BETTER PASTURES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1023, 14 July 1930, Page 11

BETTER PASTURES

COMBINING LIME WITH MANURES RESEARCH COUNCIL’S WORK Special to THE SUN WELLINGTON, Saturday. “Knowledge of the correct methods of top-dressing is now being rapidly advanced as a result of carefully conducted experiments throughout New Zealand and at the plant research station,” commented Mr. G. Shirtcliffe, chairman of the Scientific and Industrial Research Council, at a meeting of the executive. The chairman went on to explain the recognition of the importance of lime toward improving the returns from other fertilisers. There had been sufficient evidence of the good results arising from applications of nitrogenous manures with phosphates and lime in prolonging the grazing season and providing fresh green fodder at times when dearths were usually experienced. One of the most striking features of the work was the result obtained when these concentrated manures were applied to pastures comprised of certified strains of ryegrass and clover. Good progress had been made toward knowledge of controlling some of the most serious fungoid diseases of fodder crops. Dry rot and club root in turnijjs, collar rot in peas and sclerotina in lupins and peas were being studied carefully. Valuable results have been obtained from the examination by British tanners of pelts “processed” by various methods at New Zealand freezing works. During the past season, investigations' in pig recording in the Waikato had produced good results. One Waikato return showed that, in a group, the weight of 1,043 pigs at the age of eight weeks showed an increase of about 14,0001 b over the weight recorded in the previous year. This represented an increased return to the owners of 4s 6d a pig, due to better feeding and management. From wool researches at the Massey Agricultural College, Palmerston North, valuable data had been obtained regarding the conditions necessary in experiments on yield, type of wool, and the relations of wool and fat to growth. In the experiments at Leeds on specially-selected New Zealand fleeces, prominent buyers, including Sir Frederick Aykroyd, were co-operating. LAMB UNCHANGED MEAT MARKET RATES IN LONDON BEEF SALES DULL Little change lias taken place in the lamb market in London, according to a cable received by the Mew Zealand Meat Producers’ Board from Its London office, dated July 11. There is a good demand for best quality, but second quality is weaker. In tho mutton market, wethers remain depressed, owing to over-supply. There is a floor demand for owes. Mew Zealand beef is on a dull market, and, owing to hot weather, there is practically no demand for New Zealand porker pigs. New Zealand baconer pigs are bringing nominal prices, owing to lower prices for Continental bacon. The average prices for the week were: New Zealand Sheep.-—Canterbury and North Island selected crossbred wethers and maiden ewes: 48/56, 42d a lb.; 57/64, 4 3-8 d a lb; 65/72, 4 3-8 d a lb. North Island crossbred “wethersand maiden ewes: 48/56, 4Jd; 57/64, 41d; 65/72, 44d. Ewes: 48/64, 23d; 65/72. 21d. New Zealand Lambs.—Canterbury: 36/under, 8 7-8 d; 37/42, BJd; 43/50, Sid; second quality. average 33, 71-81 Other South Island: 36/under, 83d; 37/42, 8 3-8 d; 43/60, • Sid. Selected North Island brands, including Downs: 3G/under, fld; 37/42, BJd; 43/50, Xld; second quality, average, 31, Bd. Other North Island, brands: First quality, 36/under, 81d; 37/42, Sid; second quality, average, 31, 73d. Australian Lambs. —Victorian: First quality, 36/under, 7d; 37/42, 63<1. Argentine lambs: First quality, 36/under, 6 5-8 d; 37/42, 6 1-Sd. New Zealand Beef.—Ox fores, 3d; ox hinds, sd. Argentine beef (chilled): Ox fores, 3 3-8 d; ox hinds, 7Jd. Australian beef: Ox crops, over 100, 3d; ox hinds, over 160, sd. New Zealand Porker Pigs:—Prime: 60/100, 7d: 101/120, 63d. New Zealand baconer pigs: Prime: 121/180, 63d. BANKS STRENGTHENED SITUATION IN AUSTRALIA Striking figures demonstrating how tho banks in Australia have strengthened their positions during the past 40 years are published by the Sydney “Bulletin.” The “Bulletin” remarks that, in spite of the great fall in values in Australia and the very unsatisfactory position of the national finances, there has not been a breath of suspicion in regard to any bank. Australia owed more to its banks than it yet realised, because they had kept their heads in the past few years. The following table shows *the ratio of deposits to funds (capital and reserves) :

• 4.06 to 1 on funds and perpetual stocks, t 1.66 to 1 on funds and perpetual stocks. Obviously, reserves have been built up. The “Bulletin” remarks that reserves, so far as they will go, protect the capital, and both capital and reserves protect the depositor. The size of the reserves in proportion to capital should show the protection enjoyed by shareholders. The following table shows the positions of reserves and capital at the latest balancing:

MOTUROA OIL WELLS / Press Association NEW PLYMOUTH, Today. Moturoa Oilfields. Limited, report that tb© No. 1 well drilling operations recommenced today after suspension since .Tune 26 to cement the lOin casing at 1,572 feet.

1889-00. 1929-30. Australasia .. .. A.B.C . . 8.43 „ 4.43 „ Adelaide 1.42 „ 2.65 „ Com. of Australia Corn, of Sydney .. 7.63 ,, 6.04 3 , E., S. and A 4.74 ,, *5.24 „ National 5.04 ,, 4.52 ,, N.S. Wales .. .. 8.21 ,, 4.78 ,, Q.N 4.89 ,, f 3.66 ,, Union 5.21 „ 2. as „

Australasia Capital. £ Reserves. £ 4,589,760 A.B.C 2,208,000 1,115,550 Adelaide 1,250,000 1,049,482 Com. of Australia 3,803,000 1,994,190 Com. of Sydney 4,739.013 4,271,508 E., S. and A 3,000,000 3,427,741 Xational 5,000,000 3,257,773 X.S. Wales 7,500,000 0,313,478 Q.N 821,059 Union 4,000,000 4,936,336