STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 20

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sales. Burnside, Wednesdays. Addington, Wednesdays. Waiareka Railway Junction, Tuesdays Fortnightly. Biversdale, Fridays (March, April, and May). Wallacetown, Tuesdays. Ashburton, Tuesdays. Ileriot, Thursdays. Winton, Thursdays. Wyndham, Thursdays. Clinton, Thursdays. Balclutha, Fridays. Gore, Tuesdays. Monthly. Edendale, Ist Monday. Palmerston, 4th Thursday. Winton, 4th Tuesday. Mataura, Ist Thursday. Tokanui, 4th Monday

Monthly (continued). Duntroon, 2nd Wednesday. Woodlands, 3rd Wednesday. Milton, 2nd Tuesday. Balfour, 3rd Thursday. Thornbury, Ist Friday. Otautau, 2nd Wednesday. Riversdale, 3rd Friday (except March, April, and May). Waikaka, last Friday. Clydevale, last Friday Periodically as Advertised. Lumsden, Mossburn, Orepuki, Waimahaka, Waikouaiti. Riverton, Ngapara, and Otago Central Sale*.

OTAGO.

The past week has been pleasant, with sunny days, and farm conditions generally satisfactory. Stock values are at the moment engrossing, and prospects, owing in some considerable measure to the ample feed everywhere, are good. A few cheese factories in Otago have made sure of their finance for the next few months, and their directors and shareholders breathe freely, knowing that their cheese make, sold up to the end of December at 84 d per lb to local buyers, will assure ample Christmas cheer to all concerned.

BALCLUTH A-CLINTON. The yarding of sheep at Balclutha was the smallest for some considerable time. Sheep prices ruled high for the best lines, fat wethers making up to 45s 6d, fat ewes 19s 9d to 265, a few extra good ewes 35s to 425, best fat hoggets 26s to 295, full and failing-mouthed ewes 17s to 28s, cull ewes 7s to 10s, ewe hoggets to 28s 3d, extra good to 32s 6d, wether hoggets 22s 3d, and store wethers 28s. There were no fat or forward bullocks. Dairy cows sold at from £5 to £lO. A good sale ensued for pigs. Brood sows sold to £lO, store pigs £2 3s, good weaners up to 335, and suckers to 255. At Clinton on Thursday about 1800 sheep were yarded, and prices were good. Ewe hoggets made to 335, mixed breeding ewes 27s 6d to 31s 6d. full and failing 26s to 275, and old sorts 16s to 18s.

BURNSIDE MARKET. An entry of 234 fat cattle at Burnside (compared with 167 the previous week) were all wanted. The quality generally was good, both bullocks and heifers of merit being penned, together with several pens of weighty cows. The demand in the early stages of the sale was not too promising, and was irregular at 10s to 15s under last week’s average prices, but firmed up to clear best cattle at close up to recent values, quality stock being easier by about 7s 6d per head. Beef may be quoted as making up to 40s per 1001 b. An average yarding of fat sheep—2l62, compared with 1286 the previous week — met with a good demand, but at lower values than were obtainable at the very dear sale a week ago. The quality of the entry was good, all classes being represented, and the proportion of heavy, well-woolled wethers and ewes was larger than has been the case lately. Although the drop in values was very noticeable in places, the average decline ranged around 3s per .lead, heavy ewes cheapening most. On the whole, however, it was a good sale, wethers making to 71 d per lb.

The yarding of fat hoggets (or fat lambs, as they ire termed by sellers) was meagre but sufficient for the moderate demand, there being 160 of medium to very fair quality offered. Values under weak bidding may be quoted as about up to B£d per lb. The small yarding of store cattle, chiefly medium cows, "eifers, and some 30 mixed yearlings, together with a few odd two-year-old steers, met with a good demand. Two-year-old steers made to £7 and mixed yearlings £2 3s, and cows, which met with very keen competition, sold to £9 ss. The supply of fat pigs (114) proved more than enough for the weak demand, and values were no better than a week ago. Stores (77) sold fairly well. Baconers may be quoted as making to 6Jd and porkers to 7.? d per lb. STOCK NOTES.

A class for Rylands sheep has been added to the schedule of the North Otago A. j.nd P. Association. This sheep, although well established in Canterbury, has not obtained a hold in North Otago until quite recently. Mi - T. S. Little, the well-known Border Leicester breeder, has. turned his attention also to Rylands. Stud sheep of the latter breed, it may be mentioned, have been in request for the Australian market in the last year or two.

Horses are being sold for a mere song in country districts in New South Vales (says our Sydney correspondent). Prices for them, in one' of the northern towns recently, ranged from 2s to £2 per head. This would appear to presage the last days of the working horse, but it is pointed out by one who apparently knows something about the subject, that the price of horses Iras often dropped to an extraordinary low figure in New South Wales, and quickly risen again above normal average value. Sixty years ago, when horses were so cheap that they could not be given away, large mobs were allowed to go wild, and formed the genesis of the vast herds of brumbies which over-ran many parts of the country. The story is told in the prccs of how two brothers, noted horsemen in their day, obtained about 25,000 horse hides bytrapping and shooting the wild animals. Others also made big and profitable hauls. That the horse has seen the last of his days is vigorouslv denied by many of the big Sydney carriers and contractors, who cling faithfully to it for good, solid work, even if they prefer- the motor ear for the administrative, side of. their businesses and for nleasure.

A well-known North Otago farmer expressed surprise to our representative on Friday last that the English Leicester breed of cheep was not more popular in North Otago. He stated that tho prime Canterbury lamb had been built up bn this breed. He did not despise the Southdown, but he pointed out that the English Leicester was a dual purpose sheep —it not only produced the lamb carcase required for the Home market, but it provided a good clip of wool of fine texture. Climatic and stcck conditions being satis- j factory during the week in Otago, business has bedn quiet, the recent spurt at Burnside in fat sheep values having been checked and pushed back a little. As to fat cattle, good consignments seem to come forward as wanted, one good sale usually being followed by a somewhat slower demand at Burnside, and supplies appear to be the main factor in the demand and consequent price. Country butchers have not yet been much in evidence for cattle, but they must come in soon. In the meantime around 40s per 1001 b is being paid for choicest quality, i.e., moderate weight cattle. No excessively high prices were obtained at th ercent National market at Addington. Show bullocks made up to £4O, compared with £9O paid last year for Mr A. J. Keith's big Friesian bullock. Special show wethers sold to £7 15s and extra sorts 55s to 58s, special ewes 675, extra prime 45s to 48s 6d. Values of stock in the North Island continue fair •at rates reported a week ago. Beef at Westfield (Auckland) made up to 32s per 1001 b. Best grades of store sheen, breeding ewes, and dairy cows have attention, and generally there is a good tone in the demand.

In consequence of swine fever there will be no pigs at the Melbourne Royal Show in September. The council of the society made that announcement last week, as the result of a report from the chief veterinary officer of the Agricultural Department. Mr James Gray, Birkenwood, Gargunnock, Stirlingshire, who has some close family connection with New Zealand (says our Homo correspondent), is going to disperse his famous stud of Clydesdales at the September sales in Perth. The Birkenwood stud has been prominent for many years in the showyards of the country. At present it contains a number of high-class stallions and many good mares and fillies. The motion carried at the recent Graziers’ Federal Convention urging the Commonwealth Government to prohibit further importations of the Alsatian wolfhound, and also the breeding of the dogs, was supported this week by-the Vermin Districts Association at its annual meeting at Port Augusta, South Australia. The opinion was expressed that these animals in sheep country would prove more destructive than the dingo. No doubt under proper control the Alsatian may be the quickest witted of dogs and easy io train, but it is contended that if his education is neglected it is hard to say what would be the characteristics of his progeny.

