ON THE LAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 9, 1 March 1923, Page 51

ON THE LAND

MARKET REPORTS. At Burnside last week 291 head of fat cattle were yarded, including several pens' of prime bullocks. Owing to outside competition prices were from 15s to 20s per head better than those of the previous week. Best bullocks realised from £ll 10s to £l4 10s, good from £8 10s to £lO 10s, medium from £7 10s to £8 10s, best heifers from £7 to £9, medium from £5 to £6. Eat Sheep—3229 head were yarded. The sale opened about Is lower than the preceding week's rates for wethers and about 2s lower for ewes, but as the sale progressed prices showed a further drop of from 6d to Is per head. Quotations: Best wethers realised from 39s to 40s 3d, good from 34s to 375, best ewes (extra heavy) 435, good 32s to 375, medium 24s to 265. Pat Lambs. —1494 head were yarded. Freezing buyers operated freely, and prices Mere, if anything, better than .those ruling on the previous week. Quotations Extra heavy lambs to 40s, good from 32s Gd to 365, lighter from 26s to 28s 6d. Eat Pigs.—There was a full entry of pigs. Competition was exceptionally keen, there being a brisk demand for prime baconers. Higher prices were realised for baconers and porkers. Prime baconers realised from 6£d to 7}d, and prime porkers from 7£d to 8d per lb. At Addington market last week breeding ewes were offered from the North Island, Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast, and southern districts. The total sheep yarding was in the vicinity of 30,000 head. There was .also a larger beef and mutton entry. Eat Lambs. Slightly over 4100 were penned. A good sale. Values were the same as on the preceding weekfirsts lOd to 10£d, seconds 9:{d. Extra prime 33s to 365, a few special 38s, prime 30s to 32s 9d, medium 27s 3d to 29s 9d. light and unfinished 23s Gd to 275. Fat Sheep.—A bigger yarding and a drop of 2s to 3s. Butchers' wethers made up to 6-J-d. Exporters' prices were a shade less and ewes 5d to sxd.5 x d. There were some passings. Extra prime wethers, 36s to 38s, a few special 425, prime 32s Gd to 355, medium 29s 9d to 32s 3d, light 27s to 29s Gd, extra prime ewes 31s 6d to 34s 6d, a few special 365, prime 28s to 31s. medium 25s 3d to 27s Gd, light 23s / to 255, old 20s to 22s Gd. Fat Cattle.—A yarding of 440 head. Prime beef was worth from 30s to 335, secondary 25s to 295. A few passings. Extra prime steers £l4 10s to £ls 17s Gd, prime £ll 15s to £l4, medium £9 10s to £ll 12s Gd, light £7 to £9 7s Gd, extra prime heifers to £ll 2s Gd, prime £8 to £9 15s, ordinary £4 10s to £7 10s, extra prime cows to £9 17s Gd, prime £7 to £9, ordinary £4 17s Gd to £6 15s, old £3 10s to £4 15s. Vealers. —The demand was good, and late rates were maintained. Good runners £4 12s Gd, ordinary vealers £3 to £4 ss, small calves from 6s upwards. Fat Pigs.—The demand was good, and prices improved. Choppers £2 10s to £5, light baconers £3 12s to £4, heavy £4 5s to £4 Bs, extra heavy £4 10s to £5 (average price per lb Gd to 63d), light porkers £2 7s to £2 14s, heavy £2 17s to £3 2s (average price per lb 7Ad to Bid). SIDE LINKS IN PROFITABLE PRODUCTION; AVENUES OF REVENUE. The farmer of to-day is having a big pull to keep going (says an exchange). This applies to all countries, and the following article from the Farmer and. Stock Breeder is of interest to all who wish to increase their income:—"lt is quite obvious that if agriculturists are to keep their heads above water some new methods will have to be adopted which will help to find the wherewithal to meet rent, labor and other expenses. Under the present system, and at prevailing prices, it is impossible to realise sufficient to pay labor out of eh, produce as is customarily grown. A point worthy of consideration is whether farmers will not be obliged to specialise more in stock breeding and run more side lines. Market Gardening. Some advocate an extension of market gardening and the growth of Brussels sprouts, cauliflowers and other

vegetables, but- it must bo confessed as a side line the growth of such crops gives no encouragement in these days when there are so many small holders who all grow more than enough of these vegetables for their own requirements. These crops will grow well in the strongest of soils, but the expense of marketing at any long distance from a. large town puts culture of this kind out of the question.

Production of Honey and Eggs.

More orchards would lead up to more extensive bee keeping and the production of honey, an article which is always saleable and often difficult to obtain. Everyone likes honey if they can get it, but bee keeping is one of those small things which farmers have deemed beneath notice. It is going to be the small things, however, that will count in the future.

Then, as regards poultry keeping, it is one of the most extraordinary things in regard to the prices of agricultural produce that eggs still continue to sell at almost war rates, and yet nearly every villager and many townsmen who have a bit of allotment or a back yard are keeping fowls. Of course, farm house poultry keeping as usually conducted is certainly not the most profitable method, but there is a vast improvement on the old systems of management, and egg production is being now taken up seriously on a great many farms, and there is no doubt that there is much poor land about which could be more profitably devoted to poultry keeping than anything else. There is still much to be learnt on the average farm in regard to the most economic methods of rearing and feeding but, all the same, poultry can be maintained at loss expense on a farm than anywhere else, as from harvest time to the edge of winter they will pick up a living on the stubbles and round the rickyards. Of course, systematic egg production is like milk production in so far that there must be a proper system of feeding in order to obtain profitable results. A hen won't lay on nothing any more than a cow will milk on nothing. Pure-Bred Stock. It is many little ones which make a mickle, and it is obvious that more attention will have to be paid to "petite culture.'' to help us along in these times. It is very notable too, that those who specialise in the breeding of some class of pure-bred stock or others are feeling the pinch much less severely than those who just carry on in the ordinary way. Those who specialise in milk production and the breeding of pedigree or milk recorded cattle are having n good time. The price they make for their animals helps to make up any deficit they may have to complain of in regard to the price they get for their milk. The one helps the other out. There were some who thought Clydesdale horse breeding was played out, but there is another profitable side line and one which always has helped to pay the rent. Buoyancy of Pig Trade. Nothing is more remarkable than the way in which pedigree pigs keep up their price. Those who are now specialising in pedigree pig breeding are reaping the reward of their foresight. Pedigree pig breeding can be taken up by any farmer in however small a way he may be, and the returns are quick. Old-fashioned methods are slow, and there has always been a great reluctance to embark on any new project, but stern necessity will compel us to adopt new methods, and to take up anything which will bring grist to the mill. In the extension of "petite culture" co-operative methods of sale are essential to ensure a proper market.