On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 37, 30 September 1925, Page 53

On the Land

MARKET REPORTS.

p'At Burnside last week there was a yarding of 250 head of fat cattle. There were not many really good cattle penned, the entry consisting principally of mediumweight steers and heifers, a fair proportion lacking finish. The sale opened firm at the previous week's rates, and continued so throughout, finishing strongly. Quotations: —Extra prime steers made up to £29 2s 6d, prime £22 10s to £25, medium £l9 to £2l 10s, light from £l4. Extra prime heifers realised £l9, prime £l4 to £l6 10s, medium £9 10s to £ll, light from £6. Fat Sheep. —There was an entry of 2238, comprising chiefly medium-weight wethers. The proportion of ewes was small, and the same remarks apply to heavy wethers. The sale opened on a par with the preceding week's rates and was fairly even throughout. Heavier sheep were selling in buyers' favor to the extent of Is compared with the previous sale. Quotations: Extra prime wethers made up to 555, special to 635, prime 48s to 50s, medium 42s to 44s 6d, light from 365, extra prime ewes to 48s, prime 40s to 435, medium 34s to 375, light from 295. Lambs. The four lambs that were forward sold at the preceding week's rates. Pigs.—There were 144 fats and 80 slips. The Jbigger entry caused competition to be rather less keen. Baconers were down ss, and porkers and stores ere also down.

Comparatively small catalogues were offered at last week's sale of rabbitskins, etc., The demand was very erratic and* winter

- y bucks sold at par to 2d below last sale. Winter does and outgoing sorts were 2d to 5d cheaper, but this can be accounted for by the poorer quality of the skins, which are now showing obvious signs of the lateness of the season. The following is the range of prices : —Runners and suckers 24fd to 28d, light • racks 38d to 39|d, summers 38d to 41£d, prime racks 42d to 43£d, early autumns 52£d to 57|d, late autumns 66|d to 69d, incoming winters 76d to 80d, early winters 85d to 87|d, winter bucks 78d to 85£d, first winter bucks 89d to 97£d, prime winter bucks 98d to 99£d, winter does 67}d to first winter does 82|d to 84|d, prime winter does 90d to 94|d, spotted winters 59|d to 70d, outgoing does 60d to 71d, milky 49d to 54£d, spring - does 48£d to 54d, spring bucks 48|d to 51$d, summer broken 38d to 38Jd, winter broken 58£d to 6Ud, winter blacks 75|d to 82d, winter fawns 94d to 94£d, hareskins 40|d to 54fd, winter blood-stained 63d to 66d, horsehair 20d to 22d.

POTASSIC FERTILISERS.

Speaking on the subject of potassic, fertilisers, a professor of agriculture, at an important agricultural station on the Continent, remarked: '^-'i

Potassic manures ought to be tried on all soils, even in those which are considered to be rich in that substance and also on all kinds

N <; of crops. . ' > » The use of potash ought to be more gen- ,-;. t*al than it is in the cultivation of cereals.

The effect of potash, is not so manifest as that of nitrogen, but it is no less'important. Its effect is realised when the crop is weighed.

SUMMER PLOUGHING.

Where fodder-crops are grown and cut as required for hand feeding in a green state there is land coming to hand vacant. Now the sooner this land is stirred the better, and the best way of stirring is by means of the plough (says a writer in a Home paper).

With respect to such ploughing, however, the weather may have something to say upon the matter, I'm - upon some soils drought so cakes the surface that it is lor the time being impossible to plough. In any case, however, the determination to plough should be come to, and the work started at the earliest opportunity, whether it comes sooner or later.

In the ploughing up of a summer surface the plough should be run as deeply as possible, consistent with not disturbing sour subsoil, for unless the plough is got well down

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at the start depth is bound to be lost, the merits of dejep cultivation being so well known that they need not be stressed.

Ploughed well up whilst the long days are with us any weeds that the crop has not smothered will be soon killed by exposure to the sun. Let the ploughed-up surface rest awhile and then turn the furrows back with the plough, and after another interval get the cultivator to work and stir up across tlie direction of the furrows.

By this time the area should have become quite decent summer fallow, but if not yet quite to mind it may be stirred still more.

Now, if manure is required, is the time to apply farmyard manure liberally, spreading as applied and ploughing in right away, for if left upon the surface for more than a short time much virtue will be lost.

The land in question will now be ready for tlie drill and as by this time, too, some of the stubbles will have been ploughed up and got into readiness and full sowing may be started in good fashion.

CHICKEN RAISING : ventilation Without DRAUGHT.

The majority of poultry-keepers probably err on the side of too little ventilation. If we have taken care to prevent overcrowding and to keep coops, foster-mothers and houses scrupulously clean, and then, in spite of this, find the atmosphere unpleasant, we may feel sure that the fault lies in the system of ventilation. Fresh air will never harm the birds as long as we aim at ventilation without draught.

As regards the coops, a wire front can replace tlie wooden shutter, or a few holes can be bored in each side of the coop well above the chicks' heads. A good arrangement, which all coop makers might copy, is to have above the front , shutter a 2in space covered with small mesh netting; for winter use the ventilation can be regulated by a sliding shutter. '-. , •

The system in portable poultry houses is by means of up-and-down shutters.

In large semi-intensive houses of the lean-

to pattern the best system of ventilation is by means of ventilators under the dropping boards, and a foot space along the front of the house at the top. covered with bird-proof wire netting. , .'.' ■"■:- ■.

. Alas! we shall never know the value of time till it has slipped from us and left us in eternity. Father Faber.