OUT AND ABOUT

Otago Witness, Issue 3961, 11 February 1930, Page 15

OUT AND ABOUT

THE WEEK IN OTAGO. The weather was sunny and warm during the week, and farm work generally made good progress, while the growtii of vegetation, it slow, was obvious, there being an unusual amount of stock feed for the time of the year. BURNSIDE MARKET. Although fat stock supplies were under the average numbers at Burnside, there was ample for the very moderate deman 1 experienced Values for all classes of stock except fat pigs were somewhat lower than a week ago. The entry of fat cattle, 168. compared with 187 the previous week, comprised fair quality bullocks, a few extra, some nice heifers, and a fair proportion of prime cows. Early in the sale pr' -- bullocks were somewhat dearer than a week ago, but soon declined, and lower prices ruled throughout the greater part of the-sale, the demand being very dull at time. Beef of prime quality, on an average, made to 42,s per 1001 b.

The entry of fat sheep. 1134 (1916 last sale) comprised a number of moderate ewes, some extra, and a fair proportion of wethers of fair to prime quality. The first race of sheep sold made Is to 2s a head more than the previous week, but prices soon receded and the general run of sheep made values of the previous sale, the later offerings having only slight attention. Butchers’ sheep sold to 44d per lb.

The fat lambs yarded totalled 530 (893 last sale), and elicited good bidding. Butchers paid close up to last sale’s values tor the bulk of the entry. The quality ranged from fair to prime. Lamb may be quoted at par to 9d lower, best qualitiv making to_ B|d per lb. Some 250 store cattle evoked attention. Included among the entry were some station bullocks. These three and four-year-old animals met with good competition at 10s advance on recent rates, and generally mature steers in forward condition had inquiry. Young sorts were not in the same request. The supply of fat pigs. 74 (107 last sale) again sold readily, and the previous weeks values were maintained, with porkers also in request. Stores. 54 (52 last sale) met with brisk bidding. Baconers sold to B,d and porkers to 9d per lb.

COUNTRY STOCK SALES.

BALCLUTHA. The entry of sheep at Balclutha was a small one, and it was noticeable that buyers were cautious in bidding for store sheep, owing to the uncertainty of the market at the present juncture and the tact that most farmers will require all their teed to fatten off their lambs. Fat lambs sold at up to 29s 6d for extra good 21s to 23s 9d; fat wethers 26s 6d to 30s; tat ewes, 16s to 21s. Store wethers 20s 6d; two-tooth ewes to 28s 6d; lambs 15s to 17s 6d: failing-mouthed ewes to 16s 6d. Fat bullocks sold at £l3 las; two-year-old steers (fat), £9 17s 6d: ‘9 cows, Li to £9 10s; 15-month steets to £0: i' C<>WS to £l ° 10s ' Pi R s '»ct with a slightly easier market, suckers realising \i’ S a’ “r S ' nlce , line 801,1 0,1 behalf of Mi A. Iwaddle made 22s to 255. AGRICULTURAL CLUBS.

„ n R' l ic ’ ll tural club movement in Southland has now been put on a sound tooting in the various schools in the province, and the number of active members now exceeds 500. The Department of Agriculture has been engaged on this work tor the past two years, and now having established the movement in the south. Air h. B. lennent is turning his attention to Otago. The juvenile club moveinent in this province was once in a verv flourishing position, but of late years owing chiefly to lack of proper organisation, it has fallen into decay The department, however, is making a determined effort to resuscitate it. and a start has a.ready been made with a club at Milton, which serves the schools throughout the Tokomairiro district. A special officer has been brought from Southland to superintend this work, and it is hoped in the next 12 months to make the move’”ont. ,’ n 9 ta go as widespread as it is in Southland.

HERD TESTING WORK. ‘ It would be a tragedy if the work of testing dairy herds for tuberculosis was discontinued,'’ said Mr B. Grant, who has been 16 years a dairy inspector in Canteran<* who is leaving for Palmerston Aorth. on the occasion of a farewell smoke concert and presentation of a clock, and silver tea service for Mrs Grant. “Six years ago I was invited to bring down a comprehensive scheme for testing herds tor tuberculosis,” continued Mr Grant. “At first 14 per cent, of the 600 cows tested were found to be suffering from disease. Since that time there has been a continual improvement. Last vear, ot the 2400 cows tested, only 3 per cent, i eacted to the test. So far this season only 2 per cent, in over 3000 cows submitted to test have been found to bear the taint. I his is the lowest percentage in New Zealand, and probably in Australia and New Zealand.”

V hen he arrived in Christchurch the nrst-class dairies could have been counted on the fingers of one hand. Now it was diflicult to find one that was not satisfactory. The dairymen themselves had made this possible.

