IS IT DEAD?

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17058, 12 June 1926, Page 11

IS IT DEAD?

DOMINION’S DEEP EXPOUT. ARGENTINE OUSTS US FROM • AIA RKET. EFFECT ON MUTTON AND LA ADR The last year has practically seen the death of the New Zealand frozen beef .trade. T’liat was the statement made by a prominent man in the. meat business at Wellington. 'Die recent drought on the east eiiasi of the North Island, he said, had led to large killings of cows, calves, ami yearlings in Hawke's Bay and thi> W airarapa, and the result must be serious to the New Zealand trade in frozen beef for at least two or three years to come. There was always a limited market for frozen beef in tho past, not at high prices, but at payaide prices for surplus stock. Cattle in New Zealand were used for keeping iho sheep pastures in good order, and with fair prices a farmer should consider himself well paid. The .situation was different from the Argentine, where .stock was killed at two years or IS months. Here the stock was killed at four years. ; 'The nest coast of the North Island is leportcd to have had a fairly good year, and it is stated that the cattle stocks are at least normal. The South Island is said to have been doing exceptionally well. Hut in Auckland beef grazing has diminished almost to extinguishing point, and although ill ere are a mini her of cattle in North Auckland they are not of prime quality. , OVERSEAS ALA RKET. The overseas market for New Zealand beef has vanished. New Zealand fores have been quoted at 3-Ad per lb and hinds at sd, an average of 4jd per lb. But at these ligures Dominion beef cannot compete seriously with Argentine chilled beef, which is being supplied to British and continental markets at M'd per lb for fores and 4.1 d for hinds. It is considered in Wellington that there is no possible doubt that the supplies of chilled beef available at lower prices have also somewhat affected the prices paid for New Zealand mutton and iamb. Graziers apparently aro not willing to seek possible higher prices for beef. Sufficient beef for local markets is till that has been expected during the winter and this year it is considered problematical whether the supplies will be sufficient. CHILLED BEEF. But it is considered that there are possibilities ahead for the Dominion in the exploitation of the chilled beef industry. Australia has begun to do so and New Zealand’s chances are said not yet to have vanished. Beyond this the season for meat is considered to have been a fairly good one. There has boon a slight downward tendency in the prices of mutton and lamb, but the market is more stable. ;The Meat Control Board, he said, is endeavoring to foster an export trade in pork, and has had some encouragement as a result of the previous season ’s shipments. The New Zealand shipments are highly assessed by the British merchants and further consignments should be welcomed, but must -be regular. Efforts are being made to organise the pork export industry on a comprehensive scale, but a now attitude to the pig industry is required. It is inseparably associated with the dairying industry and tho bnly effective moans of organising appears to be through the dairy companies. Hitherto these companies have been chiefly concerned with matters relating to Die export of butter and cheese. It may be only a matter of time when attention is turned to the pork export industry. There is n large and important field for exploitation for the New Zealand producer and every phase ol production that can enhance the value fit dairying is of inestimable value to the Dominion. “ARTIFICIALS” FOR POTATOES. Lancashire field trials with potatoes in 1025 go to prove that farmyard manure alone cannot be recommended for tho crop, either in a large or small dressing. A mixture of artificial manures in ilie following proportions should always be added: Superphosphate 3 parts, sulphate of ammonia 1 part, and sulphate of potash 1 part. This should be applied at the rate ol 5-10 cwt. per statute acre, according to the character of the land and the amount of farmyard manure available. Whore the land is suitable and good yields are possible heavy dressings should lie applied, but when the soil is less suitable part of a heavy dressing would probably be wasted.

EFFECTS OF SLAG

Sir John Russell is a great believer in basic slag, as a fertiliser which deepens the root range of herbage and opens up the soil to the absorption of water. Land without slag, whether uninaiiured or stocked with sheep to which cake has been fed, is only with difficulty pervious to water; it is hard and dry below the surface, ami the rain, especially when it comes aftci a drought, is unable to soak in but lies in the furrows, encouraging rushes and other mi desirable vegetation. On slugged ground a deeper-rooted herbage has been developed, opening up the subsoil and allowing water to soak away easily, while purely surface •trasses aro crowded out.