OLYMPIA HORSE SHOW. A wonderful r' ord was put up by Broncho, Colonel Malise Graham’s 23-ycar-old jumper, at the recent Olympia Horse Show in June last. Briefly, this is what he accomplished in a week (says our correspondent): Won the Canadian _ Cup, won a second trophy, won another jumping competition, beaten by only half a fault for the King’s Cup, helped very n uch to win the Prince of Wales Cup for England. In a week he has gone round the jumps 11 times (88 jumps) with only seven faults. . . . “ I have had him since the spring ot 1921,” said Colonel Graham, “ and I don’t like to think of the time when he will not be able to keep going any longer, lie has won practically everything possible in the last four years, and if he cannot go on much longer—well, he has earned his rest. He first jumped here in 1913, and the following year had to ‘ jump off ' for the King’s Cup. Then he went right through the war, and since then has had a wonderful record, as you know.”

EXTRAORDINARY FOALINGS. There have been some remarkable results in the Clydesdale studs in Scotland this foaling season (states our correspondent) . All over the country twins have been more or less common. In one stud, that of Mr-Andrew MacFarlane, Dripend, Stirling, there were seven mares in foal, and no fewer than four of them dropped twins. All the twins were got by Mr MacFarlane’s own horse Tractor Jim. a son of Oresto, by Dunure Footpri.it. The experience was anything but desirable, as only one of the eight foals has survived. Comparatively few twin foals do much good. " 'ery often they are weaklings, and sometimes they come too soon. Mr Andrew Brown, Airdrie, Anstruther, has two mares which dropped twin foals this season, and in the stud of Air Allan Ledmachany, Aluthil, another mare gave birth to twins. It is a remarkable coincidence that the dam of Air Allan's mare dropped twins on the same day.

‘•THE BEST BREED.” The following correspondence has been handed to us: — To the Hon. Alinister of Agriculture: “At a meeting of representatives of the New Zealand Milking Shorthorn Association, the New Zealand Ayrshire Association, and the New Zealand Friesian Association, held in Palmerston North on June 15, 'the question of statements made by the manager of the Ruakura Government Farm of Instruction reflecting adversely on all dairy breeds but the Jersey was discussed. It was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Alajor R. A. Wilson (Bulls), seconded by Air F. Mills (Hawera), to write to the Hon. Alinister of Agriculture on the matter. I was instructed to send you the following letter: ‘At a meeting of representatives of the New Zealand Alilking Shorthorn Association, New Zealand Ayrshire Association, and the New Zealand Friesian Association the statements made by -the manager of the Ruakura Government Farm of Instruction relating to the alleged superiority of the Jersey breed was ednsideredj It was pointed out that the New Zealand Jersey Breeders’ Association is now using the manager's statement in their advertisements in many of the principal farming papers in the Dominion. The representatives of the Shorthorn. Ayrshire, and Friesian Associations feel very *

strongly that the manager of Ruakura should be made to withdraw publicly the statements made by him inasmuch as these statements were purely an expression of his opinion, and were not in accordance with the official records of the dairy division of the Department of Agriculture. The manager of Ruakura occupies a public position, and therefore should not be allowed to make any ex parte statements reflecting adversely on any dairy breed. If these statements of his are allowed to go unchallenged by the Hon. Alinister of Agriculture it will lead to a schism between the Department of Agriculture and all dairy breeds other than the Jersey breed, which must prove highly detrimental to the efficiency and best interests of the Department of Agriculture. It is hoped therefore that you will act in accordance with tl— requests contained in this letter.’ ” The following is a copy of a letter received by the secretary of the New Zealand Friesian Association, Wellington, from the Alinister- of Agriculture:—“l beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 17th inst., in which further reference is made to the statement of the farm manager at Ruakura regarding the Jersey breed of cattle. It is most unfort nate that this statement gained currency. It was made with no ulterior motive and without an appreciation of the fact that it would be published in the form in which it made its appearance. It is also regrettable that it has been made use of for advertising purposes, and this, I may say. is having attention. I would like to make it clear to the breed associations concerned that it is not the policy of the department to advocate any particular breed, it being fully realised that each has its own merits, and that a good farmer will do well with any one of the accepted dairy breeds. Proof of this

feeling on; the part of the department is furnished by the fact that each of the principal dairy breeds is represented in the herds maintained on the department’s two large .farms. Mr Munro, in his remarks ;.s published, expressed only his personal view and not that of cither myself or the department, whose opinions on the question of dairy bre’teds are as expressed above. —O. J. Haavken, Minister of Agriculture.” OPENNESS IN CHEESE, AND FACTORY HOURS. Speaking on the. subject of openness in cheese at the annual conference of the National Dairy Association last month, the Director of the Dairy Division (Mr W. M. Singleton) said:— “As soon as the division’s laboratories arc erected and the experiments dairy factory is available it will be possible to give greater attention to this question Some of the openness in evidence is, however, merely that which has always troubled cheesemakers more or less, and is generally recognised to be dueto | unduly hastened manufacture. Many dairy company directorates object to the payment of overtime. This has caused their managers to take risks in the process of manufacture which too frequently prove unsuccessful, and open cheese is the consequence. In most industries governed by fixed hours and wages for employees it is probably the case that the quantity of output is much in harmony with the number of hours worked. In the manufacture of cheese this is not the case, since the hours worked have little connection with the quantity of milk received, or the weight of the resultant cheese. Furthermore, with slow-working curds, the extra .time required consists more of waitingdime than of time spent on actual work. The. output per day. therefore, is practically the same whether the

hours be normal or more or less than normal. The difference from the company's standpoint is one of quality. Quality in our cheese, with special reference to ‘openness.’ is so important that one is constrained to suggest that the employers’ representatives should strive to get the stipulation of number of hours left out of future awards or agreements in this connection. Provided the number of men for certain quantities of output be stipulated in a manner which is fair and reasonable, the question of hours may, in my opinion, be well left in abeyance. I cannot recall having ever met a manager who kept slow-working curds longer in the vat than he deemed necessary for the making of a close-bodied cheese. Moreover, if the factory manager and his staff are continually working against time, as indicated by the present system, it is prejudicing the proper training of our factory managers of the future. The factor of quality in the resultant cheese is being taken much less seriously under the present system than should be the case.’’—Journal of Agriculture. I * THE SEASON IN AUSTRALIA. The rainfall over the major portion of the siderably below normal in June (says the wheat belt of Eastern Australia was conPastoral Review). This, following on pro vious dry months, was very disturbing, specially as the dry conditions were aggravated by an exceptional number of frosts. The severity of the weather was, however, mitigated to some extent by light to moderate showers at odd times, which, while not heavy enough to soak the subsoil, did much towards assisting germination of seeds and keeping crops moving. July, so far as Victoria and South Australia" and the south of New South Wales i are concerned, opened with the best rain ' to date for the winter, some parts record-

iug well over an inch on the 2nd and 3rd ult. The average for the wheat districts was probably not much over half an inch, and in. the Victorian Mallee it was certainly less. I'his was followed a few days later by further fails, which were most welcome. Ihe aggregate for the week was over an meh in some places. Agricultural conditions in Western Aus,.f a * la continue favourable on the whole, that State reports further good rains, and the weather there has been milder than in the east,

Wheat sowing in all but the latest districts is now completed. It has been an anxious bine, and judging by all accounts a fair percentage of the crop, particularly in v ictoria, has gone in under less favourable conditions than one cares to see. ing to the absence of early rains it was often necessary to sow before weeds could be destroyed, which indicates dirty ciops mid lower yields. Also in some districts the June falls were not heavy’ enough to give an even germination, or the weather was so severe that crops which had come through suffered a bad set-back. While the losses in these respects may not appear great in individual cases it seems" pretty certain they will tell when the aggregate ciop comes to be garnered. The urgent need of the moment in Eastern Australia is a warm, soaking rain, followed by good growing weather.

