ON THE LAND

New Zealand Tablet, 27 November 1919, Page 43

ON THE LAND

: ’ MARKET REPORTS. \ At Burnside last week 181 head of fat cattle were yarded. The quality was much,better than in the previous week, a. number of pens consisting^ of extra prime bullocks. Competition ! was fairly keen throughout, but, at a lower rate, of i value, . prices taken , all through the sale being back 20s“to 30s per head. Extra prime bullocks to £3B 10s, prime £29 to £32, medium £24 to £27 10s, lighter sorts £l6 to £l9 10s, extra prime heifers to £23 ss, prime £lB to £l9 10s, medium £l4 to £l6 10s, light and aged £lO 10s to £l3 10s. Fat sheep A much larger yarding came forward, 1850 being penned. The quality of the whole yarding was better than has been the case for some time, a large number of the pens comprising really prime wethers and ewes. Owing, to the butchers getting supplies of frozen meat out of the works, the above number was in excess of requirements, and a very considerable drop took place. Prime sheep were back 4s per head, and lighter sorts 25," and in many cases this drop was exceeded. Extra prime wethers to 63s 9d, prime 55s to 58s, medium 45s to 60s, lighter sorts 32s to 38s, extra prime ewes to 59s 6d, prime 47s 6d to 535, medium 38s to 435, light 34s to 37s 6d. There was a fair sprinkling of shorn sheep of very good quality, best wethers bringing up to 455, and others 34s to 38s. Spring lambs: Another good yarding, 74 coming under the hammer. The quality was much better than has been the case for some time. Competition was keen from start to finish, and the previous week’s rates were fully maintained. Extra* prime lambs to 36s 6d, prime 31s to 335, medium 27s to 29s 6d, light 24s upwards. Pigs; The largest entry of pigs for months was penned. There was a good attendance of butchers and bacon-curers, who bid very keenly for every lot. The prices realised were slightly above those of the previous week. The number of stores offered was not sufficient to supply the demand, and the prices paid were the highest of the season. There was a big yarding of all classes at Addington last week, and prices were down for practically all stock. The entry of fat cattle was about double the ordinary supply, and the drop was from £3 to £4 per head. Fat sheep were down from 3s to 8s per head, the market being very erratic. The decreased demand by butchers is due to the growing use of frozen mutton, and the late high prices are-not likely to recur. There was an entry of 288 fat lambs, as compared with 603 at the previous sale. The demand remained firm. Best prime lambs 395, prime 36s 6d, medium 30s, light 25s 7d. Fat sheep; .Eight races were pennedabout sufficient under ordinary circumstances for the week’s requirements. Extra prime wethers to 62s 3d, prime. 51s to 58s 3d, medium 42s 6d to 50s, lighter 27s to 38s 6d, extra prime ewes 58s, prime 46s to 545, medium 39s 6d to 43s 9d, lighter 26s to 36s 3d, prime hoggets 41s, lighter 34s 6d, ewe hoggets 22s to 375, mixed-sex hoggets 26s 5d to 375, wether hoggets 29s to 38s. There was a yarding of 525 fat cattle. Extra prime steers to £39, prime £l7 to £3O, ordinary £8 to £l6 10s, prime heifers £l3 to £l9 15s, ordinary £8 2s 6d to £l2, prime cows £l2 to £l9 10s, ordinary £8 to £ll 10s. Fat pigs: There was an exceptionally keen demand. Extra heavy baconers £8 10s, others £5 10s to £7 15s (equal to Hid per lb), heavy porkers 90s to 100 s, others 85s (equal to IOJd per lb), choppers £6 to £lO. Good veal calves were in very small supply. Runners up to £B, good vealers £5 2s 6d, fair'£2 12s, small- and inferior 5s to 10s. Donald Reid and Co. report as follows:The fortnightly sales of rabbitskins, etc., were held on Monday, November 17, when medium catalogues were submitted to the usual attendance of buyers. All catalogues were quitted at increased prices, the sale being the best held this' season. Quotations: Runners and suckers 16d, racks 43d, autumns 91d to 103 id, incomings 126 d, second bucks 150 d, second does 215 d to 221 d, first bucks 146 d to 172 d, first does 22Jd to 241 d, first winter blacks 180 d to 184 d, second winter blacks 'llod, fawn 97d, outgoing 135 d to 157 d, spring 55d to 65d, summer 32d to 40d, first broken 62d to 69d, hareskins 42d, horsehair 21d, catskins 6d. TO CURE RABBITSKINS. Rabbitskins are valuable. . The following is a suitable process (which we extract from the N.Z. Farmer ) for the curing ; of rabbitskins; Mix bran and soft water sufficient to cover the skins. Immerse them and keep them covered for 24 hours then remove, wash, clean, and carefully scrape off all flesh. Then take a gallon of hot water .and dissolve in, this 11b alum and Jib salt; cool so that the hand may be put ) in; immerse the skins for 24 hours; dry partially by rubbing. After this, immerse for 24 hours in oatmeal, and warm water partially dry in the shade, and finally- rub until ; entirely dry. This leaves the skin like white leather and fit for use. .

