RURAL TOPICS.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXI, Issue 3360, 14 December 1906, Page 3

RURAL TOPICS.

BEAUTIFUL growing weather has been experienced during the week, albeit) the westerly winds have been somewhat) heavy at times. Seldom bas the district presented a more pleasing and prosperous appearance than at present, grass being plenti fol, crops generally looking well, and live stock in good condition. This, combined with excellent prices ruling for the staple products of the farm, is naturally causing a buoyant feeling among agriculturiats, who, in their prosperous and more assured position, can afford to look back with equanimity upon the low prices and uncertainty in (arming matters generally, which prevailed in former years, Things, however, are not quite perfect, the potato blight showing an amazing amount of s'aying power in spite of chemical dressings, spraying, etc., which is not encouraging for the future. ihe spring sown grain crop also, though much benefited by the late rains, are not likely to yield over, or even up to, the average, a condition of affairs which appears to prevail throughout the colony. "With the progress of the month farmers are putting the finishing touches upon their turnip lands; drilling also commenced within the last few days, and will continue from this on. Shearing is now over for the season with the exception of a few late lots, and the clip generally, is heavy. Prices also, are in favour of growers, close up to la per lb being realised for fine wool, coarser grades a penny or two less. The markets have been brisk during the week, all classes of stock participating in the rise caused by the demand for beef ; together with improved prospects for summer feed. Experienced graziers are predicting a scarcity of prime beef early in the new year, and certainly, if the current demand is sufficient to absorb all supplies as they become available, then, no great number of fat cattle will be in hand to tide over a dry summer or autumn. Thus prices may rise considerably to the immediate benefit of the graziers, but to the detriment of the meat export trade, which requires ample and regular supplies if it is to expand in a healthy manner. Grain and chaff are rather dull of ■ale, the consumption now being small. Produce is in full supply, and brisk demand, potatoes and onions of good quality being wanted. Butter is not increasing in quantity, and prices show an upward tendency. Poultry are unchanged ; eggs in brisk demand at highest rates. Fruit of all kinds is wanted at full prices. Bacon and hams are increasing in supply, prices unchanged. Dressed pork about the came. Young pigs are well competed for. GREAT SALE OF SHORTHORNS. IN the presence of the largest and most representative gathering of South American buyers and British ahortborn breeders ever assembled at a sale of stock in the Highland capital, Messrs Macdonald, Fraser, And Company sold on Friday, Oc tober 12, at their extensive auction premises at Lochgorm, Inverness, a joint sale of eighty highly pedigreed Shorthorns from the noted herds of Lord Lovat, Beaufort Castle; Mr C. M; Cameron, Balnakyle; and Mr J. Douglas Fletcher, of Rosebaugb. The sensational prices obtained in the earlier part of the week at the Aberdeenshire shorthorn sales gave confident expectation that a capital demand would be experienced at Inverness, but not tha most optimistic could have anticipated that the sale would have turned out such an extraordinarily successful one. From first to last an animated demand was obtained. The outstanding feature of the sale was the keen demand for heifers. The Beaufort herd have long earned a high reputation on account of the great show and sale successes of representatives of the Broadhooks, Julias, and Ladykirk families, and the fact that tbe yearling heifers and heifer calves catalogued from Beaufort were drawn from these families added immensely to their value in the estimation of the intending purchasers. It was also remembered that many of the animals were after the great breeding sire, Master Millicent (81080), tbe sire of tbe 1500 and 700gs. yearling bulls at the Perth sale in February. With such a great record, it was only to be expected