It is always difficult to forecast meat exports from the Commonwealth even a few months ahead, and this year more so than usual. Pastoral conditions climatically’ over a great deal of eastern Australia, the territory from which the bulk of export supplies are drawn, are uncertain at the time of writing. What is going to happen in that respect is impossible to foretell. A drought, such as has devastated central and west Queensland the past two years is not probable in New South Wales or A ictoria, but it is none the less a fact that the poorness of pastures in parts of those .States has caused material mortality’ amongst ewes and lambs, besides temporarily affecting the condition of sheep generally. In view of the foregoing it appears to be very unlikely that lamb exports will be anything like so heavy as in the 1925-20 or 1926-27 seasons. Statistics regarding .the actual losses of lambs are not available. but the opinion is held in many quarters that the markings in New South V ales and "Victoria will be approximately 33 per cent, lighter than last year on the average. That alone points to a decrease in shipments of 33 per cent. In addition it has to be recognised that a quite considerable proportion of the lambs that are being reared have received such a check that they will not be fit for the freezers. When the latter 'is taken into account it looks as though clearances would not exceed 1,000.000 carcases, and might be considerably’ less.

Apart from season considerations, prospects in connection with the mutton export trade are complicated by low oversea market values, and above all by the British Health Authority embargo on carcases affected with caseous lymphadenitis. When a dry season threatens, or has commenced. it is usual for mutton clearances to increase rapidly. Now, however, rejections are so heavy, and the saleable value of what is shipped so low, that the export operations are necessarily restricted. Even with a fair market in Great Britain, and ample supplies of godcl killing sheep available in Australia, exports cannot greatly’ exceed 100,090 careases per month while the embargo remains in force.

The position of the wool market at inonieiit of writing seems very sound, the improvement noticed in Brisbane being fully borne out by the results of the opening of the July series in London on the 4th inst. In that centre the rise in crossbreds of front 5 to /J per cent, seems to point to the -fact that there is likely to be a scarcity of such until the new clip conics on to the market, and it is known that Yorkshire is expecting higher prices to rule tor such than last season. Altogether the prospects for the incoming clip realising good prices are very encouraging, although a warning note must be sounded as to the probability of there being a wide margin between the values of absolutely sound wools and those which cannot come within that scope. The consumption of wool in the States nf America since the beginning of the j'ear is, from the official figures issued, on the up-grade, and better competition is also expected from Italy, and any decrease in the quantity available should have its natural effect. At the same time, no matter what., the decrease in supplies may be. demand is the final arbiter, and one only has to think back to 1925 to fully appreciate it. THE PIG INDUSTRY. ' REMISSION OF MAIZE DUTY’ URGED. WELLINGTON. August 5. A motion by Mr E. Newman advocating the remission of the Customs duty on maize and other food products necessary for the economical development of the pig industry with a view to the establishment of a pig products export industry was the Legislative Council to-day. Mr Newman said the time had come when something must be done to enable the dairy farmer to improve his position. There was no question that the Old Country was able to take all we could produce. The quality of the New Zealand article up to the present had been quite up to the mark, but so far the industry bad failed. The present price of maize in New Zealand was 7s per bushel, a price at which it did not pay farmers to go in for the industry, and if the Customs duty were remitted maize could be made available on the wharves at 4s 4d per bushel. It would mean foregoing £lO,OOO a year, which could be made up in other directions. A properly developed trade would become more valuable than either the dairy produce or the frozen 1 -cat industries. Farmers were perfectly willing to take up the new industry if it wore put on a proper economic basis. The motion was seconded pro forma bv Mr W. W. Snodgrass.

Mr J. B. Gow said he wool.l support the motion if it were made to apply to all grains.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie objected, and argued that concessions made to farmers indirectly’ benefited the town dwellers. Mr J. A. Hanan contended that it was not safe to go in for industries dependent on the land until land values were reduced. The debate was adjourned.

CANTERBURY CRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 5. ,_he heavy shipments of potatoes from the north during the last fortnight have depressed the market. The Katoa in addition to a Timaru cargo of 1700 sacks fojLAuckland and 500 for other ports, took 7900 sacks from Lyttelton on Tuesday night. Of the Lyttelton complement, 1300 sacks were ex store, the latter quantity including 500 sacks of rejects. These outgoings left as Al to-day, 7000 sacks in the Lyttelton stores. Christchurch values at the moment are £4 15s a .ton for August, and £4 17s 6d to £5 for August-September. Values to farmers are £3 10s a ton, standard. The question of the yield is still being discussed, and the bulk of opinion is that the statistical estimate of February is very . much exaggerated, but it is not so certain that there will be a shortage this year. There is a moderate weight of crops ,on the average, but from all quaiters come the complaint of a very low proportion of table tubers, and- this, of course is what counts in the long run as far as the market is concerned. V heat is very quiet, and Tuscan is being bought at 6s Id, the scarcity of shortberried wheat is concentrating* a good deal °f„ competition for what little Hunters is ottering, and this has been sold at 6s 6d, on trucks. Oats are very dull, this being due to the withdrawal of the Australian orders. However, inquiries sat in again to-day, but so far with no business. Chaff is particularly dull, being quoted at £5 ss, f.0.b., s.i., or £3 10s a ton, on trucks. After weeks of_ inattention, a few inquiries have set in for cocksfoot, clover, ryegrass, etc., with, however, no business to record. There is some disparity between outside offers and prices at which merchants can turn the stuff over. SCIENCE OF AGRICULTURE. UP-TO-DATE METHODS ESSENTIAL. HERD TESTING AND DRASTIC CULLING. WELLINGTON, August 5. The annual report on Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement states that the Government has given a lead in adjusting soldier settlers’ lands to what is considered to be an economic level. It is felt that if the basis of this adjustment is applied to private lands values will be established ajid confidence restored. The whole question is bound up in finance, as without the means to get maximum results any land suffers in value through that disability. The report says : — “The success or failure of so many of our settlers depends so much on the market conditions that any material shrinkage in the normal price of produce is necessarily reflected right through the country. lhe board cannot stress too strongly the necessity for the application of up-to-date scientific methods in the handling of farm propositions. The best insurance against the effect of lower values of . produce is the careful selection of animals, herd-testing, and drastic culling, care of the milk-producer through proper feeding, and the provision of shelter. It has to be recognised that farming of any kind cannot succeed through slipshod methods, and the time has arrived when the science of farming must be. the constant study of those engaged on the land. Fortunately, the necessity for scientific propaganda, investigation, and tuition is becoming more and more widely recognised. The activities of the Agricultural Department have paved the wav to a more general recognition of the value of science and research, while the recentlyappointed Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the proposed establishment of institutes and laboratories in connection with the New Zealand College of Agriculture at Palmerston North will, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, give opportunities for the fullest development of our national resources.” SOLDIERS’ SETTLEMENT. A FINANCIAL REVIEW. WELLINGTON, August 5. The annual report on dicharged soldiers’ settlement was presented in the House of Representatives to-day. The two principal accounts controlled by the Lands Department for the repatriation of returned soldiers are the Discharegd Soldiers’ Settlement Account, from which advances for various purposes secured by mortgages have been made, and the Land for Settlements Accounts (Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Account) through which the purchase of private properties for subdivision and settlement has been made. The total capital now standing as a liability on these two accounts is as follows:— Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Account —Loans raised by the issue of debentures and other securities, £6,452,676; redemption of loans by Consolidated Fund, £13,550; redemptions of loans by Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Depreciation Fund cAcount, £40,6646 transfer from Consolidated Fund surpluses, £13,500,000; interest unpaid to Consolidated Fund, £540,000; total £20,546,686. Land for settlement account (Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Account), £3,222,050. Grand total, £23,768,736. In addition to the above certain other accounts contributed to the settlement of discharged soldiers in that land which had been purchased out of these accounts was settled by returned soldiers. These are the Land for Settlements Account £514.000, Native Land Settlement Account £750,000: total £3,246,000 ; total capital £27,103,136.

