JOTTINGS OF INTEREST TO FARMERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 26 (Supplement)

JOTTINGS OF INTEREST TO FARMERS

World’s Record Production. Hungary claims the world’s champion" ship in butter-fat production torsi crossbred owned by Al. Eugen Dreher, ot the Estate of Alartonvasar. '1 he cow is Augusta —6, a cross between a local red-chequered breed and the Simmenthaler breed, known in that country as the Bonyhader milk. cow. They are widely bred because ot their unusually high yielding powers. The ligures relating t’o her greatest lactation period are of the kind that dreamers dream about but seldom secure. She was born in 1915, and her record period falls between May, 1923. and Alay J. 1924. In a period of 365 days she produced 28,0061 b of milk with «u average fat percentage of 6.04. This amazing tat production took place in her fit th lactation period, and represents a return for the war of 1691.651 b. ot butter-fat. or approximately 1917.51 b of butter. Fhus she has reached a standard of production never before attained in any country in the world. Her daily average was 76.721 b. of milk testing 6.04. These ligures show that Augusta 26 has produced 23 times her own weight in milk, 1.39 times her weight in butterfat. and 1.51 times her weight in butter in 365 days. prospects for Wool The annual review of the agricultural and pastoral industrivs ot Canterbury, published by the firm of Pyne, Gould, Guinness (a copy of which is just to hand) has the following paragraph in reference to the prospects for the com ing wool selling season:—Kmce the close of the selling season in New Zealand we have seen a drop in London of I<l to lid in most- grades of wool, crossbreds being least affected. The July sales did not show any improvement. Me are inclined to think, however, that the apparent weakness is more seasonal than anything rise. and that as the year advances prices will linn again as there appears to be no doubt that the demand for wool is overtaking the supply. The April Monthly Bulletin of the Wool Textile Delegation notes:— 1. The wool clips have been well cleared and are proceeding rapidly into consumption in all using 2. Stocks are everywhere light, ami while many linns may be completely covered until new wool is available there is no surplus to weigh dow n values. 3. Tops and yarns are going out well. 4. Financial pressure is less than usual owing to the absence of delay in taking up deliveries. The delegation sums up by saying that the position as regards wool supplies is such as to give confidence in wool values for some time. This, coming from the fountain head, is most encouraging. Nobody wants wool prices to soar as they did in 1924. The reaction when it conics, as it inevitably does, is too severe, and throws everything out of gear. The prospect of stable but payable prices J< therefore very welcome. Soil Survey. Touching upon the quest;*.n of soil survey, Air Aston intimated that the examination and classification of the pumice lands adjacent to Rotorua was being proceeded with. A map of the sub-soils had been completed, and this showed a close correlation between the soil* and >ub<o : ls in the Rotorua country —a generalisation of considerable importance. Further samples of soil from deteriorated hill country in the Strat-ford-Whangamomona district had been analysed, and it was proposed to collect a more extensive range of samples during the coming season. The examination of the soils of < ent nil Otago and the Te Kuiti district was also receiving attention. Mineral Contents of Pastures. Afr Aston outlined the investigations being conducted in New Zealand in con-

nection with the mineral contents of pastures, which it is anticipated will be of incalculable benefit to the Dominion. The work was, he explained, being carried out in close association with that in other parts of the Empire, and financial assistance was being afforded by the Empire Marketing Board. Provision had been made for the extension of the laboratory accommodation, which would enable additional skilled assistants to be engaged and several improvements to be effected in the laboratory work. An exchange of skilled workers had been arranged, and an officer of the Rowett. Research Institute, Aberdeen, would soon take up duty here. In addition to the provision of further laboratory accommodation special reducing, drying, and incinerating apparatus had been installed, and the department was now in a position to deal much more expeditiously with pasture samples. Wool Values Decline The London wool sales, which commenced on September 18, disclosed an all-round decline in prices ranging from 5 to 10 per cent., and affecting all grades of wool. Those who have closely followed the trend of the market in recent weeks will not be surprised at the fall in values, but there will be very great surprise if prices go low r er. If the market remains steady at the present reduced prices there will be no cause for any serious complaint so far as our wool-growers are concerned, for the aggregate wool cheques will be as large, or larger, than in the past season; the recession in prices will be more than made good by the increase in production. In the opinion of Winchcom.be (’arson, Ltd., there is little doubt that in some countries mill men desire that wool should bp cheaper. Every strategic move in this direction has been exerted by them, which is reasonable, as it is a manufacturer’s business to buy as cheaply as possible. In Australia, where the demand for wool has weakened materially, offerings have been reduced in effort to keep prices up, and if sellers exercise that right consumers cannot be blamed for looking after their side to the business. The fundamental trouble affecting the wool trade is the lessened purchasing power of the masses. Bradford and the United States are affected by Continental competition, especially home manufacturers. On the Continent wages generally are lower, and long hours arc worked, consequently France, Germany, and Belgium are able to under-sell British manufacturers in the home as well as neutral markets. According to recent mail advices a strong effort was being made to induce the Government to apply the Safeguarding of Industries Act to the woollen and worsted trades, so as to level up costs in some degree. It is doubtful whether the manufacturers will meet with success. Position of Crossbreds. The following figures provide an interesting statement of the position of < ross-bred wools on the London market at the present time. The quotations given are a comparison between the prices in November of last season (the London fixture taking place a week after the opening of the New Zealand sales) and those ruling at the present linn*:— Nov. Sept. .1927. 1928. d d 60-64's (N.Z. merino) yielding 48 per cent. 234 22 56’s yielding 60 per cent. .. 24 22 50’s yielding 65 per cent. . . 204 214 44 46’s preparing yielding 74 per cent 17| 19 44-46’s carding yielding 72 per rent 1(H IS 40-44’s yielding 73 jier cent. 154 17 From the foregoing it can be seen that the crossbred wools 44-46’s and lower counts have more than held their own since the beginning of last season.