STATISTICAL WOOL POSITION. The Sydney Morning Herald, referring to the wool position, says that the figures do not confirm the statement that “ the statistical position of wool was never bettei than it is to-day." The paper goes on to say: During the last seven years the quantity of wool produced in the world annually has advanced from 8,479 000 bales to over 11,000,000 bales, or approximately 30 per cent. more. In 192122 Australia grew 1,941,136 bales, and last season 2,862,877 bales, an advance of 47 per cent. Quite apart from the notable advance registered in the manufacture of artificial fibres, the sheep’s staple, therefore, is not in the strong selling position it was some years ago. Japanese consumption has assisted in preventing wool supplies from completely outst’apping de-

inand. Actually the strongest year for wool was in 1924-25. Production had increased by that time, but post-wat accumulations had disappeared, and the year’s clip practically had the consuming field to itself. That was why Australian wool sold at phenomenal prices. Even to-day, were trade abroad good, wool would be selling at better prices. Unfortunately, it is not proceeding in normal volume. The enormous quantities of tops which piled up in combing centres on the Continent up to late October, when a good part of them were sold at prices which involved their manufacturers in heavy losses, clearly indicate that the world is not hungry for wool. Statements can be made of trade combinations, but no sound evidence can be produced of their existence. Only a short time ago English mill i.ten endeavoured to have duties placed upon Continental woollens entering the British Isles. That does not look like any special friendliness among manufacturers. As a matter of fact, competition for business in woollen fabrics is particularly keen. If ready sales of fabrics could be made at profitable prices, millmen would be tumbling over each other to secure raw material. The present depression is largely financial and consequently cannot be regarded as permanent, but it will not disappear in a day.

FEILDING RAM FAIR. The annual ram fair was opened today. A total of 1271 flock Romneys were offered. The sale opened dull and closed dull, but there were good sales during the day. The highest price was 1024 guineas, the vendor being Mr T. E. Craine (Kiwitea) and the purchaser Messrs lienson Bros. (Feilding). Mr Craine was the most successful vendor, getting the best average, over 12 guineas, for the whole .sale. The average was probably two guineas below last year. Many lines were passed during the day. February 7. The ram fair was concluded to-day, when stud and flock Southdowne and Ryelands were offered. The highest price for stud Southdowns was 42 guineas, received by Mr A. C. Vile, and the highest price for flocks was 18 guineas, received by the same vendor. Prices, on the whole, are considered down 50 per cent, compared with last year. HARVESTING METHODS. The Wheat Research Institute at its last meeting set up a committee to keep in touch with the new harvesting developments, and some members of the committee recently inspected several machines at work. On Mr G. N. M'Lean’s farm at Glasnevin a light crop of Tuscan was being direct headed with a team of three men, including the driver of the tractor and the bag-sewer. The machine had started work at 8 o'clock, and was doing three acres per hour. On Mr S. Larsen’s farm at Swannanoa, three different harvesting machines were working. One was picking up a crop of Bena wheat, which had been windrowed a fortnight ago. This machine also had a team of three men. In the same field part of the crop had been cut with the binder and stooked. and was being threshed with a " tin hare.” so that a comparison could be made of the condition of the wheat treated by the windrow and the binder method. In an adjacent field another pick-up machine was working on a crop of solid straw Tuscan. This machine had a power take-off. instead of an auxiliary engine, and delivered its grain into a tank, from which it was bagged at the corner of the field, so that the total crew numbered only two men.

JOTTINGS. There is but little business passing in stock circles in Otago beyond the seasonal killings of fat lambs and sheep, etc., at the various freezing works. Since the recent wool sales in Dunedin a considerable number of transactions in passed wool has been effected at current values. There are some sheep owners who have elected to hold their wool until the next wool season comes round, but not many individuals care to gamble in a product which at the moment has not perhaps touched bed-rock prices, and is up against unknown economic conditions and various wool substitutes.

Milking cows are furnishing the lacteal fluid in a most gratifying manner for this time of the year, and with ample feed in sight the prospects of a good yield of butter-fat from now on to the end of the milking season is most promising in Ota"o and Southland.

Although store cattle prices have receded from last month’s values, the decline is not very apparent in well-bred forward conditioned station cattle. Young stock, even decently bred steers, are cheaper, but store cows at the recent Burnside stock sale sold well, chiefly on account of the competition of a Canterbury buyer. The Duke of Gloucester has been elected President of the Royal Agricultural Society of England in succession to the Earl of Harewood. The next Roval Show will be held at Manchester. This is the fourteenth occasion on which a member of the Royal family has been elected president.

