AGRICULTURAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13490, 11 January 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

AGRICULTURAL.

lhc " l-'aiuici-i Union Aiivo-:.>U- I strongly urp:."t every nlh'cpyttiicr '•> e"- j courage, whenever pnssibk-. ia.is to lea.n shearing. The machines h.ive- almost driven the learner away. A lad often went on a» ••tleecc-o" just to have an opportrniitv of shearing » sheep at " .-tnokt-oli. and odd time?. This i> imposoible with the sheaving niachir.es. for. wh.n the sliettretst are not working, the niachiussr is oiling or otherwise attending to ntaeliine.i, and no one can therefore work unksi he takes ii ttand. Shearing i« very ei'.i=ily learnt now-a-days. in fact, one only leqnirea ths oppottnaity and he can master it in a few days. In the intsifists of all concerned, the shed should have a learner in it. All over the Dominion shearers are .apparently, scarce, and ciheep .tie increasing, ist> beginners should be eneoiiragwl, etse, when the older men leave the work there will be none; to take their j.iace. It ii J ties t the same* in regard to slaughtermen. Tiu work is intermittent, but highly paid, and, unless the companirs see the beginners, have a chance there wi:l be further trouble. THE WOOL MARKET. THE OUTLOOK. It appears front the position ot woul »>« the Home markets, says the "S.Z. Tinteu,' that those growers who refused to accept values offering at the iiist local sales of the season and shipped to London will have to accept prices fully twenty-tive |) -1" cent. below those they could have obtained in the Doniinicn. It is declared that cro:o----breds will not probably top 83d in London this month, equal to 7jd or a little under in ths Dominion. 011 the other hand, it will probably be found that the local sale this month will show a decline in rates of fully Id a pound on t!io-e- tuliug at last month's- tale, but at this they wilt be en a parity with Loudon values. It is a. difficult matter advising ptodiicets wi h wt/ol at tb>v ligtire what to do, butthis can be eald with some confidence — nothing will be gained, if the woo! is to be sold, by neglecting a loesl sale and shipping to London ft-r icalisation. It is declared 0:1 good authority that the prospects for medium audi crossbred wools are decidedly uncertain, and that little improvement is probabk during 1903. The brokers of Sydney, the principal selling centre of Act-tralia, have realised, and London brokeia are debating the question. that nothing is to be gained bv rttihing wool on to the market. The first Sydney auctions of the year have been, therefore, postponed from January 6th to January 21st, the date of the London sale. The method of. relieving the position London brokers have been discussing is limiting the quantities to bt offered ou the 21st. It is declared in London that there are signs of .the financial situation improving, and with that must come a better tone for the staple. Commenting on this action, a -writer in the "Sydney Morning Herald" nay*: "Of course, such a jiolicy would be unsound if stocks wen- heavy or consumptive demands were materially decreasing. There might be some risk if the financial panic were spreading iisstead of butig allayed ; or if there were extensive unrest or idleness in industrial centres. Xone of these untoward circumstances prevail to any serious extent, and there is good ground fcjr expecting an tvr-ier ji:ou*-V market in the Xew Year: and that is all that b required to make the position a more favourable one for w ooJdellers." The position in this country is, of course, much the ranie as and it would be decidedly to the advantage of Xew Zealand glower* did their brokers pursue policy similar to that of Sydney and London. Even were the brokers to enter into a compact not to offer wools carrying high , reserves. ». good effect would be produced. Xothrng is more demoralising to a eale than for big catalogues to be presented and the balk of the wools reserved at figure* quite beyond limits warranted by ruling value?. Were the offerings confined