THE FERTILISER PROBLEM. WELLINGTON, August 5. In the course of the report on soldiers’ settlement presented to Parliament to-day it was stated that a matter which is causing some concern is the failure of many settlers to maintain pastures in a proper manner. The department continually 7 being requested to provide finance for manures and topdressing of pastures. While it is sometimes necessary to accede to such requests in order to preserve the securities for former advances and ensure more profitable farming in the future, the department wil loot provide further capital of this nature unless it is fully satisfied that the revenues are not at present sufficient for the purpose, and the settlers’ business and farming methods ensure success. A condition will also be made that the department shall control wholly or partially the farm revenues from which subsequent payments are made for topdressing. The growing of green crops for stock and fattening purposes should receive every attention. Settlers should recognise that compared with the genera Irun of farms they are being assisted at a very cheap rate. THE DEPARTMENT’S ADMINISTRATION. REPLY TO CRITICISM. WELLINGTON, August 5. “Sympathy carried to an extreme is doing a great deal of harm and is creating a spirit amongst other settlers which is not going to be for the benefit of the country generally,” declared the Minister of Lands (Mr A. D. M'Leod) in the House to-day, when replying to criticisms of the administration of'the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Department. Mr D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) appealed for further assistance for the men who were hard pressed, and suggested that in the case of men who were apparently hopelessly involved it was a question whether there should not be a wholesale writing off of their liabilities. Mr T. W Rhodes (Thames) advised the Government to give the men who had been compelled to leave their sections an opportunity of taking up suitable land in other districts with the necessary assistance to enable them to make a fresh start. Mr M'Leod said the whole administration of the department had been most sympathetic and helpful to the settlers. Statistics which had been collected in other parts of the Empire, but which he would forbear to quote in order to avoid making invidious comparisons, went to show that New Zealand had very good reason to be satisfied with its efforts in putting exsoldiers on the land. Out of 11,000 soldier settlers only 5500 or 5600 had sought relief. The greatest difficulty in dealing with the problems had reference to the qualifications of the men. He did not suggest that the great bulk of the men were not endeavouring to make good, but some of them were not out to make farmers. A factor which was having a demoralising' effect on the men was the continual assistance which had been given to a certain section. The Minister said he could recall two or three cases where the soldiers had made a failure of their affairs through their lack of fitness to be farmers. The department had treated them well, but the effect had been that finally the whole settlement had failed to pay rates. The practical man who had struggled through had asked why should he go on paying when the others were being let off. In the end, said Mr M'Leod, some of the settlers had had to be turned off their holdings, but as Minister he had hesitated for a long time before he consented to such action being taken. While deprecating the formation of associations for the purpose of airing grievances, the Minister paid a tribute to the work of the Returned Soldiers’ Associations “These associations are doing a valuable service to the department, and I am deeply grateful to them,’’ he said. “The secretaries of the larger associations have come along and have talked over individual cases with us, and in 95 cases out of every 100 they have agreed that the department could not have acted otherwise than in the wav it had.” Referring to the suggestion of Mr Buddo, the Minister asked how would it be possible to write off all the liabilities, and why should the State write off its first mortgages when there was ample security for the money it had advanced. The payment of compensation to men who had made a failure of farming under the various schemes could not be considered. It would be impossible for the State to admit that there was any call on it to pay compensation. Fair and honest bargains had been made between the Government and the individuals concerned, and they could not get behind them. Mr M'Leod added that an investigation showed that the average valuation of soldier settlements and the average rent they paid were below those paid by the freeholder and the leaseholder civilians alongside them. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. Tn an endeavour to settle the milk problem of Canberra, the Federal Capital Commission is evolving a method of distribution. Milk will be bought from dairies by the commission, pasteurised, and delivered to residents in sealed bottles. The chief commissioner (Sir John Butters), who is visiting Sydney, will confer with the New South Wales Department of Health, and details of the system will be announced later. A recent triumph for the National Institute for Research in Dairying (England) , is the discovery of the cause of oily milk. Mr S. R. Whitley, speaking at a meeting of Berkshire dairy farmers, said that at one time oily milk was thought to be due to bacterial infection of some sort, because it was found that milk tainted put into a churn of milk not tainted had the effect of tainting the bulk. Research

work at the institute had now disclosed the fact that the taint was due to milk coming in contact with copper. A cooler which has lost its tin might produce the taint, and so affect the milk as to render it absolutely undrinkable. It was curious that the milk was only affected by the copper at a low temperature, and in winter.

At the conference in Adelaide last month of Ministers of Agriculture and heads of departments of various States, the following resolution was passed:— “That this conference requests the commonwealth Government to co-operate with the Imperial and State Governments and shipping companies in assisting stock owners to import approved stud stock from Great Britain on the following suggested conditions:—Stockowners to bear the cost of purchase, the shipping companies to transport stock free of freight; all additional charges, including rail freight, fodder charges, quarantine, etc., to be defrayed by the Imperial, Commonwealth, and State Governments concerned in equal proportions.” Mr Gepp, chairman of the Development and Migration Commission, yvho was present, promised to submit the resolution to the Commonwealth Ministry, and said that the Empire Marketing Board had offered financial assistance in the matter. It was only’ necessary’ for the States to confirm the arrangement for it to be put into operation. “ No section of the community earn their wages more than the ploughmen,” said a speaker at a ploughing match social at Marton. “ If everyone worked as conscientiously as the man who follows the plough,” he added, “ there would be less unemployment and the country would be in a better position.” “ Do you know when the grass starts to come away?” asked counsel of a witness in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North the other day’. “No, I’m a land agent,” came a ready reply. “ The farmers observe those things. I only know yvlien the buyers start to come along.” Regarding the recently reported prohibition by the British Board of Health with respect to the importation of three-day-old calf veal into Great Britain from New Zealand, and which caused consternation in dairying districts, the Minister of Health (Mr J. A. Young) (reports our special reporter in Wellington) has been advised by the Minister of Agriculture that there will be no restriction on the importation of this meat provided that it is passed as fit for human consumption. The High Commissioner has also advised that as a result of his representations boneless veal will also be regarded as admissable under certain conditions, but

for this season only in the meantime, lhe .Department of Agriculture is issuing full instructions on the subject to those directly interested.

The movement initiated last year to improve the surroundings of the' dairy factories in Southland (says the Southland Times) is evidently spreading. Recently the chairman and directors of th o Wrights Bush Dairy Company macle a thorough survey of their factory with a view to carrying out. a programme of improvements that will bring them within striking 1 distance of gaining a place amongst the prize-winners in the Beautifying Competition. It is interesting to learn that this movement is now being taken up in one, if not more, of the northern dairying provinces, and it behoves those interested in Southland’s dairy industry to see that they establish a lead that will be hard,, if not impossible, to overtake. It is evident that the promoting of the compc-ti. tion has aroused the majority of dairy factory suppliers to the fact that their premises are far from being in keeping with the nature and the importance of their products, apart from the undoubted advertising value of the work being carried out.

In the course of lhe hearing of a case in the.Suprenio Court at Palmerston North, in which the carrying capacity of a farm was concerned (states a northern exchange), witnesses testified to the immense advantage to be gained if dairy farmers could winter their stock on a second property so as to allow the pastures of the farm propel’ to recover. The estimates of increased returns to be derived by this practice varied from 50 per cent, to 100 per cent “Is there any necessity to continue paying out on three grades of cream, now that control has been abolished?” asked Mr M'Conachy at a meeting of dairy farmers at Manugaturoto, Whangarei district. To him it seemed hard on the small man who was only able to get his product to the factory twice a week. “As the law stands, it will be necessary.” answered the chairman. “Not a paying proposition,” said a voice. ‘Wes, it is, said the chaiiman, “because there has been a marked improvement in the quality of the manufactured article all over New Zealand since the differentiation in payments for quality was instituted.” The company would pay out the uttermost that was possible, but ho recommended suppliers to send in a good quality product and so reap the reward of the highest price. The prospects for the.new dairying season are now being considered (reports our special correspondent in Wanganui’, and while it is difficult at any time to forecast prices, the outlook for the coming season

