FARM AND STATION

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20098, 29 November 1930, Page 10

FARM AND STATION

CURRENT TOPICS. addington market. After three sales in succession at which the entries in the principal sections of the market were heavy there wfts a general decline iu numbers on AYediiesday. As a result the values of most fat stock steadied at recent levels, but in the case of fat cattle and fat pigs there was an improvement. The only disappointing feature of the market was the sale of store sheep, in which there was a general slackness and a decline in values for all classes. The total varding was about 5500 head, and included were big drafts from the Chatham Islands, Canterbury, aud Blenheim. There was a much bigger attendance than for some weeks but it was apparent that the buying capacity was very limited and bidding was narrowed down to 3 very small compass for most of the pens. Ono of the brighter spots in a dull sale was the keen, demand for really good wethers, and a section of the Chatham Islands consignment which came under that heading sold at very satisfactory priceß, comparing niore than favourably with the values : ruling for fat sheep. However, there was considerable "tailing off" even in the Chathams lots and prices for this class were not nearly so good. The many pens" of local wethers and also those from Blenheim were hard to quit and there were a number of passings. There was one line of 1200 wethers from Blenheim —the largest straight draft that has been penned this season. They brought from 3s Id to 6s 7d. The wethers were in backward condition and small. The following table gives a comparison of the prices ruling at Wednesday's sale and at the corresponding sale last year:—

By "Straggler."

1929. 1930. Wethers — . s, s. *. s, \Ex. jrood 4 flJirl 6-th Romnev Good 4 and 6*th Horn. . . 235 to 25 143 to 16J Med. 4 and 6-th Romney . . . to 205 122 to Good 4 and 6-th ibd . . 215 to 232 14 to 16 Small 6-th sbd Ord. 6 and 8-th sbd . . 155 to 17* Cull . . Good sbd hoggets to 195 —- Ewes — Good Corr. hsts (woolly) . . to 22i - ' Hood ibd hgts. to 2'.i $ - Good xbd hjcts. to 225 (rond G and S-th Rom. cross 22 to 231 ' —" Good 4 and G-th llomney . . Good 2-th ijbd 23i to 25 2 to 8-th Jbd 11 to 12J F.M. ibd and lambs (woolly) 141 to 154 to 8i S.M. Jbd and lambs (woolly) 16 to 191 101 to 12 Aged ibd . .

Consequent upon, a shorter entry of fat lambs—46o this week as compared -with 700- last—their sale was an improved one, and values were well maintained throughout. There has been .no announcement tnade as yet of the schedule of export values. Lamb at present for butchers' needs is selling in the neighbourhood of 8d per pound. Comparisons:— Ex. prime Jamba to 31 to 301 Prime . . 271 to 30 26 to 28 Medium . • 25 to 27 22J to 251 .Light - - 221 to 241 18 to 2a For three sales previous to Wednesday there has been a succession of very heavy entries of fat sheep, and in consequence values slipped back a good deal. However, a halt was called on Wednesday. The auction opened at rates which were in excess of those ruling the week before but they failed to stay at that level and as the sale progressed they gradually eased until they were on a par with those ruling last week. Comparisons:—

Wethers — s. Show .. to Zlk JSx. prime . . 03 to 35 to 28i Primo » • 30J to 32£ 23 to 26J{ Medium . . 136£ to 30 18J to 22& lAght .. 21 to 23 12 to 17h Best woolly . , to 36 22 to 25£ Ewes— Kx. prime . . to 313: to 24 Primo .. 23 to 20} 19 to 22 Medium .. 39 to 21% 15 to 18 Light .. 165 to 18£ 115 to 14 Aged "V. ~l4b to-10 9i to 11 Best woolly . . to 34J 22 to 25 Med. woolly .. There were no entries in the fat cattle section from outside the province, and it was therefore the first occasion for months that the offering was purely a local one. The general quality was about the average, but there was not tho preponderance of heavy beef that was the case at the market of the previous week. Tho market was inclined to be "patchy" and towards the conclusion there was an easing tendency. Taking an average the Sale was better by about £1 a head. ... Steers— .£ £ ii £ Ex. prime heavy • to 211 - to 215 Prime heavy ..18 to 20J 18J to 20J Med. TVftht. prime 17 to 18J 17 to 19 Ordinary .. 13 to 16J 13 to 16j J.ight .. 10 to 124 9J to 12h Ilei fers— •• ; . ; Ex. 'prime .. i to 17 .- to 15J Prime li3to 1£! 13 to 14i Medium .. 10 to 124 ll)J to'32i Liight .. 7 to' Sj ' 7 to 10 Cows— .. Ex. primo .. to ISi to 181 L Prime . ... . . 121 to 14} 12} to '144 Medium .. 93 to 12 10 to 12 Light --..V 6} to 9 ■■■ 6i -to 91

