ON THE LAND

Southland Times, Issue 22490, 26 January 1935, Page 5

ON THE LAND

NEWS OF THE FARM BENEFICIAL RAINS OFFER FOR FEBRUARY CHEESE Quite a change came over the weather throughout the province during the week, and the glorious summer conditions of the past months took on a wintry aspect in the course of a few hours. Although the conditions became very boisterous towards the end of the week, pastures and crops reflected the benefits of much-needed watering, and yesterday it was reported that the situation, as far as the need of rain was concerned, was greatly relieved. There is little doubting the immense good that must have resulted from the rainfall of the week, and even if farmers were hampered in their harvesting operations, there would be little cause for complaint. The Wool Sale. Next Friday, Southland’s first wool sale will be conducted. Preparations locally are well forward, and judging by the activity of the past few weeks there should be full catalogues forward. The wool sales that have been held in the Dominion since the New Year have done no more than indicate the firmness of the market at rates generally on a level with those ruling at the final sales of the year. There has been no change to speak of in the market since the last auction in Dunedin just before Christmas, and at the moment the best that can be hoped for is a continued firmness on existing rates. The result of the improved prices at the London sales which were commenced over a week ago has been to bridge the gap which had existed between London parity and New Zealand values. The first South Island sale of the yeai will be held at Christchurch next'Monday, and will be followed by auctions at Invercargill and Dunedin during the next two weeks. Of interest to dairy farmers is the advice, received yesterday, of offers of s|d, f.0.b., for cheese made since February 1, less, of course, the usual Ij per cent, commission. Dairy farming is now in full swing in Southland, although it is reported that cows have gone back a little in their milk following on the dry weather period. Longbeach Friesians. Probably the finest example in New Zealand of successful breeding of pedigree dairy cattle is shown by the records of the Longbeach Friesian herd owned by Mr John H. Grigg, who was host last week to his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. Fifty-two years ago Mr J. C. N. Grigg, son of the founder of Longbeach Station, after finishing his college career at Cambridge University, visited North Germany and Holland. At Hamburg he bought a prize-winning bull, Tauraeau, and in North Holland he bought seven in-calf cows, Sunflower, Marigold, Rosebud, Spot, Buttercup, May Rose, and Netherland Queen. All through the 50 years no other Friesian blood has been brought into the Longbeach herd, excepting that in 1920 and 1921 bulL bought from W. Barton, Featherston, were used as herd sires. Many of the Friesians at present at Longbeach are descended wholly from the original importations, and in the case of the others there is practically no other blood than the pure Dutch Friesian. Remaining Wool Sales. The remaining wool sales for the 1934-35 season have been arranged as follow’s: Jan. 28, Christchurch; Feb. 1, Invercargill; Feb. 6, Dunedin; Feb. 13, Wellington; Feb. 18, Napier; Feb. 22, Wanganui; Mar. 1, Christchurch- Mar. 4, Invercargill; Mar. 9, Dunedin; Mar. 13, Timaru; Mar. 20, Wellington; Mar. 25, Napier; Mar. 29, Auckland; April 1, Wanganui; April 5, Christchurch; April 8, Dunedin; April 13, Wellington. 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:

Jan. 17. Butter— Jan. 24. Danish 116/N.Z. (finest salted) 80/6 84/6 N.Z. (finest unsalted) — — Australian (finest salted) 79/6 82/6 (finest unsalted) 82/6 — Cheese— N.Z. (white) 46/N.Z. (coloured) 46/45/6 Australian (white) 44/6 44/Australian (coloured) 44/6 43/Canadian (white) ■ — Canadian (coloured) — -----