On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 21 September 1911, Page 1886

On the Land

Don’t allow your cows ,to be chased by dogs or hurried when going to or from pasture. Over-kept, fermented, and soured foods tend to produce acidity and other changes in the milk. Don’t expect a cow to give as much milk when half-fed as when properly cared for. The average weight per bale of the past clip, as dealt with in Australasian markets, has amounted to 332.11 b, as against 335.51 b the previous year, 337.71 b in 1907-8, and 339.71 b in 1906-7. The flavour of milk is very readily affected by the character of the feed, as, for instance, by turnips, garlic, wild onions, mouldy hay and grain, damaged silage, and distillery grain. * It costs less to raise two pigs weighing 2501 b each than one weighing 5001 b. The rate of growth decreases with the sizes and age of the animal, and the amount of * feed required for maintenance increases. The following mixture per acre has given the greatest yields of mangels:—lewt nitrate of soda, applied as a top-dressing lewt of sulphate of ammonia, 4cwt superphosphate, fcwt sulphate of potash, 3cwt of salt, applied at planting time. The vegetable kingdom is dependent upon the mineral kingdom for plant food; the animal kingdom subsists upon plants and other animals, hence the relationship, and also the absolute necessity of a complete knowledge of the soil, because upon it depend all living things for sustenance. At last week’s stock sales at Addington there was an average attendance, and, with the exception of the fat and store sheep sections, the stock entries were about the same as at late sales. There was a yarding of 264 fat cattle, the bulk being from the North Island. Altogether, the whole sale was of a much firmer tone, but no quotable, advance in prices can’ be noted. Steers realised from £7 7s 6d to £l3 2s 6d; heifers, from £5 17s 6d to £l2 10s; and dry cows, from £5 to £l3 10s. The supply of fat sheep was in excess of requirements, and, though opening well, the sale got weaker, with prices Is below late rates. The range of prices was as follows:Extra prime wethers, to 30s 6d.; prime, 21s 6d to 245; others, 15s lOd to 21s; prime ewes, 17s 9d to 24s ; others, 14s to 17s. About 70 of the new season’s lambs were penned. The prices ranged from 7s 6d to 21s. There was a large entry of fat pigs, and a weaker demand. Choppers fetched up to £4 7s; heavy baconers, from 55s to 70s; and lighter kinds, from 45s to 52s 6dor equal to 5d to s|d per lb. Heavy porkers made from 32s 6d to 37s 6d, and lighter descriptions from 25s to 30sor equal to s|d to s|d per lb. At Burnside last week there was a yarding of 190 head of fat cattle, a large proportion of which were very prime quality. The sale was uneven throughout, and except for prime heavy weights the market was weaker to the extent of ss, and occasionally 10s, a head. Prime bullocks sold at £ll 10s to £l2 10s, «xtra heavy to £ls ss; medium to good, £8 10s to £lO 10s; prime cows and heifers, £7 15s to £9. There was a moderate yarding of fat sheep, 2709, chiefly wethers, being penned. There were no extra heavy weights, and the yarding generally was below the average. Several northern buyers were present, and there was keen competition for the best lines, which sold at an advance of Is to Is 6d on the previous week’s rates. Light wethers and ewes showed no change. Prime wethers, 23s 6d to 26s 9d; medium to good, 19s to 22s 6d; best ewes, 20s to 24s 6d; medium, 17s 3d to 19s. Eleven nice quality spring lambs, the first of the season, were sold under brisk competition at 30s to 20s. The pigs forward totalled 180. There was a large number of stores forward, for which there was good competition, . but prices ruled somewhat easier as compared with last week. The yarding of fats was medium. Porkers baconers, and choppers met with ready sale, and prices can be quoted on a par with the previous week’s rates,