On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 11, 25 March 1925, Page 53

On the Land

MARKET REPORTS. •a There was a large yarding of fat cattle ( afcf Burnside last week, 358 being forward, consisting principally of heifer and cow beef. The demand for good-quality bullocks was fair, but cow and heifer beef was easier to the extent of 20s per head, and in some cases more. Extra prime bullocks made to £l6 7s 6d, prime £l2 10s to £l3 10s, medium £9 to £lO 10s, inferior £7 to £8 10s, extra prime cows and heifers to £lO, good £6 15s to £7 10s, medium £5 15s to £6 ss, inferior £4 to £4 10s. Fat Sheep.—There was a good yarding, 2337 being yarded, consisting principally of ewes. Competition for all classes was not quite so good as on the previous week, but ewes showed the most decline, being down at the end of the sale about 3s per head. Extra prime wethers to 535, prime 39s to 445, medium 33s to 365, inferior 29s to 31s, extra prime ewes to 48s 3d, prime 33s to 365, medium 26s to 28s, inferior 18s to 225. Fat Lambs.—There was a medium yarding, 972 being forward, including some extra prime lambs. For all lambs fit to freeze competition was good, and prices the same as on the preceding week. Lambs for graziers' purposes showed a slight decline. Extra prime lambs made to 475, prime 37s to 39s 6d, medium weights 32s to 345, graziers' lambs from 25s to 275. Pigs.—A penning of 130 fats and 90 stores. For fat pigs there was a rise of 4s to ss. Stores were cheap.

There 'were again heavy yardings in all ~..-.. classes of adult sheep and cattle at Adding•'.'ston last week. Fat Lambs.— was a small entry and an improved market of Is to Is 6d per head. Prime to 361 b made 12|d. Other qualities sold according to schedule rates. Extra prime lambs made 445, prime 38s to 425, medium 35s to 37s 6d, light 32s 6d to 34s 9d, store 26s to 325. Fat Sheep. There was an average-sized yarding, and an improved market, particularly for ewes, of which exporters bought freely. Extra prime wethers made 48s 7d, prime 38s to I 425, medium wethers 35s to 37s 6d, light 31s to 34s 6d, extra prime ewes 43s 7d, prime 33s 6d to 37s 6d, medium 29s 6d to 33s 6d, light 26s to 28s 6d, aged 22s 6d to 255. Fat Cattle.—There was another heavy yarding of « over 500 head. Cows were in big over-sup-ply. Good beef eased slightly and cow beef was down by about 20s per head. Best of beef made 33s to 365, medium 31s to 32s 6d, light 25s to 30s, and rough down to 15s. Extra prime steers made £l6 12s 6d, prime £l3 10s to £ls ss, medium £lO 15s to £l3 ss, light £8 5s to £lO 10s, rough £6 to £B, extra prime heifers £l3 2s 6d, prime £8 10s to £lO 10s, ordinary £4 to £B, extra prime , cows £l2 10s, prime £7 15s to £lO, ordinary £4 15s to £7 10s ,aged £3 to £4 10s. Vealers— Runners to £5, good vealers £2 10s to j } >£4 ss, good calves £1 5s to £2 ss. Fat Pigs. There was a good sale. Choppers made ' ||po £6 13s 6d, baconers £3 15s to £5 6s. The .-1 /average price per lb was 6|d to 7£d. Light f|| porers made £2 10s to £2 17s 6d, heavy | gporkers £3 to £3 7s. The average price per lb was 7£d to B§d.

FARM BUILDINGS (Contributed.) CONCRETE FLOORS ON THE FARM. (Concluded.) Finishing the Surface.—Whenever a smooth finish is desired the placing or laying down of concrete floors should be done in the earlier part of the clay, in order that a few hours should be available for finishing operations, which can only take place in the various stages of the setting and as the surface moisture is absorbed or "taken up." If the finishing be deferred till the following morning, ordinarily it will be found to be very difficult, if not impracticable on account of the hardening of the concrete during the night. The whole surface must be rubbed down wth he float at least three or four times to get a smooth finish, and intervals are required between each successive floating to aHow time for absorption of the moisture dim g the setting process. The waves or streaks caused by the manipulation of the float gradually disappear after each succestill they finally vanish altoThe plank which supports the finisher should swing clear of the surface, resting on supports on each side . g walls before ClGatS may be Secured t 0 the "nils before commencing operations when the aying down of a floor in an existing build mg is m question. ta that the present case it has been assumed that sufficient help was available to finish he whole ,ob in a day. If, W ft ™ Plan r u a t iCa ; ble t 0 d ° this the *Z Plan Mould be to attempt half the area only, and complete on the morrow. I n the latter case the centre screed might be lifted «~ding with the worf the fir The concrete which was previously Wei clown would then be found sufficiently hard to sustain the straight edge, so long as it* not suVcted to unnecessarily heavy^i rut 5? 'm ° ° f +l fillillg UP ' the illevit *ble rut after lifting the screed as previously described will also he eliminated. The r k o damaging the edges of the concrete o he one side of the screed will be obviated m this case, if care be taken to gently force he, ««, re screed with the pegs to which t s attached outwards from the concrete b«. fore lifting it. Bevelling the Edges.-Around all marginal screeds and indeed on both adjoining edges of all others which have not been lifted while the concrete was plastic, the surface edges or the finished work should be slightly bevelled.

Cracks will supervene in the course of time at the joining of the sections, and the bevelling will preserve the edges from chipping. The edges around all outside work should be bevelled in obedience to the same principle, and moreover, wherever the borders are liable to be called upon to sustain im-pact-like shock, or the burden of heavy vehicles, it is a commendable practice to dig

a narrow furrow or channel two or three inches deeper than the bed of the main excavation all around the margin of the prospective floor, so that the concrete when placed will have, as it were, a corrugated rim underneath and be strengthened in proportion. - [Jj After Care of the Work, Tools, etc.—All newly laid concrete should be covered with sacks, or similar material, kept wet for about seven days, in order to secure uniformity of setting and supply what may be needed in the way of absorption. Immediately after the work is completed all tools that have been used in mixing, placing, etc., should be thoroughly washed and cleaned before the concrete or cement sticks firmly to them. Other Modes of Fnishing.—The practice of finishing the surface of concrete work according to the foregoing description may be termed the cement-dusting . method. Where, however it is desired to impart to the surface an extra-fine finish, it is recommended to give it a second coat (while green) in the way of a light top-dressing of plaster made up of 2 parts fine sand to 1 of cement, which will combine well with the newly-laid concrete, and all the better if * put on while the floor is still moist. The straight-edge should be run over it again to "level off," then finish with the float. Plaster applied in this way is less likely to chip off afterwards than is the case with concrete which has been allowed to thoroughly set and dry. For cow-yards or such places where a smooth surface finish is not desired a sweeping down with a soft-haired broom makes a good rough job.