in which the Dominion had to import wheat. Tii© dairying people are suffering considerably as the dryness is retarding the spring growth in many dairying districts. A very dry year is likely to have really disastrous consequences to hundreds of farmers. There are so many who, through dint of hard work and strictest economy have been able to weather the adverse conditions of the past two seasons, to whom a drought would spell disaster. FORWARD SALES. The dry weather is having an effect upon the. stock markets. There is a disposition for farmers on the higher country to look round for prospective buyers of lambs tor forward delivery, and though long prices are looked for there is a certain anxiety to be rid of the lamb crop while payable prices are obtainable. Not only arq high prices a barrier to business, but the financial position of prospective purchasers has to be inquired into. Time was when a deal of this kind only needed the representative of a mercantile firm to introduce an intending buyer and a deal was soon completed. Now, unless a firm is prepared to guarantee the purchase money involved, or the buyer is of undoubted financial stability, vendors are naturally oh&ry of concluding arrangements of the kind. DEMAND FOR EWES AND LAMBS. Of late there has been a remarkably keen demand for ewes and lambs, and whenever lines are offered they meet with eager buyers at good figures. At a clearing sale at Sheffield a few days ago 190 sound-mouthed three-quarterbred ewes with 249 lambs sold at 16s 9d, all counted. Many of the ewes were yet to lamb, so the percentage would be even more remarkable when all the lambs were dropped. At the Addington sale this week two lines of indifferent ewes with ICO per cent. Limbs sold at good figures. One draft of five-year-old ewes and lambs sold at 13s, all counted, and another pen of failing-mouthed threequarterbred ewes at 14s 2d. Spring lamb meets with good competition in the saleyards, though the number of them offering yet is restricted. At Addington on Wednesday prices were practically Is a lb, the heaviest bringing 355. The week previous lambs that dressed 201 b made 465. NORTH ISLAND BEEF. Though there was no beef from Otago and Southland at Addington last Wednesday, the south was represented by big consignments of sheep, both fat and stores. There were practically 100 head of fat cattle from the North Island, and, unfortunately for the vendors, they met a much weaker market. A striking line was forward from the West Coast on account of Mr Maurice Patrick, Teteho. Fifteen steers sold at from £l2 7s 6d to £ls 10s. Three bullocks made the top price. The best price was £l6 10s for a bullock, the pick of a north Island consignment of 25, which made from £l3 10s to £l6 10s. The star lot was a consignment of 43 from Mr T. Saunders, Glen Oroua, Manawatu. They landed at Addington at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, after the ordinary beef sale was over and butchers had filled up their requirements. This was easily the best line of cattle brought down from the North Island this year. They were Herefords and Aberdeen Angus, with a few Shorthorns, and were exceptionally well finished and came off the journey—rail from Palmerston North to Wanganui, boat to Lyttelton, and thence rail to Addington—looking as fresh as if rhey were just out of the paddock. Despite the unfavourable circumstances, 37 were sold, averaging £ls 2s, the best price being £ls 7s 6d. Beef was cheaper generally, much of the steer beef selling round about 33s a 1001 b. Several consignments of Wairarapa cattle made rather poor prices, especially cows and poorly-finished heifers. An over-supply of mutton caused prices to recede by Is to Is 6d, and the quality, both of sheep trucked up from the south and the Canterbury sheep, showed a decided falling off. Top price for the sale went to a pen of seven that were consigned by a Heriot vendor. They were purchased at 35« private.; v. the agents wisely quitting all they could irt this manner, having drawn a late place in the market. Some wethers from Cheviot made the best price at auction 06 selling at from 21s 6d to 31s 6d, there being 13 in 'the top pen. For sheep from the south the best price for a truck lot was secured by a North Otago ■ '.'ra'ier. who sold s*B wethers at from 25s 3d to 2is od. , . In the store sheep pens some very plam ewes from Palmerston South, two, four, and six tooth sheep, not well forward from a lambing point of view, made 23s 7d. Several pens of North Otago hoggets made from 14s 6d to 15s lOd. They were finowoolled sheep on the small side. GOOD PRICES FOR SKINS. A factor that is influencing the price of fat sheep is the increasing value of skins. \i the last monthly sale in Christchurch the values roundly were lOd per lb for halfbreds, 7d for tliree-quarterbreds, and 5d for crossbreds. Good butchers’ skins made up to 8s 6d. Itinerant buyers who travel the country have paid up to 8s 6d on the farm for good halfbreds from larmkilled sheep. The skin sales show an upward tendency. AN UNFLATTERING CRITIC. The Utility Poultry Club, the organisation which controls the egg-laying contests at Papanui, paid Mr C. A. House, the English poultry, expert who recently visited New Zealand, a fee to report upon the birds entered in the egg-laying contests at Papanui. The rooerts in many instances are not at ah flattering, and at the last meeting of members of the club some discussion took place regarding the publication of the criticisms of Mr (’. A. House regarding (he birds in the competition, several speakers expressing strong, opinions that the publication of the criticisms sliquld cease, as they were having a depressing eff<et on those who had ju-t itn'ciked on utility poultry raising. Liber speakers considered that the ei ith isrics could not do any harm, as it was generally understood that. Air (louse wa.s not a corn pottmi judge of utility birds. It was also j considered that it would be of educational value to he able to contrast Mr House’s criticisms with those of Messrs F. ('. Brown and O. J. Cussen, the Government experts. A motion, that publication of Air House’s criticisms should he discontinued was lost on the voires.

SOLDIER SETTLEMENTS GLADBROOK and poplar grove. The following supplementary report on soldier settlements haa been submitted to the District Council, Returned Soldiers’ Association, by Colonel T. W. M'Donald, president of the council:— I have the honour to report that I visited the Gladbrook and Poplar Grove discharged soldier settlements on the 26th ult. I not only saw most of the soldier settlers, but also saw some of the loading local farmers and business men, who without exception endorsed the soldier settlers’ version of the position. GLADBROOK SETTLEAIENT. This settlement is situated at Middlemarch, in Strath Taieri district. The land was purchased by the Crown on the Ist February, 1918, from Messrs John Roberts, C.M.G., and William Murray (deceased). The area purchased was 5273 acres 3 poles. The price paid for the land and improvements, which included many buildings and a considerable quantity of straw, was £61,518 18s 4d. X understand this land was valued by the Government Valuer for taxation purposes in March, 1917, and that the • owners objected to the valuation as being too high. The objection was upheld. The price paid for the land was its valuation for taxation, purposes as reduced, plus 10 tier cent., which I have been credibly informed brought the price up to about what the Government Valuer had valued it for taxation purposes before the objection was lodged. If the method adopted in the purchase of Gladbrook had been followed in the other purchases, there would have been little room for that suspicion regarding the purchases which I regret to say 1 found to exist in many instances. If this is correct, it must be admitted that the system of arriving at the price was the correct one, and one which must in fairness, I contend, be held as the only safe and satisfactory method of private purchase of land by the State. Land speculators who have only ! themselves to consider can pay any price they like with a view to passing it on as quickly as possible to some other speculator. but in the acquisition of land for discharged soldier settlement a very serious responsibility was cast upon Ihe Government to make jjpablv sure that the land was purchased at bedrock price, because chiefly upon that initial act the success or failure of the scheme of discharged soldier settlement on the land depended. I specially mention the method of fixing the price of this land because, firstly, it is only common justice to do so; and, secondly, because I wish to compare it with the price paid for the next settlement which I shall deal with, and where no regard was paid to the Government's own valuation for taxation purposes, and which is so unique for comparison on account of the fact that, it adjoins this settlement (I refer to the Poplar Grove Settlement). About 2212 acres of this Gladbrook land (that area included with the pastoral runs) is of considerably less value than the balance of 3061 acres; the latest Government value being about an average of £4 10s per acre for the former, whilst the best quality land —the latter—is valued at an average of about £l6 11s per acre. I found a general complaint, that the settlers could not make a do of it. T hey stated that the succession of dry seasons had a serious effect upon land in this district. as indeed it has on all' land in Central Otago, but by far the most serious fault found was that the land had been badly subdivided, areas being far too small. The minimum areas should have been for the flat dairying land. 100 to 150 acres, and for the pastoral run licenses (including portion of homestead site) should have been at least double the size of the areas now held. This grave error is common to most of the settlements and runs, and ihe worst feature of it is that it is most difficult to overcome now. Many of the settlers are back in their rentals, in some cases as much as two years, and they say that they cannot see any prospect of meeting their arrears of rental, and ask for its remission. There was a consensus of opinion that, a re-valuation was necessary, and they asked for it. particularly so in the cases of the holders of run licenses, with portion of ; the homestead included. The holder of one j of these run licenses has had about 15 j years’ experience on similar country, and j he assures us that his holding of 22G0 acres j is far too small to enable him to make a j lising. The total carrying capacity of the j holding is 600 sheep. The country runs to | an altitude of 4000 ft, and about half of j his holding is under snow for about four mouths each year. This settler states that he started with £3300 in cash of his own. and iias had no return until this year, when the expenditure exceeds the receipts. 'J wo years’ rental is in arrear, which he asks to be remitted, and that the run be re-valued, otherwise he cannot carry on. He stated that he would walk out to-morrow if he could get, a return of his expenditure on stock and improvements, giving the .State his three years’ hard work for nothing, ihe other run license holders are in a similar position. POPLAR GROVE SETTLEMENT. This settlement adjoins Gladbrook Settlement, in the Strath Taieri district; the settlement, containing 1365 acres, was pur- j chased bv the Crown from Messrs Andrew j Todd and Frederick Freeman, trustees of i the Kirkland Estate. The price paid for the j land was about £37.824 16s 3d, or about j 15s per acre. The Government’s valuation i for taxation purposes at the time of pur- J chase was about £l6 5s per acre, therefore j about £ll 10s per acre in excess of (he j Government’s own valuation for taxation I was paid for this land, or about £lO per j acre more than was paid for the flat land j of the Gladbrook Settlement, which adjoins t this settlement, and which is quite equal in qualitv to the Poplar Grove bind. T he j settlers consider this "over the fence” for, I whilst those on the one side of a wire j fence (Gladbrook) pay an average of about i 16s 3-. d per acre rental, those on the other j side pay an average of about 26s 6£d lex- j elusive of interest on loansi. Like Gladbrook, this settlement was sub- j divided into far too small holdings which, J oven at the Gladbrook rentals would not j penult them to make a living. Some of j the settlers are two years behind in their i payments of rentals, and there is ! it tie hope j of their ever being able to pay tile arrears I and t.hev therefore ask for and should get a remission without hesitation. 1 have stressed the need for a revaluation and reduction of capital values of the : lands with a consequent reduction of ron- j tills, in the case of other settlements, but ■ in few other castes has t-lirre been, in my I opinion, such a flagrant disregard of the value which the Government itself gave ' tile land for taxation purposes, and fur 1