appears to bo much brighter than it did a year ago. The more settled conditions ■ in Great Britain and tho shortage in the Canadian cheese output are factors which should contribute to better prices. At a meeting of tho Kaimata Dairy Company it was decided (reports our special correspondent in Hawera) to support a resolution urging that dairy factories should be excluded from the provisions of tho Arbitration Act, and that the Government bo urged to take steps to give eacct to this. Reporting to a recent meeting of the Marlborough A. and P. Association, the President (Air S. T. Richmond), stated that during a recent visit to the North Island he had had an opportunity of inspecting the Dannevirke Association’s sheep pavilion, of whch miith had been heard in Marlborough, but he was satisfied that the Dannevirsc people had much to learn from Marlborough in regard to housing sheep at the show, and he was pleased that the Marlborough Association had not followed the lay-out adopted by the Dannevirke Association (states the Marlborough Express). Ho was, however, very much taken with the Dannevirke cattle pens, which were efficient, and yet cheaply built, and he considered that when the Marlborough Association came to the matter of erecting new pens for cattle the Dannevirke model would be worth following. About three months ago Mrs L. G. Cook, of Playfair street, Caversham, inventor of the “ Dorothy Stripper ” for milking machines, sent a silver model of her invention to the Prince >o f Wales. Mrs Cook has received the following letter from his Royal Highness’s assistant private secretary: “I have laid before the Prince of Wales the model of the Dorothy Stripper sent with your letter of May 9. His Royal Highness wishes me t o thank you sincerely for sending this model of your invention, which he has caused to be forwarded to the secretary of the Duchy of Cornwall, who supervises the management of his Royal Highness’s farms.” A freehold farm of 457 acres at Te Houka, about two miles from Balclutha, was offered on behalf of the trustees in the estate of the late Mr R. H. Wilson, and was passed in to a genuine bid of £l3 an acre. About 250 acres of river fiat land are included, ani it was thought that on this account alone a better offer would have been made. ‘‘lt would be an excel’ent thing if an <wangenient could be made with a leading

representative of the Bradford trade to send out an expert to advise sheep farmers in New Zealand on the values and faults in wool,” said the president, Mr G. 11. Perry, at the annual meeting a few days ago of the Masterton A. and P. Association. “This is a matter which should be taken up from a Dominion standpoint. It should be neither very difficult nor very costly to arrange that buyers representing Bradford firms, competent men with a full knowledge of wool, should visit all the shows and give Dominion growers the benefit of their expert knowledge.’’ NEW ZEALAND FLAX. ’ GOVERNMENT GRADER’S SUGGESTION. AUCKLAND. August 3. The suggestion that in order to improve the quality of New Zealand fibre a small Government, flaxmill should be established at which flaxmillers could be given instruction was made by Mr W. Petrie (chief Government flax grader) at a meeting of the Northern Flaxmillers’ Association. Mr Petrie stated that although the flaxmillers had the longest leaf in New Zealand to use their product was badly milled. He was endeavouring to persuade the Department of Agriculture to take steps to bring about a permanent improvement in the industry. No doubt good could be accomplished by anointing two instructors to tour the mills and show the millers how to improve their methods, but to accomplish a really permanent improvement a Government flaxmill at which men could be trained as competent millers was needed. It was sometimes urged that the millers themselves should train the men, but the fact was that as soon as one miller found a man who could produce first-class fibre another would attempt to outbid him for his services. Mr Petrie said he knew of some Government land .where a small mill could be established and the only thing necessary was that the institution should pay its way. The benefit the industry would .derive from the mill would be inestimable. If the quality of New Zealand fibre could be improved by only one point, £l2 a ton more on 15,000 tons, or £30.000, would be earned. In the majority of cases the failure to get that extra point was due i to lack of ability on the part of the ; stripper-keeper.

It was decided to request the Government to appoint an instructor to advise millers how to secure the best results in treating the fibre. SPECIALISING RESEARCH. PALMERSTON N-, August 4. Dr Marsden (Director of Scientific Research) and Professor M'Laurin (Government Analyst) paid a visit to the flax areas to-day to investigate the needs and possibilities of New Zealand's only native industry. Others present were Mr P. W. Aitken (Otago University), "who has been appointed to the scientific and !ndustrial research branch of the Department of Industries and Commerce to inquire into the processes of treating fibre with special immediate reference to the more eliicient method of bleaching. Messrs Bernard Wood (Christchurch), Alex. Ross, and Alfred 11. A. Seifert, leading flaxmillers and scieiVists, expressed surprise a.t the wonderful results achieved in the cultivation of flax and the superiority of the quality over plants grown in their natural state. It was recognised that there were great possibilities of development of the industry with the assistance of scientific investigation, and the announcement of Mr Aitken’s specialising research gave great satisfaction to the millers. Dr Marsden promised that his department would give all the assistance and co-operation possible. DAIRY CONTROL ACT. I A MATAURA RESOLUTION. A meeting of suppliers of the Mataura Co-operative Dairy Factory Cxx. Ltd.. was held on Thursday, Mr Alex. Stevenson (chairman of directors) presiding over an attendance of some 20 supplers. The Chairman stated that the meeting had been called to consider what action should be taken in supporting the Bill brought before Parliament by Mr W. A. Veitch, member for Wanganui, in connection with the Dairy Control Act. Mr W. Y Dickie explained that Mr Veitch’s Bill provided for the compulsory clauses of the Act being abolished, and : reducing the export levy on individual factories, and it was thought advisable

to convene a meeting to consider the matter. It was not necessary for him to explain how hard the Dairy Control Act had hit the dairy farmers duri last season, and he thought that the sooner they: got dairy control removed the better. He moved —“That this meeting of suppliers of the Mataura Dairy Factory Company strongly supports Mr Veitch in his enedavour to pass the Bill for the abolition of the compulsory clauses in ‘he Dairy Control Act, and also in his effort to have the export levy reduced.” The motion was seconded by Mr H. Cockburn and carried unanimously. It was resolved that copies of the resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister (Mr J. G. Coates), Mr G. J. Anderson (member for Mataura), and Mr W. A. Veitch (member for Wanganui). SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES. (Special for the Otago Witness.) We have had a long spell of cold east winds with a few slight frosts, but the rainfall has been light, only one wet day during the past fortnight, which is in striking contrast to the weather up north, according to reports. Ploughing is now well forward, all lea and stubble being finished, and in some cases turnip ground is ploughed close up to where the roots are being fed off. Everything points to farm work being ahead of average years, the only possible check now being a long spell of bad weather. The dry weather we have had has helped to make the turnips spin out, although the practice of carting out instead of feeding off in ortaks with cattle is becoming more cirimon except where the numbers t„ be provided for are large, which involves too big a toll on the labour bill. The soil in some districts in Southland can stand turnips being eaten off with cattle, but in many cases the damage to paddocks is disastrous if wet weather is experienced. When the land which has been tramped into mud during winter gets baked and dried in spring no implement yet invented can break it down to a fair tilth for a seed bed. It is therefore a matter for consideration whether it is not a more economic policy in the end to employ the necessary labour to cart roots out during winter than to delaysowing operations in spring by Having to work ground with clods hard enough to build a house.

There is now no question locally of rabbits versus sheep, as r..bbits will soon be as extinct as the inoa, not from any special effort on the part of Government officers, but solely on account of the high price of fur. A leading skin buyer in Invercargill reports the worst season for years, as skins were not to be had even when as high as £7 per hundred was being offered for them. Last month as high as 2s lOd per couple was being paid at the freezing works, yet rabbiters contend that they could earn a higher wage some years ago when prices were about half what they have been during the season which is just closing. There is only one Rabbit Board in the province, taking in an area of under 5000 acres, with 40 odd ratepayers in a closely settled district, and report has it that the operations of the board have not been a success. For the first term of their appointment they collected a rate and got the £1 for £1 Government subsidy, and then handed the rates back to the landowners,

