On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 8 May 1913, Page 59

On the Land

X .. pj:; • GENERAL. Mottled butter is generally caused by improper mixing of salt and the presence of too much buttermilk. The milking qualities of a modern dairy cow are to a great extent artificial. To keep them up to a high state, care and feeding are therefore required. The ration for municipal horses in London is BJib oats, BJlb clover, IJlb bran, and 61b straw. In winter IJlb carrots, and in summer half a bundle of tares are given. Mr. R. B. Greig, who visited Australia as a member of the Scottish Commission, in a recent report considers the best system of agricultural education he saw, as tested by results, is that of the Belgian itinerant agricultural instructor. • . An analysis of the comparative value of manure from dairy cows proves that in the liquid portion is comprised fully three-fourths of the total fertilising matter. While low in phosphoric acid, it is very high in nitrogen, which is the most expensive of all the fertilising elements, while also registering a good percentage of potash. The high returns possible by fruitgrowing from a comparatively small area of land are undoubted (says a correspondent of the Journal of Agriculture). The following instance recently came under my notice: A small Auckland orchard of 3J acres, of which not more than 3 acres are in stone fruits, has had an output this season of 55,000ib of stone fruits (mostly peaches) actually marketed. Practically none of this fruit was sold under 2d per lb, whilst the early peaches were sold at a high rate. However, allowing only 2d per lb, the gross return would be £458, equal to over £152 per acre.. - Experiments are being conducted in England to test the value of marram-grass for papermaking. The grass was boiled under pressure when passing through crushing-rollers, and was then bleached. It was found to produce a soft pulp with a short tear, which more nearly resembles the general feel and external appearance of the pulp produced from esparto, or chemical aspen-wood pulp. The primary function of marramgrass is, of course, as a sand-binder; but it is possible that, should it be deemed of sufficient importance as papermaking material, its cultivation will be extended oyer considerable areas of sandy country. The commercial value of the grass for papermaking has not yet been ascertained. • There were average entries in all departments at Burnside last week with the"exception of pigs. The fat cattle forward totalled 135, the bulk of which were medium-weight steers and good to medium cows and heifers. Owing to the small supply, there was a fair demand, and at the end of the sale prices advanced fully 20s per head. Prime bullocks sold at from £l2 to £l4 lUs; medium, £lO to £ll ss; light, £8 to £9 ss; best heifers and cows, £9 to £ll 12s 6d. The yarding of fat sheep consisted of 3800, a fair proportion of which were heavy to medium light wethers. The sale opened with a very slack demand for medium wethers and ewes. The demand was somewhat irregular, and at times medium and inferior ewes were ver unsaleable. Prime heavy weight wethers were in good request. Extra heavy wethers 26s to 28s 9d, good 22s to 245, medium 18s 6d to 21s, light 14s 6d to 17s, extra heavy ewes 22s to 24s 9d. There was an entry of 3500 fat lambs. Owing to a report of a fall in values in Loudon, the demand was not so keen, and prices were on an average about Is per head lower than previous week. Best lambs brought from 18s to 20s; good, 16s to 17s; light, 14s to 15s. The yarding of pigs was exceptionally small, there being only 42 stores and small sorts, and 24 fat pigs. The latter met with very keen competition, on account of the small entry, and all sold at high prices. At Addington last week there was a large entry of sheep of all classes, and in the store pens' there were

UuLa u several consignments that have come" to hand steamers during the week. The store sheep market showed a "slightly easier tone, at the same time there being a strong demand. Fat lambs were rather firmer, and the fat sheep market opened well, and prices throughout were firmer for prime sheep. Fat cattle showed no change. Fat pigs sold ; at late rates, and there was a better demand for stores. There was an entry of 5975 fat lambs. There was keen competition for - export, and the prices for prime lambs were firmer, ■'■ sales being made up to 6d per lb for medium weights, and up to sfd for tegs. :\ The range of prices was -Tegs; v 19s to 235„; ordinary freezers, 16s to 18s 6d. There was again a very large yarding of fat sheep. Prices were firmer throughout for prime wethers and ewes The range of prices was: Prime, wethers, 20s to 25s 6d; lighter, 15s 7d to 19s 6d; merino wethers, 20s; prime ewes, 17s to 23s 6d. Fat cattle were represented by an entry totalling 254 head. At the opening of the sale there were indications of slackness in the competition, "but before any pens had been submitted the previous week's level was attained, and- the market continued unchanged till the close of the sale, beef making 21s to 29s per 1001 b, according to quality. There was a large entry of fat pigs. Choppers realised £2 10s to £4, and heavy baconers £3 to £3 15s, equal to 4d to 4£d per lb, lighter sorts making £2 7s 6d to £2 15s, equal to 5d and 5Jd per lb. . :

THE SHIR.. HORSE: FEATHER ESSENTIAL, Whether the old English breed of cart horse ’ does or does not carry too much hair on its legs is a point which is being debated at the present time, possibly because it has been the wettest winter, as well as summer, of modern times, and the legs of Shires have been plastered in mud and hung with locks in consequence (says a Home exchange). The champions of the clean-legged type believe that the hair is neither useful nor ornamental, while others stick to the idea that the silky locks on a Shire’s legs add enormously to; its value, that a thousand-pound- animal with the hair on drops to a hundred-pounder if you clip if off is their contention, and there is certainly no doubt that the latter are right. It may be that certain foreign buyers prefer a light-boned draught - horse with a small quantity of horse without long hair on its legs, but there is a very old English breed—the Suffolk— suit them if they cannot find a clean-legged Shire, and if they want hair there is the Clydesdale, which is closely related to the Shire in the foundation stock. The fact that the northern breed has become such a light-boned animal below its knees and hocks proves pretty conclusively what would happen if Shire breeders as a body went in for less hair; the bone would. go with it, and there would soon be no distinction between the two breeds.