TARANAKI SHOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 12

TARANAKI SHOW.

CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 2. The championship awards at the Taranaki -Show to-day were:— Milking Shorthorns.—Bull. H. C. Belcher (Eitham); reserve, W. P. Bootten (Rawhitiroa),; cow, W. P. Bootten; reserve, P. Bootten. Frie.sians. —Bull, C. W. Baldwin and Sons (Ngatoro) ; reserve, Wood Bros. (Tikorangi); cow, H. Johnson and Son (Stratford); reserve, Smart and Sons’ (Tikorangi). Ayrshires.—Bull, W. Hall (Lepperton); reserve, P. Bremner (Okaiawa) : cow, T. W. Weston (Uruti); reserve, T. W. Weston). - Jerseys.— Cow. Menlove . (Te Tawa); reserve, 11. C. Sampson (Hillsborough). English Leicesters.—Ram, J. H. Allen and Son (Tikorangi); reserve, J. H. Allen and Son; ewes, J. H. Allen and Son ; reserve, J. H. Allen and Son. Southdown. —Rani, W.'C. Weston (New Plymouth); reserve, W. C. -Weston; ewe, A. A. Verr.y (Waitotara). -. ■ Romneys.—Ram, Bain and Hunter .Maxwelltown); reserve, : W. C. Weston; ewe, Blair and Hunter; reserve, Blair and Hunter.

Berkshifcs.—Boar, H. F. Wren (Hawera); reserve, J., Pill (Hawera); sow, Don Stewart (Newnanby); reserve; H. F. Wren.

Tamworths.—-Boar. H. B. Brenton (Hawera): reserve, F. Otrk- (Normanbv). Yorkshires.—Boar. Ji H. Allen and Son; reserve;-: J. H. Allen and Son; sow, J. H.

Allen and Son; reserve, J. H. Allen and Son. Large white boar, Bowen and Wilson (Hastings); reserve, A. W. D. Robertson (New Plymouth); sow, Bowen and Wilson; reserve, O. Robertson (Matapu). NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS. The ram and ewe fairs will engage attention in the South The Importance Island immediately, and o! the Ram. it behoves the sheen " owner to decide in good time the class of rams most suitable to get lambs with the requisite wool and most suitable for the Home demand, and also capable of “doing” well on his country. It is no good having a level ewe flock and then branch off and select a totally new type of sheep or venture with another breed of sheep unless the matter has been considered very seriously indeed. It would be a waste of time culling ewes if latex- on the classed flock was joined with mongrel rams. The first consideration in choosing a sire is to be assured that he is healthy, has a good constitution, and if not a “stud,” then from a purebred flock. See that in addition to correct formation he is covered with a wool which is even in quality, and that there is plenty of it, and of the nature desired. It must not be forgotten that the selection of. the male animal is of the greatest importance, and special trouble should be taken, as the sire is usually the parent of many offspring, while the dam (mare, cow, oxewe) only gives birth to one or two young in the course of a year. Hence the pedigree—that is, the line of descent—of the sire is of special interest and importance. If a sheep breeder finds he has “quality” in his flock, but that size is lacking, he endeavours to correct this defect by the use of rams which will give greater size without sacrifice of quality. Animals inherit, Tt may be stressed, not only the useful and desirable qualities of their parents, but their defects also.

It is a scientific fact, although not always agreed to by old Care ot farmers, that young Grass Lands. stock take .more out of the land than older animals, while dairy cattle in this country inevitably take out more than they put back through the medium of their manure. The younger animals require more minerals in their feeding, while dairy cows and ewes when at their maximum return, quickly use up soil fertility constituents. The older- animals, having built up their frames, utilise the grass to make flesh and fat, while young stock are also doing this and growing in the meantime. It is evident, therefore, that minerals are moving off fast, and lime, phosphates, and other minerals must be replaced, and more particularly is this the cs.se with young stock than with mature cattle ox- sheep. The realisation of these facts are every day becoming more obvious, and thus we hear a good deal more about the necessity of top-dressing pastures. Pastures in young countries, in contradistinction to those in the Homeland, are treated abominably. The former are certainly virgin soils, and our most fertile valleys doubtless can stand up to the annual withdrawal of fertility elements fox- a lengthy period, but not so with our lighter soils. Then, too, as pointed out ixx an exchange, one cannot ignore the fact that there were more mature stock roaming the hills in days gone by than at present, when the demand is fox- early-maturing stock, such as fat lambs, young beef cattle, and generally the young small-joint animal. It comes to tlxis in the final summing up: there is more wear and tear to-day than in the old days, which means depleted soils, necessitating artificial treatment per- medium of suitable fertilisers aud probably liming.

