STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 19

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Safet. •umwd«, Wednesdays Addington, Wednesdays Walarsk* Hailway Joto Uon, Tt'eftday*Fortnightly. Blver»da.e, Fridi.’OTuesdays. AsHLurioD, Tuesday*. Hanoi, Thursdays. Win ton, i b arson? sWyndbam, Thursdays. Clinton, Thurbdays. Baiclutha, Fridays. •ore. Tuesdays. Monthly. Bdeodaie, Ist Monday, mlinerstoo, 4tb Tburc if■Tiotoa, 4th Tuesday. Mataura, Ist Thursday Tokanui, Itb Monday.

Mjnthly (eentlnusdi Puntroon, 2nd Wednao Woodlands, Sid Wet Deßdsy. Milton, 2nd Tuesday. Balfour, 3rd Than day. 1 borat ary, Ist Friday Dnutroon, Sod Wedna* i»J. OtauUu, 2nd Wedne> tf BiversdSid, 3rd Frida* Waikaka, last Friday. Olydeval&, last Tuesday Peril ideally as Advertised. (.unit-den, Aloseburii Orepuki, TVaimuheka W&iecnald, River too, fr'gupari, «tu< Gikge Centra} Sties

OTAGO. Another capital week’s weather was experienced in Otago, with just enough rain to make matters pleasant, the clays being warm and sunny. The Balclutha stock sale was held on Friday. Prices for all local sheep penned were sound, but outside sheep failed to find buyers at auction. Some eight to nine thousand came forward, half ot them imported. Fair failing-moutn ewes made 26s 9d to 275, good to 29s 2d, old 14s 6d, wethers realised 34s to 36s sd, extra 3cs to 38s lOd, medium wether lambs, 23s 3d to 25s 3d, mixed sexes 30s Id to 31s 4d, good ewe lambs, 33s 4d. The fact of several thousand foreign sheep being pastured or for sale in Otago indicates the sound tone of the sheep market, despite the decline in wool values. The arrival and sale of the first cargo of Australian chilled meat is worth noting. The meat looked fairly well alter its passage of 165 days, and sold much on a par with South American stuff. BURNSIDE MARKET. The yarding of fat sheep at Burnside totalled 2215, compared with 2974 the previous week. The quality was very fair, but medium ewes were in considerable numbers, also medium-weight, close-woolled wethers. Tho supply of heavy prime sheep was fair, and about met the demand. Generally, values of both heavy and light prime wethers were firm at last sale’s rates, but trade ewes were cheaper, and export buying appeared # to-be on lower limits for the latter class. Wethers may be quoted as making up to 7£d per lb. The fat lambs penned, some 900 (700 last week) lacked, for the most part, the desired quality. Values were lower, both for graziers and finished sorts, up to llsd per Fb being paid. The yarding of fat cattle, 320 compared with 254 the previous week, comprised a fair number of medium cows and steers, but there were good supplies of prime bullocks well distributed in the various races. The demand was irregular, and values uneven, but generally there was a good clearance, despite the somewhat large entry, at n <nst sale’s rates. Beef sold to 38s per 1001 b. The entry of 6tore cattle was very large, {ind comprised all classes, including a big ot of station steers, well grown ana in nice ordor. Except, for best grades of steers, prices wore slacker than a week ago by probably 10s per head, the weight of the Offering* being too large. Borne nice dairy cows at profit made up to £ls 10s. The yarding of fat pigs was on tho small aide, anij prices lifted 5s per head, but stores were no better than, the previous week. Bacon sorts made to 7£d and porkera BJd per lb. STOCK NOTES. Owing to tho death of New Zealand’s Pftme Minister, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, a number of clearing sales in the country were postponed until the following week, including tho usual fixture at Clinton, Otago.

Considerable business has been transacted firlvatejy in fat lambs during the past, week (or deliveries in June next at prices much m * par with recent values.

