ON THE LAND

New Zealand Tablet, 21 August 1919, Page 43

ON THE LAND

MARKET REPORT. ; ~ l -, w There was a very small yarding of fat cattle at Burnside last week, only 112 head coming under the hammer. The entry was composed of medium to good steers and heifers, there being no animals of extra heavy weight and quality forward. The yarding was not sufficient for butchers’ requirements, and prices advanced fully. 20s per head on the previous week’s rates. In some cases this rise was exceeded. Prime bullocks brought .£23 to £29 10s, medium £l9 to £22 10s, light weights £ls to £lB, prime cows and heifers £l6 to £lB, medium £l3 to £ls 15s, light and aged £lO to £l2 10s. Fat Sheep. —A medium yarding, only 1635 being penned. There, were no extra prime heavy sheep forward, the yarding being composed of medium to good ewes and wethers. As several of the big butchers had bought supplies privately outside, the above number proved sufficient for requirements, and prices dropped from Is to Is 6d per head as compared with the previous week’s rates. Prime wethers 48s 6d to 53s 6d, medium 41s 6d to 465, light and unfinished 30s to ,37s 6d, prime ewes 37s to 40s 9d, medium 32s to 35s 6d, light and aged 24s to 28s. Pigs: A mediumsized entry of fat pigs-and a small offering of stores were penned. There was a full attendance of buyers, who competed keenly, and a complete clearance of all sorts was soon made under very brisk bidding. Fat pigs of all weights sold at prices 5s to 7s 6d per head above the previous sale’s rates. Stores also brought prices in favor of vendors.

PLANTING FRUIT TREES. In planting fruit trees the lighter and drier the soil the deeper you can plant, and the heavier and wetter the situation the shallower the planting should be (says a writer in the JV.Z. Farmer). In light, sandy soils the roots can have a covering of six to nine inches, whereas on heavy soils a covering of four inches will be sufficient. Make the holes as wide at the bottom as at the top, and rather deeper at the sides than in the centre, so that when the roots are covered they will have a downward tendency. When filling in, scatter some fine soil first. Always have the hole sufficiently large to allow the roots to lay straight. Never double them back. In small gardens the trees can be planted 10 to 12 feet apart, but in orchards 16 to 20 feet should be allowed.

SALT. It has long been known that salt is a necessity for all classes of farm stock (says an exchange). Not only does it prevent disease and maintain the condition of the hair, but it stimulates the digestion and increases the appetite. There is a little rule as to the quantities it is best to give, and a few hints on this point may be of value. For an average horse it is recommended that 2oz should be mixed with the food every day. Different quantities are given for cattle of different ages and classes. For a six-months-old calf loz per day, for a year-old calf 3oz, for milch cows 4oz, and for fattening steers 6oz. For sheep, loz to 2oz per head for every five days is advised, and for pigs two-thirds of an ounce per day. Sprinkling the salt over the food is thought to be the best and most economical method of feeding it, as by all other methods there is a deal of waste and little regulation in the quantity actually consumed. But with stock at pasture rock salt is the only feasible method of supplying it, and the wise stockman will never neglect the provision of this essential. - 1

GROW MORE SPINACH.' There are people -who do not like spinach. More often than not, they think they do not like it. Spinach is one of those vegetables round which quite a lot of prejudice exists (says a writer in Farm, Field, and Fireside). As a matter of fact, the more spinach is eaten the more it is liked. Moreover, it is an extremely

health-giving food. Apart from the sustenance and nourishment it, gives, it is* even more than other/green \ stuff a great .cleanser and general health renovator. . Spinach can be cooked, too, in many ways, and can form: part' of many a made-up dish. Further, should there be an overplus of the leaves in summertime, just tie them in 'a: bundle,; like parsley and sage is treated, when it is dried -for. winter use. When all the moisture has evaporated, just rub the dried leaves through the hands and store • away in boxes or tins for winter use. When it is desired to cook a dish of dried spinach, just soak a;: good handful cold water and watch it swell out. It expands to enormous size, and when treated afterwards in the same way that freshlygathered spinach is cooked ; it makes •an excellent dish. Regarded from., a growing point of .view, spinach is quite an accommodating plant. It can be sown for a large part of the year, and will produce quite excellent results- There are also .different kinds of spinach, to suit varying conditions of culture/ as well as dietetic tastes. The common kind of spinach can be sown from late spring 1 until summer is well Vadvanced: A little should be sown at a time, and frequent gatherings of leaves should be the order of the day. Cut only the largest leaves, or, if this is too ; lengthy a process, crop entirely alternate plants. The soil should be well tilled and pulverised. . The hoe must .be kept busy, "and it must be remembered that spinach is composed entirely of water, therefore it must have abundant and constant watering if good - results are to be obtained. -: ' A I type of spinach well worthy of consideration is the: winter variety. . On heavy- soils sow early,- or in very favorable circumstances somewhat later in the year. If either Giant Winter, Prickly, or Prickly Flanders is sown, a cropping may be held ill the autumn, but there will of a surety be green spinach for winter eating.