Rich soil or poor soil, it is indispensable to man. It is his job The to treat it fairly, and Soil. see that its fertility is maintained, and take a pride in its stock-carrying capacity. Two farmers were arguing about the fertility of their respective States in America. “Why the soil is so rich ixx my State.” said one, “that a man with a peg leg daren’t stand still for five minutes. The wooden leg will grow roots.” — “That’s nothing,” the other farmer responded, “Back where I come from the land is so rich that all the peg-legged men carry hatchets, so they caxx chop off the twigs that keep sprouting oxx account of all the nutritious dust in the air.” There must be something in the latter statement, as I read that such a “canny” man as Sir Harry Lauder, who is on toux- in America, has just concluded a deal in buying a piece of land at Shawnee, three miles from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. It is acknowledged that soil is the basis of agriculture and provides the sustenance of life for crops and stock. Every bag of wheat, every bale of wool, every pound of meat contains constituents derivetl from the soil. Therefore there is reason in London’s Live Stock Journal urging us to make full use of the soil—(a) by employing methods of farming that will increase the yield pex- acre; (bj by growing crops that will provide food fox- stock. We must maintain the fertility of the soil —(a) by practising proper methods of cultivation and irrigation; (b) by' practising crop rotation and green manuring; (c) by using fertilisers. We must protect the soil- —(a) by preventing overstocking; (b-) by guarding it against soil erosion; (c) by saving it from soil exhaustion.

The Department of -Lande and Agriculture of the Irish Free Dehorning State, Dublin, has issued Calves. a leaflet (No. 23) on dehorning calves, and it is reprinted in Purdon’s Almanac for 1927. The department urges on all Irish farmers the desirability of dehorning all calves, both bull and heifer, which are not intended’ fox- breeding purposes, when they are a few days old. The operation, which should be performed when the calf is from two to seven days old, may be briefly described as follows:—“First clip the hair from around the budding horns, the tips of which should then be slightly moistened, earc being taken to avoid wet-, tihgrthe surrounding skin. Then rub the tip. of each horn firmly with a stick of

caustic potash until a light impression has been made on the centre of the horn. This can generally be done in less than half a minute. The horns should be treated in this nxanxxer from two to four times according to the size of the horn and the age of the animal, allowing about five minutes to elapse between each application. If, during the interval of five minutes after one or more applications, a little blootl appears in the centre of the horn, it will then only be necessary to give another- very slight rubbing with the potash. In some cases the calf may show signs of acute pain after treatment. This can be relieved without lessening the success of the operation by applying, with a small brush or sponge, a solution of chloral hydrate in. water. This solution, together- with the caustic potash, can be obtained ready fox- use from a chemist. The following points should be carefully noted: Roll a piece of strong paper round one end of the caustic potash stick to prevent the fingers being injured. Do not moisten the horn too much, or the caustic -will spread to the surrounding skin and destroy the flesh. Fox- the same reason keep the calf from getting wet _for some days after the operation. Be very careful to rub on the centre of the lioiui, and not round the sides of it. The operation should not be attempted if the calf is more than nine days old. One man should hold the calf while an assistant uses the caustic. If caustic potash is exposed to the air it rapidly deteriorates, and becomes worthless. When not in use it must therefore be kept in an airtight bottle.”

AGRICOLA.

