ON THE LAND

Southland Times, Issue 22499, 8 December 1934, Page 7

ON THE LAND

NEWS OF THE FARM THE ROYAL SHOW NEXT WEEK PROPERTY MARKET Although the fall of rain earlier in the week was welcome and helped to freshen pastures in some parts of the province, there was insufficient to give absolute benefit, and while the good weather is appreciated generally Southland cannot go too long without a good fall of rain. Fanners everywhere are very busy with all of their summer work. Those who have not sown their turnips are finishing up their preparatory work so as to be ready for sowing directly rain has fallen. Turnips sown early have come on very well, but those which were sown in the dry spell have not done so well. There was hardly enough rain during the week to be of much assistance to some 6f the later'lots. In fact it is reported that 25 miles north of Invercargill there was no rain at all. ' A good many farmers are busily engaged in shearing and already some of this season’s clip has reached the wool stores in Invercargill. Farmers are inclined to be somewhat down-hearted at the trend of the market as disclosed by the recent Auckland wool sale, but as it is nearly two months away before the first wool sale in Invercargill, there is every possibility of an improvement by then. Everywhere in the country there is an abundance of grass, but if the present dry spell continues dairy cows will not do so well as on sappier pastures. The intake of milk at the factories has reached its peak and from now on it will probably drop owing to the dry weather.

It is reported that a bigger quantity of milk than usual is required this year to make a pound of cheese; nevertheless the yield of cheese per pound of butterfat seems to be well maintained.

Farmers will turn their attention to the Royal Show next week. _ According to reports the show promises to be a very successful one. It certainly is pleasing to note that the entries are a record. Southland stock are looking very well at the present time and it is anticipated that the local exhibits will acquit themselves very well in the show Manures continue to play a prominent part in farm routine of the day. The stores are still catering for farmers and it is considered that the present season has been the busiest for manures ever experienced in the south. The National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, Limited, Gore, report the sale on account of Mr W. A. Baxter, Heriot, of his valuable river flat property of 726 acres freehold, together with the stock and plant, situated at Pomahaka and well known as the old Glenkenick homestead. The purchaser is Mr W. J. Hailes, of Balfour. Other recent sales made by the same firm, are on account of Mr T. Allen, Pukerau, 200 acres freehold to Mr B. Donaldson, of Roxburgh; on account of the estate of the late H. Pemble, 400 acres leasehold and freehold to Messrs Herron Bros., Greenvale; on account of the estate of the late A. J. Biondell, Waimumu, 220 acres freehold to Mr N. Hellier, of Arthurton; on. account of Mrs Thornhill, Tuturau, 80 acres of highly improved land to Mr Allan Galt, of Tuturau. A number of forward sales of rape lambs are reported as having been mride in the last few weeks in the south eastern coastal districts of Hawkes Bay. The figure at which business has been done ranges from 15/- to 15/6—quite a satisfactory price from the vendors’ viewpoint, considering the comparative uncertainty of the fat lamb outlook, states the Napier Daily Telegraph. Several forward sales of white-face lambs are reported to have taken place in the, northern end of the province during the last few weeks, prices at which business has been done ranging from'ls/- to 16/-. The public of New Zealand does not always realize that statements made in the New Zealand Press are frequently used to advantage by those in Great Britain who have a particular axe to grind. The publicity given by the Dairy Commission’s report to the prevalence of tuberculosis in New Zealand dairy herds will prove a very effective weapon in the hands 'of the salesman of Danish dairy produce. The incidence of tuberculosis in Danish cattle is far higher than in New Zealand, but the Danes refer to the necessity of culling out cows—they never refer to tuberculosis. The Danish exporters have their own salesmen moving about Great Britain, men who are conversant with Danish conditions. New Zealand has none. Apart from the splendid work being done by the Dairy Board’s Publicity Department, New Zealand has no personal touch with her customers. 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:

Nov. 29. Butter— Dec. S. Danish 116/6 124/N..Z (finest salted) 72/6 72/N.Z. (finest unsalted) —. 76/Australian (finest salted) 70/6 70/(finest unsalted) — 73/Cheese— N.Z. (white) 45/N.Z. (coloured) 44/Australian (white) 43/Australian (coloured) 43/Canadian (white) ■ » Canadian (coloured)