Mr A. J. Marshall. Bridgebank, Stranraer. paid the highest price for bulls at Messrs J. and R. Harrison’s (Darlington, England) sale of Shorthorns in December, namely, 400gns for Gainford de Keszke, by Gainford Revolution.

The Corriedale, Ryeland, New Zealand Sheep Breeders’ and Romney Marsh Associations and the Canterbury A. and P. Association have agreed to the suggestion of a small levy on wool for research purposes.

There was keen competition at a sale of 1500 selected timber trees standing on the Compton Verney Estate, conducted by Messrs James Styles and Whitlock, anil high prices were realised (states a Home exchange). Coppice oak made up to 3s 2d per cubic toot, one fine specimen, containing 350 ft. fetching £B7 10s. Firstquality elm made up to Is 2d per foot. The total sum realised was £7673 10s. Messrs J. E. H. Fairchild and C. R. Clutterbuck, of the Vaucluse Large White Stud, at Tinamba, have just imported a 12 months’ old Large White boar from the stud of Lord Daresbury, Warrington. England (says the Victorian Weekly Times). The purpose in securing this

animal is to introduce fresh blood of high quality. Walton Jay, 33rd by name, cost £153 to land. There is evidence of a revival in Clydesdale breeding in Victoria, and owners of stallions report large numbers of mares for the last season. Mr J. B. Ferguson, Waubra, has written to the secretary of the Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society stating that his four-year-old stallion has served 100 mares, a recotd for any one horse in the district for over half a century.

A larger number of horses are in commercial use in the capital cities in Australia than is generally thought. Over 3000 are regularly employed in Sydney alone, whilst one-third of Sydney’s traffic is horse-drawn. At the low estimate of 10s per week to feed each horse, the sum of £78,000 is paid for farm products. Melbourne and other cities are using the horse just as freely with considerable success. A Friesian cow. Princess Abbekerk. owned by Mr A. M. Agnew, of Charlottetown. Prince Edward Island, has been recognised as world champion by the Holstein Friesian Association of Canada, replacing the former champion owned in Ontario. The production of the new champion in 365 days was 16.8951 b of milk and 84241 b of butter-fat The States of Montana. Oregon. Nevada. Utah. Arizona, and New Mexico ( U.S.A.) are reported to be conducting determined drives against the wild horses in their confines. The herds have caused widespread damage to crops, forage on the open range, and domesticated horse herds by luring many once tamed animals into their carefree life. The herds in these States are estimated to total 1,060,000, of which 400,000 are in Montana.

The Duroe-Jersey breed of pigs is making progress in Australia, and it appears likely that it will become permanently established as one of the standard breeds. Mr R. W. Whinfield, proprietor of the Leasowes registered stud, Lysterfield (Victoria), who imported a boar and three sows in 1928. is expecting another shipment consisting of a boar and seven sows shortly.

Some few years ago Mr 11. E. Cook, a Canterbury breeder, sent his Royal Show champion mare, Yett Merrymaid, to Victoria to be mated with Flashdale, and he has a yearling colt and a two-vear-old filly by that sire. The filly Flash Maid recently yon championship honours at Ellesmere (New Zealand) Show, where Messrs M ills and Watson secured the male championship with Fairview Sensation.

The Tasmanian State Fruit Advisory Board has approved of the principle of a scheme of insurance for the purpose of developing new markets. The proposal is that the whole of the fruit industry throughout the Commonwealth shall be levied for the creation of a fund to Le subsidised by the Federal Government, on the basis of £ for £, the levy to be confined to all fruit exported. 'ln the case of apples at. say, 2d a case, the levy ■would produce £25,000, apart from the Commonwealth contribution.

While sheep owners are feeling anything but elated with the present prices being obtained for wool, there is one district farmer who is quite pleased with the returns he received for his lambs (reports

the Clutha Leader). He had 101 percentage of lambs, and sent a draft to the South Otago Works. They were all graded first grade, and returned him the net amount of 30s 3d per head. This price is much better than that being received for lambs sold “ on the hoof.” which up to the present has been in the vicinity of 24s to 25s per head. A 'runholder, in conversation with

“ Straggler,” of the Christchurch Press, mentioned, as indicating the extent to which woolgrowers have their “ outs ’’ is well as their “ ins,” that his wool cheque last year was £14,000; this year it would be £7OOO. A second grower last season secured £l3OO, and this year, with one bale less, his return was £625. Had the wool of these vendors not been sold at the earlier sales the difference would have been much greater.

