ON THE LAND

Southland Times, Issue 25312, 15 June 1935, Page 7

ON THE LAND

NEWS OF THE FARM COLD SNAP DELAYS OPERATIONS FEED CARTED TO STOCK Not for many years has the province experienced such an “early” winter as the cold and wintry visitation which descended upon Southland during the past week. June, although the mid-winter montli, is generally mild, with occasional frosts, and a Southland winter rarely sets in until July or August Strangely enough the cold snap was more or less localized at the outset and fqw of the country districts were affected. Later, however, the province as a whole suffered and snow, hail and sleet left their mark on the countryside. The result was a busy week for most farmers. General operations were more or less delayed, but the feeding of the stock kept them busily engaged. The snowfalls made it necessary for them to pull and cart turnips to the stock, or draw upon their supplies of hay. Fortunately the turnip supplies were available, but it will occasion no surprise if the demand for winter feed has been accentuated on this account.

Practically all agricultural work on the land was temporarily suspended. Ditching, draining and ploughing all had to be put aside and the more serious work of looking after the stock attended to. It is not anticipated that there will be any losses or damage, however. The falls in the back country were not particularly heavy, and as" the- weather ' cleared towards the week-end the snow did not have an opportunity to remain long. Inquiry for Cheese.

There is a brighter tone in the dairy industry. During the week there was a good inquiry for cheese and values showed a slightfy upward tendency. The indications are that values will improve still further and those factories which have not sold should reap the benefit of their patience. It is probable that the freezing season will end this week or next, but as usual one of the works will remain open to receive the last of the lambs. There is a keen demand for lambs, however, and it is not likely that many more will find their way to the works.

Southland farms continue to attract attention from northern buyers. The inquiry is still very good, and it is probable that there will be several changes within the next few weeks. One of the latest sales is the farm of 220 acres, recently owned by Mr A. E. Cox, of South Hillend, sold to Mr Wilson, a son of Mr T. Wilson, an adjoining farmer. London wool sales have proceeded under favourable selling conditions, prices reflecting the advances in values recorded since the close of the previous English series on March 26 last. Spring Feed.

When the soil is not too wet and cold oats and barley may at times be sown with success in June to provide useful spring feed. Such crops usually respond profitably to a dressing of from lewt to 2cwt an acre of superphosphate, and should not be drilled deeply. Treatment of seed against parasites such as smut is as desirable as for the seed of cereal crops sown earlier. . Many sheep farmers are utilizing mangolds successfully without storing them. Customarily, broken-mouthed ewes are turned in to eat off the tops, and the roots are then harrowed out in “breaks” some days before the sheep are given access to them. The feeding takes place relatively late in the season when the mangolds, before being dislodged, have undergone a certain amount of natural ripening. Freshlypulled mangolds are more subject to injury by frost than those that have been pulled for a few days, and, because of this, if at all possible, broken, mild weather should be chosen for the work of pulling. When pitting is to be done the throwing of the mangolds into small heaps, covering the heaps with leaves removed from the roots and leaving them for somewhat more than a week before carting, is favoured by some as leading to better keeping of the roots in the pit. Value of Dairy Foods. A new booklet, giving recent medical and other scientific testimony to the nutritive value of butter, has been issued by the London office of. the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board. It collates an impressive body of official British medical opinion on the nutritive value of dairy foods, particularly of grass-fed butter, and is being circulated by the board to medical officers of health, public hospitals, school medical officers, education and public assistance committees, medical practitioners, women’s associations, and health organizations throughout the United Kingdom, with the object of promoting a greater consumption of butter generally. At the same time, the booklet incorporates specific testimony from eminent medical experts as to the particularly high and uniform nutritive value of the New Zealand product, but its main object is to promote medical and public appreciation of the nutritional importance of butter generally. A valuable foreword is contributed .by Lord Horder, the eminent physician. He says he can add his blessing to the pamphlet with entire conviction, “for any publication which helps the public to attain to a higher standard of nutrition, and particularly by a greater consumption of milk and milk products, must be welcomed by all who are interested In the improvement of our race. “Butter is milk in one of its most palatable and easily assimilable forms,” continues Lord Horder, “and its food value and economy have hitherto been insufficiently recognized.” Dairy Produce Prices. " The following is a comparison of the prices ruling at present' and those of a fortnight earlier, the mean of the price range being given: , June 6. June 13. Butter—

Danish 100/N.Z. (finest salted) 86/N.Z. (finest unsalted) 82/84/6 Australian (finest salted) 84/(finest unsalted) 84/Cheese— N.Z. (white) 43/3 44/N.Z. (coloured) 43/9 44/Australian (white) 41/9 42/3 Australian (coloured) 41/9 42/3