RURAL TOPICS.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXI, Issue 3259, 17 August 1906, Page 4

RURAL TOPICS.

Suowers have been the chief feature of the weather during the past week, and though no great amount of rain has fallen, it has been stfficient to keep everything in a wet and sloppy condition. To those who had land ready, or partly ready, for drilling, the delay thus ciused has been very annoying, teams having to be kept in readiness for work, which has to bo pul off from day to day. August is an important month for graingrowers, moat of whom endeavour to get the bulk of the seed into the ground before September, so that a change to dry weather will be very welcome.

After a few days of steady improvement during the frosty spell, the roads are again lapsing into their former bad condition, the traffic being now augmented by milk carts running daily to the creameries. There can be no doubt that the question of obtaining a better class of roads is being forced upon local bodies throughout the district, mainly through the increased traffic caused by improved methods of farming, together with the rapid spread of settlement. Many country highways that in former years stood the the traffic fairly well, are now completely collapsing under the constant wear and tear of loads of produce, manures, timber, fencing materials, etc., and to obtain a more durable road metal than the formed up soil, or even the pumice sand, so commonly used, has been a become a matter of urgent necessity. Though showers have been frequent the temperature his kept mild, some days being quite spring-like, a nice growth is observable, which, with the swelling buds now plainly visible in fruit trees, is indicative of approaching spring. With the advance of the month more vigour can be put into the garden work, and, among other operations should be a small planting of early potatoes each week. Stock generally have wintered well, very little mortality being recorded, save an occasional case of wasting among young cattle, caused chiefly by intestinal worm. Lamb ing ia progressing satisfactorily and, with such favourable weather, a full average return is expected. The markets have been brisk during the week, prices generally being well maintained. Fat stock are wanted, but prices show no advance, sheep being easier. As the season advances the fact is being brought home to turnip-growers that they paid too much for store sheep last autumn with the result that many fine swede crops will return less profit to growers than has been the case for some time past. Store stock are in brisk demand at late rates ; and with the rush of feed to be looked for in a few weeks, higher prices may be expected. Grain and chaff are without much change, the tone of the market being weak for oats, save firm Algerian seed, but chaff is firm with only moderate supplies. Produce ia selling well at late rates. Poultry are wanted, prices being higher. Eggs are plentiful at lOd to la per dozen. Butter is coming forward more freely, but prices are still firm. Fruit is soiling at fair rates, the market being almost wholly stocked with imported lots. Bacon and hams are in strong demand, and short supply. Prices are on the up grade. Pressed pork is also in limited supply and brisk demand. Young pigs unchanged.

NEW ZEALAND DRUG COMPANY'S MANURES. Messes Kempthorne, Pbosseb and Co.’s (New Zealand Drag Company, Limited), Westfield Manure Price List, season 1906-7

coarse, medium or fine ..016 “ A ” Superphosphate—Farmers desiring Ammonia in this Super, will please state so when ordering, and 1 per cent will be added at an extra cost of 10s per ton. Discount i All lines in this price list subject to a discount of 2J per cent for cash, excepting those marked net. Special Quotations promptly made for large lots. AH prices subject to alteration without notice, Always Landing—Guanos, Cheap Bone Dust, Ealni l -, Thomas’ Phosphate, eto. Lew quotations from ship’s side on ap-

All packed in If owt bags, 16 to the ton Per ton • A ” Superphosphate £4 16 0 Boneduat (pure), steamed 7 0 0 Bonedust (pure), green™ ™ 7 15 0 Vicriolised Boneduat ™ 7 0 0 Bonedust and Blood ™ _ 6 17 6 Special Root Manure .. 7 0 0 Special Grass Manure ‘ A ’ (for top dressing) Special Grass Manure ‘ B ’ (for 6 17 6 laying down permanent pasture) .. • • •, 6 15 0 Special Potato Manure™ — 7 0 0 Special Turnip Manure ■. 6 15 0 Special Rape Manure .. .. 7 0 0 Special Com Manure ‘ A ’ (for green feed) .. .. .. 6 15 0 Special Com Manure ‘ B ’ (for wheat, oats, barley, etc.) .. 6 15 0 Special Maize Manure * A 1 (for green feed) .. .. • • 7 0 0 Special Maize Manure ‘ B ’ (for cob maize) ... . • .. 7 0 0 Special Orchard Manure * A ’ (for young trees) .. .. 7 10 0 Special Orchard Manure ‘ B ’ (for fruit formation)., ., 7 10 0 Special Clover Manure., .. 6 5 0 Special Onion Manure.. . . 7 10 0 Westfield Bone Substitute, 2 owt sacks, — .. nett 5 2 6 “P render ” Benedust, 2cwt Backs netb 6 10 0 Gypsum, 2owt. sacks ™ nett 3 0 0 Agricultural Salt, 11 sacks to the ton ™ _ nett 2 16 0 Thomas’ Phosphate (BasicSlag) 2cwt sacks 3 15 0 Sulphate of Ammonia, original sacks about 2owt. ™ ™ 17 0 0 Nitrate of Soda, original sacks about 2cwt. — — — 16 10 0 Muriate of Potash, original sacks about 2owt. ™ ™ 15 10 0 Sulphate of Potash, original sacks about 2cwt. ™ ™ 15 10 0 Kainit, original bags about 1 cwt. — — 4 2 6 Sulphate of Iron, xtls, original sacks, about 2owt. ™ 8 10 0 Sulphate of Iron, crushed, original sacks about 2owt. .. 10 0 0 Surprise Island Guano, 2owt, sacks — 4 0 0 Malden Guano, 2owt sacks ™ S 7 6 Pure Linseed Oilcake, crushed. lAowt sacks ™ — ' 14 0 0 Per gallon K. P. Improved Sheep Dip, 5gadon drums ... — 0 3 9 Kemp’s Branding Fluid, three colours— blue, black, red— 4-gallon tins, two iu a case™ 0 3 9 Igal tins .i each 0 4 3 Each > Westfield Special Garden Manure, 141b bags ™ -- 0 i 6 Westfield Fowl Grit, 1 tlb bags