There were more closo-woolled wethers sold at Burnside on Wednesday last than usual. Several hundreds from Central Otago, well grown and well covered and in good order, made 33s to 395. Some fairly well-bred station steers in forward condition sold fairly well at £8 5s to £ll 2s, the latter being for big, wellgrown four and five-year-oid steers. A few of the latter class of cattle nearly always sell well at Burnside owing to Taieri farmers, some of them, favouring big-framed bullocks, which, when fat, weigh about three-quarters of a ten. The merit of a few of the dairy cows penned at the last Burnside stock sale was satisfactory. Several cows realised £lO to £ls 10s. The following cable message has been received by Perfect Food Process Proprietary (Limited) from Genoa in connection with the shipment of Australian chilled beef, placed by the company on tho steamer Port Darwin, which left Melbourne for London on March 10: “Arrived Genoa safely; everything in good order.” The value of Central Australia for sheepraising purposes was emphasised by Mr Lance Le Souef in an address at a meeting of the Australian Speakers’ Association recently. He said that there was no reason why the 80,000 pastoraiists in Australia, who are now producing 2,000,000 bales of wool a year, should not be increased to 150,000 pastoraiists, producing 3,000,000 bales of wool, if the large inland areas suitable for sheep-raising were properly exploited. There was, in fact, every possibility that the steady development of inland areas now boing caitied on would in time make the whole of inland Australia suitable for sheep-raising. The increase in Italy's meat imports are somewhat striking:—Year 1922, 13.965 tons; 1923, 25,400 tons; 1924, estimated 115,000 tons. Two years ago very few of the butchers would allow frozen meat into their shops, while now the majority stock it. The meat retailers of Italy are chiefly ore-man shops, conducted by the owners, and for that reason the overhead expenses are not heavy, and the retail prices for beef are most reasonable. Several of the shops have their prices displayed on largo placards, and imported beef sells from 5d to 6d per lb, according to cuts, and home killed Italian from lOd to Is 2d. Tho great demand has, therefore, been stimulated by the low prices of imported, and beef is today one of the cheapest foods in Italy, which is the real reason for the great increase in the importations. DAIRY CONTROL BOARD. OTAGO WANTS REPRESENTATION. The date of the election of three producers on the New Zealand Dairy Control Board looms near at hand. Otago is the only provincial district, it is said. In the Dominion that has not a producers’ representative on the Control Board, and there are, approximately, 7000 dairy producers in Otago. Mr William Robertson, of Willowbank, Middleniarch, has taken up the cudgels on their behnlf, and in is circular says:—“For the past 40 years I have been farming, the last, 15 of which I have been engaged in dairying. For the past 10 years T have been a director of the Taieri and Peninsula Milk Supply Co, Ltd., a cooperative company established in 1884. This rear I was elected a director of the Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Association of New Zealand. Ltd. I am also a member of tho following General Committee of tho Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, past president and at present member of Committee of Management of tho Strath Taieri Agricultural and Pastoral Bocietv. member of the New Zealand Friesian Association, secretary of the Otago branoh of the New Zealand Friesian Association, member of the Now Zealand Farmers’ Union.” Mr Robertson views with disfavour “absolute” control, and contends that compulsory measures may jeopardise producers’ interests. Nominations close on May 20. NITROGENOUS MANURING. In view of the disciwsion which has occurred in connection with the scheme to harness the Bowen Falls, and tho question whether a nitrogenous manure was wanted by farmers, an extract from the Mercury (Tasmania) is of interest. Tho Agricultural Superintendent (Mr Oldoker) reports:

“Spring conditions for the season 1924-25 were particularly favourable to well considered applications of nitrogenous fertilisers, and experiments with innate of soda were carried on to a limited extent ut Devonport. The early growing period was marked by very frequent raimalis, through which two or more iigtiter dressings of me manure might have oeen substituted for the one supplied, with added results, lwo crops only were treated —Algerian oats for hay and * Brownell ’ potatoes. On the lustnamed an application at the rate of 84lb per acre was made in the shape of topdressing, and in a similar manner 1121 b was distributed through the potato crop. The date chosen was October 27, with ruin threatening—in fact a fall commenced before the operation was completed. “The oat crop presented a comparatively pale appearance, suggesting a luck of nitrogen, and the effect on the treated area was most marked within 10 days. An easily distinguished dark green shade clearly defined it from the rest of the field, and this was apparent right up to the time of cutting on December 2. The crop was at this time still in rather an immature con dition, and it is certain that the proportion of improvement would have been much more had there been a nearer approach to maturation. In any case, the increase of 9cwt lqr of cured hay amply repaid tlie cost of tne whole additional fertilisation, and provided a profit, low as tho present value of chaff is. Results arc as follows Fertilised at 841 b per acre-Green hay, o tons 7cwt 2qr; cured hay (approximately), 3 tons 16cwt lqr 221 b. Check area (untreated) —5 tons I2cwt; cured hay, 3 tons 7cwt 221 b. , .. “The action of nitrate of soda on the potato crop was, peculiarly enough, considerably greater than in the case of the graminaceous plant. This was probably due to the fact that the soil is reasonably equipped with organic matter, and a dressing of superphosphate (22 per cent.) at the rate of scwt per acre had been applied at the time of planting. Here, too, the effect on the top growth was outstanding, and the most useful factor towards success was that a vigorous plant had ben established before the dry spell which prevailed throughout the whole of December. In this way the treated portion of the crop was enabled to weather through handsomely, so that, with the advent of rain during tho first week in January, a progress was resumed immediately with great advantage to tuberation. The useful increase in this case means an advanced return of approximately £ls per acre for the expenditure of applying only lewt of sodium nitrate at the propitious moment, taking market value of the potatoes at the time of lifting. Results have been verified, and there is no other influence bearing on results, as both treated and check areas were otherwise on an equal Tooting. The following are the figures:—Fertilised at 1121 b per acre—7 tons 6cwt 3qr per acre. Check area (untreated) —5 tons 10cwt 2qr.” DAIRY PRODUCE OUTUT. The gradings of butter last month showed a contraction of 282 tons, while the gradings of cheese were larger uy 271 tons. Hie gradings for each montif of the current season, with the figures for the corresponding months of last year, are os follow :

The increase shown by the above figures is 10,905 tons, which is a little more than 19. per cent, and is a very satisfactory increase. In November, December, and January last the gradings of butter were over 10,000 tons per month. Production is now tapering off rapidly, but there is still a considerable quantity in store; the bulk of this w ill probably be required for local consumption during the winter. The gradings of cheese for each of the past nine months ard for the corresponding months of the previous season are given in the table appended:— 1924-25. 1923-24.