AUSTRALIAN STOCK SALES. SELLING SYSTEMS DESCRIBED. A NEW ZEALANDER’S VISIT. Mi- W. D. Cowie, who is well known as aa auctioneer and stock agent in Southland. and who has just returned from an extended holiday trip to Australia, when met by our representative, had something interesting to say regarding the live stock markets in Victoria and New South Wales. Mr Cowie, who spent some three months in the Commonwealth, said that most of his time was devoted to rural matters, principally the vending of live stock by auo tion. He, however, found time to visit the country districts in both States, and there was no gainsaying the fact that things were booming in Australia at the present time. Landowners and those connected with the land were in no way affected as we in New Zealand were by inflation of Jand values. When he arrived there in October everything was looking at its best but that best did not compare favourably with conditions in the Dominion, the farmers here being blessed with a superabundance of feed for their stock. Compared with Otago and Southland, for example, Australian pasture bore a- dried and burnt-up appearance. They had, how « ever, had an excellent, cereal harvest, and the season for dairymen and lamb raisers had been good. Mr Cowie said lie was much impressed with the immense sales of live stock at Homebush (N.S.W.) and Newmarket (Victoria). At the former place the penning of fat sheep varied from 50,000 to 70,000 per week; fat lambs ranged from 20,000 to 30.000; fat bullocks 5000 to 6000; calves, vcalers, and runners between 2000 and 3000, and fat cows about 1500. At some of the country centres there were also large auction sales of sheep, as many as 20,000 being penned sometimes. At Homebush yards sales were held twice a week —Mondays and Thursdays—whereas at Newmarket sales took place on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in each week, and at busy times sales were alsci held •on Friday as well. At Homebush sheep and cattle were sold on the same day; whereas at Newmarket fat sheep and fat lambs were disposed of on Tusedays, and fat bullocks the following day and fat cows on Thursdays. When a sale was held on Friday fat sheep and fat lambs were vended.

Mr Cowie said he was, deeply interested in the system of bidding which operated at the sales in Australia. For a pen of bullocks 5s bids would be taken for a start, and when the value was almost reached Is bids would be- taken. Halfcrown rises were never accepted. With’ regard to sheep anil lambs, 3d bids were accepted, but when the pen was knocked down 2d was deducted from the price per head, so that the last offer was really Id bid. The time limit which prevailed there was different to that in operation in the Dominion. A printed catalogue was distributed among those present at the sale. An agen J wool have, say, 5000 sheep to dispbse of, and he w.as allowed 33 minutes in which to offer- these. This worked out at about three-quarters of a minute for each lot. As soon as the 33 minutes had expired a whistle was blown, and the next agent’s acutioneer commences his business. Not one second was lost. The whole business. was conducted strictly to time-table. The schedule was made up the day prior to the sale, and every auctioneer knew exactly where he came in. Twenty firms operated at Homebush and 28 at Newmarket. The yards were kept in excellent condition, and were most convenient for the quick handling of stock. At Newmarket there was no railway siding at the yards, but there were splendixl rail facilities at Homebush. The size of the cattle trucks there was about on a pax- with the wagons in New Zealand, but the vehicle used for the conveyance of sheep was much larger thaxx that in use on the New Zealand rai-

ways. The bulk of the stock sold came by rail. ■■■ As in New Zealand, an inspector of stock were always present at stock sales. Disease was carefully guarded against, and if there was any suspicion of tubercular or kindred trouble the animal was branded with an irrow and was termed “a suspect,” and it remained so until slaughtered. The butcher doing business at the yards contributed to a fund from which compensation was paid to tile vendor in the event of the carcase being condemned. This system seemed to -work satisfactorily, and applied both at Homebush and Newmarket. Both in Jydney and Melbourne there was a large number of what were known as “earcase butchers.” These carcase butchers _ were wholesalers, and retailed to those in the chop trade. These retailers had 1.0 need to attend the yards at all, and were rarely, if ever, seen there. As regards fat cattle, the tendency was all in the direction of baby beef, and one saw some splendidly finished young cattle. The price of vealers, there was between £5 and £6 ner head. “The same class of stuff, said Mr Cowie, “would realise about 30s at Wallacetown yards.” Mr Cowie then quoted some prices of which he took <•> note at Newmarket. Fine crossbred wethers brought from 23s to 255; extra prime, 26s to 275,; very heavy prime ewes, 28s to 31s; good crossbred and comeback; light-weight wethers, 17s; best merino wethers, 23s to 265: two-tooth crossbred ewes, 24s to 275. Best wether mutton - -as sold on a per pound basis of 3:}d to 4jd; hr gget wethers, to 41d; best ewe mutton sold at from 24d to 3d; and second quality ewes, down to 2d. Fat lambs: Prime, from 22s to 24s per head; extra heavy, 25s to 2Ss; shorn lambs, 19s Cd to 21s;_ extra prime, 21s to 235; second quality, 15s to 16s. The above prices were for meat only, the skin being valued separately. Cattle prices covered almost quite as wide a range as they did in New Zealand. Prime bullocks brought from £lO to £lO 10s; ■mod, £7 5s to £9 middling £5 10s to £6 10s; inferior, £3 to £4; prime ...quality heavy-weight bullocks, to £l2: and ..extra prime, to £l4. A yen of bullocks Was frequently sold in three lots. They were disposed of according to paint mark w-red marks, black marks, shoulder marks, • M or “high bone”—that is to say, the bone above the tail. That term was not known at Homebush, but was commonly used -at ;.N cwmarket.

J. OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER. t (From Our Special Correspondent.) 1926 A YEAR OF DISAPPOINTMENT AND LOSS. BRADFORD, December 30. I’iom whatever angle the wool textile ’industry of 1926 is viewed it is impos- ‘ sible to feel anything but dissatisfaction •with -what has been witnessed. The year ’opened with an outlook that seemed to indicate better • times. More confidence ■■ Was felt in the- future of values, more ■'machinery was running than had been y Witnessed for a good' 12 months, and for "a time everything seemed ‘to indicate ■’’development on -right lines; but I am afraid 1926 will go down to history as 7 a year of unfulfilled expectations. Indications of improvement disappeared so ’completely that I have yet to meet a ’.fiian who regards the past year with Del';nigs of satisfaction. The after-effects of the Great. War still linger, and it looks , as if several years will yet have to elapse before they are completely erased. Perhaps' it will be in the interests' of and commercial security if ' some glaring scars remain. The realisation,, of the ideal of .“goodwill among men is necessary to promote commercial prosperity. LITTLE CHANGE IN WOOL VALUES. Surveying the course of the raw material the first thing that impresses ■ohe is that, considering the big weight ; Shifted, prices have shown little fluctua- ; tion. Of course’, .nulls have been kept running as well as possible, and this has resulted in a larger absorption ’of wool than might have been expected in . view of the poor ultimate demand conse- . qucnt upon the limitation of the purchasing power of a large section of the . public. Australia sold a bigger weight of .wool than during the previous year, and the same applies to every other grow- • cP® country. When the colonial and South American year finished there was practically no carry-over, the trade .having absorbed the surpluses of the previous season as -well as the current clips. This is very satisfactory, as far as it goes, but .since 1920 it has been shown that the mere disappearance of wool at public auctions is no guarantee of it going straight into consumption. That is where a huge blunder was, made in 1920-21—one which cost the trade very dearlv. The same blunder was made in 1924, the trade being so keen to buy that prices were overdone, and when the wool arrived home no section of the industry wanted it. Heavy stock meant sagging values. To obviate a repetition of that disaster has been the work ,pf the whole of 1926, and no doubt the more reasonable standard of values has helped to prevent further serious losses, although 1926 has certainly been another unprofitable time. One cannot survey the record of 1926 t without recognising- that wool has been fairly freely absorbed; and at the end of the year stocks in London and Australia are no more than normal. After the wretched time which has been experienced one might have expected .to find big weights of unsold wool confronting the trade. Instead of that there is no heavy carry-over anywhere. The year is finishing with only 40,000 bales of old wool in London, and there are no old stocks in any other country that- I know of. This of itself is highly significant, showing as it does that there must have been a big movement, but whether there has been a corresponding consumption I very much doubt. Certainly .the Working up of wool in the United Kingdom during the past year has not been as large as it should have been. COURSE OF LONDON AUCTIONS. London has a decent record behind it. Some of the series held have not been what may be called really great, and the declines established followed by some recovery is what one can only expect' over six series of sales. Of course, the coal strike administered a crushing blow, c’ohrpelling the home trade in particular to limit its operations, while’ during the closing series of the year French buyers