the possibility of the success of the Discharged .Sloldier Settlement scheme, as in the purchase of tills Poplar Grove settlement land. It is well known that tile trustees of this estate desired to sell the land, and, in fact, the land was about io be, if not actually advertised, for [mblic sale, at the time when negotiations were set on foot and those competent to judge who know the land well assure me that but for the impetuosity of someone, the Crown could have ha<l the same land in the open market for a considerably less sum, but I am assured that some influential person rushed in and pressed for the purchase of more land in th e Strath Taieri district at a time, and under circumstances which, to say the least, are disconcerting to those interested in the success of the Discharged Sbldier Settlement scheme. I refer to this because I believe that it is only fair to the Minister responsible for the purchase that lie should know and he given a chance io repudiate th e suggestion if it is groundless. But whatever may have actuated the authorities in buying this-land -t a price approximately £ll 10s per acre n excess of its own valuation for taxation purposes, and so much in excess of the land over the fence. I ran assure you, gentlemen, that it is having a most disastrous effect upon our hard-pressed discharged soldier settler comrades. It must not lie forgotten that the Government’s valuation was not of pre-war days, but was dated March 3, 1917. Wo have heard much of profiteering both during and since the war. but, I consider this takes the cake; in fact, I consider it to he our bounden duty to press in this and other cases already referred to, not only for a full inquiry into the circumstances of the purchase of this land, but for a return to the State of the small fortune over and above the real value of the land for discharged soldier settlement purposes which, in my opinion, was paid to the vendors of the land. The soldier settlers on this and Gladbrook expressed a feeling that we as a body did not realise their plight, because we did not come into contact with them as we do with the men in the cities. They dislike anything in the nature of s[>oonferding by the State. All they ask for is a fair fighting chance under reasonalj'e conditions, but instead they have b'-ott doomed from the beginning owing to the excessive prices paid for the land. Whilst it must be admitted that there are some men amongst the discharged soldier settlers who are not even triers, and others ’ who will never make successful farmers, I am bound to sav that generally speaking they ate a splendid lot of men, real triers, and a fair percentage of them are experienced farmers. SOUTHERN DAIRY FACTORIES. ISLAND. The annual meeting of the Island Dairy Factory Co.. Ltd., was held on the sth inst., Mr F. R. Christie presiding over some 25 shareholders. A record season was recorded for the past year. The total intake of milk was 7,774.7351 b. jn increase over the previous year of 679.7081 b. Ihe season’s output ctf cheese, with the exception of 43 tons, was sent Io London on consignment-, and. along with producers generally, we have had to accept much lower prices than have been ruling for some years past. Shipping throughout the year has been decidedly unsatisfactory. Most of our cheese has been held in the cool stores for months, with the result that it reached London when Canadian cheese was coining on the market and helping to keen prices down. The advances received against consignments enabled ns to pay out to suppliers Is pop lb butter-fat over the season, with an additional Id over the SeptemberMay period when we finished making cheese. The final returns of several shipments have still to come' in. and it is confidently expected that there will be still a further payment. At the height of the season our plant proved quite inadequate to cope with ihe supply, and for some months it was found neeessarv to separate a portion of the milk and sell the cream. r i he buildings and p’ant have been reconstructed and enlarged, and we should now have ample room for many years to come. It is recommended that a dividend of 5 per cent, on the paid-up capital of the company be payable after October 1. The retiring directors were Messrs b . R. Christie and R? J. ITowden, and. being unopposed, were re-elected, the former being re-elected chairman. II was decided *he < *•'’Njtal of the Company be increased from £2009 to £3OOO bv the creation of 1000 shares of £1 each.” OWARE. The annual meeting of the Oware CVyo Per at ive Dairv Co . Ltd., was hold on the 6th inst.. Mr John Smith in the chair. The report stated, inter aba. that the output of cheese for the season totalVd 115 tons net. (256.5731 b). which all sent* TTnme to the open market through Hie N.Z. Producers’ Co-operative M*rke<mg As=.r>eP*tion. Ltd., and. considering (he fact ihe cream s»nt to the Southland and Waitaki Dairv Companies throughout the season would have produced seven tons of r .!-i e oso. result is a tot'd of 122 tons for the season, against 99 tons for the preceding season. The amount paid ont to suppliers to d'lo is 1 = per 11 butter, fat plus a further 2d per lb on the milk .separated at the latter end of the season. Thnf portion of the output of cheese for which Tendon returns have rot vet come in at. balance d-He has been taken in at. 5d Per lb for balance mimeses, and we think that when the final returns are den l * with a further disbursement may be possible. A dividend of 5 per cent, on the paid-up oa.pital k a-°ain recommended. Messrs John Smhh. F Fra-o. and P. Doo’ev were elected dir r "t ms afmr n ballot. h ml born taken. Mr John Smith was re elected chairman and Messrs Cuthbcrtson and Webb auditors for the or uii-g season. \YVYT)TT \ M The Wyndham I'.iiiy Factory Company's direr tors, in vepmiing for the year ending 31st duly, 1922. state, inter alia, that the output of ohoem for the season totalled 411 tons net (920,72611)). showing an increase of 43 tons compared with the previous season. Of this output 343 tons were shipped Homo to the open market through the New Zealand Producers’ Co-operative Marketing Association (Ltd.) and Messrs Wodciel and Co. (Ltd.), and toward the end of ihe season Messrs Level and Christinas pui’ based the balance in factory and cool stores, comprising about 65 tons, at 7i«l per ih, f.0.b., and local sales absorbed

kre6 tons. That portion of the consigned ieese for which London returns are not Sst to hand is taken in at sgd per lb to ose the books The suppliers nave been laid Is per lb butter-fat to date, a further Jd per lb will be disbursed at an earlv T|»te, ar d the final consignment return? will determine as to whether a further payment may yet ire marie.. In relation to the butter sales, 2 tons lcv.t were sent Home »n consignment, and the l*ondon returns to idale have been very satisfactory. Taking file unreturned portion at balance date in %t 8d per lb, together with local sales, Ibis source of revenue yielded £1453. It ■Mm? reasonable to think that the final returns will improve on this. A dividend ®f 6 per cent, on the paid-up capital of Die company, "amounting to £135, was approved at the annual meeting, and the retiring directors. Messrs Irvine and Shaw, re re re-elected. OTAGO DAIRY FARMERS ‘ROPOSKD CO-OPERATIVE BUTTER FACTORY. PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE SET UP. A representative meeting of some 50 farmers was held in Dunedin on the 7th to consider the establishment of a co-operative butter factory. The meeting was convened try the Otago branch of Farmers’ Union, and the chair was taken by the president (Mr A. Oraig). Mr < ruig remarked that it had been said that the Farmers’ Union did nothing for the dairy farmers, but the meeting was one instance to the contrary. lie hoped that It would te of very material benefit to them. Mr Waite and lie had convened Ihe meeting, and he would ask the former to ■peak to them.

