ON THE LAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3652, 12 October 1912, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

FARM AND STATION.

ADDING-TON STOCK MARKET.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 9.

At the Addington live stock market tliero'tfere fair entries of stock and a good attendance. Store which were in small numbers, sold well. Fat lambs were much easier in consequence of the larger entry. 'ldle fat sheep market opened Well and prime sorts advanced Is per head. Fat cattle were a shade easier. Pigs sold fully up to late rates, and there was a good sale for store and dairy cattle. Store Sheep.— The entry of store sheep was a very small one, and consisted of a couple of pens of forward wethers, a pen of full-mouth ewes with lambs, a. pen of very small cull two-tooth ' ewes, a couple of pens of merino wethers and two or three pens of hoggets. The attendance was about the same as usual. There was a good demand, but notwithstanding this several lines were passed, owners’ ideas of values being evidently above the high range of values ruling generally. A pen of exceptionally good ewe hoggets realised 20s, wethers from the same line bringing 17s 9d, and a pen of medium hoggets (mixed sexes) 14s lid. Four-tooth wethers changed hands at iSs 2d to 20s Od, and merino wethers 10s 6d. Full-mouth ewes with lambs (all counted) realised 12s 9d to’ 13s Id, and a pen of small twotooth cull ewes (halfbreds) 12s 9d.

Fat Lambs.—There was an entry of 137 fat lambs —three times as r.Amy as were offered last week. They were mostly well-grown and in prime condition, but on account of the largenumbers prices were much easier and several lots were passed. Best lambs made 20s to 25s and others 15s to 19* Od.

LONDON TRADE NOTES. / LONDON, Aug. 30.

Fat Sheep.— The yarding of fat sheep was about equal to last week’s in point of numbers. A good proportion were prime heavy including several lines from the south. There were some nice lines of medium weight wethers and the balance of the yarding was made up of ewes, hoggets, shorn sheep and merino wethers. The market opened well arid all classes sold freely and there was an average advance of Is per head on all prime sheep. An ontside buyer was operating and took a number of pens and a limited amount of business was done by graziers. The shorn sheep that brought top prices were better finished than those that sold at about Is per head less money last week. The range of prices was: Extra prime wethers to 30s. prime 23s 6d, to 27s fid. others to 235, extra prime ewes to 235. prime 19s Id to 255. others 14s 3d to IF- fid-

hoggets i*s 3d to 23s 7(1. shorn wethers IGs lid to 19s sd, shorn ewes 18s fid to 20s 3d. prime merino wethers 19s fid to 23,s 4d, lighter 15s 4d to 19s 4d.

Fat Cattle.—The yarding of fat cattle totalled 259 head, as against 106' on the previous week. 'The entries included a number of linos of excellent quality and among these was a line of 20 exceptionally good well-grown and well-furnished shorthorn steers offered on behalf of Mr. J. Bcßride, of Temuka, which-realised £ll 10s to £ls 17s fid, the line averaging £l4 §s Sd per head. The demand was a shade easier, particularly towards the close of the sale. Steers realised £lO 15s to £ll 10s, extra £l7, heifers £6 10s to £9 4s, extra, to £lO, and cows £6 to £6 10s.

Store Cattle.— A fair yarding of store cattle met with free competition and for all descriptions good prices wera realised. Yearlings brought 325, fifteen to eighteen-month sorts £2 12s to £4 2s, two-year steers £4 17s to £5 10s, two-year heifers £5, three-year steers £7 to £B, three-year heifers £o 17s Gd for very good sorts, and dry cows 32s to £5 17s Gd. Dairy cows made £4 10s to £ll ss. Pigs.—Only a small number of fat pigs came forward, all classes being represented. The demand showed little change since the previous week, prices being about the same. Choppers realised £3 10s to £6, large baconers 65s to 71s, and smaller sorts 52s Gd to 60s (these prices being equivalent to 5d to 5:1 lx? 1 ' lb). A few of

THE FRuZEN MEAT TRADE

LONDON, Aug. 30

extra quality realised higher prices. Large porkers made 47s to 50s, and smaller sorts 38s to 4os (equivalent to old to Gd per lb), relatively higher prices being realised for a few pigs of exceptional quality. Very few stores were penned, with the result that there was a keen demand. No large pigs were offered. Medium sorts realised 30s to 40s, and small sorts 22s to 28s. Weancrs, for which there was animated competition, brought 18s to. 24 s; sows in pig made £3 10s to £4 12s Gd, and sows with litters £4 10s to £5.