to thow lines which growers wire pre■pared tf> sell at their broker's vr.lti.it ion-, buyers would be encouraged to compete, and a good and satisfactory sale would probably result. Wba'ever may be done by brokers, with the Sydney and London example before them. it will certainly to the interests. of producers if only small catalogue-* are presented at the furthcoming Wellington sale. DKMAXD FOR WOOLS. 1 XCTt KASsIXCr CONSTMPT! OX. Xt> special knowledp.' of the tiarfsr iievlf e;«ys Horn- paper. is required to recognise the increased eoraumption of wool, for this results from the- social and economic progress of civilised nations. Educauori, industrial development. increase of wealth. ]iav« been. and ;ti e contributin gcaui-e.-. All over the world vragv-S have became higher. itnd the improved purchasing power of the million has been mainly expended in satisfying the primary wants of •■xL>tcne»—food and clothes. Tit.- more liberal education of the masses has raised the standard oE living, and woollen manufactures of «H kinds are considered esseatiul to tte comforts and refinements of modern life, while the ingenuity of the manufacturer has created a de-maud lor cheap woollen goods at prices well within the limit of tin.- working man's purse. The working chin-fes require nore leisure and mora change than did the former generation t cheapness of modern travel has multiplied the naiubr of excursionists. and cheap clothier;. ;« comparatively recentfeature hi retail trade, exist to t>upplv holiday clothes to 1 Ii- crowds of Blackpool, Margate, and their Continental * univalents. Soldiers no longer wear the sumo uniform on active service as on patadc, and orders for khaki become heavier cr.ch year. Further, the incre .icing practice of all kinds of .-ports and games, as manufacturers know well, "has greatly increased thw consumption of woollen goods. Moralists may decry the luxurious tendency of the age, but ttie wool ttade can only benefit by the competition existing between those who cater for the* rich, Each year sees the construction of gigantic hotels in Europe or America. its f-n- outclassing those considered palatial a f MV ycats. ago as a T,usit;»nia. with her i ompiemeiit of over 3000 hnmr>n l*ing-, outclasses the giantc. of ten years back. Xewspapers xitenfion efts number of r coins in the former, or the champagne carried by the latter, but the amount of woo! used in the manufacture of blankets. uurpst>> and in the uniforms of the personnel are of more interest to wool producers and manufacturers. Of ninth greater importance is the amount of wool now consumed p-r head by women, and is a feature of quit-.- modern growth. The woman of the lower middfe c!as«. hitherto most impendent on others. and lim-t limit ad to means. »f late years, in continually ii<crea>;ii:g number, has become an independent wageearner without, whether ,shop-girl. .typist, or post ofticv clerk, becoming it> unstxed as to forget that money is never watted in bitvinc clothe?. W ha: i; obvious is often icgaHed ri- unimportant. and when a wool clip is valued at £55.C00.C00 these d?tai'-i of consumption may ;*;em to first- glance trivial, '"it when it recollected that thosr t>'erred to in brokers' circulars a. the •' ultimate consumer-" »io the millions forming the- population of Europe and America who -pend an a.ppn ciable portion of their Wat; in t'f p'trfha-e of alt of u».c[l'.n nmiofi'ctnr.,-s. it m.-y l>* t• r

ntitrt-ti thai rven iiii-i'insm." J*"* | head in this gicat population explains why aii additional production of 7C0.0C3 bahs of colonial wool which ha< taken place within the last four years has not only been easily absorbed. bi:f has been aecoiiict by au ahuo.-t coivtant r:<-.-.* in value. Of coutsc it n list lu lecogniv.ci that maiiiifattures purchased by the million ale lint n-eressai iiy "all wool go or*-, but the abuse lavished on the um-!uI " sitb.-tituic " is not wholly d'servcil tor wen the <x:>-.t-ing volume oi coijiUinpiion lestrict.d lo "ail wool" ftbries ii would bto satisfy th'- demand, and eon.-.UDip.ion would at once diminish. THi; ihozkx mkat thadk. AMKWCA TAKKS A lIA.VIt. Tii-.- recent aci|iiisilion by Mt>-i.-. Swift, one of the most powctful of liv American meat companies, of the f.:i Plata Wiirlm. Argentina. i:as seriot:s : y peiYurbed '.he various interests concern d in the impoit and distribution of frozen meat in the Old Country. IJefore Swift.; bought the works in question, the American Meat It n-1 practically did not touch tin- frozen tiarl-i at all. contenting themselves with handling live and dead beet from their own country. I!tit as their distribution depots incieai-ed in Great- Britain, it became apparent that to do au all-round business it was necessary for them to be able to i-:ell nmtton as well as beef. Members of ths .Swiftfamily have been in Australia engaging in buying and exporting frozen mutton to Great Britain. So this powerful company, ■which for purposes of discussion may be considered as iepresenting the American Trust, already launched upon the frozen meat business with their own meat works in .South America and a buying connection in Australasia, is very disturbing to frozen meat interests. throughout the country are finding thy Yankee opposition inconvenient. The pick of British retaikrs are consumers for American "chilled*' or "home killed" beef, and if sendors of thctee artiki :s arc also sellers of tho Australasian ami .South American ftozen mutton, lamb and beef, i.stands to reason that severe competition will b? set up. in which Ih? Americans haw capita]. Influence and strategy in ih"ir favour.