Mr Waite (Waiwera South) said the dairy farmers in his district had wanted for years to get together and do something. If the farmers of New Zealand did get together they could do anything. He believed that the dairy farmers should control their products from the time when they left the farm until they arrived on the London market. —(“Hear, hear.”) Mr Waite explained that as there were only about 400 cows in his district they had come to the conclusion that they could not put in a payable proposition in the way of a butter factory themselves.’ There were other districts in the same position, with what he might call the isolated dairy farmers, and the more that got together the cheaper a pound of butter could lie produced. He moved : “That for the welfare of the dairy farmers of Otago and for the benefit of the existing cheese factories, a co-operative dairy farmers’ company be formed, for the purpose of establishing a butter factory in Dunedin.” Mr W. J. Txje (Goodwood) seconded the motion. Mr Jensen, of the Stirling Cheese Factory, asked if the proposed butter factory would interfere with the cheese factories He suggested that if the price of butter went up. their suppliers might, leave them and send in their supplies to the co-opera live factory. Mr W. D. Mason (Middlemarch) expressed the opinion that the Taieri and Peninsula Company had now become obsolete so far as protecting the interests of the farmer was concerned. Referring to the recent conference at Wellington, he declared that 4000 suppliers of cream were unrepresented there. It was time that the dairy farmers had direct representation, and managed their own business from the cow hail at least to the wholesale merchant in London. ITe declared that the Taieri and Peninsula Company, when it was formed, wai> truly

co-operative, but it bad evolved from the creamery system to the home separation system, with the result that the man who thought lie could get a better price from the Waitaki Company sent his supplies to them. He warned them that if they fixed their attention on paying a dividend on their capital they would be building the rock on which they would split. If they did not pay a dividend they would have the full value for their butter, and the dividend as well. Mr Bryant, of the Henley Factory, repeated Mr Lee’s question, expressing the opinion that if the price of butter went up, the cheese factories would become mere skimming stations. He suggested that the dual plant was the best one where it could be put in. Mr Lee replied that in the event of butter going up the cheese plant would stand idle. He held that the proposed factory would not affect the cheese factories, as the latter would lose their suppliers in any case, if the price of butter went, up, whether the butter factory was co-operative or not. Mr Smith, of the Technical College agricultural staff (Dunedin), spoke in favour of bringing the producers and consumers togather and agreed with Air Mason that such a co-operative factory as was proposed should not be concerned with paying a dividend. He stressed the importance of testing, in cider to give the consumers confidence in the product, and qrged that testers should be responsible to the directors alone, and not to the manager. Mr Birtles (Merton) supported the Dunedin factory proposal, stating that there was a, lot of discontent, in his district. Dr Pickorill said he had been asked by the Kelso district to say that they were entirely in favour of the establishment of a factory in Dunedin. This was all the more satisfactory, as there had been a proposal to establish a local fac-

tory, for which they had the promise cf 1000 co«s between Waipahi and Heriot. However, they had decided to support the Dunedin factory, realising that it was the better and more economical way. There must be hundreds, even thousands, of what Mr Waite called isolated dairy- farmers throughout Otago, and he believeiT that if an efficient factory were established the supply would he far greater than they expected. lie dded that it was the opinion of the Kelso meeting also that they should come to some amicable arrangement with the Southland company that was being formed. He quoted an article from the Dairyfarmer to show what might be lost by the drop of a single point in the test. Messrs M‘Leod and Campbell (Momona) spoke in favour of the proposed factory. The former, referring to criticisms of the proprietary companies’ system of testing, expressed the opinion - that, under the present competitive system a fair test was assured. Mr Barr (Owaka) said he was afraid they could not expect much support from Owaka, as the farmers there were forming a company of their own. He asked them not to poach on Owaka’s preserves.— (Laughter.) Mr Blackie (Mosgiel Co-operative Factory) said he thought their company would support the Dunedin factory. He suggested that it might be possible to use the existing producers’ cool stores in Dunedin, Mr Michelle (Milton) said the general tone of his district was in favour of the propos'd factory. Other representatives from Waikouaiti, Palmerston, Berwick. Afaungatua, and Clutha also supported the movement. Mr Alason, alluding to a reference made by Mr Stewart (Waikouaiti) to “dry” shareholders, said the T. and P. Company had to find £llOO a year for its “dry” shareholders. There were four proprietary concerns in Dunedin to whom shareholders of the T. and P. Company -were sending their cream, while he and others had to pay their dividend on dead share capital, which had been used for creamery plants that had long since been scrapped. He suggested that the Owaka people might reconsider their position. Mr Lawson (Owaka) said he was afraid -i was too late, as they had sold 4000 or 5000 shares, and had a guarantee of 3000 cows. Air Waite, in the course of his reply, read a letter from Middlemarch promising supply from 20 farmers. His motion was then put to the meeting and carried without dissent, Mr Waite then proposed that a committee of nine be appointed, five representing the scattered dairy farmers and four of the cheese factories, to collect all possible information and report to another meeting. His proposal was accepted, and the following committee appointed:—Alessrs M’Leod, Blackie. Birtles, Alichello (representing the- cheese factories), and Messrs Waite. Mason. Christie (Clutha), Sutherland (Palmerston), and Dr Pickerill (representing the dairy farmers). A vote of thanks was accorded* to the Farmers’ Union, on the motion of Dr Pickerill. for its initiative in convening the meeting. AGRICULTURAL UNO PASTORAL NEWS. The following are the areas (in acres) of registered commercial orchards in the respective districts of the Department’s Orchard Instructors: Whangarei, 813; Auckland, 5061; South Auckland, 775; Poverty Bay, 374; Waikato, 794; Wanganui, 358; Hawke’s Bay, 2316; Manawatu and Wairarapa, 815; Wellington, 111; Nelson, 2756; Nelson Central, 4539; Motueka, 3222; Alarlborough, 852; North Canterbury, 2027; South Canterbury, 985 : Otago and Southland, 4166; total, 29,964 acres. The Opotiki Dairy Association has decided to make a further payment of 2d per pound for butter-fat supplied during the year ending July 31. bringing the amount to Is sd. The final payment is to be made at a later dale. The Central Otago A. and P. Association has had a successful year, the balance sheet, as disclosed at the annual meeting on the 2nd inst. at Ophir. showing a credit balance of £94, a profit of £ls being made on the last show. The president for the incoming year will be Air R. Brown, and the vice-presidents Alessrs G. Alexander. A. Scoular, and R. K. Smith. The next showwill be held on the 7th December. At the annual meeting cf the Wyndham A. and P. Society, tile report and balance sheet (which were adopted) indicated a cash surplus of £lO 17s 9d, with assets over liabilities amounting to £64 11? Bd. Entries showed an increase in number in the sheep, light horses, and cattle classes. Air Raymond was re-elected president. The show was fixed for Ist December. Cows under test, form a valuable section of the annual report of the Dairying Division of the Department of Agriculture, in view of the great development of dairying in New Zealand. The Commissioner remarks, however: ‘‘Tire total number ot cows systematically tested last year was 45,564, which is not a satisfactory proportion of the dominion’s milking stock. One would like to see herd-testing a definite part of every dairy company’s organisation, the cost to be borne by the company. This would result in more systematic herd-development, with a resultant benefit to the revenue of the individual, the dairy company, and *he country as a whole.” The popularity of association testing is increasing, 25,912 cows being tested as compared with 19,799 last year.” The prospects of dairying in South Westland, which would seem to he fairly bright, are hampered by the cost of getting cattle and material from Oiago to .those who have taken over land, especially in the vicinity of Okura (wires our Wellington correspondent). In the House of Representatives last week Mr T. Seddon (Westland) mentioned the matter, and asked if freights could be reduced, especially for cattle sent, from Otago in the Government steamer Tutanekai. The Minister of .Marine (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) replied that the freight charged by tTie Tutauekai had been put up as in the case of other steamers. He was, however, well acquainted with the position of the settlers in South Westland, and had come to the conclusion that something must be done for them The Tutanekai would take round as many cattle as she could on her next trip. At present he was going into the question of freights, and would let.' the hon. member know next week what had been decided. He could assure him that

