ON THE LAND

Southland Times, Issue 22333, 26 May 1934, Page 5

ON THE LAND

NEWS OF THE FARM WINTER FEED QUESTION HORSES IN DEMAND At the present time there is not a great deal doing on Southland farms. The recent wet and stormy weather has put a different complexion on things and farmers are now commencing to look for winter feed for their stock. Most farmers will rely on turnips, but while the turnip crop is likely to be much better than expected at one period of the season, there is nevertheless by no means a first class crop available in some of the districts. This is the result of club-root for the most part and the effect the dry weather had so soon after sowing. It now looks as if the turnips available will just cover Southland requirements and no more. The present one has been a good fattening year and most farmers have had no difficulty in fattening their lambs and old ewes. The latter will get a good cleaning out this year, but even a greater percentage of old ewes might have been fattened to advantage and more ewe lambs retained on farms with the idea of adding to breeding stocks. From now on ploughing will commence to engage the attention of farmers, and at present it is noticeable that there is a good demand for horseflesh for this purpose. Although there is no appreciable advance, prices are firm at Home in the dairy produce market and several factories are placing a reserve upon consignments now going forward or remaining unsold in London. The inquiry for farm property continues, and it is likely that there will be more deals to report in the near future. New Zealand Friesian Association. The balance-sheet of the New Zealand Friesian Association for the year ended March 31, 1934, shows an expenditure for the 12 months of £2448 9/- compared with an income of £2367 6/8. The accumulated fund, therefore, which stood at £1985 4/8 at the close of last year now stands at £1904 2/4. Sundry creditors and the _ bad debts reserve bring the total liabilities as at March 31 ,to £2999 10/8. The annual meeting of the association will be held in Hamilton on May 31. Threshing Returns.

If the threshing turns out as well for the whole season as it has done up to the present, the total return from the 294,000 acres under wheat in New Zealand this year will be 9,555,000 bushels, compared with the unusually heavy return of 11.054,972 bushels last year. Figures so far available show that up to April 26 of this year 4,164,421 bushels have been threshed, giving a return of 32.44 bushels to the acre. At the same date last year the threshing was 6.611,805 bushels, an average of 38.52 an acre. Estimates of damage by frost and hail made at the beginning of the season were unduly pessimistic, and the crop has turned out better than was then expected. It is estimated that of last year’s surplus the board still holds 400,000 bushels, and this added to the anticipated surplus of 500,000 to 600,000 bushels this year, will bring the carry-over to next season to about 1,000,000 bushels, estimating the requirements of the county at from 8,000,000 to 9.000,000 bushels of milling, feed, and seed wheat. Dairy Produce Prices. The following is a comparison of the dairy produce prices ruling at present and those of a week earlier, the mean of the price range being given: May 17. May 24. Butter—

Danish 89/N.Z. (finest salted) 74'G 77/6 N.Z. (finest unsalted) 74/6 77/6 Australian (finest salted) < 0 — 75/(finest unsaltcd) 75/Cheese— N.Z. (white) 45/N.Z. (coloured) 43/3 44/6 Australian (coloured) — 43/6 Australian (white) — 43/6 Canadian (white) 53/Canadian (coloured) 53/- —