There is a decrease in the cheese production, but it is not of any consequence. N.Z. MEAT PRODUCERS’ BOARD. As a further means of advertising £rime New Zealand lamb and keeping it continually before the public at Homo the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has been arranging displays of special lambs at various agricultural and pastoral association shows. These are exhibited on Smithfield Market, and also in the large departmental stores in London. The Board is also sending small consignments of specially-picked lambs from freezing works for the purpose of making special displays in London and the provinces. Reports have just been received by the Board from London regarding two displays in respect of lambs ex the Carterton and Gisborne shows. Tho judges’ reports of these lambs were as follows:-** Poverty Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Show Lambs, ex b. 3. Mahana :—“Wo have just had the pleasure of exhibiting about 80 of these lambs on one of our stalls in Smithfield Market. They mode a very food show, and met with universal praise rom the numbers of buyers who came to inspect them. Most of these lambs wore of excellent quality, being short in the leg, together with thick shoulders and very good backs. They were full of meat, but not too fat, and altogether of an attractive appearance. This is just the class of meat required by the London butchers, as they are not too heavy and the publio’a demand for small joints can bo executed from them. The condition was not quite as bright as wo have seen, but this was not sufficient to detract from their value.—(Signed) H. S. Fitter and Sons.” Carterton Agricultural and Pastoral Show Lambs, ex s.a. Hertford.—■“ These were some of the best lambs that we have ever seen, and did the utmost credit to tho New Zealand meat industry. The breeding

was exceptionally good, and it is difficult to believe (hat a higher standard of perfection could bo reached. While these lambs held the maximum quantity of meat they were neither wasteful nor fat. While being a shade on the heavy side for some customers, their splendid quality made them most suitable for the London trade, and they were highly appreciated by the best buyers. 'The condition left something to bo desired, as they had lost a little of the bloom generally associated with new season’s meat, but not sufficient to affect tho value.”

The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received the following letter from its Booth American representative, dated March 22, 1925:—“ Pastoral conditions have improved, but the flesh green growth will stand little eating, and likely to disappoar with the first frosts, while it has also very little feeding value owing to ita watery composition. " Best quality fat cattle are scarcer and chiller “grade are dearer, and values are likely to be higher as the winter advances. Cattle suitable for English freezers and best Continental have been bringing values almost equal to chillers, though these values are likely to be lower iu tho near future, as shippers have lost money on some of their contracts, so Continental prices will either have to advance or values be lower here. Store and breeding cattle are meeting a good trade at higher prices. , . . “The sheep trade has improved from last month's report, though it is wonderful where all the sheep come from, as I am confident, the existence in this country is not nearly equal to the stock of 10 years ago. I was in treaty with a firm to again proceed to the Falkland Islands and buy the surplus sheep for them, but the operation has fallen through, as it is now late in the season. I have brought us many as 9290 head one trip two years ago mere are around 30,000 head of surplus sheep on these islands every year,” AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS, At the Queensland Agricultural Sehool recently a comprehensive course in the efficient handling and manipulation of tractors was given to farmers. Lectures on fourcycle operations, timing of ignff n, timing of valves, magneto ignition, carburettors, and vapottrisers, transmission and steenng, clutches, and differentials, lubrication, fuels, cooling systems, costing, and care ol tractors were part of the course. Practical demonstrations in the engineering branch and driving, ploughing, and cultivating with tractors were arranged so that each student had experience in the work. The scalding or pasteurisation ot mils as a means of making milk safe forhuman rpS“aT^dviy r b;Dr“R°Brewster in an address on tuberculosis at New iljmouth (says the Taranaki News). Pasteurisation of milk was a simple process which had been universally accepted as tho one certain method of securing a safe milk supnlv It did not affect the digestibility of the milk, nor destroy the vita mines to any 4. An* loss of vitannnes could Wt ?°’ " lWed a fid “be -produced under the best cond, farming 1. ‘'hit ST.I- - have neen i ted t h a t there in"g demand for farms in tins part of the King Country.

1924-25. 1923-24 Tons. Tons. August .. .. 1,880 2,039 September .. .. 4,896 3,631 October .. ... 8,850 6,832 November .. .. 10,353 9,104 December .. .. 11,624 . 9,277 January .. .. 10,413 8,202 February .. .. 8,121 6,731 March .. .. 6,814 6,947 April .. .. 4,380 4,662 67,330 66,425

Tons. Tons. August 208 298 September .. •• 2,708 2.964 .. .. 7,598 November .. .. 9,855 11,151 December .. .. 11,181 11,588 J anuary .. .. 10,257 10,990 February .. .. 8,640 8,437 March .. .. 7,828 7,464 April 6,216 5,945 64,541 66,353