the department was desirous of meeting the settlers as far as possible in the matter of freight. In regard to fares, tourists and others who travelled by the steamer used to be carried at the rale of 10s a day ; the rate was put up to 15s, and latterly to £1 a day, which was wliat it cost to cover expenses. He would look into the whole matter, ami see what could be done to make the traffic a reasonably paving proposition, and at the same time to meet the requirements of the district. “I believe that next year wo will get a good return for our wheat,” said (he chairman at the annual meeting of the Farmers and Graziers’ Co-operative Company, Ltd., in Sydney recently. “In Canada wheat is being boomed. I recently travelled right through that country, and formed the opinion that the supply would not be heavy. All the farmers’ organisations I met were of the same opinion. There will be only a fair average crop in the United Slates and Canada, and there is not going to be a big crop anywhere in Europe. The American wheat will be gone before ours is on the market, and I can tell you that you will get a price showing a reasonable profit.” “This has been the best dairying season for production that 1 have known in 32 years,” said Mr G. Godfrey Taylor to a Wairarapa Ago reporter. ‘“The Konini Company, in 1921, made 102 tons of butter. This season, with just the same suppliers, they made 45 tons more.” A farmer, in giving evidence in the Slupremc Court at New Plymouth, when being asked as to his returns of butterfat, said he didn’t trouble to get them out. lie was satisfied, so long as he paid his interest and other charges and had a little to spare, that he was "doing all right.” lie explained that although he had kept no return of his butter-fat, what he had taken off the farm had enabled him to live comfortably and also reduce a mortgage of £57 lUs per acre on the farm to £2O per acre. “1 am aiming for an export trade of 2,(XX),000 pigs a year, and Til get it before I’m finished,” said .Mr K. W. Gorringe, instructor of swine husbandry, at Ngatea the other day (says the Gisborne Times). The mortality amongst breeding ewes is apparently worse this season than for some years past, (says the Wairarapa Age). It is particularly bad on the limestone country of the Alaungaraki range. “God knows we farmers want all the ready money we can get at the present juncture,” said Air G. R. Sykes, ALP., at the annual meeting of the Alasterton Dairy Company. Queen Charlotte Sound potatoes grown by Mr L. E. Coster, of Punaruawhiti. were first on the Wellington market this season (says the Nelson Alail). In March and April Air Coster planted about two acres on a hill face about 800 ft above sea level, and they were ready for market by the middle of July, although they were not sent forward till early this month. Fat lamb buyers are commencing to operate in the Levin district, and a sale just made at 25s per head gives a good indication. of values. The price of hinder twine was mentioned at a meeting of the Marlborough Farmers’ Union, .a member stating (reports the Express) that the Board of Trade had upheld the apparently exorbitant charge. Air If. J. State said he failed to see the reason for the high price. “It isn’t because of the price of hemp—l can tell you that,” ho declared. Mr C. C. Capell, manager of the local Dairy Company, B-as approached by a number of farmers with a view to forming the company into a co-operative one (says the Balclutha Free Press). Air Capell was quite agreeable, and the movement, will probably bear fruit in the near future. At the annual meeting of the Winton A. and P. Association on the 6th inst.. Mr Walter Blakie was elected president, on the motion of the retiring president iDr bow), the vice-president being Air Calder. Last year’s show fixture had proved a great success. the takings at the gate showing an increase of 55 per cent, (due in a measure, to (lie admission charge being raised from Is to Is 6d), while entries also show improvement. ’ The next show Bill be hold on the 24th November. THE NORTH ISLAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The month, of August is invariably noted for its rain and wind storms, but the August, of 1922 will long be remembered as the exception to the general rule. In the Wellington province the weather for August was changeable in character, dominated chiefly bv westerly disturbances, 'ihe most noted of t.he depressions was one which ruled between August 14 and 25, and which was responsible for the bulk of the rainfall experienced. 'I lie aggregate rainfall for the month in Wellington was 2.30 inches, which is 48 per cent, below the average of previous years. There were no particularly heavy falls, the greatest being 0.58 inches on the 18th lhcre were tweve days on which rain fell. In the Auckland, Hawke s Bay. Taranaki, and Poverty Bay provinces, mild August weather also prevailed, there being on the whole very little rain, with bright, winny days The mildness of the weather is having a marked effect on growth, and the early spring is responsible for a great burst of grass The dairy industry is getting a really good "kick off.” and many factories are now being worked at, very high pressure owing to the quantities of cream and D) ilk being supplied. Lambing is proceeding with satisfactory results and the woolly youngsters look typically healthy. When motoring through from Wanganui to Palmerston North a day or two ago 1 noticed the several hundreds of lambs on one station hod been hailed for docking, and quite a number had then been bereft of their tails Ine owner remarked that the season had been such a prolific one that he thought he Bould have close on a 10C per cent. GLAXO 1 ROSPECTS A vear or so ago most of the dairy farmers in the Waikato district were raving mad on Glaxo in anticipation of receiving rich returns in connection with the manufacture of Glaxo. The slump, however, had a marked effect on the Glaxo market, ami visions of great wealth were dissolve*! Several factories had to close down in the meantime. The position was referred to at the annual district meeting of Glaxo suppliers, held at Mata Mata last B’eek, bv Air 11. E. Pncoy, who represented the Glaxo Company. He dealt with the changes

which had taken place m markets during the last twelve months. Like other manufacturing companies, the Glaxo Company had been up against big problems owing to the curtailed purchasing power of the people at Home. They were faced with an accumulation of stocks, and on top of this there came a season which for productiveness had never oeen equalled. Naturally the consumption of Glaxo had suffered in sympathy with other commodities. The Glaxo Company were now undertaking an active campaign. Proceeding, Mr t'acey stated that it would not be possible tor the Glaxo Company to repeat the offer made twelve months ago of a special premium of jd per lb butterfat. They would proceed, however, with the immediate payment of an interim bonus. The speaker believed it would be generally recognised that the Glaxo proposition, with its three fold basis of payment. gave a measure of security to Glaxo suppliers which was not enjoyed by any other group of dairy formers in New Zealand. The Glaxo suppliers had the option of waiting till the end of the season to ascertain which was the best of these propositions—namely, butter, cheese, or dried skim-milk. lie could then request that the test of the three be chosen as the basis on which the Glaxo price should rest. He was entitled to claim over butler, ldi over cheese, and the same as dried skimmilk, with a guaranteed minimum payment of Is 3£d per lb butter-fat. He concluded by saying tliat he did not think the coming season would see the violent fluctuations in price which the dairy farmers had experienced in the past twelve months. Suppliers were notified that their returns for the past season would be somewhere in the vicinity of Is 7d. DAIRY FARMERS’ UNION. The Dairy Farmers’ Union i 3 making good headway. 'lire object of the new Union being to cater solely for the Dairy Farmers’ interests. It is contended that the Farmers’ Union had not looked after the dairy farmers in the past, and they, as a body of producers, were in a very bad way. What with the ‘'robber cow," “scrub bull.’’ and no proper marketing of dairy produce, dairymen, according 1 o estimates, were losing millions every year. In consequence of this aspect, Mr A. IS. Fear, organiser of the Dairy Farmers’ Union. has been addressing meetings through the Wairarapa, where the matter is being taken up enthusiastically. Speaking at Dalefield. Mr Fear pointed out that there were three hundred thousand cull cows in the Dominion trailed annually through the saleyards. The average cow in the Dominion produced annually only 1611 b of fat. This wag the lowest average of any country in the world, and ie maintained was* a disgrace to the dairy farmers of this country. The Jersey Island average per cow was over 3001 b of fat per year; Denmark, 3451 b fat. There were herds in this Dominion averaging 300 , 400 and tip to 5001 b f at per year. The Dairy Farmers’ Union, he said, was one to get rid of the robber cow and get the broad arrow on all scrub cows so as to stop the trading annually of 300,000 of- these culls, thereby avoiding ruin to the farmer. They must go in for registered pedigree bulls in herds, and the dam of each bull must register under the semi-official test not less than 3001 b fat per year. Farmers had also to feed their cows better. Quite 60 per cent, of them were overstocked and were too greedy. The Dairy Farmers’ Union’s motto was “Feed. Weed, and Breed.” There was a wonderful future for the dairy farmers of the Dominion if they would only organise and look ai.er the business end of the industry. The speaker maintained that the farmers in this Dominion were not getting a square deal on the markets of the world, what with trusts, combines, shipping rings, and the high rate of interest, it was a wonder that farmers could carry on as they do. In conclusion. Mr Fear pointed out they were not out to make any split with the Farmers’ Union, but wanted the Farmers’ Union to be the federated head to represent +he wool growers, fruit growers, graziers, bee-keepers, poultry men, and Dairy Farmers’ Union. Each separate branch of the farming industry needed to specialise so .os to speed up production. A number of those present considered that the new movement was in the right direction, and a branch was formed with a good deal of enthusiasm. THE BENEFITS OF DAIRYING. The value of the darying industry to the Dominion was stressed by the Prime Minister in an address to a meeting of dairy farmers held al Wellington. Mr Massey said dial he did not know wliat would have happened last season if ir. had not been for the dairying industry. Sheep-farming had gone hack. and. according to statistics, there had been a decrease of three millions in the sheep figures. This was brought about by the fact that during this month sheep farmers were obliged to part with their flocks. There was no doubt, however, that t!ie country had now turned the corner, anti lie was optimistic enough to believe that next year he would be able to reduce taxation, which was bearing so heavily upon the producers. AG RICUUTT ' RAL EDI TATI ON . It is generally believed that the Minister ot Education, in agreeing to the institution of a farm school for boys at Ruakura, is making a movement along* light lines; but no doubt the question will he raised as to the reason why the Auckland Provincial State Farm lias had a preference over farms such as Wheneroa or Moumahaki and the Southern State Farms. THE RABBIT MENACE. Bunny is beginning to he rather prolific in some of ihe West Coast districts, particularly in Waitotara. A CHANGE IN CONDITIONS. In the course of his remarks to shareholders of the Pirinoa Dairy Company, Mr R. M Laicn touched on the difference in commencing a factory now as compared with 15 to 20 years ago. Then, lie said, it was quite possible to start with a capital based at £2 per cow; now it is impossible to do so under £5 per cow. WHEAT AND OATS RETURNS OF THRESHINGS. R‘turns of actual threshings received by the Government tip to August 19 from threshing mill owners show that, so far, 9,801,626 bushels of wheat and 6,181,270 bushels of oats have been threshed out. The average yields per acre in cases where particulars of areas were furnished (cover trrg 99 per cent, of total threshings) work out at 30.78 bushels for wheat and 41.28 bushels for oats. A table is appended showing’, by

land districts, the quantity of wheat and oats threshed and the yield per acre in eaoh case:— WHEAT AND OATS TIIItESHINOS, YIELDS AND AVERAGES, JANUAK Y-JULY, 1922. Wheat. Outs. Average Average Land yield per yield per District. Threshed, acre. Threshed, acre.