RURAL RIDES. THE BANKS PENINSULA. no. x. (By 11.A.M.) There is no part of the South Island to which clings more of the romance of settlement than to Banks Peninsula. It is true that Cook's mariners and various whaling crews made history over half a century earlier in the southern Sounds, and a few venturesome spirits pitched their tents on the Otago Peninsula back in 1836, but delinite settle-, ment and the husbandry associated with it was established on Banks Peninsula as early as anywhere south of the Strait. However, it is not in the distance of time that has elapsed since the first families settled on the Peninsula, that invests it with a special distinction. Its significance is national- —at all events as far as the South Island :*.s concerned, for it was on the shores of the Bay that tlie planting of the flag took place which secured for the Umpire the South Island. It is interesting to recall that when Captain Cook tirst saw the Peninsula, in 1770, he thought it was an island. Intent on finding how far south the land extended Cook sailed to the southern coast, and the very definite attachment of the Peninsula to the mainland was not established until later. Accompanying Cook on his exploration was Mr (afterwards Sir Joseph) Banks, a Fellow of the Koyal Society, who took with him at his own expense Dr. Solander, a Swede, a man of great attainments in natural history, and seven others. Banks has been immortalised by the naming of the rich Peninsula after him, as the great navigator was by naming the Strait after him. The mission of this column is to interest the farmer in his job of doubling the number of blades of grass on his farm, but the slight digression into history may be excused. The present generation may scarcely realise what that

During last month the farmers of Denmark increased their supplies of biitter exported to Great Britain 'from 9-162 tons in October, 1929, to 10;577 tons. Yet her dealers were able to command 156s to 158s per cwt, while New Zealand was selling at 112s to 118s. It seems anomalous from tho economic aspect, and almost incredible from the patriotic viewpoint, that while the masses of Britain, according to reports, have the greatest difficulty in making ends meet, and while every unit of the Empire is preaching Imperialism with missionary-like fervour, the Danes can sell 10,000 tons of butter in Great Britain in one month at Is 6d per lb retail, while Kew Zealand had a difficulty in getting rid of 3700 tons at Is 3d, remarks a northern writer. NewZealanders who know that the product of their f-rms, manufactured under hygienic conditions in the best factories in I the world, is of the finest quality, and "fit for the palate of the most fastidious Briton may be excused for a feeling of resentment that such marked and illadvised preference should be bestowed upon a foreign article. Pulling a multiple disc harrow, ot 1900 pounds dray weight as a handicap, a Caterpillar tractor.forged on for 408 hours (17 days and 17 nights). It I travelled 1344 miles, and eclipsed the Australian record by 1.58 hours. The test was conducted in California, all details being under the supervision of the authorities of th« State • Agricultural College, Davig, California.

