ON THE LAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 29, 26 July 1923, Page 51

ON THE LAND

MARKET REPORTS. At Burnside last week 214 head of fat cattle were penned—a small yarding which included several pens of wellfinished cattle, prices for these being firm at the previous week’s rates, but lighter cattle showed a rise in values to the extent of 10s to 15s per head. This was most noticeable at the end of the sale. Extra prime heavyweight bullocks realised from £l6 15s to £l7 10s, prime heavyweight bullocks £l4 12s 6d to £ls ss, medium from £ll. 17s 6d to £l2 10s, lighter kinds from £9 2s 6d to £lO 15s, best cows and heifers to £B, medium from £6 lOs to £7 ss, others from £6 upwards. Fat Sheep. A small yarding was brought forward for last wee it's sail', only 1774 being penned, consequently a fairly spirited sale resulted. Prices for prime heavy-weight sheep opened equal to those ruling on the preceding week, and remained firm ’throughout, medium sheep were easier to the extent of Is to Is 6d. Extra prime heavy-weight wethers brought 55s 9d to 02s 6d, prime heavy-weight wethers 48s Oil to 50s, medium 38s 9d to 445, light kinds from 30s upwards, extra prime heavyweight ewes 35s to 39s 3d, prime 30s to 32s 3d, medium 20s to 28s, others from 22s 6d upwards. Fat Pigs.— Pigs were forward in fairly large numbers, all classes being represented. Competition, was brisk, and prices wore about equal to those realised at the previous sale. Best bar-oners realised up to 7d, and best porkers from 8d to Sid per lb. At last week’s Addington market the raidings were smaller in all classes, except in fat sheep, and there was an improvement in both beef and mutton value's. Fat Sheep.— sligthly larger entry and an improved market for wethers. Ewes were about the same, and there was a keen sale for extra prime wethers, which realised from 41s 6d to 435. A few special 40 prime wethers brought from 38s. to 41s, medium from 34s 6d to 37s 6d, light from 29s 6d to 345, extra prime ewes from 35s Od io 37s Oil. a few special 39s 9d, prime from 32s Gd to 35s od. medium from 28s Gd to 325, light From 24s Oil to 28s 3d. Fat Cattle. —A small yarding of 305 head. Tho market was slightly bettor than it was on the previous week for good beef. Extra prime. 32s per 1001 b, good from 27s Gd to 29s Gd, medium from 24s Gd to 26s Gd. extra prime steers from £l4 15s to £l6 1.7 s Gd, prime from £ll to £l4. medium from £8 os to £lO 15s, inferior from £G 5s to OS. extra prime heifers £ll ss, prime from £7 5s to £9 ss, ordinary from £5 12s Gd to £7, extra prime cows £9 ss, prime from £6 to £B, ordinary from £3 15s to £5 15s. Vealers. — A small entry and a rise in values. Runners £5 ss. good vealers from- £3 os to £5 7s Gd, fair from £2 in £3, small calves from £1 to £1 15s. Fat Pigs. — A small entry and no alteration in values. Choppers from £3 10s to £7 IDs. light baconers from £3 15s to £4 ss. heavy from £4 Bis Gd to £5. Average price from 7d to 7 11. Light porkers from 40s to 50s, heavy from 55s to 655. Average price from 8d to 9d. At the fortnightly sale of rabbit-skins held on .July 17, another largo offering was placed before the usual attendance of buyers. Bidding lacked spirit, and an irregular sale was the result, consequently lower values had to he accepted. Best winter sorts showed a decrease on an average of about 2d per lb, spotted winters 4d per lb, incoming winter lsd, and autumns 2d per lb. Lower grades were firm at last sale’s rates. Quotations: Prime winter does Old to 97-J-d, first 70d to 83d, second 48d to old. spotted 39d to 44d, prime winter bucks 80d to 85il, first GGd to 78£d, second 48d to 53d, spotted 36d to 44d, spring bucks 28d to 33d, spring does 30d to 35d. early winter GOd to God, incoming winter 54d to 58d, late autumn 43d to 47d, early autumn 33d to 37d, prime racks 30d to 31 id, light 26d to 28d, summer 25d to 27d, small 16d to 18-Rl, first brikep 36d to 41£d, second 30d to 34hi, autumn beckon 24d to 29d, summer 18d to 22d, first winter black 72d to 89d, second 45d to 55d, autumn 30d to 37 first winter fawn GOd to 65d, hareskins 20d to 30d.

SOME NOTES ON FARM WORK. . • In an interesting address on the work of the 'Otago Farm School, recently delivered by Mr. 0. E. Neiderer (says the Southland Weekly Times), the following useful information was given: Liming and Manuring. \ The soil might be regarded as the chief asset in the business of agriculture, and there are ten elements necessary for plant growth. Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen. sulphur, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Seven of these elements were plentiful in New Zealand soils. the three in which our soils were deficient were nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, and consequently the manures required were divided into three groups accordingly and high grade manures contain these three elements, the practice of liming as a soil sweetener and. lor correcting acidity is very important. Lime was 'used not so much to supply plant food as to correct certain deficiencies or irregularities in ;he soil. The first essential was draining, which must go hand in hand with liming. Lime not only promoted plant growth, but made the fodder more palatable to stock and hindered the progress of plant diseases. The enormous amounts of phosphorous, lime, etc., that are taken, off our land annually by cropping and what goes off tin' farm in beet and milk showed the great necessity of putting something back into the land in the way of fertilisers; especially top-dressing pasture land. Basic slag lor this purpose can lie most profitably used, from Tcwt to lOcwt per acre. A good paddock of grass is like a good cow, it pays to expend money on it. New Zealand Grass Lands, the farmer should aim at a mixed pasture, which is preferable to pure sowings, because the growth was more uniform throughout the year.. Variation of feed was oflered, which stock appieciated, and pi ant companionship was beneficial to the individuals. Particularly valuable were clovers in the pasture. They should be looked on as one of the vital elements in. any pasture association. The nitrates clover gather become available to the other grasses. Tiny also keep the surfoce of the ground cool and moist, winch in the case of cocksfoot and crested dogstail, the new surface roots can grow. This is one of the reasons why permanent pastures should not be eaten too bare, as some of the best grasses get killed out. Cocksfoot makes new root growth each year, but cannot do so unless the new shoots of grass can get away. Also grasses and clovers obtain some cl their food from the air; this is absorbed 1 hrough the leaves. If kept eaten bare they cannot get tho necessary food. This shows the necessity of having small paddocks, so as each portion can he spelled systematically. It is also a, mistake to cut hay crops off permanent grass paddocks, as by letting the stronger grasses come away to cut for hay the finer grasses are smothered out. This leaves hare patches for weeds and poorer grasses to get a bold and so min the pasture. The chain harrows should lie used frequently, for the rank growth round stock droppings tends to smother out the finer grasses. Scotch thistles arc also bad for the same reason, as stock cannot graze close up to the thistle stalk, with the result that you have the rank growth of the stronger growing grasses. Crested dimstail is not appreciated as it should be. Three or four pounds should be included in all permanent grass mixtures, whether for cattle or sheep, It is such a good bottom grass.