that the Beaufort exhibits would meet with the remarkably animated demand which they obtained. Lord Lovat’s gross average for 20 head was £129 9s 3d, and his average of £139 16s 6d for twelve yearling heifers was worthy of the great name of the herd. Mr C. M, Cameron, Balnakyle, who is on his way home from judging the shorthorns at the important Argentine show at Palermo, Buenos Ayres, had the distinction of securing the highest' and sensational individual price of the day, namely, 550g5., which was paid by Mr F. Millar, of Birkenhead and Buenos Ayres, for the two-year-old heifer, Golden Pansy, bred by Mr J. McWilliam, Stoneytown. Mr Cameron had, likewise, the honour of obtaining the second highest price of the sale with his home-bred yearling heifer, Marchioness 27tb, which also went to Mr Miller, after keen competition at 420 guineas. Mr Cameron had the remarkably fine gross average of £129 19s 4d for 18 head, and hji 8 extraordinary average of £2Ol 7s 9d for his draft of two-year-old heifers was the out-standing feature of the sale. Altogether, the BaU nakyle animals had an exceptionally successful trade, reflecting the highest credit upon the herd, which may be correctly said to have been made by the eleven years’ use of the great bull Merlin (54715), bred by the late Mr Amos Cruickshank, of Sittyton. The animals forward from Roaehaugh showed excellent breeding, and included representatives of the following noted families:— Waterloos, Duchesses, Broadhooks, Kirklevingtons, and Julias. Mr Fletcher obtained an excellent trade for his draft, the top individval price being 280 guineas, which was paid by Dr Anchorena, Buenos Ayres, for bis outstanding bull Sun Guard, sired by Bodyguard, a bull bred by His Majesty the King, Sun Guard was second at the Northern Counties spring show at Inverness, and champion of all the breeds at the Black Isle show at Fortrose in August. Mr Fletcher’s next highest price was 160 guineas, which was given by Mr John Gordon, Onlisse, for the heifer Lady Zona, sired by. Red Emperor. The gross average for 37 animals from Rosehaugh came to £66 16s 7d. Taken all over, the sale was considered even dearer in many respects than the Aberdeenshire sales earlier in the week, and showed the high name which the stock of the three herds represented have won in the estimation of the shorthorn breeders both at home and abroad. Althouuh there might not be so many top animals forward as anticipated, the - pedigrees of the anflnals exposed were all that could be desired by the British and foreign breeders present. HERD AVERAGES. BEAUFORT CASTLE. Average. Total. No. Sold. £ s. d. £ s. d. 12 Y’rling heifers 139 16 6 1677 18 0 8 Heifer calves 113 8 6 911 8 0 20 Gross av’ge 129 9 3 2589 6 0 BALNAKYLE. 3 Cows 11l 6 0 333 18 0 5 2-yr-old hefrs 201 7 9 1006 19 0 81-yr-old hefrs 105 0 0 840 O O 2 Heifer calves 75 5 6 158 11 0 18 Gross av’ge 129 19 4 2339 8- 0 ROSEHAUGH. 5 2-yr-old hefrs 91 7 0 456 15 0 5 1-yr-qld hefrs 74 11 0 372 15 0 10 Heifer calves 66 19 9 669 lh 0 5 Bulls 104 7 4 521 17 0 12 Bull calves ... 37 12 6 451 10 0 37 Gross av’ge 66 16 7 2472 15 *0 A notable week in the history of Shorthorn cattle selling was closed on Saturday, when Messrs Macdonald, Fraser and Co. (Limited), returning from their tour in the north, conducted a joint auction of purebred Shorthorn cattle at their premises in Perth. It was a week of phenomenal prices and high averages, a week which left more money in the hands of the Shorthorn breeders of Scotland than any other autumn week on record. For the five great sales conducted by Messrs Macdonald, Fraser and Co. alone, the large sum of £28,876 Is was realised, which brought the magnificent gross average for the 286 head sold of £IOO 19s 3d. The following were the total sums drawn at each of the five sales : t No. sold Total Collynie & Uppermill 25 £6,342 0 0 Newton 60 5,042 11 0 Aberdeen ... ' 83 5,861 2 0 Inverness ... 75 7,401 9 O Perth ... ... 44 3,778 19 0 286 £28,876 1 0 Gross average, £IOO 19s 3d. Several northern Shorthorn breeders were among the purchasers at the great Shorthorn sales in Aberdeenshire last week. Messrs Peterkin, Dunglass, bought one of the Heatherwick bulls at 210 guineas ; Mr Moore, Drummond, Novar, one of the Oldcraig twoyear old heifers at 52 guineas, and one of the Pirriesmill cows at 60 guineas ; Provost Fowler, Tain, one of the Whiteside yearling heifers at 55 guineas, and a heifer calf at 69 guineas ; Mr John Gordon, Cullisse, one of the Whiteside heifer calves at 48 guineas.—Northern Chronicle, October 17 th, 1906.