The intake of milk at the Tuturau Dairy Factory, while well maintained, shows a slight decrease over the figures recorded for the corresponding period last year (says the Mataura Ensign). On the other hand, the aggregate figures indicate a most successful season for suppliers, and represent a very satisfactory increase over the total for the previous season to date. With an abundance of feed available and given a continuance of the present mild conditions, dairy farmers anticipate a good back-end to the season’s operations. Something in the nature of a record has been established by a ewe bred and owned by Mr W . C. Grant, of Messrs Crawford and Grant, Gore (says the Southland Times). Last .season this ewe had four lambs by a Suffolk ram, three being wethers and one a ewe. Each of the wethers was killed last week as twotooths, and they weighed 1021 b, 901 b, and 981 b respectively. This season the ewe had three lambs, each of which was killed fat off its mother before Christmas. It will therefore bo seen that the ewe has yielded a remarkably good return to its owner, by whom it is highly prized.

As in the case of other factories in Eastern Southland, the Freshford Dairy Factory has to date experienced a most successful season (says the Mataura Ensign) . Handling at the peak 1200 gallons of milk daily, which figure indicates a very satisfactory increase over that recorded for the peak the previous season, the intake has now receded to 1030 gallons. Cows appear to be holding on well, and suppliers anticipate a good return for the whole season.

If the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, which has just furnished the worlj with its seventh annual report, had dona nothing else in its virile youth than convince consumers in the northern hemisphere that the regulation of meat shipments was a benefit to, rather than a manoeuvre against, the importing markets, then its existence for tire reason alone might be well justified, states tho Imperial Food Journal. The board has amply fulfilled this object, among many others, and it reports that the trade fully appreciates its efforts to keep a steady flow of meat going forward to the British market over the 12 months of the year.

Professor A. F. Barker, professor of textile industries at Leeds University,

■writing in the Yorkshire Oba rvcr, raises the question whether shearing at the same time every year should be abandoned. He suggests shearing to a length at which the wool would be sheared to give the best manufacturing results. Shearing to give a square top would enable the production of a stronger and more perfect fabric. In the African wool districts the demand was that lambs’ wools should be shorn at six, eight, an ten months.

The annual summer show of the Tapanni Farmers’ Club will be held on bednesday. This, with the exception of the two Central Otago shows, StrathTaieri at Easter, and Lake County in March, is the last of the fixtures on the Otago roster, but in the past it lias proved to be far from the least. Hie catalogue presented each year by the club is an exceptionally good one, including one of the finest showings of crossbred sheep in the South Island, and an extremely creditable display of heavy horses. This year's catalogue, according to the secretary, is no exception to the rule, and there is every promise of a very successful exhibition.

The syndicate which recently purchased several State stations in North Queensland is planning further additions to its assets in this State. The group includes Messrs W. C. Angliss (Melbourne) v Alan J. Macpherson (New South Wales). Walter Kidman (Adelaide). Robert Vincent (Geelong), and Mr H. Talbot Sanderson. who is managing director of two coinA panies, the Vanrook Pastoral Company, Ltd. and Queensland Stations, Ltd., which have divided the State stations purchased from the Government. These stations comprise an area of about 9000 square miles, and run about 79,000 cattle. A station will shortly be added to the group which has 30.000 cattle, so that more than 100.000 head will be controlled by the companies. Arrangements have been made to send 250 Shorthorn bulls to the north, and probably the companies will establish a cf,nd to improve the breed of cattle.

A well-known runholder in the Otaraia district reports that remarkable .etults have been achieved by numerous farmers in his locality who have top-dressed wit’s lime (says the Mataura Ensign). It was not so many years ago, he stated, tha*. the Otaraia district presented anything but a pleasing aspect to the eye, grewtn being poor and hard to stimulate. With the advent of top-dressing and the dis covery that lime was particularly suitable to the nature of the soil, very gratifying results have been achieved. Growth was further stimulated by superphosphate, and in many instances property owners are now carrying treble the stock. The district is flourishing, feed is plentiful, and stock is in fairly forward condition, despite the fact that the rainfall during the late spring and summer months 1 as not been as light as could be expected. Lambs particularly are thriving well, and buyers have already forwarded considerable numbers to the works.

“It's as bad as the slump,” was how an Eastern District farmer summed up the state of the wool market, in conversing with a Southland Times reporter after his contribution had been submitted to the buyers at the last wool sale in Invercargill. Be remarked that he had sold his pieces at 6Ad per lb, but his fleece wool had been passed in at id above this figure, and arrangements had been made for this to be held for 12 months. Asked whether he was in favour of the suggestion that the New Zealand sales should be postponed, the farmer said he was very doubtful whether any good purpose would be achieved. The buyers appeared to be prepared to take about half at their own prices. After all, New Zealand only produced about 5 per cent, of the world’s wool, he said, and it was scarcely likely that any action on the part of the Dominion growers would have any effect on the state of the market.