OtJR YORKSHIRE LETTER. THE DANGER OF DEFLATED CURRENCIES. (From Our Special Correspondent.* BRADFORD, July 13. Important vents are taking place in the wool world, and there is no diminution in the interest .shown throughout the trade. It i 3 peihaps too much too say that the majority have got the “wind up,” but there is certainly grave concern felt over the latest turn of events in the Continental exchanges, the slump in the German mark and the further depreciation in the currencies of France, Belgium, and Italy axe all tending to restrict business, compelling all to ask if these countries can continue to buy wool on a large scale. It is wellknown that the Continental purchases of the raw material have been responsible for putting wool values, particularly merinos, where they are. and the attitude of buyers from the countries named will be watched with interest during the forthcoming sales in Coleman street, which begin next Tuesday. Viewed from any standpoint, the slump in the value of the German mark is to be regretted, and one cannot but think that the whole of Germany must now begin to realise that they nob only lost the war, but are also having to pay dearly for it—even more so than in this country. It is to be hoped that all her populace will now realise sufficiently strongly to make their voice heard in the matter that peace means prosperity and that war spells ruin, there is no doubt that Germany could have been the master of the world’s commerce in 20 years without ruining the whole of Europe, and the end of her calamitous times is by no means over. The entire commercial world has seen, during the past fortnight, what i s thought in commercial circles about the value of the mark, and the end is not yet. The unfortunate part of the business is that the innocent have to suffer with the guilty, and that Germany’s stringenov and deflation of the mark carries with it dire results upon the trade and commerce of the whole world. It can truly be said that England and America are financially sound but the state of Russia, Germany, and the Balkan States is having a very adverse effect upon the business of the world, and it is to be Hoped that the war will teach Eastern Europe the lesson which is obvious to all thinking people. LIVERPOOL SALE. Since last writing a sale of 21,000 bales of colonial Wool has taken place at Liverpool, and another 23,000 bales are to be offered this week at Hull. Both last week and again this, all the New Zealand crossbreds have been eliminated, and B A.W.R.A. have announced their decision to offer no’ more medium and low crossbred wool at the July and September London sales, with the exception of a straggling lot or two. But more upon this point later. Liverpool provided a very acceptable show of merinos, to which full justice wag done. As a matter of fact, prices bid were on a clean scoured parity with the closing week of the London'sales, the withdrawal ot German competition having no effect upon the market. The home trade turned out m strong force, and a good sale ensued. Good 64 s tops would cost 4s 4d to 4s 5d out of Liverpool-bought woo , and the fe w Australian crossbreds offered sold splendidly, making full London rates. In fact, everybody seemed pleased with the results of Liverpool, and not much change is expected at the Hull sale tins week. Everybody teehs that there is wisdom in supporting the market and although values may ease a little in London at the forthcoming sales still B A W R A is determined to support the market’ by not offering big weights of wool. B.A.W.R.A.’S ANNOUNCEMENT. The latest announcement made by the London directors of the Br.t.sh-Austrahan Wool Realisation Association is regardecl as of a “bullish” character, and deliberately made with a view of promoting confidence No doubt Sir Arthur Goldfinch is behind (he statement, and he has done ns best all during the year to bring about healthier conditions in wool, particularly crossbreds. The statement shows that the stock of crossbred wool in the hands of B.A.W.R.A. has diminished in the last two years bv about 239.000,0C01b, while there has aso been a diminution in the. stock of wool m America by approximately 131,0C0,000tb. That certainly is good, but that increase in the purchasing power of the trade is due to the emptv warehouses, which were found everywhere ’when the war terminated. It is two years since the slump began, and for 12 months the trade practically bought nothin". When values got down to a sate, buying 0 basis it was the signal to buy on a large scale; hence B.A.W.R A./s stocks have diminished as already set forth. Ihe sethick in London evidently staggered \ W R \ as it did many more. 1 hat decline often touched 3d to 4d even for line hreds and medium and low crossbreds Rst considerable ground. The association now tells the trade that 'the board have, derided to withdraw as far as possible all medium and coarse crossbred woo intended t" bo shown u, the 'July to September sales” They also inform the trade that they'are not prepared to sell any crossbred wlwls on a lower level than the eqtuvathe June auction values. Hie trade W inows where B.A.W.R.A. stands. That announcement harmonises with one made last January, when Sir Arthur Gold■i, told the trade that it was highly ,narrative that values for medium and coarse crossbreds got to a higher level, because at uoßsweia B crossbred wool was being grow” at‘a distinct loss by New Zealand pastorales. The present setback is hound ... n e a serious disappointment to colonial paste,Mists, because they were hoping that the forthcoming new clip would see May rates maintained, which wore approaching a production level. Bhe B ; A -W RA - un * noun cement contains some statistical- in ©moramhi which only epitomises Ihe recent figures published by that authority. There is nothing lo be gained by their reproduc-

tion. Tlie only point at issue is that there still remains in B.A.W.R.A.’s hands over 1.000,000 bales of old crossbred wool to be disposed of, and members of the trade frankly forecast that it will be the end of 1924 before that weight of wool is disposed of. WHERE CROSSBREDS STAND. It is just as well, seeing that crossbreds to-day figure so prominently to see what are actual prices ruling. The writer received the appraisement prices of two well-known Hawke's Bay (New Zealand) clips for the year 1919-20 and part of these same clips were offered at the last series of London sales. The reader must acknowledge that the prices just realised are exceedingly low, and cannot possibly give to the grower returns which will compensate for the cost of production. One must not forget to deduct from the London sale price, say. 3d per lb to cover freight, insurance, exchange, and sale expenses, and when this amount is deducted the reader will see that growers are receiving exceedingly little for their wcol. The following are the details: TOKOMARU (N.Z. WOOL).

THE BREADSTUFFS AND PRO* I)UCE MARKETS. Friday evening. The Liverpool Corn Trade News of July 11 said: “Amongst market influences should be mentioned the falling exchange value of the currencies of Continental countries. Germany lias led the way until the mark, which was worth roundly Is before the war, has been quoted equal to 10 for Id» other exchanges which have fallen are the French, Belgian, and the Italian. Past experience makes one rather inclined to think that Germany will buy food, no matter what the exchange may be; on the other hand, we see in the case of Russia and Austria that a point in currency depreciation can be reached when imports are impossible unless the sellers will give the goods, or loans can be obtained! with which to make payment. It is reported that Germany lias withdrawn buying orders in America, but no cancellation of contracts is mentioned. We can well understand that sellers in America, when viewing the financial chaos of Europe must entertain serious misgivings as to the final outcome. They may feel assured that Europe needs their wheat .and maize—all that can be spared—but, most certainly, they do not want to part with their grain except for money or money's worth. We ask, can Germany possibly buy 10/11,000,000 quarters of wheat, besides big quantities of maize and barley, ancC pay one hundred, times the normal value? No one can doubt "that under certain conditions there are some advantages in a low exchange; for instance, the goods Germany sells to this country axe paid for in sterling, and this represents an enormous sum in marks, and it is in marks that the manufacturer pays his workmen, his rent, taxes, charges, etc., but if he lias to buy any raw materia 1 - abroad he then finds the low exchange a heavy handicap. The price that Germany must pay for wheat with her depreciated currency, represents from £3O per bushel if the mark is reckoned at its pre-war value, and no one can possibly think the country can continue to buy large quantities of wheat at this rate.” The mark on July 11 was 2345 to the pound sterling. Referring to flour, the London, Grain, Seed, and Oil Reporter, of July 7 said: “Imported flours have not been in great demand by users, as prices generally are out of line with those at which homemilled can be booked. At the same time there has been considerable pressure to sell arriving parcels of various sorts. This has been especially so in the case of arrived and near-at-hand Australians, of which importers have this week managed to place quite large stocks with factors. We hear of quite good! lines being done at 37s to 38s per sack, c.i.f., and there have been resellers at a fraction loss. With the advance of wheat and local flour prices -a good deal of profit-snatching has been possible in recent days, and duly taken advantage of at times. Australian flour has certainly been one of the depressing factors on a not too satisfactory market." Liverpool reports that North America is shipping wheat liberally, despite the continued strike in the United States. • Wheat shipments from Argentina are small, but prospects in regard to exporters' supplies are well maintained. The European harvest is lightly better than was expected. The state of Continental finance is preventing purchases of wheat from exporting countries. LOCAL MARKETS. The Government lias now announced that it is its intention to take over good milling quality wheat in about three weeks’ time. According to the Hon. Mr Nos worthy the standard of quality required by the Government will not be as high as was at first set. It is doubtful, however, whether the reduction of the standard will assist the farmers to any great extent, as some of the samples of lower quality wheat which has already been unofficially examined shows signs of sprouting, and the Government would hardly )>as»s it as suitable for milling. Glowers could l>e well advised to grade their wheat, when threshing, and see tliat the sprouted, broken, and shrivilled grains are removed. The statement in the House that millers were purchasing fowl wheat is explained by the fact that this wheat is to bo held till next year, when the Government control will have ceased, and it can then be used for mixing with the higher grade cereal. There appears to be no opening for the export of undergrade wheat. Good milling wheat would hardly bring more than about 4is per quarter, c.i.f., on the London market, which is equivalent to about 3s Gd per bushel, fmoks extra, on trucks, country sidings, to the growers. Allowing this figure for good milling, it will bo seen that t-lie price of the undergrade would be quite unremuncrative if it were to be exported.