PACKING CHEESE.

DAIRY COMMISSIONER’S SUGGESTIONS.

As a result of the remarks in the annual report of the Agricultural Department’s Director of Dairy Produce in London, Mr. D. Cuddie, Dairy Commissioner, has sent out a circular to cheese factories with the object of remedying some of the troubles which are most apparent. Referring to the fact that a considerable quantity of New Zealand cheese arrived on the Home market last season with soft ends, Mr. Cuddie says that gotho dints both ends of each cheese were affected, but more frequently only pne end

of the crate. Those defects a re probably due to the following causes:--The casing of the cheese w hen tiny were too green ; the use 1 case ends or centre hoards of green timber, and the- t'tting of the cheese *o tightly in tut cases as to prevent the proper circulation of air between the ends of the cheese and the timber. In many instances it was found that the rind of the cheese was adhering to the wood, and when the cheese was removed from the cases a portion of the ehees was torn away. Mr. Cnddie points out that cheese makers } in order to avoid a recurrence of this trouble, would do well to use only’ well seasoned timber—particularly for the case ends and centre boards —and to make the cheese so that when placed in the case there would be about half an inch of space in each section of the crate. Providing all details in the handling of the cheese are observed, this space, when the cases of cheese are lying in the ship’s hold, should he ample to allow of a current of air circulating round each cheese. Timber intended for cases, which may be on the green side, should be opened out and placed in extended stacks in a dry airy place and not used until thoroughly dry. The centre boards should he at least three-quarters of an inch thick, and double nailed to each batten. THE BUTTER BUSINESS.

There is practically no change in the position in the butter market since my last letter a fortnight ago. ’Trade continues on the quiet side, and there is only a limited, business passing in choice goods, which are rather scarce. Arrivals last week were 468 boxes from Queensland and 198 boxes from New Zealand. Arrivals of Siberian butter are lighter than usual, owing to shippers desiring to clear their stocks here before shipping heavy quantities. Last week the shipments were 13,000 casks, and this week they were 12,000 casks. ‘‘’Colonial” butter is slightly weaker as regards price, and the tone of the market is easier. Prices may be given as follows.—Victorian, 102 s to 114 s; Now South Wales, 102 s to 114 s; and Queensland. 102 s to 114 s. 'Those quotations are for salted goods; unsalted range up to 116 s. The quantity of New Zealand on-offer is very small, and holders are firm at 120 s to 112 s for choicest qualities. 'There is a. slightly weaker tendency in the Dan-

ish butter market: the Copenhagen quotation stands unchanged at 120 s to 130 s, and, though there has been no

official alteration of pri.e for the last fortnight, there is a tendency of a weakness of about Is here.

At a. meeting of the merchants and the farmers' representatives anent the fixing of the Danish official quotation, which was recently held at Odens, the agricultural and dairy representatives insisted upon having the majority oil any new quotation committee which might he appointed. This, of course, the merchants, representatives could not accept, and the result was that the agricultural representatives on the quotation will ho fixed by merchants only, and will be continued as a commercial quotation in the character of which it has gained its influence and reputation. The agricultural and dairy unions intend to publish a separate quotation shortly.

August is always a dull time for the frozen meat trade, and the extremely depressing weather this season -has made Smith field business specially slack. Lambs have fallen from their high estate of being the liveliest line, and are now the poorest’; only moderate supplies prevent them from going down in market value. As it is, New Zealand’s are s:jd to Gd, Australians are not in stock at all, and South American’s average lid. There being now no U.S.A. chilled beef to deal in, Argentine,chilled is the highest article in the he3f department, and, owing to the reduction in shipments, observed by compact by all parties, this has now gone up to a remunerative' level of rate—hinds of cl, fores 3;[d. Frozen

beef has shared in the appreciation, demand being stimulated by the upward movement in chilled'; all frozen beef sells at about 3J per side. For some time past mutton has been the most interesting feature in the trade. There seems a general idea held that imports are going to he light in the future, and the speculators have been centring themselves upon this section of the trade, with-the result that frozen mutton is now firmly held. Until lately it has been the light carcases that havo attracted attention ; hut last weak demand set in for medium and heavier (N.Z.) t and all weights and descriptions sell at 4d to 4§d.“ No Australian is on hand; South American (no light carcases) is quoted 3 7-8 d to 4 l-Bd.