This struggle has already declared itself, and as ilia Yankee companies have a free hand in selling mutton, wheteas they are bound by a combine market price* as to their own beef, it appears likely that frozen meat will often be put in cheaply to

" meet" customers, which will he awkward for the parties handling nothing but frozen meat. But. according to the " British Australasian." "the chief trouble likely to be caused by the American companies taking up the frozen mutton business is the probability of a serioci; inteiference with the forward buying trade, which, as to Australasia, and with one Argentine company at- least, has been such a leading feature of the trade for yea is past. L.irg',' trading concern*, tiucii as Eastmans. F'eteheto, James Xelson. tic., etc., ate bound to provide for their rc-qnirement-i a long 1 i ahead, and any developments in the importing system which threaten their buying well forward is a serious thing. Jn this possibility, we fancy. li« the iuiv>b grave danger from the American invasion. Tho -Meat Trust like to be monoiiolists. and dominate, and it would suit then; well to control frozen nit at supplies, so that wj should have to go to them, touch out- hats, and humbly ask permission to buy their meat. And when they control the meat .they wilt control meat prices - as well." AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. A VICTORIAN COLLEGE. The Longcrenong Agricultural College situated about eight miles from HoiiJivui. The land* attached to the college comprise about, 2.400 acres of typical Wiinmera. soil. The college is popular and the full numbcir of pupils (30) is easily maintained The lines followed in fanning operations at the college a:c those practical farmers have already proved to be bc&tadapted for the Wimnicra. Grain-grow-ing and sheep husbandry at- maces the principal i;ourcts of revenue, l'or efficient, all-round training of pupils, a daily held of about 20 cows is kept : theie is also .an orchard of about 30 a civs, and this and small areas of lucerne and summer fodder crops are irrigated from one of tho tflinn-n->'s of the Wt.iteni Wimmera Trust. Student* thus have the benefit in practical irrigation. Students" fco; only amount to 518 5s p-1 annum. For this a boy obtain? board and lodging, Jiedieal attendance, and a. good training in farm work: besides ttaching in chemistry, physics, surveying, and oilier subjects having an important hearing on the fanner's calling. .Mr Sinclair say>; that the average cii-i----of maintaining pupil* mns well into £42 per annum. Portion of this cost is. of course, tecoverci from tin- opera*inn- of the farm. :»ud laipely bv the uork of the pupil?. Last year th- i»et profit from 'if farm was £650. ami t!ii.-. added to th'.' fee-, would just, about- eovi r the average co.it per head of mainttiiaiK-'. There is no doubt. nays the '"Argus." of tlif grear advantages lads receive from the practical "training obtained, either at Dookie or l.ongerenoug, whether intended for farm work or not. Boys, proper.y tiained on the land, become self-reliant end resourceful, and these traits are U'Cfn! in any walk of life. Farm woik is varied, and many of i's operations rail for close cb-crvation and the. cser- "■••• > f prompt decision ami judgment. Boyo who put their hcait into ih- vi-ik micoii■sciously acquit e tli- -e tvai-s. Mr .1. I). Martin, the farm manager a; Lo-igerenolig. who directs th • labels of the pupiis m the field, says sh:-/ lite adaptability of the average Australian youngster who conieoii to the fa nil ii eurprisiug. Many of itheyi aie from city homio anil have never yoked or ridden a horse. In the course of a year or ,-o they a!'.' ab'e to take out a combined harves'cv and a three-horse ham. and harvest eighr or icn acre.- of J wheat » day. Mr Martin named six students who were conspicuously succirsfjil in farm work, to be sent off with a tea n to plough, harrow, and drill in a. crop of i wheat : to take i: off wi.h the iceper and hinder or liaiv-.m- ». or :>lo:»k and staek i' : I • xeavate a dam - 'lerL fence. ilie.ir ;• lice of sheep, or market- them : manage a d:-iiy | herd or orchard. Their ages ialig» - d Irniu IT to 21 years, and none of tli-m had any txpc:i>nce of faiui woik befot.- coming to the college. That i* work of which (litre can scarcely be too much ill the state. With discipline well maintained it appears to be at Longei cuoiig. boys cannot fail in getting a good preparation for work on Ihe land a'- of this kintl. This now appears to be geniialiy 1 and the a pp'ication.- for admission. both 1 I Cookie and liongerenong, ate in excess of the vacancies.

TliK MOTOR. ANi> T!U: l-'\ .IJv I'l'.f . -J- it!-- l eu,-.' \\V tii.vi »t"<» " • ■ ' 1 "• • •> the dire-ct ieiatiottehip bf « c: fa-.- f:.ni:Bf and the agricultural not;;. •!;' machinr wiiich will .V, all sell his crops, endoisc hi- cher|iies. brink his money. lo M> li ;• moto; possible coiiil.Ttii'tor i- it. iikr tie milking machine. v hivh v —*H't bcirau--:-jr in iuj|>i;»t i«*f I. huu imr eminently »ftp-t-i Vittive T«»; ris 'if the toil to keep ili'.ir iirury in their pockets until I.ft r;f olh-r