There is not much demand for fowl wheat. Odd sales have been made at 4s, f.0.b., sacKS extra. Small lots are offering from the country, and tliese are being taken by merchants at up to 3s 6d per bushel, sacks extra, on trucks, for good quality. Dunedin millers' prices are as follow: Flour, 2001 b, £lB per ton; 100's, £l9; 50's, £l9 10s ; 25’s, £2O. Bran, £5 10s peT ton. Pollard, £9. Oatmeal: 200’s, £18; other quantities, £l9. Milling Wheat (August prices)—According to Government prices: Tuscan, 5s 9|d f.0.b.; Hunter's, 6s o|d; Pearl, 6s 6fd. A few sales of A grade Cartons have been made to London. This has had a firming effect on the market. Sales were made towards the end of the week of A grade Gartons at 2s 9fl, f.0.b., s.i., but to-day holders are asking 2s lOd. B grade have also firmed by Id per bushel. The present quotation is 2s 7d, with a fair demand. Auckland reports that the oat market is very weak, and even at reduced prices merchants are not showing any great keenness to buy: At 23 6d, f.0.b., s.i., for B grade, October shipment, a certain amount of business could probably be written up. The bulk of the business is being done in good undergrade. The market is over-supplied with Duns, and unless the quality is good and the price low, it is difficult to interest merchants. Wellington reports that business in ryegrass is slow, with 26/271b seed quoted at 4s 9d t-o ss, 27/281b seed at 4s 10d!, 28/291 b seed at 5s 2d to 5s sd, and 29/30lb seed at 5s 6d to 5s 9d. The Canterbury prices, of course, owing to quality being better than the Southland seed, are higher by quite 3d to 6d per bushel. Italian and Western Wolths meet a little better inquiry. The cocksfoot market is weak; white clover has a bettor demand, cow grass is slow of sale, and lucerne is also slow of sale, at Is 7id to Is Bki, according to quality. Crested dogstail is quoted at about to lid ner lb. PRODUCE REPORT. Consignments of chaff are on the light side. There is a good demand for the best quality, which is now getting into short supply. To-day’s market value is £4 10s per ton, ex truck, for good, sound quality. Poor and medium is selling at £2 10s to £3 per t-on, sacks extra, ex store, with a poor inquiry. Supplies of potatoes are still coming forward in small quantities. These are going straight into consumption at £6 per ton, sacks included, ex truck. Stocks are light in the stores, and as the shipping market* is firm in Canterbury, prices are expected to remain steady in Dunedin. Reports from Wellington state that it is expected that new potatoes will be on the market there by the end of September. Prices for onions vary considerably. Many lines are badly sprouted. Eggs remain unchanged in price. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Chaff: Good quality, to £4 10s; medium and light, slow of sale. Potatoes, to £6 per ton. Eggs: Stamped, Is 3d; plain, Is Id. Dairy butter: Bulk, Is 6d; pats, Is Gd; milled, 1s Gd. Onions: Melbourne, to 19s; Californians, 225. Bacon: Rolls, ll£d per lb; sides, 10£d. Hams, 9fd; boneless, Is. FRUIT REPORT. Business has been very brisk during the week. The Waikouaiti, from Sydney, brought between 600 and 700 cases of pines, bananas,, oranges, navels, and lemons. Tbs Paloona brought some 900 cases, consisting mostly of ngwols. She also had on board a few cases of lemons, bananas, and pines. The Waikouaiti shipment realised excellent prices, but the sale of the Paloona shipment to-day (Friday) was not so brisk. The prices for the navels on the Paloona wore very irregular. Some of the fruit was very large—in some instances the oases held only four to four and a-half dozen. The bananas on the Waikouaiti brought very high prices. Practically the whole of both shipments arrived in first-class condition. No more fruit is expected from overseas within the- next 10 days. Dessert and cooking apples meet a sound inquiry. Vegetables are firm in price, with the exception of carrots and parsnips. Lettuces are keenly inquired for, also spinach and celery. Current wholesale prices are as follow: Apples: Sturmons, extra choice, 12s; good, 10s to lls; small, 8s to 9s; Delicious, 12s to 15s; cookers, best, 3d per lb, 10s per case; others, 5s to 7s. American lemons, 50s to 60s ; Adelaide, 15s to 18s; Auckland cured, 14s to 15s; Sydney, 12s. Australian bananas, 33s to 35s per case as landed. Pines, 20s to 24s per case. Oranges: American, 40s; Adelaide, 23s to 255; Navels, 20s to 253; Sydney, 23s 6d; Sevilles, 10s; Poorman, 10s to lls per case; mandarins, choice, to 265; others, 22s to 24s 6d per case. Table carrots, 5s to 6s per cwt; Is per dozen bunches. Leeks, 6d bundle of six bunches. Beetroot, to Is Gd per dozen bunches. Parsnips, 6s per cwt; Is per dozen bundles. Cauliflowers: Special, Gs to 7s per sack; first grade, 8s to 9s; medium, 5s to 6s. Swedes, 2s Gd to 3s per cwt. Celery, 2s to 3a per bundle of three sticks. Rhubarb, 6s to 7s dozen bunches, each of lib. Spinach, 2s per dozen. Lettuce: Small, 2s to 2s Gd per dozen; medium, 3s to 3s 6d; large, to 43 Gd per dozen. MERCHANDISE MARKET. Bell’s vestas have been slightly reduced in price. Plaids are now quoted at Bs, royals at 17s 6d. and No. 4 at 335. Sago and tapico are short in wholesale hands. A parcel is due by the Waihora in about three weeks' time. Peck's salmon and shrimp paste is also in short supply. A small parcel arrived during the week from the North Island, and a further supply is expected by the next London steamer. A further parcel of desiccated coconut arrived by ihe Paloona, transhipped at Melbourne from Colombo. This vessel also brought supplies of preserved! ginger from Hongkong, and a small consignment of China tea from Foochow. Excelo macaroni is quoted at 7s per dozen packets and vermeoelli at Bs. The Whakatane has arrived with goods from Glasgow and Liverpool. A line of English whiting has come to hand in 3cwt casks. The Port Napier is also bringing English whiting. It is under stood that this vessel will discharge at the Dunedin wharf. Kiwi brand hams have been advanced m price by per lb. The current quotation is per lb. A shipment of American Quaker puffed wheat is selling at 12s per dozen packets, and puffed rice at 13s. Morris's electric wash and healing extract has been advanced to 18s per dozen. The ffmall siizo of Ovoline egg preservative is not yet on the market. It should

be here next week, and is now being offered at 13s 6d per dozen jars. Maizena is again on the market. Canned pears are getting into short compass so far as the wholesale firms are concerned. COM MERCIALCABLE CRAMS. DANK OF ENGLAND RETURNS. LONDON, September 7. The Rank of England returns for the week ended September 7 afford the following comparison with those of the previous week: — Aug. 31. Sept. 7. Coin and bullion ... £125,584,000 £125,588,000 Reserve 21,942.000 22.983,000 Proportion of reserves to liabilities, p.c 17.60 17.30 Note circulation 123,919,000 122,880,000 Government deposits 26,227,000 23,585,000 Other deposits ... _ 98,096,000 111,450,000 Government securities ... 44,358,000 43,448,000 Other securities 76,121,000 76,790,000 Short loans, 11 j>er cent.; three months* bills, per cent.—A. and N.Z. Cable. FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES. LONDON, September 7. The foreign exchange rates arc as follow: London on Par. Sept. 4. Sept. 7. Paris, fr. to £1 25.225 57.37 57.10 Christiania, kr. to £1 ... 18.159 26.97 26.87 Copenhagen, kr. to £1 ... 18.159 20.79 20.8* Stockholm, kr. to £1 ... 18.159 16.80 16.83 Berlin, marks to £1 ... 20.43 6350.00 6850.00 Rome, fire to £1 25.22* 102* 102| Moutreal, do!, to £1 ... 4.86 2-3 4.46* 4.4€| New York, do!, to £1 ... 4.86 2-3 4.46| 4.46§ Hongkong, dol. to £1 ... * 30fd 314. Yokonama, st. to yen ... -21.50 25Jd 257 A Calcutta, 6t. to rpe., 10 to gold £ 15£d 15§d ♦Determined by price of silver. The Berlin exchange rate on London i# 5550 marks to ihe £l, and the Paris e»change rate 56.70 francs to the £L GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. LONDON, September 7. The following are the latest quotations far Government securities, with a comparison with those ruling last week : Last week. This week.