ceremony away back in 1840 meant to the country. It only forestalled by a few hours a similar action by the French, who, it has been suggested in old records, intended the "island" for a penal settlement. That would have been a sorry destiny for such a favoured spot. ■ Instead of such a catastrophe the Peninsula to-day is one of the richest pastoral areas in tho Island, if not in the Dominion. The Tacts • That Tell. Its wealth of grecu hills and valleys, and its picturesque bays, all within two «r three hours of tho. City;..will alwuys make the Peninsula a place of varied interest. Koaded as it is bow practically throughout its quarter of a million acres (the acreage comprising the three counties of Wairewa, Akaroa, and Mt. Herbert) it provides a'trip" of unsurpassed charm for the tourist, as well as instruction and interest for the farmer. The capital value of the Peninsula is £4;750,000. Tho district is tho chief source of beef supply for tho City of Christchurcb, and the name Akaroa is synonymous with the best cocksfoot grown in the world. Some years ago the thought of one was insJparable from the thought of the other. All classes of stock are produced. In a typical year (1928) the number of sheep and lambs trucked at Little River (the terminus of the railway) was 138,000 fat and store sheep (approximately) GOOO head ; j wool (approximately) 780 tons per annum; cheese (approximately) 1000 tons made by seven co-operative cheese companies' factories at Little .River, Pigeon Bay, Little Akaloa, Okain's Bay, Le Bon's Bay, Takamatua, and Barry's Bay. Home-made cheese is made on many Peninsula farms where it is not possible to reach factories, and the estimated production of home-made, dairy cheese is about 200 tons. Butter and whey-butter are made at the Akaroa Co-operative Butter Company's factory at Akaroa, and by the various cheese factories. A number of farmers also supply Christchurch Dairy Companies. The total Peninsula production of butter is estimated at ,450 tons. Cocksfoot production is from approximately 9000 acres and the annual return is 15,000 to 20,003 sacks. Other production in the district is from barley and oat crops in Wairewa County, pigs, of which there are approximately 3000 reared annually, walnuts, fruit, etc.

Tho Present Season. Some appreciation of flie foregoing achievements was gained in a run around the I'.ays, which the writer look vesterday. I.ocal folk complain Ih:it the season is backward, but. it. is less so than much of the country on the Plains for there is a great wealth of green on the hills. The spring, however, Has marked by more than tlx; usual amount of cold weather, and serious losses were experienced on farms where lambing happened to be in progress. One farmer on one of the Eastern Bays lust about 400 eves and lambs, and others suffered, though to a-smaller extent. The wintry bursts have continued later into tho season, and within the past week there was snow on the higher levels, anil rainfalls have been heavier in recent weeks. This, however, is not altogether au objection, for the success of! the cocksfoot, harvest is dependent on a liberal precipitation. Cocksfoot Prospects. The cocksfoot harvest is only a. shadow of what it was 30 years ago or so. Tho fattening of sheep and lambs and the extension of dairying have encroached heavily on to the areas originally closed for cocksfoot. The record year was one in which l'_! 0,000 sacks of SOlb each -were produced. The record price, or nearly the record, was 15d a lb. The latter price, however, was on the occasion of a short harvest. "Coeksfooting" on. the Peninsula used to bo a great industry for workers who were not glued to tile City, and as au instance of the money to be "picked up" at it an Akaroa maji told the writer that one year with a mate tlicv divided £;M 1 for seven weeks' work. til the hey-d ay <>t the industry tho seed was carted to the main bays by bullock waggon and shipped to its various destinations. The stacked-up bags awaiting the little coastal floats were reminiscent. of a Plains wheat station. 11l recent years the production has dropped to less than '2O.(JIM) sacks, and the yield i.s now more like three sacks to the acre than tlio. five that used to be a general average. Although tho Peninsula as a whole cannot have it "both sheep flocks and dairy cattle and cocksfoot production at the same timethere is every likelihood that much of the lost ground will be recovered in the quantity of seed raised. The Peninsula cocksfoot is admitted by the best .authorities as unequalled, and recognition of this fact in conjunction with Ihe Goveriiment certification of seed now being undertaken are expected to greatly stimulate production, in addition, the Farmers' Union is making arrangements for the bulk purchase of fertilisers for top-dressing, a poliev that will allow most of this valuable work to be done

