FARM AND STATION

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20101, 3 December 1930, Page 16

FARM AND STATION

CURRENT TOPICS.

LAMB EXPORT PRICES. The announcement from Auckland on Monday that the prices offering for lamb for export in December had been reduced from to <3d a lb is one of the worst and the most unexpected setbacks the farmer lias been confronted with this season. With wool and dairy produce down to disastrous levels the hope was strong- that lamb prices would help to offset the otherwise general collapse. A 74d schedule in Auckland suggested an Sd one here, or, in effect, 24s for a 361b lamb. This, though well below the scale of recent years, was some sort of a haven, but the ljd decline in the north would automatically bring southern lamb to GJd, or 19s 6d for the best grade, a drop of 4s tid per liead. It is as well to remember that the North Island November schedule was for what is known as Christmas shipment, and its retention for main shipments was improbable. A warning was issued somo time ago to buyers of store lambs in the south that they should not base values for forward buying on the northern schedule, and it would appear from developments that the warning could have been stressed much more vigorously. However, it is improbable that much lamb will bo Teady in Canterbury for the works in December. Tho season has been too backward, and apart from this fact tho reduction in values is not likely to encourage offerings.

It is generally believed amongst buyers for January and later shipment of Canterbury lamb that prices will bo better than tho Auckland quotation. Without suggesting anything of a "bear" element in the northern figure it has to bo recognised that tho first of season milk lamb in Canterbury is as good as any in New Zealand. This inclines expert opinion to the belief that at least 7d a lb will be on offer after the holidays, and somo followers of the market suggest up to 7id. With tha very keen local demand frombutchers there is little chance of tho market dropping to less than 7d until the main crop comes in, and by that time there may be a revival in tho market. PAST EXPORT PRICES. The following table shows how average lamb prices have dropped in the last two years. The figures cover the range for each month of 1928-29 and 1929-30 for 361b and under lambs:—

The table shows the fluctuations of the market last year in comparison with 1928-29, and also the very pronounced drop. In the two years, "from 1929 to 1930, it would appear as if export values will suffer a decline round about 50 per cent., providing, of course, there is not a revival later on. SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER. A North Canterbury reader writes that he has -noted with interest tho articles on the Farm Page in reference to subterranean clover. He sowed last autumn 21b of seed to the acre, with grass-seed on a 22-acre paddock. "Asthe autumn was very dry," continues the "writer, "the grass was very slow in coming away, and as I was not familiar with this new clover, I came to the conclusion that it was a failure, until I read your notes on.Mr Meyer's farm at Oxford. On going over the paddock, I found that the clover was flowering, as mentioned in your articlo, and that there was quite a good number of plants, considering the quantity of seed sown." Continuing, the writer asks if it is necessary to keep the sheop off the paddock to enable tho plants to Teseed. This would be a drawback as the field is divided into two breaks and each is grazed alternately. "Do the flowers havo the same objectionable taste to stock as do the flowers of white clover?" In reply to tho foregoing it may be stated that it is undesirable to graze the flowering plants closely until the seed-pods have formed and have sent out their shoots, and have penetrated the soil. This should occur in early February. Up till then light grazing is not harmful, but afterwards heavy stocking would not be injurious. The desire to establish a stand thoroughly suggests the wisdom of similar care in the second year, but in the third season there will be enough seed in the soil to guarantee a permanent sward, regardless of the severity of the grazing. The point raised by the writer in regard to the belated appearance of the flowers has been observed by other growers. "What apparently is a failure at first turns, out all right after a little time. In regard to the question as to whether subterranean clover has an objectionable taste to stock, there is no evidence from any accredited authority of this. Any "woody" or stalky and leafless legume, such as lucerne, is more or less unpalatable— not the fault of the plant, but of tho grower—and subterranean, perhaps, is not dissimilar in this respect.

CLUB ROOT. Tho article in another column on this page in regard to the investigations into club root in Southland rhould bo of direct interest to growers- in Canterbury, where the disease is becoming more general. The Southland experiments have been conducted more with the idea of discovering the most resistant variety of turnip to the trouble than with the object of establishing the best methods of turnip growing on soils that are only normally infected. For instance, the investigations commenced ten years ago on land that was then known to be infected, and which has been continuously cropped with turnips since. In general practice a farmer would not look for trouble like this. He would change to some other crop. Another point that arrests attention is that on one plot no fewer than 16 tons of burnt lime to the acre were applied. As burnt lime would cost every penny of 35s a ton on the ground, it can be seen that the cost would just about break tho bank. Actually, tho treatment would be higher than the value of the land, and, of course, no farmer Would attempt it, apart altogether from

By "Straggler."

