ON THE LAND

New Zealand Tablet, 16 October 1919, Page 43

ON THE LAND

- MARKET REPORTS. ' At Burnside last week only 97 head of fat cattle were offered. The number of . prime bullocks was greater than has been the case for a considerable time, and the quality, taken as a whole, better than has been seen at Burnside yards for some weeks. The yarding was insufficient for requirements, and the previous week’s exceptionally high prices were maintained. The demand from start to finish was exceptionally keen. Extra prime bullocks £4O to £52, prime bullocks £3O to £36, medium £24 to , £2B 10s, light and unfinished £l7 to £2l, prime cows and heifers £l9 2s 6d to £24 10s, medium £l6 to £l9, old and inferior £lO to £ls. Fat sheep : 1065 came forward. This was a small yarding, consequently buyers were keen to fulfil their requirements, and prices opened at rates fully equalling the high prices ruling the previous week. Towards the end of the sale, however, the market was, if anything, inclined to weaken to the extent of about Is per head. The quality was only medium. The proportion of extra prime sheep was small, the biggest part of the yarding being composed of medium to light-weight ewes and wethers. Prime wethers 60s to 73s 3d, medium 51s 6d to 58s, light 40s to 50s, a few extra prime ewes to 84s 3d, prime 50s to 565, medium 42s to 47s 6d, light and aged 30s to 39s 9d. Spring lambs: Only five spring lambs were offered, and under excellent competition they were sold at the following prices: 3 at 345, 2 at 365. Pigs: There was a small entry of both fat and store pigs, consequently competition was specially keen, prices for fats showing an advance on previous week’s values of 7s 6d to 10s per head. At Addington last week there were larger entries ,in most sections. The main feature was a decided drop in fat sheep, but fat cattle were still firm. Fat lambs: 80 were penned. Prices fell ss, and ranged from 15s to 20s. Fat sheep The yarding was quite double that of the previous week. The sale opened fairly well, but a sharp decline in prices then occurred, the decrease being estimated at 10s to 15s per head. Extra prime wethers to 695, prime 47s to 59s 6d, medium 40s to 455, lighter 36s to 39s 3d, extra prime ewes 575, prime 42s to 48s 6d, medium 37s to 40s, lighter 27s 6d to 35s 6d, hoggets 30s to 47s 6d. Fat cattle: 320 head were yarded. The sale was very uneven, opening easier, but firming to late rates. Extra prime steers £35 to £SO, prime £22 to £26, ordinary £lO to £lB, extra prime heifers to £39 10s, prime £l6 to £2l, ordinary £lO 7s 6d to £ls, extra prime cows to £24 10s, prime £l3 10s to £l9, ordinary £7 9s 6d to £l3. Vealers; The inquiry was keen, and values firm. Runners £5 5s to £8 12s Od, good vealers £3 to £4 10s, fair vealers 40s to 555, small and inferior 5s to 375. Pigs; There was a small entry of fat pigs and a good demand. Extra heavy baconers £9 4s to £9 19s Od, heavy £7 10s to £8 10s, others £6 to £7 (equal to 11-Jd per lb), heavy porkers £4 10s to £5 4s, others £3 12s to £4 5s (equal to Is to Is o£d per lb), choppers £7 13s.

Messrs. Donald Reid and Co., Ltd., report; —The fortnightly sales of rabbitskins were held on Monday, October 6, with the following quotations: —Runners and suckers from 14d to 23d, light racks . from 32d to 42d, summers from 20d to 26d, autumns from 72d to 98d, early winters from HOd to 130 d, winter broken from 60d to 63d, autumn blacks from 54d to 66*d, prime blacks from 146 d to 180 d, first fawn from 93d to 104 d, super does from 200 d to 211 d, second does from 180 d to 200 d, super bucks 124 d to 138 d, spotty bucks from 96d to 107 d, milky does from 24d to 56d, spotty does from 53d to 106 d, springs from 48d to 60d, hareskins from 33d to 40d, horsehair from 17d to 19-id. A "small parcel of extra choice super does brought up to 224 d. Bidding was erratic. Good winters sold a shade better than at the last sale. LINSEED IN CALF-FEEDING. In the feeding of calves it is found that linseed (the seek of flax) meal or crushed linseed added to skim or separated milk is one of the safest and most economical substitutes for the abstracted milk fat. . Linseed approaches more nearly in composition to the solids of milk than any other food, and the oil which it contains, to the extent of 34 to 38 per cent., is easily digestible. There is, however, a risk in buying any grain or seed in the form of a meal, as it is difficult to detect impurities when the material is sold in this condition, consequently those who grow their own linseed are best off. Whole milk should be fed, for at least one -week. During the next week the change from whole milk to skim-milk should be gradual. Substitute each day a regular proportion of skim-milk for the same amount of whole milk withdrawn. The skim-milk should be fed warm, from 90deg to lOOdeg Fahr. To replace the fat removed from the skim-milk, as well as 'to furnish