at a more reasonable price. Headway in the past in this direction has been impeded by the cost. In regard to prospects for the incoming harvest many paddocks have been closed up for the better part of the month. The fear has been general that as a result "of the scarcity of feed, in the winter fewer paddocks would be set. aside. However, the liberal rains generally ensure a good yield per acre and expectations are that last year's production, though only a moderate one, will be fully maintained. Flocks and Herds. Tiio three counties, comprising the Peninsula, according to tlie 1030 statistics, carried 290,501 sheep, and 32,158 head of cattle, of which U6OO of-tho Intte-r eamo under t-he dairy heading. In 1922, as a comparison, the sheep figures were the cattle 32,26/, and the dairv cattle 1)781. It will bo seen that although the- cattle figures over tho eight, years are practically stationary, there lias, been a remarkable increase in sheep—approximately 30 per cent. However, there has been a great advance in the class of dairy cow, due to herd-testing and consequent culling. On account of the backward season tho production at the factories is scarcely up to last year at thjs period, but now that feed is coming away rapidly, tho leeway will bo quickly made up. The gloomy aspect of the industry on the Peninsula, however, as elsewhere, is .the disastrous price for butter. Peninsula hind did not altogether escape the "boom.'' British trade has been benefited to the tune of more than ,-tjooo,ooo from the Courts held at Bin-kinghain Palace during- the recent season. PKOPEIi carp: at calving' TIME: Wheu a dairyman-finds ho is losing by poor milk yields and cream, tests,, let. him look to the drench ho uses. Is it a tonic as well as a cleanser, as is feV to Dl\LxiOll? Hoes it merely cleanse, and in doing so, impoverish the animal's blood, upon the state of which depends tho yields and tests! Try SYKES'S DUENCB after calving, and you will learn thq full , earning .po.wer of your herd. Hold every where, 1/6 pkt.j 17/- doz. CP3

TOP-DRESS I NG.

experimental work in CANTERBURY. \ FURTHER KEPORT. The current. issue of the "Journal of Agriculture" contains a lengthy re|'ort by A. Hudson (Government, Crop Experimentalist) and A. Y. Montgomery on Ihe rs perimental ■work of the rifldrj Division. Tho report covers pages, which permit:? only ;i, brief summary. The report, i.s \ 0 '3 of a •series, and deals with observational experiments with lime, phosphate, potash ami. nitrogen for 1!):>8-2!J and l!Vj;")-r,0. The following are comments en the responses to t roa I men I:■ Lime. ! Hitherto lime, lias not been viewed as .an important limiting factor to the production of pasture, in Canterbury. These experiments show only 5 per cent, of cases in which there is "no visible response." The 5 per cent, of "doubtful responses'' include experiments which have been down for one year only at the time of writing. A "alight response'' is recorded in 29.5 per cent, of cases, while "fair to very good'' responses are represented l>y 61 per cent, of the trials. Prom the point of view alone of increased benefit to stock in supplying lime through medium of the pasture, the writers are of the opinio: that its use is justified in practically all Canterbury soils. In many places the increased growth of herbage, especially where superphosphate was used in addition, leaves no doubt in our minds regarding the economic, value of liming from the production aspects. It is of interest, to note that some, of the highest responses to lime have occurred on the light to medium soils overlying shingle, such as those in the vicinity of Sherwood and Entiriston in Ashburton County. . Duration of effect of lime: Experience from plots which have been down for several years on high-lime-response country indicates that. the visible effect of a dressing of 1 toil of carbonate of lime per acre should extend over a period of five or six years at least. Smaller quantities should give results which are more or less proportionate to the amount applied. The present series of experiments lias not been down sufficiently long to enable general conclusions regarding the duration of effect from lime to be determined on them. On some soils the effect, of lime was visible four to five, months after application, and, generally speaking, 'lie effect was much more marked in the second year than the first. Superphosphate. "Xo visible response" to super is recorded in 5 per cent, of the trials,

The bench of wool-buyers at the first wool sale in the Dominion this season, held during the week.