CLUB ROOT.

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND INVESTIGATIONS. lu tho November issue of tho ''Xew Zealand Journal of: Agriculture." an article appears from K. B. Tranent, Fields .Superintendent, Department of Agriculture, on tin: subject of club root in Otago and Southland, in regard

to which investigations have been conducted, for tho past ten years. Jn November, 1020, a piece of land on the Government experimental area, known to be heavily infected with club root., was selected for tho purpose of testing the. value of lime for control. A. detailed account of t lie results in the intervening years is given:The results of one trial apparently point to lime, after being several years in the soil, having some inhibiting efTeci, on tho prevalenco of the club root organism. Where large quantities ot' lime lunl been applied, as in tho caso or a plot which received .10 tons per acre, there was certainly less disease apparent than in tho plot which received no lime. Ono would like very much to use these results as an argument that lime when applied in fairly large quantities would lessen the disease, but the figures must, not, be accepted on their face value as giving a true indication oC tho intensity of attack. The plots were small and the roots grown thereon few in number. Ono or two bulbs attacked by the disease consequently mako the percentage of infection read very high. In other words, this experiment will not; bear critical examination on account of tho fact that an insufficient number of replication of each treatment were carried out. Furthermore, there is every likelihood that the ground upon which the experiment was conducted was not uniformly infected to the same intensity, and this would certainly make for wrong interpretation of results. All that can be said in regard to the experiment is that a strong indication was given supporting the oft-repeated assertion that lime counteracts club root.

Trials with Herniiig Swede. Tu 1928 the Department of Agriculture obtained from Denmark a sample of swede seed named Bangholm improved purple top Ilcrning strain. Keports had been noted in regard to the club root resistant finalities of this strain of Bangholm swedo, and it was immediately put under trial. This strain of specially selected seed is referred to hereafter as Iteming swede. Thero can bo no question that of all the trials conducted in an effort to obtain a club root resistant swede thoso with Horning havo proved the most successful, and the growing of this variety on club root infected land merits close consideration. In 3 928-20 a trial of Horning swede was conducted at the Gore experimental area, two other well-known and

popular varieties of swedes being used as a control. The seed was sown at a rate of ]lb per acre in land heavily infected with club root. At the time of thinning, during tho middle of January, it was noticeable that, with the exception of the Horning strain, each variety of swede was badly infected with club root. At the beginning of February each of the popular varieties had almost died out with

the harmful effects such an overdose would probably havo on the soil. However, the experiments havo been of use, and in the meantime point to the Herning variety of swede being much, more resistant to club root than the commercial typos. The writer saw that this was the case in an inspection of the tests some months ago. The Herning swede did not appear to possess the feeding value of the others, riot by a good deal. It sat deeper in the drill, and went more to roots with less bulb, but it was there, -with a few misses—the other varieties had succumbed. However, just how the new variety would behave in comparison with ordinary commercial types under normal farm conditions is a different matter. With reasonable liming it might not show any noteworthy superiority on lightly-infected club root land. It is rather singular that after penning the foregoing note a eopy of the "Scottish Farmer," just to hand, stresses the point that tho value of lime as a means of combating the disease known as flnger-and-toe in swedes and turnips is now well established, though not as fully exploited as it deserves. Tn the extensive trials conducted at Cockle Park 011 this question, it was found that lime dressings, when applied two years before the growth of tho swede crop, were more effective than tho same applications nearer the growth of tho crop. As farther investigations are taking place in the south, more definite results are likely to be available later on.

