ON THE LAND

New Zealand Tablet, 1 April 1920, Page 43

ON THE LAND

MARKET REPORTS. At Burnside last week 224 head of fat cattle were penned. The quality on the -whole was only fair. Competition throughout -the sale was indifferent. Freezing buyers had’ the space booked to them filled" up previously to the sale, therefore they were not in a position to compete for present offerings. Prime bullocks sold at fair - rates; medium bullocks, cows, and heifers showed a decline. ' Fat sheep: 2215 yarded, the majority of which consisted of medium and poor quality. Very few wethers of prime quality were forward, with the result that these sold well. On the other hand, ewes of all classes showed a decline, this being most noticeable in medium quality. Freezing buyers bought very little of the yarding. Fat lambs: 1424 yarded. The quality on the whole was only fair, several pens being mixed. Competition for freezing lambs was very limited, while graziers were competing for medium and inferior quality at prices fully. 3s below previous week’s rates. Pigs: There was a full yarding of fats and a medium yarding of store pigs. Prices for fat pigs were practically on a par with previous week’s rates; store pigs were a shade firmer. At Addington market the yarding of fat sheep and lambs was slightly larger than usual, while store sheep were again in over-supply. Fat cattle were also forward in more than usual numbers, and there was a glut of store cattle. The tone of the market throughout was good. Fat cattle: 445 yarded. The market was firm throughout, exporters operating freely. Quotations: Extra prime steel's £25 10s to £27 10s, prime £2O to £24, medium £l6 to £l9, lighter £8 15s to £ls, prime heifers £l4 to £l7 12s 6d, ordinary £7 2s 6d to £l3, prime cows £l3 to £l7 2s 6d, ordinary £lO 15s to £l2 17s 6d. Fat sheep : A good yarding, which included some prime pens. The market was firm at preceding week’s rates. Freezing buyers secured a good proportion of the entry. Quotations: Extra prime .wethers 44s to 49s 9d, prime 38s to 43s 6d, medium 33s 3d to 375, lighter 25s 6d to 32s 6d, extra prime ewes 48s 6d to 55s 6d, prime 36s 6d to 41s, medium 31s 3d to 35s 3d, lighter 2os lid to 30s 6d. Vealers: A good entry of veal calves, for which the prices were firm, the market being an improved one. Quotations; Runners to £8 2s 6cl, or” dinary. vealers £3 12s 6d to £4, medium 30s to 455, small calves /s 6d to 22s 6d. Pigs: A fair entry and an improved demand. Extra heavy baconers to £loj heavy £7 10s to £8 10s, ordinary £6 to £7—average price lid per lb; heavy porkers £5 5s to £5 15s, ordinary £4 10s to £s— price Is Id pel* lb; choppers £6 to £9. Messrs. Donald Reid and Co. report as follows on last eek s sale of rabbit-skins, etc.; Only moderate catalogues were" submitted. As compared with previous sale, prices were much the same. Quotations: Runners and suckers 50d to 57d, light racks 90d to 93d, prime racks 105 d to 107*d, summers 80d to 90d, early autumns 120 d to 125 id, winter bucks 130 d to 150 d, winter does to 150 d, springs IOOd to 116 d, milky 40d to 48d, broken 40d to 60d, fawns 70d to 80d, summer blacks 70d to 76d, winter blacks IOOd to llOd, hareskins 40d to 46d, catskins 6d to Is, horsehair 20d to 25d.

FRUIT PLANTATIONS. , Profitable fruit growing cannot be carried on in a haphazard fashion. It calls for assiduous attention and unremitting activity, and before embarking on it, more than an ordinary amount of forethought is required (says a writer in Farm, Field, and Fireside ). ’ The improvement of existing orchards and the renovation of old, worn-out trees — or, better still, their replacement by new ones are perhaps the easiest methods of commencing this new departure; and there need not be the slightest hesitancy in recommending it. Of course, the establishment of a new orchard or plantation is better. It is ..always best to select a few good varieties, with an eye to the future disposal of the produce, rather than make the foolish mistake of attempting the cultivation of two many varieties of fruits, or perhaps growing ones unsuited to the requirements of the local market. Nothing is more indicative of bad management, or less likely to find a ready sale, than an ill-assorted sample of fruit. But the well-graded, uniform sample, composed entirely of a few good standard varieties, will invariably find a quick buyer. I mus also mention one very common mistake: I mean that of planting varieties of fruit trees wholly unsuited to eitner soil or district. For this reason, I will here give a few reliable hints which may enable prospective growers to start -their plantations judiciously. Preparation of Ground.—lt is very desirable to begin to think about planting well in advance, : because the land must be well prepared and the trees selected. --When cir-

■; . -c'r-x >:";•-*■ . --;; •.;• v^hvcumstances permit, no better preparation i can ~- be •■'J-made than by growing a potato crop; if a second’Vearly variety is planted the ground, will be left comparatively clean and tree from weeds. The soil will, moreover, be in good heart, triable in texture, and : second to none for the cultivation of all fruits. ' - ' ■

t f? /n® J a l se of ,. lar plantations a subsoil plough should,follow the ordinary plough down each furrow, so as to break up the subsoil. If standard trees are to be planted, stakes should be got ready, and' should be driven into position before the trees arrive, as it is not a good plan to damage the roots by driving in the stakes after planting. Everything should be ready for a start as soon as the trees arrive, as the less delay between lifting and planting the trees the better. Fox mixed plantations 30ft distance is usually allowed from tree to ttree, as it then permits of intercropping. J hI !S, standard apples or pears may be planted 30ft apart, bush or pyramid apples or half-standard plums in rows between them, at 15ft apart, and bush fruits, such as currants or gooseberries, intercropped in turn at sft apart. Apples.—For the growth of apples, medium loamy soils •overlying a sandstone or limestone formation are to be preferred. Usually these soils are especially favorable for the growth of oak, elm, and hawthorn, and in many cases are rich and well drained. Dry, sandy soils, and those where early frosts are prevalent, must always be avoided. Situation and aspect are perhaps of more vital importance" than the condition of the soil; thus the north-easterly winds are very injurious to fruit trees in spring, and a spot unsheltered from their course should therefore be avoided. Artificial protection may, of course, be afforded, but such is obviously inferior to a natural means of shelter. .These conditions of soil, aspect, and situation are applicable to almost all varieties of fruits generally. Planting.—Of the details of planting, I can mention none of more importance than the necessity for keeping the roots as close to the surface of the ground as possible, the depth to which the trees are planted should be the same as that of their nursery days; this will be indicated bj the soil mark on the stem. To keep the roots close to the surface, give an annual mulching of leaf mould or short, well-decayed farmyard manure; and as soon as the soil is ary enough, keep it well stirred on the surface with the hoe. Once a week is not too often for this, especially in dry, droughty districts. The hoeing prevents evaporation aerates the surface soil, and so keeps the fibrous roots at the surface instead of their diving down into 'the subsoil below in search of air" and moisture.The soil above the roots must be trodden down firmly as soon as the roots are spread out in position and covered with soil. It will be advisable to raise the surface level slightly to allow of subsequent sinking.