while 0.5 per cent, are in the "Doubtful response" class, 20.5 per cent, are recorded as "Slight response," per cent, under "Fair response," and 2-t per cent, under "Good." The "Very good" and "Excellent" classes are represented by 7.5 per cent, and 1 per cent, of cases respectively. In the cases of both lime and super the classification of responses is made more or less relative to the responses, from the combination of lime plus super. Consequently tho responses to the individual treatments appear relatively smaller —as was actually the case—than Ihe responses from the combination lime plus super. In many, of the experiments ou the very light lands "fair" and in sonic cases "good" responses can hardly be' paying. It is noteworthy that on this class of land the use of super drilled into the ground at the time of sowing with any crop, including . grass, is undoubtedly paying. .The .use of .super as a top-dressing on established grassland. is however, not . productive of sufficiently good results to encourage one into thinking that it can .lie profit, able, on the typical.lower-rainfall .areas at least. Some method whereby super can be actually placed in the soil to a depth of 2in to Sin may give much better, results, and is certainly worth trying." Lime plus Superphosphate. The effect of tho combination nf lime and super has been an outstanding feature of the trials. Almost without exception the combination has proved superior to either material alone. In about 10 per cent, of the trials no visible respoiiso from one or other- of the individual treatments was discernible but. when combined a distinct response has been noted. I in only 2 per cent, of cases is "no visible response" recorded. In 76 per cciif. of- the trials the lime plus super idols are fairly evenly distributed over the "Good,". Very good," and "Excellent" response classes, slightly more bciiirr recorded under "Excellent" than ■in either of the other two classes mentioned r l'" e importance of the lime plus miner combination in connexion with the establishment and maintenance ot nasture of short or long duration cannot be stressed too strongly. ■ Experience indicates thafc r y e -g raES responds almost -n-ell as clovers, if not quite as well, 'to the addition of lime to soils deficient i it The duration of efteefc ox lime ■ was discussed above, and the argument

that liming is expensive cannot be admitted when it is remembered that the effect of a dressing of about a ton will continue for five or six years. It is obvious that the best results cannot be got from super if lime is deficient. Potash. The results obtained indicate that in the main potash is not a serious limiting factor to pasture production iu Canterbury; So per cent, of the experiments showed no visible response to potash, in 7 per cent, the response was "doubtful," in 4 per cent, "slight," and in " per cent, "good." AVhere responses diil occur they were most marked as a rule where the potash plot crossed limed ground. The claim that potash, though ineffective in improving yield, has a marked effect on the quality and feed-ing-value of grass herbage lias not been substantiated so far as the writers are a wa re. Nitrogen. liespon.ses to nitrogen were particularly consistent, over 80 per cent, of the experiments falling in the ''Pair" to "Good" classes so far as this factor was concerned. Generally speaking, the better the rye-grass and cocksfoot content of the sward the better the response to nitrogen. The best results, too. were obtained where the nitrogen plot crossed lime plus super, although very often the super plus nitrogen plots were good. In practically all experiments tho best plot.- of the scries was that receiving lime plus super plus nitrogen. It must be remembered, however, that from the commencement of the trials until May,

J930 just; under two years—most of the experiments had received 5 cwt of nitrogenous fertiliser per acre, at a cost of about £3 5s per acre. In addition to the period of two to three months ;ifter application, when the nitrogen exercised a direct influence, there has been a general improvement in the grass sward. The growth of clover has been reduced in a good many cases, but as n rulo the reduction in clovers did not appear to be serious on the lime plus super plus nitrogen plots. We do not venture an opinion as t>> whether or not the use of nitrogen at its present price is paving. This must depend on a-number of iactors; but one thing is certain—namciy, that nitrogeu will not pay oh' pastures which are lacking in the major species of grasses—rye-grass and/or cocksfoot. To those farmers who desire to trv nitrogen, our advice is: (1) Use it oil pasture which has been limed and pho'sjihated; (2) use it only for the production of early spring grass by applying it in late July or early August, and possibly for, production of early, winter feed by applying in March or April; (3), use it on good pastures only;. (4) feed off the resultant growth while it is still young and palatable. These remarks apply only to pastures used for grazing purposes. SHOW DATES. The following spring show dates huvu been arranged for this year, secretaries who desire the use of this Paso to notify the dates of their shows should communicate with the Agricultural Editor:— Dee. 2, 3—Gore (Gore). }>ec. 5 -Wyndhani (Wyndham). KnV-- out,ll land (lnrereargill). February 27th and 28th-West Coast, at Greymouth. t eb' uai.v March 14th—Cheviot, at Cheviot. * \T.fr ri , JJ, vfleld Bayfield). Aid reb -Oth—Kaikoura, at Kaikoura. olarch 26 -Teinuka and Geraldine (at Gernldine). \larrK 9^^Ar^fi awaj^en ' at Ha warden. \txrru (Methven) March olst Amuri (Waiau), at Waiau. April i.—Oxford (Oxford). - prl i, ■. —Mackenzie County, at Fairlie. April 11th—Mai vera, at- Sheffield.