additional protein, is now the" duty of, the linseed, .«mixed with the milk in the form of a jelly: * This jelly should be added in , small quantities at first, and slowly increased. Begin : with a dessertspoonful in each portion, and'.gradually increase until about ■; a cupful is• being fed night and morning : toY the I three-month-old ; calf:' To prepare the jelly, boil or, steep lib :of linseed in : water almost boiling until a thick paste results.-Another method of , preparation is to take a -cupful of crushed linseed in a quart of water, and allow it •to -simmer just ; below the boiling point - until a thick jelly is formed. It should be kept coo] and ■■ sweet until fed. ' . .. . ; ,\ ■-.-.... : ..-, ~:y<-[

MAKING CONCRETE POSTS ON THE FARM. Concrete posts are one of the concrete productsthat can be successfully made on the farm. Some of the farmer’s spare time during the . winter months can be put to ' good advantage in this work. ' There is nothing which detracts more from the appearance of a farm than a poor fence, and there is nothing which adds more to the appearance, efficiency, and life of a fence than good, durable- posts. To make concrete: posts during the winter months precaution must be taken to see that the materials do not freeze before setting, A place for this work where there is no danger of freezing can be found on every farm,; There are certain .requirements to obtain good results in making concrete posts that every user of concrete should have well in mind; Use new cement that is free, from lumps. Use clean, coarse sand. Use gravel, or broken, stone that is well graded, free from soft material such as clay, organic matter, etc. Use enough cement. A rich mixture of 1 part cement, 12 of sand, and 3 of. broken stone not larger than 2-inch, is. best for posts. Mix cement and sand thoroughly while dry. Add broken stone and water and continue mixing. Concrete mixed for a period -of five minutes is much better than when mixed for one minute only. Proper amount and proper placing of reinforcing is essential. Four 1-inch iron rods are necessary. Place these near each corner of the posts. A VALUABLE SUBSTITUTE FOR NITROGEN. Soot is a very valuable nitrogenous fertiliser and insecticide. It is a useful substitute for nitrogenous manure, and helps to disorganise and render soluble such vegetable matter as it may come in contact with either in the soil or the compost heap. As a plant stimulant, it is best strewn between the lines of growing crops from October onwards, preferably in showery weather, and hoed in. Should the leafage of the vegetable be young or tender, it may be wise to keep the soot exposed to air, but under shelter, for two or three weeks before use. Onions, and leeks, all the cabbage tribe (including turnips), beet, and earrohs respond very readily to soot dressings, and it is highly efficacious as a prevention or remedy for the many pests which attack these crops. It is equally good for cereals and grass applied in spring, and few things are better for checking the ravages of the turnip flea. Dug into the soil, or strewn along the drills when planting potatoes, beans, or peas, it is helpful as a plant food, and is disliked by wire-worm. It destroys much insect vermin when mixed into accumulations of vegetable matter, and enriches this so that it makes a valuable supplementary fertiliser. Lime, or artificials containing lime, should not be used with soot, for the former liberates its most precious ingredientthe ammoniawhich then escapes in the form of gas. But I have noted some remarkable effects upon plant growth from using a mixture of one part air-slaked lime to three parts of fresh soot, this being hoed in between the rows or sown broadcast immediately before or during rain. This mixture is also dreaded by caterpillars of most kinds, and will not, as a rule, injure matured foliage. . - A good liquid manure may be made by immersing a peck of soot in a weighted bag in 50 gallons of water. After soaking for a week, an occasional stirring being advantageous, it will be ready for use, and can be given to all vegetables which need stimulating. But in using this liquid fertiliser, or any other for that matter, one must not apply it while the roots are dry. After watering or heavy rain is the best time. Soot should always be bought by measure, and not by weight, for the heaviest samples are the poorest, since they contain much brick and mortar. Really good soot should be very light and “fluffy,” and the blacker it is the better the quality. Soot from factory chimneys ’is seldom as good as that from dwelling-houses. —A.T.J., in. the N.Z. Dairyman.