were greatly handicapped by the sensible deflation of the franc. It niukt be admitted that the honours of the auctions are largely with the Continental trades, for it will be seen from the particulars below that the Continent has purchased more than the home trade. Perhaps the outstanding feature of the colonial sales during the year was the enhanced purchases of both the home and Continental ’trades, while American purchases slightly declined. The carry-over at the finish — i.e., 40,000 bales —is quite as much as one cares to see. However, the course of values does not show a great deal of change. The wools that are mostly held over are second-hand parcels, to which owners, being unable to realise a profit, prefer to stick. They can only get but of them by a further appreciation in prices. Considering the difficulties under which the home trade in particular has had to work, I am satisfied that wool values have moved in a manner that could only be expected, and the trade is all the happier because of the small changes which have occurred. France has been a big buyer throughout the wool year, it only being the last series when they pulled up and left the market practically to Germany and the home trade. T give quotations from Buxton Ronald and Co.’s last circular, which shows where values stood for leading descriptions of raw material and what percentage there is compared with the last series in 1925: —

CROSSBRED WOOLS.. Looking more particularly at cross*le - as t ew Zealand clip was shifted quite easily, but profits have been exceedingly lean. Following upon ' one ot the most disastrous years in ' the history of the whole trade, when tremendous losses were incurred, many feel that the record of 1926 offers little cornpensation for the tragic time experienced We had a similar year in '™en 111 merino tops there was onlv a difference of’ 2d- from the highest to the lowest point. However, the whole ot the crossbred clips of New Zealand and Australia have been lifted, and if the result of buying these has been poor, it is some consolation to know that the losses of 1926 have been small compared wffh those of ; 1925. The wool trade is ardently looking for compensations; and sincerely hopes that a more profitable time lies in front of the trade. The following table shdws how crossbred wools have moved in- Coleman Street during the past year, and where values stand compared with the corresponding period

vMr e i. tUri i Orer in tops during the past J eat has been below normal. This is seen in the very , quiet period which all commission wool_ combers have experienced, while spinner combers tell the same tale. There has been no change m combing rates, but the weight of wool passed through the combs has certainly left a good deal to be desired. Many Arms, on account of being unable to make a pront have sold heavily of their matchings. Others have sent them to I rance and Germany, both to be combed and sold on commission, consequently the top end of the Bradford trade has‘been very unsatisfactory. The very fact of prices moving within such a small compass is of itself ample testimony as show ing what a lean time has been experienced. I. should say that in the aggregate the merino end of the trade lias been the best, but even that is not saying a great deal. Those who have kept their wool and sold in the bale or -matching stage have done the best, and those who have not adopted the policy of buying and. selling have had an extraordinary lean time. No doubt the coal strike inflicted, a serious blow upon trade. Mills have been run often times at a loss on account of the standing machinery and the excessive prices that ruled for coal for many months of the year. That factor alone ran away with any profit that could be made.

Greasy Merino. 1925. Dec. 1926. Dec. Lower than Dec. Avge. Avge. 1925. Victoria, Western : Good d. d. % quality and condition 32-34 33-36 4» N.S.W., Riverina : Good staple Qu., Central : Good 27-29 26-28 4 staple, fair condition 24-26 24-26 W. Aus. : Fair length and condition 23-25 221-24 3 N.Z., S. Island : Fair character 23-25 211-231 6 Cape: Fair condition (10-12 months) 16-18 16-17 3 Cape: Irregular, short, skirty Scoured Merino. Victoria : Fair body 13-14 13-14 •<. — and colour 43-48 39-42 11 Qu. : Good quality. colour, and condition 48-53 43-46 1 9 N.S.W. : Fair body, rather fatty ... . . N.Z.: Fair body and 36-39 34-36 t 7 colour 48-52 40-43 . 17 Cape: Fair body and style 35-38 33-35 7 Cape: Irregular, short. shirty . . . . . . 29-31 * Higher. 27-29 7

Lower Australian. 1925. Dec. 192G. Dec. than Dec. Avge. Avge. 1925. Fine 58-GO’s . . Fine 5G-58’s . . d. .. 22-24 .. 20-22 d. 24J-27J 231-25 % 13’ 15* New Zealand. Fine 5G’s Medium 50’s . . Medium 48’s . . . . 19 -22 .. 16J-17J .. 15 -16 21J-23 16 -17J 147.-15 8* 2 Medium 4G's . Coarse 44’s Coarse 40’s Coarse 3G’s . 14J-15 14 -14* .. 13J-141 .. 131-14 131-14 13 -131 121-13j 12 -13 6 ' 7 8 9 - * Higher. TOPS.