i'.iiivil the co.-t "f production that lliey will b. compelled lo u>:<- ii in w ''f oefence. Let us endeavour to trace the coin n pmctdure i" 'he production of a e^* 1 ' crop. .Mich ;ts wheat. 1 1 1 .I ei i l '' (Unci s wit li soil, climate. and i fiiifii II even in Kngland. I'iit we select ;• very c<»iiuin»ii ii .Tliiitl. A clover field L broken up by ih" plough. If twenty acie* in area the wipik v.iil oceupv n month .-hould the soil be hciivv . A high farmer will cover it villi manure, using perhaps fourteen tor.>> pur acre. involving the drawing of 240 ioacl-i pfilii'jis by two horses from ihe nunc or l.>» dit>iant farmyard. and subsequent spi.aiding by hand. Lhc time and co-t involved in these operations much too often induce the fanner to save his manure for spring, aud thus to cart it on the land duiing a hard frost, when the labour i-: lev and the mvii need something to do. Ploughing i-. followed by harrowing, ['•'ill.'{i-. 100. by rolling, but always by ihe drilling of the seed and a liarlowing to cover it. If w were ab e. to estimate tin: jiuira employe l .!, toge'her with the cost, am! place the h'gui?s i-i'l by side with tliose connected with the uy.«t or. w*' vliould establish an aiuazinjx cost- against the practice of 10-d'ay. .Such litrure>. however, would please- no one and would displease all were ih'.y available.

Xow k-t us see what a callable motor would accomplish. It would plough the land in three and a half days—harrow and 101 l it in one day in place of five—drill it; in Ices than one day instead of two a no' a half to three, covering the seed in the same operation, and thus effect a saving of two and a half days more, the drill demanding two men and one boy with three horses, and the hai rows one man and two horses. I may ;wJd that the modern American drill does its work with one man and on« hoite Jess, but few there be that use it.

f have not referred to the carting and spreading of the manure, but- I would point out lliai. while the conveyance of this material from farm lo field would b>* accomplished as well and as quickly as with live calls, 1 see no reason why it should not be lifted into the motor wagon* and brond-casted in the field by those mechanical means which have already been placed at the disposal of the farmer, and thes further liiue and expense saved—yet this will one dav bo done.

Now llou- do wo stand with regard to Lime, so all-important to Hie fanner? Harvest crops are saved somswhere every year becans« they aie curly. Early ripened crops largely depend on early sowing and phosphntie manuring, and early sowing upon early ploughing and general cultivation. If a grower is late in commencing, he is not only Lite in completing, unless he pciticsses unusual strength in horses and men, but his green crops are neglected and his land becomes foul. The essence of a, motor's work is not a saving in labour so much as a saving in time, which is the same tiling with a difference. Let us fiuppoi;" that we have sixty acies of heavy land to plant- with wheat, involving thieo months' work for one plough with perhaps three horses, or one anonth for three ploughs. Our motor will coyer the whole area in ten days. If rain supervenes on any day after th» tenth from the start the ploughs aie stopped, yet with the motor, the work is completed. But we go fuither. and suppose that the land is to bo manured. Five carls might, under pressure, complete the wor kof carting in ten days, the distance not beings too far. -A motor would, or thould. haul and distribute the manure in the same period of time, thus avoiding the risky weather of November and December, and allowing the men to get ahead with something else. And so with the work of spiing and summer, hay time and harvest. A combination of cuflicienl power will thrash the com and cany it to market, returning with coals, manure, or feeding stuffs foi herd and Hock. After the potato it may be utilised to cany the whole stock to the railway station, and later on the iambs, which so easily lose weight when driven by joad .to a distant market town or butcher. Xor need- we stop here—the motive power demanded by modern fanning is great and frequent. Winter brings its work of pumping water for the stock, of grinding corn, crushing oats and cake, cutting chaff front hay and straw, slicing the turnip and the mangel, sawing timber for repaiis. and driving the separator for extracting cream, while summer most of all brings something bigger for the horses or the motor. The jnachine which draws the drill and th-». potato planter is called upon to hald the mowing machine and tho reajxn-. the self-binder and the potatolifter. mioiting jn the summer's sun as on a flusty winterV, day. but never sweating and panting like an exhausted horse, nor requiring whip or spur. It- is unwise to phophesy ? Then I shall be unwise; but the time near when we Englishmen. still wooden ploughs: of heavy draught, drills as ancient as Jethro Tull. and rollers which are but logs of wood, whik' our Canadians cousins ride behind three horses and plough three furrows al a time. and thmdr and deliver their corn as tliev reap it, will employ the motor on eveiy farm. It will sccuie our future, and at once give the fanner breathing time, cleaner, heavier, and safer crops, and consequently better profits.