club root, but tho Kerning continued to grow vigorously. Only a few isolated plants of the popular varieties remained, forming <1 striking contrast to tlie douso rows of -well-grown iierniiig bulbs. A final examination of the block was made 011 May 212 nd, .lUL'i). Ky thia time Kerning was tlio only variety left growing, and a close examination was carried out to ascertain the percentage of <dub root and dry rot infection present. Of 711. roots examined 1-15 proved to be infected villi club root; and *i I's villi dry rot. The yield from the crop of Kerning was estimated at 20 tons l.'lcwt. .'Ujr per acre, whereas no yield was obtained from the other varieties. In view of the fact, thai; this trial was conducted on land heavily infected wit.li club root, there is ample evidence that the Kerning strain of Bangholm improved puiple top c.wede is highly resistant; to the disease. it; is not immune, however, from club root, or dry rot. 'ln l!l~9 a further trial was laid down at (lore to obtain confirmatory evidence in regard to the resistance of Horning swede. The nature of the trial was similar to that sown down in ]0l!8, three commercial varieties of repute being used as controls. This trial was of an extremely severe nature, the block having been sown down to swedes in each of the three years preceding the trial, unci it is amazing that, any swedes at all grew on that particular area. Although the Morning swede had st.t per cent, of roots infected with club root, as against. SC..S per cent, in the case of tho commercial varieties, tho number of roots examined the former case was appreciably more, because many roots of the other varieties had been killed off in the early stages by the disease. Summary of Trials. I 1') Burnt lime, using various quantities lip to 1G tons per acre, while not a completely effective means of controlling club root, lias appeared to lessen generally the incidence of the disease after tie- lapse of two years from the time of application. Further work in this connexion is desirable.

(2) Bangholm purple top swede and Irvine's green top yellow turnip have given distinct promise of being relatively resistant to club root. Further trials with Irvine's turnip are warranted. (3) Banghohn improved purple top Herning strain swede has proved superior to the original Bangholm not only in regard to shape, rooting capacity, palntability, and yield, but also in regard to club root resistance. (4) lleming swede is only resistant to a certain degree. It is not immune, but on bad 1 v infected club rooted land a crop can be obtained by using it -when oilier commercial varieties may fail. (',) further trials with Horning swede are desirable, with a view to improving its resistant character by selection. Oil The growing of certified improved lleming swede seed in Xciv /■■aland is warranted and should prove of great economic importance.

A FINE TYPE OF JERSEY. Champion dairy cow at the Ashburton Show, exhibited by Mr A. O. Silcock

BUTTER EXPORTS.

HEAVY HOME SUPPLIES. A clue to tho insistently low prices ruling for, butter iu the Loudon market ia l'ound in the Board of Trade figures, -which show that supplies reaching tho market have been abnormally heavy. Imports by Great Britain in September amounted to 497,032cwt, compared with arrivals of 371,801cwfc in September last year. The increase was duo mainly to heavy shipments from Denmark, which supplied 19G,821cwt, New Zealand, which provided 71,077cwt, and Russia, which sent 45,246cwt to Great Britain, compared with 8090cwt in September, 1929. The large quantity provided by Russia may be another reflection of tho need for credits abroad, which has led that country to dump huge supplies of wheat into Europe to provide finance for the five-year plan of economic reconstruction. Imports by Great Britain in the first nine months of the year also indicate a sustained increase in supplies. Low prices have stimulated consumption to some extent, and it is estimated that 130,000cwt of butter ia now consumed weekly. However heavv imports early in the year led to an accumulation of stocks, which merchants have been unable to lift from cool store. Recently stocks of butter on hand in Great Britain wore estimated at Goo,ooocwt, or more than a month's supply. I a the face of reports of a good season « Australia and New Zealand with the prospect of continued heavy shipments from the Baltic, tho \°Z P™ es are not surprising. Ihe following is a comparison of tho fit °* ° r I>y Great Br itain in tho first nine months of recent years:—

TURNIP MANURING

RECOMMENDATIONS TO GROWERS. During tho past sis ycars tu manuring experiments to tost tho effect of various manures on field g er mination and yield have boon conducted in Canterbury by tho Agricultural Department. Tho present brief article from the Department's Journal is i tl . tended only to indicate the salient f ea tures of tho trial ß , and provide recommendations to growers for tho coming sowing season. * Superphosphate. Every farmer knows that in. almost all cases some form of phosphate is essential .for tlie Kcuccesstul growing of roofs in New Zealand. Under the comparatively low rainfall conditions experienced in Canterbury there can bo no doubt that superphosphate i s the most efficient form of phosphate Unfortunately, super sown in contact with the seed has an injurious effect on germination. _ The effect increases /is the amount of super sown increases It also varies with the amount of inoistnro in the soil at time of sowing. The following figures indicate tho exteuL of tho injury:— lewt of superphosphate (seed and. manure in blin rows) —Tho average of twenty-five trials in which tho germination on plots receiving ]c,wt of super is compared with the germination on plots receiving no manure, ground rock phosphate, or super plus carbonate of lime (equal parts) shows that the super reduced the germination to 67 per cent, of that occurring on tho other treatments mentioned. |.Note: Experience indicates that rock phosphate or super plus carbonate of lime (equal parts) docs not injuro germination.] "cwt of superphosphate (seed and manure in 14in rows; —In twelvo of these trials it was found that '2cwt of super caused more serious injury still, lowering the germination to about -17 per cent, of that from treat merits which liad no ad verso effect. In one case a super L'cwt area germinated only 8 per cent, of that from the best treatment —--super plus lime.