calling it a bonus for good work. Some of those on the boundary of the area under the control of the board not only got their full rates refunded, but also 25 per cent, added on. The Department stopped this, and now, to work off accumulated funds the board is paying a rabbiter £4 a week when there are no rabbits to kill. This has led to a big majority of the ratepayers forwarding a petition to the Government to abolish the board. The decision of the Minister is awaited with some interest, but according to a high authority the Department does not favour the forming of rabbit boards on small areas in closely settled districts as hitherto they have not been a success. The tangle over the Power Board rates on unreticulated areas reached another stage at a meeting convened by the Farmers’ Union of representatives of the various public bodies interested. The result of the meeting is that a deputation is to interview the Prime Minister in Wellington this week to ask for Government assistance towards easing the burden of taxation over the whole province, not merely those who are in unreticulated districts. The views of the latter are to be put before the Prime Minister by another deputation. This has led to some caustic remarks on the number of Southland men who have within a fortnight or so journeyed to Wellington on business connected with public affairs; also the Farmers’ Union conference. Up to date the expenses of these delegates have been paid by the several bodies they represented, but at the meeting referred to above, when the question of travelling expenses was brought up, it seems that no one had any authority to give a guarantee of these, so it is quite possible that later on there may be some “ tags ” to sundry balance sheets by the Government auditor. Those controlling the Winton experimental area deserve credit for their perseverance under difficulties and lack of encouragement. They have now got on a fairly solid footing, and are this season starting a dairy herd. This is a forward movement and will enable experiments in feeding and testing to be carried out. It is an old axiom and a true one that in stock husbandry a good deal of breeding goes in at the mouth. A striking example of this is afforded on the farm of Mr Young, of Drummond, who last season, in a herd of 50 crossbred cows, had an average of 3201 b of butter-fat. The system adopted by Mr Young is to have rape with western wolths or Italian ryegrass ready to turn the cows on in January, and follow this up in early autumn with chon mollier or soft turnips. Mr Young has been testing for several years, and so is always able to cull out unprofitable cows. The Winton farm can be turned to good purpose in experiments on the feeding value of our various forage crops, which would be of more practicable

use than testing the capabilities of our various breeds of dairy cattle. There is, however, one line of experiments in breeding which might with advantage be undertaken at Winton, and that is to try several breeds of lambs on average crossbred ewes to produce fat lambs. We have the universal cry from buyers that they want Down lambs under 361 b, and are prepared to pay extra prices to get them. It would be a simple matter to try Southdown, Shropshire, Ryeland, English Leicester, Border Leicester, and Romney rams each on a certain number of ewes fed and treated equally through the period of gestation and summer months and publish results. There could be no more valuable experiment conducted than this for a very large body of Southland farmers, and it is fairly safe to say that the rams necessary would be provided free by breeders. All classes of stock are meeting with a fair demand. Sheep especially are selling exceptionally well, both fats and stores. In sympathy with northern markets fat wethers have risen anything up to 10s per head during the past month, and medium butchers’ sheep are now worth 40s with extra heavy weights up to 47s 6d. Fat ewes have risen in proportion, and altogether those who held on to stock on hand and also buyers in Autumn are reaping a very profitable harvest. Breeding ewes, when young and fresh, are being sought after at from 35s to 40s. and even over the latter figure if specially good. Fair ewe hoggets are worth 30s, and wethers 22s to 245. Store cattle are not being marketed in sufficient numbers—to justify quotations, as only small lots held by dealers arc being offered. THE NORTH ISLAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The North Island weather has been

quite seasonable for August, but the excellent autumn and early winter conditions were so good and stock thrived to such an extent that an early lambing and calving season was expected. This has been fully realised, and young stock are to be seen on almost every farm. The cokl rains of the past week, however, has been severe on some of the lambs ami mothers, particularly on those farms that have nothing but wire fences for shelter. The dairy season usually ends in July, but there is not going to be any end this year, as the supplies of milk are steadily increasing at most factories. In the Auckland province herds are giving most liberally, and the quantities of dairy produce reaching the cool store are rapidly increasing. It may be that the season is going to be a long one, but there is one thing noticeable and that is the feeling of optimism that prevails. There is a much better feeling both as regards dairy produce and wool, and the new season appears to be full of promise for the man on the land. WAIKATO PROSPECTS. The dairy prospects in the Waikato are reported to be particularly good. Feed is plentiful, and herds generally arc I in good condition. Top-dressing has been liberally carried out, and the beneficial results are apparent in all fields where fertilisers have been applied. With the object of coping with increased supplies, many factories have been improved and greater facilities provided. SALES OF WOOL. The suggestion of the Otago branch of the Farmers' Union to have separate rosters for each island in regard to wool sales has not been favourably received throughout the country, though naturally Auckland and Wellington would be delighted if such a scheme were put into operation. However, it is not likely to succeed, as the farmers in districts some distance from cities strongly object to centralisation, it being ■ generally considered that these moves of : the cities are not always considered from i the point of view of the producers as i the benefit it might be to the cities men- . tioned. The present arrangements appear 1 to suit buyers very well, and they are } not asking for any alteration. EXPERIMENTS ON MODEL FARM, s At the annual meeting of the Stratford • Demonstration Farm Society an in--3 foresting report of the work done on 2 the farm was submitted. “ The season,” 3 said the report, “ opened well, then about j the middle of September it broke, and the weather from then on to the middle of December, or even later, was desperate, being one of the worst seasons experienced 11 in and around Stratford for many years, j This delayed all farm operations, and ’’ resulted in crops having to be sown on 0 land that was not properly prepared, hence >■ some of the root crops were lighter than e usual. The bad spring was also reflected i- in the milk returns. The September rer turns were so good as to suggest that we ;s were in for a bumper season. However, c the continuous rain during the latter part e of September, October - , and November u practically stopped al growth, and what thcre.jwas, was soft and easily tramped out j of sight. By the end of October the farm was badly mucked un. and presented a very k bare appearan e. During November advantage had to be taken of an ensilage

etack that had been carried through, to tide the herd over the period of shortage, and let it be remarked that it was almost impossible to arive at the value of a stock of ensilage at a time like that.” We started the season with a total of 56 cows and seven rising two-year-old springing heifers. Three of the cows were not milked at all, and were sold during the early part of the season. Again one or two cows and two of the heifers were late in coming into profit, and for statistical purposes it is assumed that 69 cows and heifers were milked for the season. This gave the fine average of 523.41 b per head. A further analysis showed that the cows averaged 332.31 b fat, and the heifers 2751 b fat. The increase per acre was 6.53 against 8.11 last year, or 1361 b per acre, against 129.431 b last year. It would also be noticed that although the butter-fat showed an increase of 9341 b over last year, the payments were £283 Ils lOd below last season, and when bonus payments were included the reduction for the season was £487 3s 2d. The working account showed an increase of £lO9 7s 9d, the main items being wages £65 Bs, manure £l5 9s 3d, and seeds £2O 3s 9d. The usual depreciation bad been written off buildings, implements, etc. This amounted to £99 18s 2d. The net profit for the year was £29 12s 2d, against £602 19s sd, a reduction of £573 7s 3d.' The cost for the year of fertilisers worked out at 16s 5d per acre, against 14s 3d last year. This was accounted for by the fact that our standard top-dressing was 3cwt per acre this year against 2cwt last year. The following figures show the butter-fat returns for the past eight years:— 1920. —Butter-fat per cow. 221.101 b; butter-fat per acre, 60.81 b; —total butterfat. 8694.51 b. 1921. —Butter-fat i>cr cow, 274.271 b; butter-fat per acre, 88.71 b; yearly increase per acre, 27.91 b —total butter-fat, 12,6841 b. 1922. —Butter-fat per cow, 298.91 b; butter-fat per acre. 104.51 b; yearly increase per acre, " 15.81 b —total butter-fat. 14.943.51 b. 1923. — Butter-fat per cow. 2801 b; butterfat per acre. 98.61 b; yearly decrease, 5.91 b; —total butter-fat, 14,099.81 b. 1924. —Butter-fat per cow, 3051 b; butterfat per acre, 108.91 b; yearly increase per acre, 10.31 b —total butter-fat, 15,572.71 b 1925. —Butter-fat per cow, 3271 b; butterfat per acre, 121.31 b; yearly increase per acre, 12.41 b —total butter-fat. 17,345.91 b. 1926. —Butter-fat. per cow. 330.51 b; butterfat per acre, 129.451 b; yearly increase per acre, B.lllb; —total butter-fat. 18,511.351 b. 1927. Butter-fat per cow. 323.41 b; butter fat per acre, 1361 b; yearly increase per acre, 6.551 b —total butter-fat, 19,4481 b. CLOVERS AND GRASSES. In the course of a resume of the work done on the Stratford demonstration farm Mr J. W. Deem, fields instructor of the Agricultural Department, gave an interesting address on clovers and grasses and -feasts made in Central Taranaki. He pointed out that both the imported wild white and New’ Zealand grown white clovers continue to show their supremacy over ordinary imported white. On the new' areas sown during the past season some further white clover tests have been laid down, also some tests between several strains of red clover, including Cornish Marl and Montgomeryshire late cut. The latter is giving very fine results at the Marton Experimental Farm, and there are indications that it is going to be very useful at Stratford. It has the reputation of being more permanent ami providing a longer growing period than ordinary strains of red clover.

