CURRENT NOTES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17179, 8 February 1930, Page 11

CURRENT NOTES

Demand for Cattle Very few station cattle have been changing hands recently, but a considerable amount of forward buying has been done for delivery in April. Prices quoted in respect of this business indicate that values are on a fairly high level. Some yearling steers have been quoted at £5, while 2}-year steers have been dealt, with at £8 10s, the latter price being held to be equivalent to £0 at the Matawhero saleyards.

Danger of Ragwort Ragwort appears to be spreading at Tiniroto. The roadside through the township provides an abundance of the brilliant yellow bloom, while a portion of the school reserve is thick with the weed. Ragwort has invaded also some of the farms. Nearer Gisborne, on the slopes of Gentle Annie, the weed has made its appearance, and unless steps are taken to eradicate it Poverty Bay may be in danger of suffering to a similar extent as the Waikato and the King Country districts did a ‘few years ago. Fat Lambs

Although the present season for fattening lambs commenced well in Poverty Bay, and large numbers came to the freezing works front the flats fairly early, the wet weather which set in later was responsible for a reduction in the numbers slaughtered, ♦with comparatively few being received at present. The lambs appeared to be most backward on the back country, but in these parts they are reported now to bit making good progress. It is not expected, however, that the lambs will be received at the freezing works in any considerable numbers until next month. Pedigree Jerseys Under Test

Three Toatoa pedigree. Jerseys cows are included in the December list of cows which have qualified for the certificate of record test made by the Department of Agriculture. All of those arc the property of Mr. \V. J. Paul; a junior two-vcar-old Ferncrest Aster, producing 1)17.3811). of fat in 365 days, being the third on the list for this class, the best heifer in which produced 579.011 b. in 305 days. For mature cows, Mr. Paul’s Lakeside Tilly produced 577.501 b. in 305 days, and another, Carmen Sylvia, was credited with a production of 359.4711). in 298 days. All of the three animals mentioned were on twice-a-day milking.

Jersey Club Project Judging by the enthusiasm of the large attendance at a meeting of Jersey breeders during the week, it is apparent that the newly-formed club for Poverty Bay will commence its activities with sufficient support to fully uphold the ideals of such an organisation. The meeting this week expressed thanks to Mr. R. L. Seed for the part he had played in organising the effort, and it must, be gratifying to Mr. Seed to see the enthusiasm with .which the new organisation has taken the matter up. One of the proposals for the near future is the formation of calf clubs in conjunction with the Jersey Cattle Club here, the idea being to encourage the children in the care and breeding of pedigree Jersey stock. Similar clubs in other districts arc providing a good educative basis for the farmers of the future, and it is found that the children have responded well and have been taking a great interest in their hobbies.

Fertilising Hill Lands At Tiniroto top-dressing appears to have come well into favor, and now a fairly large number of farmers are following the example set by a few men about four years ago. A variety of manures has been used this season. Superphosphate, which was generally purchased in the past, gave satisfactory results, but some of the station owners there are keen to experiment in order to ascertain which type will he the best for their conditions. Last season dressings at 2cwt. of superphosphate to the acre cost farmers a little over £1 an acre, but more costly manures have been used by some of the men this season, with the result that the cost per acre has risen considerably. One man who bought a mixture of superphosphate and ammoilia, and had it carted back on the wool lorries from Putorino, worked out the cost of his dressings at a little over £1 7s an acre. Even at this high figure, he maintains, he wiill be amply repaid if lie secures the result he anticipates. Dairying Increase

Dairy production in Poverty Bay has been sufficient this season to show a slight increase on the total over the corresponding period last season. Tho early part of the dairying period did not commence as well as was the case in the spring of 1928, but the deficiency was soon made up and maintained. Taking the Kia Ora Cooperative Dairy Co.’s figures as a guide, the best proportional increase was in January, which was a wet month compared with the commencement of a short, dry spell in January last year. It is hoped, therefore, that the increase for February will be better proportionately than it: was last month. The manufacture of butter at the Kia Ora factory last month was 320,84011)., an increase from 313,8591 b. in January of last year. The December production this season was 345,2941 b. of butter compared with 338,971i1b. for the corresponding month last, season. The January production of this season and

of last, was in each case approximately 25,0001 b. of butter less than in December,' which has been the peak month for the past few seasons. The total output of the Kia Ora factory for the season up to January 31 was 71.1 tons, an increase of 11 tons over the corresponding period last season. The total output for 1925-29 was 1074 tons, and if a good autumn is experienced the management hopes to reach the 1100 tons mark this season.

Cases of hot and red worm diseases in farm horses have been numerous in the Rangiora and Cust districts this summer, reports a Christchurch exchange. It is believed that the very wet winter has aggravated the trouble. The hots, as they grow, riddle the lining of the stomach, and starvation followed by special medicine is necessary to save the horses’ lives. On one farm two yearlings have died through red worm disease, while another animal, a three-year-old, is wasting away on account of bots, tho eggs of which have been consumed after /.ailing from under the horse’s chin into chaff or licked from its legs. A good home remedy for bots, it is stated, is to give the affected horse plenty of raw carrots or potatoes.

Lambs are moving off in everincreasing numbers to the works, and it is expected that there will be a record season in the export of lamb this year, writes a Temuka correspondent. In this line of farming activity, the average drop of 5s per head from last year, coupled with the much reduced price for wool, will not leave much margin for the men who bought ewes last, autumn for 35s and over; the only bright spot for those concert'd being the fact of a high average lambing and few losses compared with previous years. The autumn sales will, no doubt, see lower prices for breeding ewes, and also, some may turn their attention to wheat again if the demand warrants it.