Superphosphate Plus Carbonate of Lime. The injury due to superphosphate can bo entirely overcome by mixing tho super with an equal weight of carbonate of lime (ground limestone) about one week before sowing. The average yields from ten trials in which super

ami super plus lime were used arc as. follows (all seed and manure being in 14in rows): Super Icwt, 11.2 tons an acre; super 2c\vt., 1(1.7 tons; super lewt plus carbonate of lime lewt, U.o tons; super 2ewt plus carbonate of lime 2c\vt, in.7 tons. Recommendations to Growers. (1) Mix superphosphate and carbonato of lime (equal parts) at least one week before sowing. The mixture should be left in a heap, as it tends to set if put in bags which are stacked. If left in a heap it can be easily broken up before use. (2) Uso 2ewt an acre of the mixture on light land, and 4ewt on heavier laud of hit;her rainfall. It must be remembered that the lime will not replace the phosphate. (3) Generally speaking it "will be advisable to sow 107. to 3oz less seed than normally used, or the crop may be too Farmers are strongly recommended to try the super plus liuie mixture. Provided weather conditions permit of cermination at all, good results will be obtained. The mixing of super and carbonate of lime deos not reduce the efficiency of the super to any appreciable extent.

'Die Australian health authorities appear to have worked up a great hate against anything savouring oC potato disease. They have had nothing on which to exercise their wrath since they decided some years ago that Kew Zealand potatoes were affected with powdery scab, but the oilier day they discovered a new torror, raised within their own territory. This time it is a flea, not a scab. Tho "Melbourne Argus," of last week, stated that some weeks before an embargo was placed upon all potatoes entering New South Wales if they were likely to be infected with tho lucerne flea. At the time the embargo had little effect on the interState trade in potatoes, as West Australian potatoes were granted temporary exemption, while those potatoes shipped from Victoria came from areas not affected by the pest. Supplies o£ potatoes which do not come under the scope of the embargo, however, are now small. Old potatoes are scarce, and new season's supplies from the same areas are insufficient to meet tho requirements of Sydney buyers. The crop of I'ink-eyes is about to bo marketed, but as- a considerable proportion 0 f these potatoes come from districts in which Ihe lucerne flea is present it will not bo possible to ship them to Sydney. The restriction has again been placed on West Australian Delawarcs, and as c onßigiinients from Tasmania are now small, the Sydney market is somewhat short'of supplies. Prices thero are iirin at about a ton for old potatoes. Here would be a clianco for the surplus New Zealand crop if the Australian authorities could only be persuaded of the fact that Dominion tubers are 50 per cent, freer of disease than Australian.

1928-29. 1929-30. a. d. d. d. Dec. (1928) — to 10 J — to 8J January — to ioi 8-J to 8J February 10 § to 95 to 8i March 9£ to 9^ 8* to 73 April Oi to 9} 7 h to 7i May 9i to 10 . ■—- to 7 June 10 to 10J 7 to 7J

Nino months. 1903. 1023 _ 19:!0 _ ■d • Chvt. Cwt. Cwf Ruse,a .. 2.75,262 ..*4,373 127 W 1 inland .. UJ3.SH !»•> 8n3 Sweden .. a4 i i822 5S9 84 - Denmark 1,554,037 1,671,160 1739 973

Nino montbi. 3 928. 1929. 1930. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. TCofhorlands 110,008 117,360 73,638 Franco ca.iC't 44,120 5,993 Argentine 269,GS1 235,383 300,478 Irihli IjYce State 433,72-2 424,301 435,083 AuRtrolrn. 674,5X4 588,8<>3 GG2.06O N ow Zealand .. LG7 ,&50 1,011,391 1.1S1,533 Other countries 159,456 2<32,740 249,049 Total 4,824,423 5,044,420 5,191,031