Top-dressing has continued on much the same lines as previous years. The Rhenania phosphate mentioned last year did not give quite as good results as slag or super on the adjoining plots. In the scheme of top-dressing this year Seychelles guano and sulfuro-phosphate are being tested. The potash experiments mentioned last year have been continued, kainit, 30 per cent, potash, and sulphate of potash being tried. So far there is no definite evidence that the addition of any of the above potassic manures has been advantageous. At the Waimate West demonstration farm a definite grazing experiment is being put into operation. Four paddocks of 12 acres each have been subdivided into .eight fields of six acres each. The whole area has had a phosphatic dressing, and every other paddock is now being dressed with potash, the standard being lewt of 30 per cent, potash per acre. One field will be done with 30 per cent, potash, one with kainit, one with sulphate of potash, and one with muriate of potash, sufficient of the last three being put on per acre to supply the same amount of potash as is contained in lewt of 30 per cent, potash. The other four fields will have additional phosphatic manure to the value of the potash, and the herd will be grazed in cight-day periods on the potash and non-potash areas, a careful record of the butter-fat being kept for each period, and the conditions of grazing recorded. YOUNG CATTLE IN DEMAND.

There is an excellent demand for young cattle, and it would seem as if there is a general building up of herds. This demand is attributed to the excellent results being obtained by the top-dressing of pastures and to the fact that many farmers who had gone in for sheep are now devoting their attention more to dairying, as there is a general impression that the prospects for dairying next season are bright. BUTTER FOR SOUTH AFRICA.

Attention has been drawn by’ the Dominion to the fact that in former years a fair butter business was done by New Zealand with South Africa, but transport charges and other difficulties practically stopped the trade. It may now revive. The following letter was recently’ received by one of the leading export houses in Sydney from a South African merchant: —“Owing to the dumping duty on Australian butter supplies by the Union Government, your lower quotation than the Home market value is of no

benefit to us, as the dumping duty amounts to your allowance. We understand there is no dumping duty on New Zealand butter, and shall be pleased if you will let us know your price for New Zealand first pats.” The prohibitive duty which Australia imposed on South African maize last year led to a heavy duty on Aus-

tralian flour and wheat being imposed by the Union, which, according to advices just received, is obtaining more favoured adjustments elsewhere. In the matter of dairy produce, in the specific case instanced above, New Zealand is likely to benefit. OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SOUTHLAND BULLOCK TOPS MARKET. A Southland bullock topped the market at Addington on Wednesday last, when the sale prior to the Grand National holidays was held. For years past it has been customary for the cream of the Dominion’s fat stock to be gathered together for this event, and, this - year, though there was some falling off in quality, some magnificent stock was forward. Some of the best beef lines were from Otago and Southland. It has been the custom for many fatteners to keep their verybest and send them forward to the double market prior to the Grand National meeting. A good many of them had done this on this occasion, no doubt, but the result was disappointing. Usually the entries at Addington make up a wonderful show of fat stock. It is truly national in character. Many North Island breeders send of their best, vieing with the southerners in the penning of good beef and mutton. This year was no exception. The North Island was not so strongly represented as in the past two or three years, but it has to be handed to the north that it supplied the finest line of cattle seen in* the yards in the past seven years at least, and many good judges would go further than that. TEN MAGNIFICENT BULLOCKS. The star line mentioned were from the property of Mr T. A. Duncan, the wellknown Hunterville grazier, who farms several properties in the Rangitikei district, and at least one in the Manawatu. They were red Shorthorns, and had evidently been selected with a view to making them good. Usually the Otairi cattle are finished on the Rongotea property, where the land is of the very best, and no doubt these cattle were from that favoured district.

Mr W. Lochhead (Balclutha) sent up the best bullock so far as individual price' is concerned, this particular beast being bought by Mr J. O. Coop (Little River). The price was £4O, which is low considering other figures which have been paid for the best bullock in former days. A year ago the wonder Friesian bullock, which Mr A. J. Keith, of Ashburton, sold, made £7O, and it established a weight record when killed which will take some rubbing out the world over. It beat a record which had stood for a century’. Even the big bullock sold by’ Mr Keith is not the record for the yards by a long way, for £204 was paid for a Shorthorn sold by Mr J. Trotter of Otago. This was in the days when the butchery business was a prosperous one, and traders were not so prone to look askance at their outgoings as they’ are to-day. The ordinary beef sale was particularly interesting, for the prices went up to figures which have not ruled so far this season previously. The quality, considering the market, was very plain indeed, and the writer does not remember in 14 years’ experience at the yards seeing such an ordinary’ lot of cattle in the yards for the National sale. It was a day when auctioneers had not to work hard, and the best of the beef touched 46s per 1001 b. A sale worthy of note was a draft of 16 heifers on account of Mr P. Anderson (Stirling), which averaged out at £l4 Is a head. The Dunean cattle worked out at £23 9s 6d a head, and the heaviest pansold at £24 7s 6d. In the shipments from distances there were two bullocks sold on account of Messrs J. Beattie and sons (Fortrose, Southland), which sold at £23 12s 6d and £23 17s 6d. Mr J. V. Chatterton (Dunsandel) sold one bullock at £24 7s 6d. The indications are that the price of beef will be fairly’ good throughout the early spring, for the supply is undoubtedly short. PLAINER SHEEP ALSO.

What has been said in regard to the beef in point of plainness applies with equal force to mutton. Though there were many good lots, the average was lamentably plain, and the size of the offering was more fitted to the requirements of an ordinary week than for two weeks, when, with an influx of visitors, the-city’s consumptive capacity is higher than usual. Like the beef, there were days when the butchers paid fancy prices for the special lines for display purposes. It was back about 1912 that double figures were paid for specially good wethers, and on a later occasion over £l6 was paid for the best of them, this being in 1920. There was nothing running to double figures on this occasion, but the prices were beyond the real commercial value of the animals. Mr F. Bull, of Waddington, has figured largely in the list of special sales of sheep of this class, and he topped the market with two wethers at £7 15s and two at half a crown less. He does not hold the record, though Mr G. Gould established this with some big Suffolk wethers. The sheep Mr Bull sends forward are Shrop-shire-Romney cross sheep, and they’ have to be seen to realise what they’ are like. The wethers were four-tooths, and they’ were a great advertisement for the cross. A fine Suffolk ewe sold on account of Mr G. Gould brought £3 7s. Three big SuffolkRomney three-shear wethers sold on account of Mr James Campbell (Methven) brought £5 18s 6d for three, and another one was taken at £4. Among the other good sales which might be mentioned were:—Three full-mouthed CorriedaleRomney cross wethers on account of Mr D. Grant (Timaru) at £5 Bs. and incidentally Mr Grant speaks highly’ of the cross as a utility’ sheep, and a close examination of the fleece suggested that there was a better comeback in the skin for the butcher than any other sheep’ in the yard. Nine wethers at. £3 7s 6d to £3 12s for Mr W. E. Simpson (St. Andrews), and a similar number of wethers at from £2 15s to £3 7s for another St. Andrews grazier, Mf James Hall. Mr Joseph Brooks (Brookside) always figures prominently in the show

awards at Canterbury shows, and he was to the fore on this occasion with Southdown cross wethers, selling four at £3 19s and three at £3. Mr A. Robertson (Courtenay) sold 10 wethers at 50s 6d to £3, and Mr G. Thompson (Racecourse Hill) three Southdown-Romney cross wethers at £3 5s 6<l. Of the sheep from the North Island —and there were several lines —the outstanding one was forwarded by Mr J. Holden, of Napier, and they’ brought from 57s 6d to 68s 6d. These were big-framed crossbred wethers, and were strong in the wool. Mr Kennedy’ (Otautau) sold 30 wethers at 50s 4d to 68s 4d. For the ordinary class of sheep there was a really bright market, and at times it was excited with the average of prices up by from 5s to 8s a head. The wether mutton was costing 8d and ewes 7d. SOME EARLY LAMBS.

