STRAYS

Southland Times, Issue 22770, 21 December 1935, Page 14

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The Show Season. Show dates for the 1935-36 season are as follows:— January 11.—Blueskin, at Waitati. January 18.—Waikouaiti. January 24.—Palmerston and Waihemo. February s.—Waiau A. & P. Association, at Tuatapere. March 14.—Upper- Clutha, at Pembroke. March 21. —Temuka and Geraldine, at Winchester. April 13.—Mackenzie County, at Fairlie. ♦ » ♦ ♦ Wool Sales. The following are the dates of the various wool sales for the Dominion this season and the allocations:— 1935. Date. Sale. Bales. December 20—Dunedin 25,000 1936. January 6—Wellington 30,000 January 11—Napier 30,000 January 16—Wanganui 30,000 January 21—Auckland 25,000 January 27—Christchurch 28,000 January 31—Invercargilll 26,000 February s—Dunedin5 —Dunedin 30,000 February 10—Timaru No limit February 15—Wellington 30,000 February 20—Napier 28,000 February 24—Wanganui 30,000 March 3—Christchurch 26,000 March 6—lnvercargill No limit March 11—Dunedin 28,000 March 16—Wellington 25,000 March 20—Napier No limit March 24—Auckland No limit March 27—Wanganui No limit March 31—Christchurch No limit April 3—Dunedin No limit April B—Wellington No limit

Taranaki Shearing. Sheep farmers have been taking full advantage of the fine spell of weather during the past few days, said a Taranaki scribe last Saturday. After the long spell of very broken weather the fine spell proved particularly welcome as shearing operations were very considerably delayed during the previous six weeks when it was only possible to carry them on intermittently. Indeed, hardly had a start been made when rain wet the sheep and caused a suspension of operations. Farmers in the back country who like to shear early before the utiwai or biddi biddi has a chance to seed and stick to the wool feared that they would be well caught this year. Fortunately, however, the weather also had a detrimental effect on the utiwai, which did not come forward as early as usual. Some farmers have been caught by the biddi biddi, but the position from that point of view is not as serious as might have been expected. * * * * The World’s Wheat. The International Institute of Agriculture gives the provisional estimate of the Australian 1935 wheat crop at over 72,000,000 cwt., which is 1 per cent, above last year, and 27 per cent, below the average. The Argentine crop is unlikely to exceed 90,000,000 cwt compared with 125,000,000 cwt last year. The European total at 825,000,000 cwt is about 25,000,000 cwt above the average. The Italian crop at 152,000,000 cwt shows an increase of 22 per cent, and the French at 149,000,000 cwt a decrease of 18 per cent. The Canadian crop at 156,000,000 cwt is 18 per cent, below the average and the United States at 320,000,000 cwt shows an increase of 21,000,000 cwt. No details concerning the Russian crop are available, but indications are that it will be plentiful. The world crop is about equal to last year’s but is well below the average.

Meat In America. “They do not know what good meat is in America,” commented Mr F. A. B. Peters, an American, who after 39 years spent in Australia has just completed an eight months’ holiday tour of his own country and Canada, states the Auckland Star. Mr Peters remarked that he was not a great meat eater, but he was longing to get back to Australia to “taste a bit of good lamb.” Commenting on conditions in America, Mr Peters said that there were far too many profits between the producer and the consumer, with the result that prices were often at a ridiculously high level. For instance, when the Roosevelt Administration ordered the destruction of 4,500,000 pigs, the price to the producer rose to about 10 cents a pound. Yet pork chops could not be purchased by the consumer at under 45 to 50 cents. Beef was much the same. The result was that they had become luxury dishes, which the average family could not afford. * ♦ * ♦ Developing Pastures. The value of the principle of rotational grazing cannot be emphasized too much. The systematic resting of a field after being rapidly eaten down encourages maximum production of grass and hence maximum food production, says a North Island writer. With continuous close grazing leaf production is discouraged, and when this is done the development of a vigorous rooting system is checked. This is of special significance in the development of new pasture. A recent English experiment emphasizes the importance of this fact. Five different pastures were equally divided. One part was closely and severely cropped, either by grazing or mowing, while the other parts were leniently treated. After the first season the root systems were critically examined. The grass lenientffi treated had an average of 63 per cent, more roots by weight than the severely cropped ones. Just as restriction of leaf production prevents root development so poor root development checks the production of leaf. Both leaf and root must be encouraged if the best result is to be obtained.

Italy’s Wool Stocks. In view of the present, situation, it is of interest to note the position of supplies of wool in Italy. Stocks of tops give an indication of the quantities on hand. At July 31 last the merino tops held were 873,4001 b compared with 4,382,4001 b a year before. The stock' of crossbreds was 1,614,8001 b the holding 12 months before being 4,609,0001 b. During the 1934-35 year exports of wool from Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Uruguay to Italy totalled 96,400,0001 b, being 25,200,0001 b less than in 1933-34. Increased supplies were secured from Africa, Argentina and Uruguay, but the Australian total displayed a decrease of 70 per cent. It is evident from the position of stocks of tops and the total imports that Italy has not accumulated large supplies. Buyers who usually purchase for her have bought limited quantities of raw materials since this season opened. Her own wool clip totals about 42,000,0001 b, the equivalent of about 135,000 bales, or about one-fourth of her annual requirements. To meet her needs, she must, therefore, import wool hemp, and wastes are being mixed with wool in Italy for the production of fabrics. Latest reports state that increased activity was being experienced in the production of cloths and blankets for military use.