MASTERTON RAM FAIR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3754, 23 February 1926, Page 19

MASTERTON RAM FAIR.

MASTERTON. February 19. The Masterton Ram Fair was concluded to-day with offerings of stud and flock Southdowns and Lincolns. The market for Southdowns was very sound and the sheep showing good qualitv met hot competition. The top price was 205 guineas, which was paid by H. Falloon, Masterton, for a shearling Southdown ram, bred and offered by H. J. Andrew, _ Maheno, Otago. It is stated that this is a New Zealand record for colonial-bred Southdowns. . Flock Southdowns also were in good demand and ranged from 7 guineas to 20 guineas. Lincolns slumped, and unless showing outstanding quality, were neglected. Corriedales and English Leicesters failed to attract ettention. CANTERBURY CRAIN AND PRO DUCE MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH. February 19. A small flow of business has developed during' the week, but it is mostly between merchants and of the speculation kind. Millers, merchants, and farmers are awaiting the results of to-day’s Wellington conference. In the meantime business is very much in the air. The ofTors of 7s on trucks have been withdrawn, and 6s 9d by millers and 6s lOd by merchants mark the limit of current offers. Farmers have been offering wheat fairly freely during the week, and a few havo accepted the 6s lOd. There are offerings of seeds of all sorts, and the solid prices of the seasonal opening nre not being maintained. However, the previous dullness has been replaced by a little inquiry. Cocksfoot is offering more freely. The quality is medium, the rain having discoloured rqpent samples. On truck values are from 7id to Bid a lb. Perennial ryegrass is definitely easier. Last week up to 5s on trucks was being paid, but under the Influence of southern offerings this figure went back by 3d to 6d a bushel. Southland 27-28Ib seed is quoted at 6s 3d, f.0.b., 8.1., for new crops, 6s to 6s 3d for old. Italian has eased in sympathy with perennial. quotations being 3» 3d to 3s Cd on trucks.

The clover crops are promising to yield weU. White is worth 10(1 to lid on trucks, ana cowgrass 8d to 9d. Peas are inclined to be weaker, and 6s 3d on trucks is now the offer. There are very few oats offering, which bears out previous suggestions that the crops will be light. Any business is between merchants, and the tone is firm. A Cartons are worth 4s 9d, f o b., s.i., and B’a 4s 6d to 4s 7d. Any business with farmers is on a basis of 4s to.4s 2d for As. and up to 3s lid for B’s. There has been an inquiry from Australia. Potatoes are firm as a result of e Australian inquiry, and. tho cabled announcement from Sydney ( uring the week that mportation from New Zealand was probable. Up to £7, f.0.b., s.i., is being quoted, and £5 5s to £5 10s on trucks, according to station. Some business under Australian parking conditions was done at £8 a ton, but £8 5s stooped it. Onions have been sold at £9 10s to £lO on trucks for prompt business, which is with the south. Quotations for main crops are £8 on trucks. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. A property at Totara that yielded over 100 bushels of oats to the acre this season was a few years ago overgrown with Canadian thistle. At a conference cf representatives of Canterbury University College and of the Canterbury Agricultural College, the recommendations made by the commission were discussed, and it was decided to co-operate so as to make the combined course in agriculture as efficient as possible, and to prepare for further development. The Marton A. and P. Association has decided against granting permission to sell art union tickets at its snow, members agreeing that visitors to the show do not want to be worried by ticket-sellers. The hay harvest in the Chatton and Otama districts is well formed. On three farms oat harvesting has commenced in the Otama district (says th< Mataura Ensign), and on one farm carting is in progress. The bulk of the oat crop, however, has hardly changed colour yet. A consignment of Kauana stud sheep went forward to the Moeraki from Invercargill the other day for various studs The total number of sheep was. (says the Daily News) 32. which is one of the largest drafts of stud sheep that has tren shipped from Bluff for a number of years. Many old farmers assert that the goat is a useful medium of exterminating blackberry. This method of combating the tveed has been suggested in Wairoa, and at the meeting of the County Council the Min« ister of Native Affairs wrote stating lie was looking into the council’s request that a herd of 1000 goats should be put on to keep in check the blackberry on the Mohaka native block. The Dairy Produce Control Board las called a conference of representatives of the dairy industry throughout the Dominion for early in April. The business will be consideration of the system of election of members to the board. “That was a nice little lot of sheep you sold on Thursday,’’ said om farmer to another at Te Kuiti. “Yes, nice little black faces, weren’t they? You know, I had them on 100 acres of ragwort, and now there isn’t a flower left. And some fellows talk about noxious weeds. Half of them don’t try to keep ’em down. Never saw sheep better than those that came off that patch.”