STATION PRODUCE. Since I wrote last, an auction sale of.station produce has been held. An enormous stock of Australian and New Zealand ox and cow horns (400,556) were entered, of which only '210,800 were sold.”” All horns at the sale declined; Australian (large) 4s to 5s per 100, medium 2s to 3s, small horns maintained last sale’s prices, Cape

large horns fell off to the extent of 20s per ]OQ. Gape (531 b average), made SOOs per 100, averaging 381 b 100 s to 130 s, Australasian averaging 13 1-8 to 14 5-8!b 50s to fils and 10 3-8' to I2ib 22s to 465. White hoofs made £lO os to £l7 10s ton; ordinary hoofs £8 to £9 10s, cut bladebones £lO 1.55.

'The tallow market keeps in a very quiet state, the effect of the strike is still felt, and the great accumulation of casks at various points mi the river has not yet been adjusted. The consequence is that business has been restricted, as sellers are not able to guarantee delivery. I fancy that when the congestion has been relieved the market will fall. 'The present prico is 34s to 36s 9d, for mutton, and 33s to 36s 6d for beef.

Hides are again on the rise, and 7Jd per lb was the top price for Australian meat works’ ox at the last auction. Taking all qualities together, Australian hides went from sgd to 7 id. Sheep pelts (New Zealand) have been doing well lately. An active demand has caused advances in price in sheep and lambs, and the general circumstances of the trade favor the seller. This trade always depends upon American buyers, who are now very active. ■ Australian merino pelts arc also on the up grade.

JOTTINGS

A good day’s work is worth a good day’s wage, and the branch of farming that will not do this and leave a small profit to the owner should be left severely alone. In no branch of farming probably is this more evident than in dairying. There are too many cows in our herds that do not produce enough butter-fat to pay for • their keep It is difficult enough fo get reliable men to milk cows, but it does not minimise this trouble when such men are engaged in attending to very unprofitable milkers. Even under normal conditions there are numerous instances where the returns of a herd of 35 cows do not exceed those from a herd of 20. But in time, labor, and patience in i: liking 15 cows extra twice a day. Assuming that 12 cows are milked in an average hour, this means that that two and a-lialf hours are lost in unremunerative labor every day, which from the same-sized herd in a year

would amount to over 90 days, taking 10 hours as a working day. This ought to be proof enough that it is very < >sy to waste valuable labor on a dairy farm.

When an axe handle or a chair rung is broken, much time is apt to be wasted, and serious damage is sometimes done, through misguided efforts to remove the end from the eye or hole ; yet it is a comparatively simple matter if one goes about it the proper way. There is not the slightest occasion for heating in the one case nor for marring in the other. Place the axe head in a vice, or, if this is not available, drive the sharp face of the tool into a stump. Pore a hole through the plug with a hit or drill small enough to ensure against striking the sides of the original hole ; then, with a narrow chisel, exit a slot from each of the opposite sides of this hole to the outside of the material to be removed. This will leave the plug in two separate parts, which, if they do not drop out, may be easily knocked out or split out with the chisel. If the problem should happen to be that of a handle which is secured by an iron wedge, then a small hole drilled through, close to each side of the wedge, will make an opening through which it may be pushed out, and from which to chisel these lots. In cases where metal is apt to he encountered it is best to use a. twist drill for boring, as such a drill works,, very well in wood, and is not injured by moderate contact with metal while a bit would he apt to he ruined.

A great many farmers and dairymen seem to entertain the erroneous idea that they can, by giving their cojvs certain feed, cause them to produce milk with an increased amount of butter-fat. The power of producing a certain amount of butter-fat is born in tho'cow, and no amount or quality of feed will in any way affect thatpercentage. Any change in the percentage of butter-fat is due* to a change of condition in the cow. An abrupt change of feed will sometimes throw a cow out of normal condition and cause her milk to show an increase or decrease-in the percentage of but-ter-fat for a few days, but as soon as she regains her normal condition the original percentage will be recorded. The way to increase the butter-fat- is to supply feed that will cause the cow to give an increased flow of milk. Good care and kind treatment should he given in liberal doses also. By a careful system of selecting and breeding one may increase the percentage of fat, for that is the way in which the great breeds of dairy cows have been brought to their present standard. By following this plan dairymen will he able to improve the but-ter-production capacity of their herds.