1 . : SEPARATOR SUGGESTIONS." ~ • Study the manufacturer’s, suggestions carefully, Place v the separator on a base thatj does not 'shake or give, • and in a location ;as free from dust as possible. Level the machine across the middle of • the bowl; frame. Wipe the oil from the tin parts of a new machine, and wash with a strong solution of alkaline washing powder. Use kerosene to . clean the bearings, and use the oil recommended by the manufacturer. Do not use -a - vegetable oil, such as castor oil, as it gums up the bearings. Start the machine, slowly, taking at least three, minutes to bring it up to full speed. Fill the bowl with warm water as it is put in . motion. This prevents the cream sticking to -the sides of the bowl. When at full speed, open the milk supply' to its full capacity, and see that the motion of the machine does not cause this to become partly closed. ' • Put an. even pressure on the crank handle at all points in its course. Avoid heavy push or pull with no power applied when the crank is at the bottom or top of its circle. • Keep sufficient milk in the supply can to give the machine its full feed at all times.

If speed slackens materially while adding milk to the supply can, the valve should be closed. If the cream thickens, so as to clog or partly clog the outlets, the bowl should be flushed with warm water; -

When separating is finished, immediately flush the bowl with enough warm water to remove all cream. Skimmilk may be used, though not quite so satisfactorily. Allow the machine to stop of its own accord. Do not apply a brake of any kind unless it is provided by the manufacturer. - Wash the machine after each time it is used; rinse first with cold or lukewarm water; cleanse thoroughly with a brush or warm water in which an alkaline washing powder has been dissolved; rinse and scald with boiling water; do not wipe, but shake and allow to dry of its own heat. RENOVATING AN OLD ORCHARD. There are a good many old orchards in various parts of the countryvery likely some at least of our readers know where a few are to be found either by reason of inferior varieties, or else through neglect, old age, starvation, or disease, are practically unprofitable (says a writer in a contemporary). In some years they may afford a decent crop and “pay” fairly well, but, taking one year with another, they scarcely pay for the ground they occupy, and much less yield any profit. This is not right. Good fruit nearly always sells readily, and realises fair ,to good prices, but it must be good. The orchard, if well managed, ought to be one of the most profitable enclosures on the —far "more remunerative than any cereal or regular farm crop, but the trees must be of the best varieties, be properly planted and pruned, “fed,” etc., when necessary, and the fruit be carefully gathered, graded, and marketed at the right time.

Now, the question —and one that is often asked r which is the best way to transform such an orchard as I have already described from an unprofitable to a profitable “item.” Well, this depends chiefly upon circumstances, like so many other things, the chief points to be considered being the age and condition of the trees as regards vigor, healthiness, etc., and also the varieties of which they , consist.

The best method of going to work is really a matter of judgment. If too old, or “worn out,” diseased, or neglected beyond a certain point, it will be practically useless to ‘tinker’ with the trees, or attempt to V renovate them in any way, and far better to grub up the lot, and replant the ground with young, vigorous, and healthy stock. But in such cases it is far better, if possible, to plant any young trees on a totally different plot of land— entirely fresh soilcropping the old orchard with something quite different, or laying it down to grass for a few years. Where trees are healthy and vigorous, however, and not too old, but of inferior varieties, it is very easy to effect the transformation, and in a very short time, too, by heading them back and grafting the stumps with scions of choice kinds, this being done in the early spring. j|f