THE WHEAT MARKET. LONDON, September 4. Wheat cargoes are steadily held, and price* are nominally unchanged. Australian aflnat is quoted at 50s 6d, 51s. Parcels are quiet. Australian afloat are quoted at 50s. September 5. Wheat cargoes are quiet, unchanged, occa. eionally tending lower in the absence of American advices. Australian afloat era quoted at 50s Cd to 51s. Parcels are quiet, with some speculative business at .id to bd advance. Australian nearly due at Fiverpool are quoted at 50s Gd. Australian afloat, 5 ° 3, September 6. “Wheat cargoes aro steady at late rate*, with few offerings. There is a quiet demand for Australian afloat which is quoted at 50s Gd. Parcels are firm and in fair request at Gd to Is advance. Australia* afloat is quoted at aOs. September 9. Wheat cargoes are firm on better American advices, and an improved Continental domand. An offer of 50s for Australian oo passage was refused. Parcels are firm at an advance of 3d to Gd. Austin.ian, afloat, is quoted at 503. LONDON MARKETS. LONDON, September 2. Cotton- Liverpool quotation, American October delivery, 12.27 d per lb. Rubber: Para, IOM per lb; plantation, 6Z-d; smoked sheet, to <d. Copra- October shipment, £22 10s per ton. Jute: September-Ootober-November shipment, £32 109 per ton. . , New Zealand hemp: September-October shipment, £32 10s. , Linseed oil, £34 10s per ton - equal to 2d 9 l-8d per gallon. Turpentine, 95s per cwt—equal to /s 24 per gallon. Tallow: Stocks, 7916 casks. The import* during August were 4005 casks, and the deliveries 3960. ... , u . . . Wheat cargoes are steadily held for about late rates, but the demand is poor. Australian afloat is quoted at 50s 6d. Parcel# are firtn, and occasionally 3d dearer. Thera is better - inquiry, but no actual business i# passing. Australian afloat, 505.September 7. Butter is hardening as the colonial supplies lessen. New Zealand choicest, 214# j unsalted, nominally, 2265; Australian : choicest, 200 s to 2045; unsalted, 2125. Cheese, is very firm. New Zealand coloured, 88s; white, 92s. —A. and N.Z. Cable. Wheat cargoes are steady at late rates. Fifty shillings was offered for Australian afloat, but 50s Gd was wanted. Parcels aro quiet. Australian afloat is quoted at 50a. Spot trade is slow, fut prices occasionally turn clearer. Australian ex ship, 535. Flour is slow. Australian, ox stoics, 37# Gd. Barley is steady. Oats arc firmly held. Peas and beans are quiet and unchanged. Sugar: Granulated, 51s 3d. September 9. Owing to heavy crops of plums and pota* toes vegetable growers are obtaining extremely low prices. Some of them are allowing the plums to rot on the trees and the potatoes to rot in the ground, as the return# would not pay the cost of marketing. A Bedford farmer sent a ton of vegetable marrows to Birmingham at a cost of 1955, and received Gd after paying the railway and other charges. An Essex orchardist sent 2001 b of cooking apples to the London market, where they realised 2s 6d, leaving the grower to pay tho packing, transport, and market charges. Mutton prices are aa follow:—Canterbury* light, 7£d; medium, G^d; heavy, 6Jd; North Island, 6|d to 6gd; Now Zealand ewes, sj|ds Australian firsts, s|d; seconds, s#d; owes* 54d; South American, light, 7d; heavy, 6d|

ewes, 6Jd; Patagonian, light, BJd; hoavv, Bidliamb.—Canterbury, light, Hid; medium, lljjd; heavy, lOJd; seconds, lid; Southland, llid; North Island, selected, llad; ordinary, lid; South American, light, 10Jd; heavy, 9id. Frozen Beet,—New Zealand fores, 9*d; hinds, 4|d; Australian hinds, 4Jd. . Chilled. —Argentine fores, 3|d; hinds, 12d ; others unchanged. Cotton.—October shipment, 12.03 d per lb. Rubber. —Fine hard para, 10id per lb; plantation, 7i<! to 7id; smoked, 7id. Jute.—October-November shipment, £35 10s. Hemp.—Sep tern ber-November shipment, £32 10s. Copra.—September-November shipment, £22 10s. Linseed oil, £34 10s. Turpentine, 99s 9d. BANK DRAFTS TO LONDON. LONDON, September 8. The Associated Australian Banks have fixed the selling rates on Australia and New Zealand for drafts end mail transfers at 10s and for cable transfers at 17s Gd premium. The rate of purchase of documentary bills on Australia and New Zealand has been reduced to 2 per cent, discount for sight bills, with an increase of £ per cent, for every additional 30 days. All these alterations will commence on September 13. BANK OF AUSTRALASIA. LONDON, September 7^ The Bank of Australasia declared an interim dividend of 5s and a bonus of 8d per share, equal to 13 per cent, per annum, payable free of income tax. TALLOW SALES. LONDON, September G. At the tallow sales 1076 casks were offered and 603 were sold at about Gd decline. Mutton: Fine, 41s per cwt.; medium, 35s 6d. Beef: Fine, 425; medium, 36s 6d. GREEK DRIED FRUIT TRADE DISORGANISED. LONDON, September 8. The Greek dried fruit trade has been disorganised owing to the disturbed conditions in Smyrna. Only one cargo of fruit has been despatched, and consequently the market jb very firm Australian Three Crown currants are selling at 67s to 68s, and sultanas at 110 s. AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. MELBOURNE, September 8. At the hide sales there were record offerings, but competition was irregular. Weiloonditioned 1 parcels si L-owing quality were unchanged, and all other grades were fully id to |d lower. Kips also declined. Barley.—English, 3s lOd to 4s Id; Cape, 2s Ud to 3s. Oats, 3s 8d to 3s 9d. Potatoes, £3 to £lO. Onions, £ll to £l2. SYDNEY, September 5. The wholesale prices of bran and pollard advanced 20s per ton to 190 s. September 7. Oats: Algerian feed, local and Tasmanian, 4s Id to 4s 2d; white, 4s 2d to 4s 4d. Maize: Local yellow, Gs; white, 06 9ti; South African, 5s lOd to 5s lid. Potatoes: Tasmanian, £l4 per ton. Onions: Victorian, £l6 per ton; American, £24. ADELAIDE, September 7. Oats, 3s to 3s 2d. LONDON WOOL SALES. LONDON, September 4. At the wool sales 13,339 bales were offered, of which 7900 were Australian and 5439 New Zealand. It was an average ©election. There was an excellent attendance, and strong competition. Yorkshire was very active, and France was supporting the market fairly well; but Germany was doing little, and the United States nothing. Greasy scoured merinos and fine crossbreds were 5 pen: cent, above the closing rates; ftiedium and low crostfbreds were unchanged. The finest slipe wools were 5 to 10 per jant. above August rates; others, par to 5s JBr cent, above. September 5. At the wool sales there was keen home Continental competition at full opening ates, with a tendency in sellers' favour. September 6. At the wool sales competition continues Hfcen, and there were good clearances of feerinos and crossbreds at full rates. New •Steal and “Taratahi” clip realised 21 d. September 8. The wool sales continue very firm, with »lendid support from all sections. Prices xe fully maintained. WELLINGTON, September 10. A Bawra cable to the New Zealand Wool Sfcmmittee, dated September 8, states: 'Bales continue, compared with the last to be good. Greasy and scoured Merinos are 10 per cent, dearer, and faulty *erino3 and medium crossbreds 5 per cent, g&axar. From 46’s downwards are very firm. Wrossbred lambs are 5 per cent, and merino 7 h per cent, dearer. The highest price Sr greasy merino is 2s 10^d: for scoured. l£d. Messrs Murray, (Robert©, and Co., Ltd., Vive received! tV* following wool market Bfcblegram from their London agents, (fated, aabe 6th inst: “Market continues firm. Merino and Jaedium greasy crossbred advanced 5 pea* lent." Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co. (Ltd.) kave received the following wool market Quotations from their London agents, dated no sth inst.: Yielding Present End of last per cent, series. series.

WOOL STABILISATION SCHEME. , r _ SYDNEY, September 6. Bernard Tripp has returned frum the Bawra Wool Conference at Melbourne, and prill sail m the Maunganui to-morrow. On reaching Wellington ho will submit Sir John Higgins’s scheme for the stabilisation ol p-ossbred wool to the New Zealand Wool Committee. SOUTHLAND MARKET REPORT. Oats.—This market is practically dead at present. Offers of business have been received h'om the north on a basis of 2s 6d per bushel, si., for I> Gar lons, bub eucli price means such a considerable lee© to merchants that all business lias been declined. Equivalent to farmers would be round about La 8d per bushel, this depending on the distance of the siding from the port. Values to farmers aro merely noonrinal 2b for A Gartone, is 9d to ls lOd for B others correspondingly less. Chaff.-i-Considerable quantities are bring offered, but only the primes! is accepted by

