ON THE LAND

Southland Times, Issue 22158, 28 October 1933, Page 5

ON THE LAND

WEEKLY REVIEW UNSETTLED WEATHER CONDITIONS DEMAND FOR DAIRY COWS The rough and unsettled weather of the past week undoubtedly had a retarding effect upon the growth of grass. Nevertheless, as soon -as there is an improvement there will be a good flush of feed owing to the season being so early this year. Those farmers whose ewes have not completed lambing have had an anxious few days, but fortunately the major portion was completed before the latest break in the weather. Ryegrass seed has had a good cleaning out during the past few weeks. A good deal of Southland seed has been shipped to England, and the prospects next season, as a result, should be considerably enhanced. The opening prices for ryegrass last year were desperately low, and for a long while it looked as if these prices were higher than was justified, but fortunately the demand from the United Kingdom set in and saved the situation. There is a surprisingly good demand for cows considering the low price for cheese, but this is due to farmers having a number of cows which suffered vaginitis and other troubles, consequently they fell short of the number of cows to milk. Any good cows coming early to profit have brought very good prices, considering the outlook for dairy produce. The good inquiry for farm property continues, and during the week a portion of J. Carton’s farm, near Dacre, about 400 acres, changed hands, the purchaser being Mr W. E. Hunt. Excellent entries, showing an increase on last year, have been received for the Kelso Show, which will be held on Wednesday. In the draught horse section Messrs Fleming Bros., Crookston, and Mr A. Thomson and R. Hamilton, Kelso, will be competing and Mr Hamilton’s latest importation from Scotland, Roseprint and _ _ Birkhall Hiawatha, will be on exhibition. A revision has been made in the competition programme, several new classes being included. The entries in the sheep section are well up to standard, particularly among the crossbreds, a class in which tbe Kelso Show has gained some note, while the entries in the cattle and dog sections are also good. Sales of sheepskins at Auckland and Dunedin last week showed that the former market was easier since last sales. At the latter market mediumsized catalogues were offered to a good attendance of buyers. There was keen competition from exporters and fellmongers, and the market can be quoted firm to id higher than last sale. Best halfbreds sold to lid per lb. Auckland fine crossbreds sold 61d to 6d; coarse, 4£d to 43d. The next New Zealand wool sales open at Auckland on November 27, Napier on December 1 and Wellington on December 7.

Dairy Produce. The following is a comparison of the dairy produce prices ruling on Thursday and those of a week earlier, the mean of the prices range being given: Oct. 19. Oct. 26.

Butter— Danish 117/N.Z. (finest salted) 99/6 93/6 N.Z. (finest unsalted) 106/- -—— Australian (finest salted) 98/6 92/6 (finest unsalted) 103/Cheese— N.Z. (white) 48/N.Z. (coloured) 48/— 46/6 Australian (white) 48/- —— — Australian (coloured) 46/6 —