On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 17 September 1914, Page 59

On the Land

if- GENERAL. At Malton, England, a root of Up-to-date potatoes has been lifted, which, yielded twenty-two tubers, with a gross weight of 181 b. As two of the tubers were undersized, the average weight of the potatoes was nearly 11b each. -■ What is stated to be the largest transaction in Australian-grown maize in one deal was put through in Brisbane recently, when 20,000 bags of Queensland maize at 2s 6d a bushel on the trucks at Wallangarra, or on the rails at Brisbane, at seller’s option,.was made. The value and benefit of pasteurisation of milk as a preventive to the spread of disease in stock is shown by a return available from Rongotea (writes a correspondent of the Standard). Of 413 pigs sold to the Feilding’ agent during the past two months, only one was condemned. A record has. been put up by a Holstein calf belonging to Mr. W. Padbury, Guildford, N.S.W., which at 12 months old weighs 11761 b live weight. This phenomenal weight (writes Mr. Padbury) constitutes a world’s record, weight for age, beating the English record by 221 b, and serves to show the admirable beefcarrying capacity of the Holstein breed. Mr. C. K. Wilson, M.P. for Taurnarunui, in his speech on the Address-in-Reply, referring to the alleged high price of land in some parts of the Dominion, said: ‘ I am not one of those who think we have reached anywhere near the limit of the values of dairying land in this country. When we see men taking £ls an acre off their land with cows, it is easy to see that the possibilities of these lands are not nearly reached yet.’ A very good mixture for calf rearing is made of skim milk and linseed gruel. Take two pounds of linseed over-night and let it soak in three gallons of water. Next day boil it for twenty minutes, and a few minutes before the boiling is completed stir in Ilb of gruel, made from flour. One pint of this boiled linseed is added to 3 quarts of warm skim milk, and from the fourth to the ninth week the calf gets his allowance three times a day. An enormous crop of mangolds (says the Weekly Times) may be grown on a very small area of land under suitable cultivation, and, if varieties like the Gatepost are selected, these can be easily knocked out of the ground by dragging two posts fastened together as a wedge between the rows, and the roots may then be left to mature sufficiently for the slock to feed upon them. There are other autumn crops which can be utilised such as oats and vetches, which not only feed stock, but materially improve the land they grow upon. Barley also is easily grown, and rye corn on the poorer lands need not be despised by any means. Burnside Stock Report:—Fat Cattle. —158 yarded, • a medium yarding, comprised for the most part of good quality bullocks. In. consequence of last week’s small yarding butchers’ holdings were light, and bidding was keen throughout, with prices firm at late rates. Quotations: Best bullocks, £l3 10s to £ls 10s; extra, to £l7 7s 6d ; medium, £ll 10s to £l3 ; others, £9 to £ll ; best cows and heifers, £lO to £11; extra to £ll 15s; medium, £7 5s to £9 10s; others, £6 to £7. ', Fat gheep. —2078 penned. A medium yarding, the quality of which was slightly better than that of last week. Competition was keen throughout the auction, with prices on a par with last week’s rates. Quotations; Best ,^I wethers, 27s to 31s; extra, to 35s 9d ; medium, 23s to ' 255; light and unfinished, 19s fid to 225; best ewes, 22s to 255; extra, to 31s 9d; others, 19s to 20s. Fat Lambs. —147 penned. These sold at late rates. Quotations; Best lambs, to 21s 6d ; others, 16s 9d to 18s 9d. ' Pigs. — 60 fat and 180 store pigs were penned. The yarding of stores was in excess of the requirements, with the result that prices showed a decline of about 3s to 5s a head. Quotations; Suckers, 11s to 14s; slips, 17s 6d to 21s 6d; stores, to 28s; porkers, 40s to 47s 6d; light baconers. to 57s 6d ; heavy baconers, to 60s.

At the Addington live stock market last week there were again moderate yardings of stock and a good attendance. Fat cattle showed a further hardening of prices, and the fat sheep sale opened at an advance of about Is per head, and afterwards eased off to the past week’s rates. Store sheep also sold well. There was a keen demand for fat pigs, especially for porkers, and prices showed some improvement. Store Sheep.— Fairly good hoggets, 15s 3d; two and four-tooth halfbred wethers, 16s 9d to 17s 3d; two, four, and six-tooth wethers (very forward), 19s 3d four, six, and eighttooth ewes, with good lambs, 11s (all counted); full and failing mouth ewes (in lamb), 12s 2d; full-mouth ewes, inferior, with lambs, 7s 6d (all counted). Fat Cattle. —Ordinary steers, £8 5s to £l2 10s; extra steers, to £lO 10s; ordinary heifers, £6 7s 6d to' £9 ; extra heifers, to £l2 10s ; ordinary cows, £5 15s to £8 ss*;. extra cows, to £l2 17s 6d (price per 1001 b 32s 6d to 40s)! Fat Pigs.— Choppers, 70s to 105 s; heavy baconers, 70s. to 765; extra heavy baconers,. to 80s; ordinary baconers 55s to 65s (price per lb sfd to 6d) ; heavy porkers, 45s to 495; ordinary porkers, 38s to 42s (price per lb 6id) ; large stores, 40s to 44s 6d ; medium, 32s to 38s; small, 22s to 30s; weaners, 14s to 18s. THE PASTORAL ..INDUSTRY. The position of the pastoral industry, distinct from that of farming, in Australia and New Zealand, was never more promising than it is to-day (writes the Pastoral Review). The whole world is wanting our meat and our wool. Some countries more, some less, but, all the same, the demand is far ahead of the supply. So promising is the position of these industries, where little labor comparatively is required, that many men who went in for grain are limiting their crops to a more manageable area, and are going in for a proportion of stock. At the best, grain farming is a pre- • carious industry, and with the threatening labor troubles, the high freights, and bad railway facilities it is not to be wondered at that people are fighting shy of it. Other countries, with cheaper land and labor, will look after the grain.- The stock owner who has his place stocked up is l the fortunate man. Those who are taking up unstocked land are finding the price of stores much against them ; they will have to be patient, and gradually work up. However, they needn’t fear; the future for stock-breeding is just as bright as the present, and this industry will ever be the backbone of Australasia. One important matter must not be overlooked by our stock owners Refrigeration is responsible for the new markets for meat that are being opened up, and a severe strain will be placed upon our resources. It is therefore essential that the best female stock should be carefully conserved, so that by numbers and quality we shall be able to fulfil our destiny as meat purveyors to the Northern Hemisphere.