merchants at £3 103, on trucks, at country sidings. Lower quality is unsaleable at anything in excess of £3. Ryegrass.—The northern demand has slack ened off just in the meantime, but very few lines are offering by grower©, and prices are maintained at the old level; 3s 6d per bushel for 241 b to 261 b seed, price© depending on the treatment received by the mill; 231 b seed, 3s 3d per bushel; 211 b to 221 b seed, 3s. OAMARU MARKETS. OAMARU, September 9. The local grain and produce market has not yet acquired activity in any department, and there is still wanting anything to inspire hope of an improvement. As ha© previously been reported, a considerable quantity of milling wheat remains in growers’ hands, and buyers are not discoverable, the business of the week being confined to a few odd lots destined for shipment to Auckland. Nothing ha© been done in fowl wheat, but the quantity on the market is not great. Oats have further declined m value, with only a email amount of business passing. In view, however, of the condition of the market and possibility of the oats becoming of value in other directions, a result of lack of a good rain and a consequent shortage of feed, the majority of holders in the country are not disposed to sell. Business has thus been restricted during the week to a few transactions. Fot a good, heavy sample of milling Gartons 2s 4d was given at a country station, the price to grower being reducible- by commission, and A grade Gar tons have changed hands at 2s 3d net, delivered at store in Oamaru, and 2s Id net, at country stations! * A little business has been done in good farmers’ dressed cow grass seed at 8d and net delivered in Oamaru, but the market is dull. Some small business in oaten-sheaf chaff is reported at £3 5s net on trucks, sacks extra. The brightest aspect of the market is seen in relation to potatoes, which have improved in value. During the week sales of table Up-to-Dates were made at £5 and £5 5s net on trucks, but, as a result of a rise in the Dunedin market, value© improved, and the closing quotations for freshly-picked-over good samples are from £5 12s 6d to £5 15s net at country stations. There iis some inquiry for seed Up-to-Dates, which are now worth from £6 to £6 10s net on trucks, bait even at those prices supplies cannot be discovered. DAIRY PRODUCE GRADINGS. WELLINGTON, September 5. The butter graded for export in August, 1922, is as follows: —'Salted, 40,398ewt; unsaltod, 648; —total, 41,0-16, compared with 18,115 August, 1921, an increase of 126£ per cent. The cheese returns were:—White, 103 cwt; coloured, 245; —total 348, compared with 1616 for August of last year. Converting the figures into butter-fat gives an equivalent increase of per cent, for August compared with 1921. TARANAKI OIL WELLS. NEW PLYMOUTH, September 6. A London liquidator, through a New Plymouth agent, sold to Mr Y. A. Hadley and Mr A. B. Donald, Auckland, the whole of the dominion assets in Taranaki (New Zealand) Oil Wells, Ltd., including four wells. The price is not disclosed. The policy of the purchasers is for vigorous development on the most up-to-date lines prevailing in the American fields RABBITSKIN MARKET REPORT. The Dunedin Woolbrokers’ Association (Messrs Dalgety and Co., Todd Bros., National Mortgage and Agency Company, New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Association, Donald Reid and Co., S-tronach, Morris, and Co., and Wright, Stephenson, and Co.) report having held their fortnightly sale of rabbitskins to the usual attendance of buyers, when fairly large catalogues were submitted. The market was very unsteady, and bidding was somewhat erratic; good winter bucks ©old ©lightly better, but winter does showed a decline on last week’s rates. Quotations are as follows: Runners and suckers, 7|d; light racks, 17£-d to 18|d; prime racks, 24d to 26£d ; summers, 144 d to 154 d; autumns, 37d to 48d; early autumns, 27id to 42d; incoming winters, 60d to 61£d; spotted, 43d to 48d; early winters, 60d to 65d; first winter bucks, 71d to 77Jd; first winter does, 66d to 80d; super winter bucks, 76d to 80|d; super winter does, 84£d to 93d; first winter black, 5Sd to 60£d; hareskins, 37fd to 41d; milky does, 19d to 22d; horsehair, 26d to 30£d; catskins, 6d to ls 7d each. SPECIAL HORSE SALE. Wright,- Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., report : We held a special sale of horses last Thursday, when we submitted a catalogue of 97 head. There was a good attendance of buyers, farmers and dealers being present from Gore to Timaru. Tbe chief buyers wore farmers in search of well-bred mares and useful farm horses suitable for immediate work, and all young active staunch sorts wore easily disposed of. We sold in all 72 horses at satisfactory prices, as may be seen from the following quotations:—For Robt. Hamilton (Henley), five-year-old gelding, £52; for Harris Bros. (Gore), six-year-old marc, £SO; for Donald Ford (Allanton), six-year-old mare, £49; for Win. Moynihan (Ngapuna), five-year-old gelding £4B, five-year-old gelding, £46; for R. M‘Don aid (Maheno), six-year-old mare, £45; for Johnston and Robertson (Dunedin), rising four-year-old gelding, £44; for R. Ruthvem (Mosgiel), six-yerir-rVI gelding, £42 10s; for northern clients, seven-year-old gelding £4O, six-year old gelding £39 10s ; a large number of mares and geldings, from £32 to £35. As usual, old and inferior horses were a drag on the sale. # PROPERTY SALE. Messrs John Reid and Sons, under instructions from the Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company, offered for sale by auction on the 6th a well-known residential property, No. 406 George street, in the estate of the late Mrs Robert Wilson. There was a large attendance, but the bidding fell somewhat short of the reserve, so that it is now for private sale. Tlie same firm also offered for sale by auction the unexpirod term of lease from the Otago Harbour Board of allotments 14 and 19, block 60, town of Dunedin. This property, which fronts Anderson’s Bay road and Vogel street, and has a dwelling house on it, was knocked down, after competition, at £l5O.

Totals oq sflllslli 1 * >-t « v 3 ra 3 m" 1 ifii *in ■ i . y q .i. | a . i • tr •:::•• : 156 330 M mho® Creameries Cl (butter). Hm „ ol Factories h- (cheese). 3 1 1 II Dual to 1 1 | | 1 | | | .. 1 Private dairies 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 19 1 (butter). s i 1 ill | | Packing-houses 1 M 1 -i 1 tc Uc (milled i )utter) . 538 Is Totals.

Value of overrun in terms of Value butter-fat per lb Over-run. at Is 6d lb. butter-fat 18 per cent J. ... £3204 3.24d 10 per cent £3102 3.42d 20 per cent £3360 3.60d 21 per cent £3528 3.78d 22 per cent. £361)6 3.96d 22 per cent £3864 4.14d 24 per cent £4032 4.32d 25 per cent £4200 4.50d 2G per cent £4368 4.68d

.1 chain...Gate Gate n o HOUSE *■. HOUSE Gate Gate Gate Gate c a HOUSE u -

mis 2,869,4; 1919 3,035,4 1920 3,101,91 1921 3,139.2 1922 3,323,2

, |!-H| E 1 ?»3’ ’;; W; : • : i : : iinSPI lllllfe?* s: if§gif |3

Bus. Bus Bus. Bus. Auckland 3,563 21.16 270 22.50 Hawke’s Bay 43,364 31.62 91,401 37.19 Taranaki 4,042 28.01 3,391 29.56 Wellington ... 230,779 37.12 151,328 40.66 Nelson 30,756 21.60 19,318 27.06 Marlbor’gh ... 110,552 32.68 47,970 35.74 Canterbury ... 7,287,123 20.68 2,401,979 34.99 Otago 1,838,647 34.24 1.726,736 Southland ... 246,800 34.33 1,738,786 48.37 Totals 9,801,626 30.70 6,181,270 41.28

Description. k 1 ti Sale Price. Greasy A fine crossbred hoggets d. 17* d. 11 Greasy A line crossbred 17 i HI Greasy B crossbred hoggets i&i 9 Greasy B crossbred lb* Greasy C crossbred IB* 8i Greasy crossbred 15* b 2 Greasv F crossbred hoggets 16* 8J Greasy crossbred necks 14 Greasy first crossbred pieces .. 141 Greasy second crossbred pieces 124 51 Greasy crossbred bellies 12* 5§ Greasy T1TI (N.Z. WOOD). A fine crossbred hoggets 17| 14* Greasy A fine crossbred 17 m Greasy B crossbred hoggets 17* 10* Greasy B crossbred .. ... .. ici 10 Greasy E crossbred .. .. — 16 9* Greasy 0 crossbred hoggets 164 8i Greasy C crossbred 164 8* Gresusy C and D crossbred 154 8 Greasy crossbred necks 144 10 Greasy crossbred pieces .. — 13* 82

£ t 5. <3 £ i per cent. Imp. Ton. ... 57 5 0 67 6 s 3 \ p<’r cent. Imp. War Ix>an, '11)25-28 95 0 0 94 17 • 5 per oent. Imp. War Ix>nn, 1929-47 ••• 99 15 0 99 17 • 5£ por cent. C’wealth Ix>an, 1920-22, Feb.- Aug. 102 0 0 102 0 0 51 por cent. C‘wealth Tx)un, 1925-45. June-Dee 108 15 0 108 IS 0 N.B.W. 4’s, 1933. Jan.-July 88 N.8.W. 3i’s, 1935 50, Jan.-Jly 77 0 0 88 0 i 0 0 77 0 4 N.S.W. 3’s, 1935. April-Oct. 73 12 6 75 IS 0 N.S.W. 5$’s 101 10 0 101 16 o N 8.W. 6*8 108 5 0 108 6 6 sj w 4.Va. 1934-35, .Tan.-July 97 2 6 97 2 f Vic. 4’s, 1921-26, Jan.-July 95 5 0 95 6 5 Viet 1929-40, April-Oct. 75 Vic. 3’s, 1929-49, Jan.-July 71 15 0 75 10 0 0 0 71 0 0 Q’land 4's, 1924, Jan.-July ... 95 2 6 95 2 * Q’land 3|’e, 1921-30, Jan.-July 94 0 0 94 0 0 Q’land 3’s. 1922-47, Jan.-July 66 0 0 65 12 • N.Z. 4's, 1929, May-Nov. ... 94 10 0 94 10 5 N.Z. 3£’s, 1940, Jan.-July ... 81 10 0 81 10 0 N.Z. 3’s, 1945, April-Oct. ... 73 IS 0 72 12 * 8. A. 3’s, 1930. Jan.-July ... 62 5 0 62 5 S.A. 3}’s, 1945 or after ... 80 5 0 80 6 6 Tag. 3Vs, 1920-40, Jan.-July 81 5 0 81 5 0 Tas. 3’s. 1920-40, Jan.-July ... 73 0 0 73 0 0 W.A. 3£’s. 1920-35, May-July 83 0 0 83 15 0 W.A. 3’s, 1915-35, May-Nov. 78 5 0 78 2 t W.A. 5’s, 1935-45, June-Dee. 102 0 0 102 0 0

d. d. 10’ s 65 13 124 44 s-46 s preparing 74 8k 44’s-4b s carding 72 7* 10-41 a .. . 70 7 3 75 7 7