NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 12

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Local Wool Sales.

It is possible, of course, that the increased offerings of wool in the

Dominion may to some extent be attributed to inrrpaßprl nrndiiftinn hni

increased production, but the general weight of expert opinion inclines to the belief that there is a preference for local selling. For instance, the sales in the Dominion last year show a large increase over the preceding year, the figures being 514.133 bales for 1927-28 as against 495,442 bales for 1926-27, a gain of 18,691 bales. The’ average increase in value was about 4}d per lb, or approximately an increase of £6 per bale, giving a gross increase in the value of the clip of about £3,500,000. It appears as if the time is not far distant when practically the whole of the New Zealand clip will be offered here. This brings us to the question of the extension of the selling season. Many of the lateshorn clips from the back country would be offered locally if the buyers could be induced to prolong their stay in the country until the end of April. The Wool Federation of Bradford has advocated such an extension of the season, but year after year we see the Bradford and other buyers homeward bound at the end of March or the beginning of April.

Intercolonial Trade.

Country readers will be interested in the

report of the conference held in Dunedin, which appears in this issue, in regard to steamer

*** BICcUIICL communication between the’ South Island and Victoria and Tasmania. They are, or should be, as much concerned as the town people, although one fails to recognise many accredited representatives attending the meeting of, say, the Otago and Southland Farmers’ Union or of the agricultural and pastoral societies of the respective provinces. The members present seem to have most to do with chambers of commerce, expansion leagues, harbour boards, etc. It seems that the Australian navigation laws and the present tariffs in the Commonwealth militate to some extent against the development of intercolonial shipping, while the big trade in Southland oats in years gone by is of the past, and it is doubtful whether it will ever be revived in this very'mechanical age. Still, there remain such products as butter, cheese, bacon, etc., which although practically shut out of Australia for the moment, will doubtless some day be welcomed. With regard to Australia New Zealand imports far more goods than she exports, and it is inconceivable that Australia will always play the tune. Consumers of butter in Australia are forced to pay 4d per lb more butter, than, would be the case if the Patterson plan did not exist. In connection with the proposed service, it is suggested that an approach be made to -the New Zealand Government next month in an endeavour to recover some of our lost ground. All should help.

The Art Milking.

Despite the common use of mechanical

milking appliances, there is no need to flout the gentle art of milking. If it is an art, milking mflV Bp fnirlv cfx’lad

Machine Shorn ■v. Blades.

.. x , „ . W »e lairiy styled • gentle, for gentleness and kindness must characterise the treatment of cows if the milker is to obtain maximum results. It has been well said that what a mainspring is to a watch gentleness is to milking. Breed, strain, and feeding exercise powerful influences over a cow’s capacity to yield milk, but it is the presence or absence of gentleness in handling that determines her willingness to let down her milk, arid that to a remarkable degree. “ The good-tempered milker” (says an exchange) “will find it advantageous to use a stool.” “ This obvious requirement is merely mentioned in order to allude to thri fact (sometimes overlooked) that for convenient and thorough milking the seat must not be too high. A seat of 9in or lOin should be sufficiently high in milking most cows, and for small, short-legged breeds . the stools need not be more than 7in or" Bin in height. Of course, the reason is that, as a rule, the elbow of the milker must be lower than the hand, so that the teat may be properly and firmly gripped, and yet not uncomfortably squeezed, which would be a serious matter for the cow, and anything "that would distress her must be carefully avoided. Approaching the cow quietly, and always from the same side, which, as a rule, is the right side of .the animal, the milker should make a point of rubbing the udder with a clean cloth before commencing, in order to remove any dirt, which, if left, would most probably fall into the pail. For reasons of also it is most essential that the first few streams from each teat should be rejected, as, of course, it is well known that numerous bacteria are to be found in the duct, and they must be excluded from the vessel. In milking the

three great points to aim at are quickness, gentleness, and thoroughness.” Occupiers of high sheep country in the South Island not infre-

kjvuLii -Lsiuua nut juirequently prefer to have their sheep shorn with blades rather than

machines, because the sheep are not shorn so close as with the latter, and during a cold snap can stand up to the wintry blasts and general exposure much better than if closely clipped. It will be news, however, to learn that there is more value in wool that has been shorn by blades than by machines. According to a Marlborough sheep farmer, as stated in a letter to the Express, there is more in the contention than one imagines. He says that a short time ago a woolman informed him that not only was wool shorn with blades of more value than that shorn with machines from the manufacturers’ point of view, but that in all probability before long they will require that all blade-shorn wool be branded “ blade shorn ” on the bales. The reason given for the different effect that machines have upon the wool is as follows:—“ The wool shorn by machines is burnt or bruised at the tip or cut, and this causes it to curl or form a hook, which can only be seen by a strong microscope; but in the manufacturing the hook forms a rough yarn, which does not work up so satisfactorily as the blade-shorn wool, which is quite smooth.” The writer of the letter says he can quite believe that the machineshorn wool is burnt at the cut, especially when the machine is in the hands of the learner. He had frequently seen smoke arising from the cutter of a machine and the thing so hot that one could not touch it. He considered therefore that it was quite on the cards that the wool would be scorched with the result stated. It would seem (comments an exchange) from the information given by the writer of the letter, particularly his reference to a machine in the hands of a learner, that the machine is not so much to blame as the want of skill or care in the use of it. Woollen manufacturers have been too prone of late years to make complaints, and there may not be much in the one mentioned. The shearing machine is now’ in such general use in the great wool producing countries that supply the world s markets that it is surprising the complaint has not been heard of before x a 2 y rat , e ** is not in th e least likely to afreet the use of the machine. The wr’ter of the letter suggests, however, that it might be advisable for sheep owners who have their shearing done with blades to brand their wool “ blade shorn ” A shearing machine expert says the trouble of the cutters heating is the want i care is sometimes shown and the use of wrong oil.

AGRICOLA.