ON THE LAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3720, 4 January 1913, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

SELLING BIN LOTS Many flockqwners do not know that several of their consignments of bellies, locks, and, pieces and odd lots of mixed fleece are carefuly weighed when they come in to the warehouse, properly classed, and mixed /together for sale. Each consignor shares in tile advantage of having a sale made of a quantity which runs into several bales instead of bags (says “Agricola.” The buyers are not purchasing a “pig in a poke,” and better value is secured. In this way lots are made up of first and second dead wool, first and second pieces and bellies, first and second pieces, locks and pieces, and locks. Odd fleeces, such as those from stragglers which have'helped to fill out the bales of pieces, are also properly classed before sale. The wool in all these classes looks ever so much better loose in the bin than when squeezed tight into the mouth of a bag or bale, and most of it can be seen. Buyers bid with confidence, and it does not cost the producer any more for selling than the old system of selling separately. Although this system has been employed for some years, a very lucrative business was at one time clone by buyers who purchased the separate .bags, cleaned them in 5 or 10-bale lots. Nothing of the kind is possible now.

INTER LOTTING CONSIGNMENTS. Another decided improvement which makes for better returns is that of interlotting one and two-bale consignments. These come in from different consignors, and in the ordinary course s of business require to be sold as “star” lots. That is to say, they are not included in the ordinary sale catalogues, but are sold separately afterwards to those firms —mostly loeal — who wish to secure as much as possible for their fellmongeries. When sold under the old system such lots only secured the competition of from 10 to 15 competitors. When carefully valued bv experts thoroughly trained to their business a number of them—as nearly equal in value as possible—are massed together as one lot, and appear in the ordinary catalogue. They thus secure the attention of from 40 to 50- buyers instead of onethird of that number. Dependence, of course, is placed on the valuer, but the relative value is not so hard to arrive at as the actual value, which may puzzle, anyone but an expert. The system is thus advantageous, particularly to the seller, as the wool brokers take care to put on thoroughly qualified men for the work.

OVER-CLASSING SMALL LOTS. While deprecating tlie excessive classing of small lots, we do not desire to discourage the many students who have attended the classes held under the auspices of the Education Board, and derived much benefit from their instruction. These classes have been doing excellent work; but a number"of the students seem to have been practising on small clips of half a. dozen bales, arid 1 - classing so closely that there is very little difference between one class and another. For the local market, when a clip of half a dozen bales is divided into three principal lots of two bales each, that can only be designated as an error of judgment. We do not wish to be misunderstood in this matter. What is desired is to make the most of such clips however small, and that is not achieved Ov close classing. In 20bale lots close classing may be commended. lot not in half-dozen bale lots. Some buyers never examine anything less than five-bale lots, and their competition is lost when the number is large enough to get into the ordinary catalogue, but not large ■enough to secure their attention. THE MEAT MARKET. AN IMPROVED TONE. LONDON, Nov. S. All imported meat has to meet big competition from borne killed. Australian ewes have been scarce, and holders of wethers arc selling very carefully x There is still an oversupply of Irish meat, and cheap English ewes are being marketed at 4d and even per lb. This has diverted: attention from frozen mutton, hut limitations of supply have kept prices airly firm. This so.far as New Zealand is concerned, for only very small quantities of Australian have been on offer at Smithfield. In-the provinces, notab.’y Liverpool, there have been a'few thousand available; they have been of rather poor quality, and 3ijd to 3jd has been realised for them with difficultv. • I

Little forward business is being done in frozen mutton generally. Plate mutton lias been in small demand and prices have weakened with no effect on sales. For South American sheep under 641 b 4d to 4ld, and for 641 b and over to 3|d has been taken. The demand for frozen lamb, continues light, naturally, for the time of the year, Canterbury making ofd to sj}d, and North Islands sid to s|-d per lb. Bright lambs find a fair sale, but tho large proportion, which shows signs of storage, have to be pushed for sale at below quotations. ' A few forward sales of lamb are being made, and it is reported that 5Jd ner lb c.i.f. lias been offered for Australian lamb of the best quality, shipped during. October. But inquiry for both New Zealand and Australian lamb is generally dull, though there are a few buyers for January-February-March shipment if obtainable at reasonable rates. A few Plate lin-ht weights lambs have been so’d pretty freely at od to sl t d per lb ; but heavy-weights can only be got rid of as small sheep at 4-id to 4id per lb. v. More chilled beef has been marketed than has been wanted, and prices have been weak. As low as 3jd for 1 hinds and 2|d for fores have been accepted, though the average has been id to id higher than that. Frozen bee has weakened, to, although there has been some slight improvement in the demand for Australian and River Plate. Australian ox hinds have been offered at 3id to Sid, arid crops 2£-d to 2id per lb,, with . cow binds at to 2£d per lb. ' Earlier in the New Year a. firmer-tone-for all descriptions is expected. However, during the' last day or t.wo the downward tend-ency-of prices £01;. frozen beef lias given signs of having 'bben checked. Still, though there has been a decidedly better tone,, these prices are not qnotably higher. Chilled beef has also been slightly better, particularly forequarters. But frozen mutton values, although supplies are still short, for Australian and River Plate sheep, are, if anything, a shade under those ruling a week ago.

FARM AND STATION.