A few real spring lambs were sold, and there were some chubby little Southdowns of seven to eight weeks which had arrived in the early winter and had done well. Some of the others were autumn dropped and were of the hogget class rather than lambs. The best of the sales were up to 455. OX THE STORE SIDE. It is usual that the store sheep sale is overshadowed by the fat stock, but there was a large attendance of farmers this week, and they settled down to business well, and there was the largest yarding for some time. Of late hoggets have been snapped up like hot cakes, and those fortunate people who were able to buy five and six weeks ago, when many in the stock world were going about with very long faces, have'been able to make money. There was a line of Corriedale ewe hoggets which made 38s 3d, and a halfbred line 375, and crossbred pens sold at 325, with many over 30s. It was a real good market, though on odd occasions the auctioneers had their work cut out to get rid of some of the very aged ewes which they had to offer. Wethers are not coming on the market in any numbers. BREADSTUFFS AND PRODUCE. Friday evening. Although sellers consider that the market is firm, there is a pause in buying by millers and also by merchants who require wheat for poultry feeding. Sufficient stocks are held by millers to keep their mills going for some time, and reports go to show that stocks of flour are accumulating. The position regarding Australian flour is not. very clear, and whether importations will continue from that quarter cannot be stated in the meantime. For any small lots of tuscan wheat offering growers are obtaining 6?, sacks extra, on trucks, with relatively higher values for red chaff and velvet. Fowl wheat is moving off slowly at up to 6s 3d per bushel, sacks extra, ex store, for the best quality. Millers’ prices are as follow:— Flour: 2001 b. £l7 ss; 100's, £18; 50’s, £lB ss; 25’s, £lB 15s. Bran, £5 10s per ton. Pollard, £7 ss. Oatmeal: 25’s, £l9; 200’s, £lB. Holders of oats in the Otago district are firm in their ideas of value, but, on the other hand, reports from Canterbury state that values show a decline. A Gartons have been sold in Canterbury at 3e 2d, f.0.b., s.i., spread delivery, to the end of December. In the Dunedin district sellers are asking 3s f.0.b., s.i., for A’s and 3s for B’s, but the offers are not meeting with any response. The Australian demand for oats has eased off —this being caused through shipments of maize arriving there, following a demand for fodder. Odd lots coming on the market from Otago growers are difficult to place at up to 2s 6d. sacks extra, on trucks, for A Gartons, and 2s 3d for B’s. Farmers in the Otago district have not been prepared to accept the current prices for chaff, with the result that most of the local requirements are being filled from Canterbury, where holders are prepared to accept lower prices. For the consignments arriving £5, sacks extra, ex truck, has been realised for good quality medium, and poor is again slow of sale at £3 10s to £4 per ton, sacks extra, ex store. Quietness continues in the potato market. Northern growers are sending consignments to the local market in excess of the demand and most of the consignments are going into store. To-day's price for best quality is nominally £5 10s per ton, sacks included, ex truck. So far the new statistics being obtained by tire Government regarding the potato crops arc not yet available. Whether the statistics when completed will be of full value is a matter of doubt, as growers were not requested to state the quantity of tables, feed potatoes, and those fit only for pig food. There is nothing fresh to report in the seed market. Cables received from London state that better weather conditions are now prevailing there and that the crops will be heavier than those of last year. As a consequence the imports from New Zealand may not be as great as was expected. Produce lines are quoted wholesale as follows: —

Chaff, £5 per ton, ex truck, for best quality. Potatoes: Ton lots, £5 5s to £5 10s, ex truck, x Eggs: Stamped, Is lOd ; case. Is 8d to Is Sd. Dairy Butter: • Milled bulk, Is 2d to Is 3d ; pats, Is 2d. Bacon, Is Id per lb. Hams, Is 2d per lb; boneless, Is 3d. FRUIT REPORT. The Waikouaiti, from Sydney, brought some 700 cases of fruit, principally navels and mandarins. Supplies of bananas are about exhausted on the local market. The next shipment is due about the end of next week. Advices from Australia state that prices for citrus fruit arc fairly high, and that prices are still rising. The market is bare of choice dessert and cooking apples, only the poorer grades —>ming forward. Small supplies of pears ex cool stores are coming forward. _A few cucumbers are arriving from the North Island. Vegetables have a good demand, with most inquiry for cabbages and cauliflowers. Current wholesale prices are as follows: — Apples: Delicious, 10s to 12s per case; i extra choice, to 13s; Jonathans, 7s to 8s;

Cleopatras, 7s 6d to 8s 6d; prime cookers, 7s; inferior dessert and cooking, 3s to 4s. Bananas: Ripe, 25s per case. Pears: Dessert, 3d to 5d per lb for choice. Lemons: Californian, 50s per double case; Auckland, 22s 6d to 255; Australian, 22s 6d to 255. Oranges: Californian, 38s 6d; Australian no vcls, 22s 6d; Poorman. 15s per case. Pototoes, 6s 6d ner cwt. Carrots, 4s to 4s 6d per cental bag; 2s 6d to 3s per case. Cauliflowers, 12s to 13s per sack (choice only); others, 7s to 9s. Parsnips, 4s to 4s 6d per case. CaLbage: Choice, to 6s 6d per sack; others, 2s to 3s; loose, 4s to 10s per dozen. Onions, 6s per cental bag.

Celery. 9d to Is per bundle of threoi heads. Artichokes, 2d per lb. Lettuce: Choice. 2s to 3s per dozen. Leeks, 3d to 6d per bundle. Brussels sprouts, 6d per lb. Beetroot, Is 6d to 2s per dozen. CHEESE MARKET. Export buyers have been operating in the cheese market recently, and several sales of outputs have been made up 10/ the end of December. In some instances Bjd per lb has been paid, but this is for the outputs of the smaller factories only. Advices from the North Island state that several of the large factories are keen to do business at this price, but that sales cannot be effected for large lines. Althomrh I the Home position is firm, buyers there

are not prepared to operate at the above price for forward delivery, as they anticipate that prices will be lower by the time the deliveries come to hand. It was recently announced that some of the North Island factories had sold at Bjd, this being for cheese “made” to the end of December. The report may give a wrong impression, as the price paid was for shipment “by” the end of December. MERCHANDISE MARKET. The principal feature in the merchandise market this week has been the reduction of 10s per ton in the price of sugar. The reduction was somewhat unexpected, and it makes the price of sugar in New Zealand much lower than that ruling in most of the other countries in the. world. The Waipiata, which arrived on Saturday, brought a cargo of sugar from Auckland, and the next boat will be the Katoa. due on August 16.

Tlie direct steamer from Singapore has now completed her loading for New Zealand ports. She was unable to bring all the cargo offering. Colombo tea brokers report the sale of the output of a large tea estate to a wellknown London tea consuming business for a period of five years at a fixed price. This would indicate that the firm in question considers that there will be no drop >n prices for a considerable time. Chinese shelled walnuts are now unprocurable from wholesale houses. The new season’s walnuts are not due until about December or January. Mildura currants have been advanced in price. Edmund's baking and cake powders have been advanced in price as from August 1. All sizes of Ovaltine have been reduced in price as from August 1. A reduction has taken place in the price ef Granose biscuits, both large and small.