On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 16, 6 May 1925, Page 53

On the Land

* 5 -i . MARKET REPORTS. r At Burnside last week there was a medium . .yarding of fat cattle, comprising 210 head. v The bulk of the yarding was of medium : quality, with a few pens of prime bullocks. '. ) The sale opened at an increase of 30s per head on the previous sale, and this was maintained throughout. Extra prime bulv locks made up to £2l, prime £l4 to £16," . medium £lO .to £l2, light to £9,. extra prime heifers and cows up to £l3 15s, prime £8 10s to £lO, medium £5 to £7, light £4 to £5. Fat Sheep.—A. large yarding numbering 3196, comprised principally of ewes, with a fair sprinkling of good quality wethers, was penned. The sale opened at unj der the previous week's prices, but improved -slightly as the sale progressed. Towards the finish, however, an easing off was noticeable. Prices on an average were 3s below -rates ruling the previous week. Extra prime wethers realised up to 545, prime 46s 6d to 495, medium 41s to 42s 6d, light 34s to 36s 6d Extra prime ewes made to 425, prime 34s Jo 36s 6d, medium 26s 6d to 295, light 20s to 235. Fat lambs.—A fair yarding of 939 was penned. Prices were on a par with the preceding week's sale. Any prime lines were well competed for, but anything unfinished was a shade easier. Pigs.— fats and about 50 stores were penned. Heavybaconers sold at rates similar to the previous week's, but porkers were a shade easier. J It £ was expected, that the prices of stores would ''be fully maintained. : ; At Addington last week the yardings all round were smaller. Store and fat sheep sold at improved prices, but fat cattle were back slightly. Fat Lambs.—There were | 2660 penned, and a firmer sale for best export sorts, which made up to 12jd a pound. Extra prime lambs made to 50s, prime 38s to 425, medium, 35s to 37s 6d, light 32s to 34s 6d, and store 26s to 30s. Fat Sheep.— An average yarding met with an improved sale by up' to Is per head. The quality was much-better than usual. Extra prime wethers made 48s 9d, prime 42s to 455, medium 38s to 41s 6d, light 33s 6d to 37s 6d, extra prime ewes 45s 3d, prime 35s 6d to 38s 6d medium 32s to 355, light 28s' 6d to 31 8 6&, aged 23s 6d to 27s 6d. Fat Cattle.—There was another large entry, comprising 565 head. The sale was weaker. Best beef averaged from 32s 6d to 36s per 1001 b, secondary 29s 6d to 325, light 25s to 28s, and potter beef 17s 6d to 22s 6d. Extra prime steers | made £l7 ss, prime £l3 to £ls 10s, medium £lO 10s to £l2 15s, light £7 15s to £lO, : rough £5 10s to £7 10s, extra prime heifers £l3 2s 6d, prime £7 10s to £lO, ordinary • £4 to £7, extra prime cows £l2 10s; prime £6 155,t0 £9 10s, medium £4 10s to £6 10s, -light £3 to £4 7s 6d, vealers (runners) £6 10s, good vealers £4 10s, medium £3 to £3\los; good calves 30s to £2 10s, small 10s to 255. Fat Pigs.— was~a r good sale. > Choppers made £2 lOsto £6 ; 15s, baconers .;; £4;to £s lss. i The average price per lb was : , J6f d to- 7fd. : Porkers made ;£2Bsto £3 15s, ■ the average price per lb being 8d to 9d. . ■:,'

~ -GARDENING NOTES WORK "FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.The Vegetable Garden.—-This being recognised as the first month of winter, all vegetable growth will be at a standstill during the season. Those who have followed these gardening notes during the ~ past - months should now have at their command a supply of vegetables to carry on with until the early spring. Present operations should consist of sowing peas and broad beans. For this select a sheltered spot with soil well dug and manured, protecting the lines of peas from the ravages of • small birds by • a ooverihg of netting. Cut away the foliage of asparagus and fork over the top soil, afterwards raking well into the furrows; finally give the bed a good coating of well-rotted stable manure, also a sprinkling of fertiliser and a dressing of coarse salt. This will suffice until the spring,. when the beds will require forking over lightly to freshen up the soil for the young shoot's to get through. For asparagus culture a trench, six feet wide and as long as space permits, requires be prepared by trenching in a good quantity of manure; select plants two or three years old, and insert in the soil 18in to 24in apart in rows during the early spring. Dig in some manure and well-decayed leaves in a sheltered situation for planting early potatoes ■ later on. Sow • a little cabbage and cauliflower seed for succession: plants sown in a frame are provided ; with the necessary protection: from bad weather. Clear away dead leaves from sea .kale and cover the crowns with sand or coal .ash, also place some fresh stable manure around the plants; failing this place boxes or barrels over them, and it would: be even better were the boxes covered • i with stable manure so as to force an early supply of the vegetable. Rhubarb may be treated similarly to get an early supply. Give the last moulding up to the celery- trench, and also attend to leeks in the same way. Rake \ up fallen leaves for digging in when thoroughly decayed, as they form an invaluable mould. _ :. ~-:-. u \ . The . Flower Garden.— for the planting of shrubs, roses, etc., by digging the holes and then leaving them for a time exposed to the sun and air. Evergreen shrubs should be planted early in the season. Old and unsightly shrub's require to be dug up and replaced with a better olass. Plenty of nice flowering shrubs are obtainable at the nurseries, and it is as easy to grow a good specimen as a bad one. . Clear away all dead foliage from the borders. It is not 'too late to plant bulbs. All bedding plants to be stored away during winter require now to-be dug up and placed in a sheltered place, frame, or greenhouse. Plant out pansies* primroses, violas, and other spring flowering plants. Keep the lawn mowed and rolled. The Fruit Garden.—Continue picking and storing, late •pears and apples on dry ■ days only, and, avoid placing any damaged fruit among the sound; if this precaution is neglected considerable loss will ensue. When the fruit crop is harvested, pruning, followed

by spraying, requires to be done,-taking;: care to collect and burn the prunings to pre- X vent the increase of insect pests.. If it is intended to plant a strawberry bed choose f the two first plants on the runners, as they are generally the strongest and considered to be the most prolific. Do not use .the 'bed longer than two years, as by then the plants have reached their best; far better to estab- ( lish an entirely new one. If any old sepnt ;c trees occupy valuable positions have them removed and~replaced by up-to-date varieties. •