On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 23 November 1911, Page 2390

On the Land

- The Ashburton Dairy Factory Company "has completed arrangements to purchase the surplus cream of the Temuka Dairy Factory Company up to April, 1912. This will enable the Ashburton factory to increase its output by about half a ton per day. In the Ashburton County (says the Press) lambing this season has not been quite so good as in previous seasons, and it is estimated that the general average over the whole county will be between 80 per cent, and 85 per cent., as compared with 90 per cent., which ha 3 been the average for several years. Notwithstanding the lowered average percentage, Mr. J. Brown, of Anama, from a flock of 5000 ewes got a lambing percentage of 104, which constitutes a record for the county. The grass grub, which has been responsible for so much damage in Canterbury this year, is now in the fly stage, and farmers who wish, as far as possible, to reduce the likelihood of further damage from the same source next year ought now to adopt the most effective means known for dealing with this pest — lighting of fires in their paddocks at night (remarks the Press). Past experience has proved this to be about the best way of destroying the fly of grass grub, and in some instances it is stated that when fires have been kindled the flies have been attracted to them in such quantities as to extinguish the flames with their dead bodies. At Burnside last week the fat cattle yarded totalled 220, chiefly bullocks, with a small proportion of cows and heifers. There were no heavy-weight cattle forward. The quality all over was about the average. On account of the number yarded prices receded from 10s to 15s per head. Prime bullocks, £ll 10s to £l2 15s; extra, to £l4 15s; medium to good, £lO to £11; light, £8 to £9. 2751 fat sheep were penned, a fair proportion being prime heavy ewes and wethers. Notwithstanding this full yarding prices opened equal to those of the previous week, and hardened for prime sheep to the extent of 6d to Is per head. Prime wethers sold at 24s to 265; extra prime and heavy, 27s to 30s 6d ; medium to good, 20s to 225; unfinished, 18s to 19s; best ewes, 20s to 225; medium to good, 17s 6d to 19s; inferior, 13s 6d to 15s. Fat lambs—lß3 penned, nearly all nice quality. Competition was keen, and prices advanced about Is per head. Best. 16s to 17s 9d; medium, 14s 6d to 15s 6d. There were fairly large entries of stock and a good attendance at Addington last week. Store sheep were a little easier, with the exception of forward wethers. Fat cattle were unchanged, and fat lambs were very firm at the rates ruling a fortnight ago. Fat sheep were down Is 6d to 2s per head. Fat pigs were easier, but there was a good demand for stores. There were 282 fat lambs of good to prime quality penned, and the number was below butchers' requirements, and competition was therefore keen. Prices were very firm, and well up to, if not above, the average of those ruling a fortnight ago. The bulk of the lambs made 16s to 18s 6d, and others 14s to 15s 9d. There was a large entry of fat sheep, of which rather more than half were shorn, and the yarding again included a number of Southland lines. There was a good demand, but with a more plentiful supply prices weakened by about Is 6d to 2s per head as compared with the previous sale. The range of prices was: Woolly wethers, prime, 21s to 25s lid; others, 16s 5d to 20s 6d; prime shorn wethers, 16s to 20s 7d; others, 13s lid to 15s 6d. The offerings of fat cattle totalled only 182 head, and there was a good general average of quality. There was a good demand, and prices were fairly firm. One exceptionally prime steer made £26, others £7 17s 6d to £ll ss, extra to £l7 10s, heifers £6 to £8 7s 6d, extra to £l4. There was a larger entry of pigs than a fortnight ago, and both demand and prices were easier. Choppers made £3 16s, large baconers' 32s 6d to 60s, extra to 81s, others 45s to 50s.