REPORTED WOOL SHORTAGE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 855, 29 June 1910, Page 8

REPORTED WOOL SHORTAGE.

AMERICA AS A CUSTOMER. Yesterday we quoled from the "Live Stock Journal" a paragraph which stated that a short wool clip was anticipated in the United Slates, that storms had caused heavy losses in sheep in the far Western States, and weather conditions in some other parts of the country had been unfavourable to tho growth of llceces. Subsequently, the matter was placed before the head of the Wellington branch of a New Zealand firm, ami lie said that he had had no advice from abroad about it. He doubted the • correctness of the report, aud was emphatic that if there was anything ali'ecting New Zealand, the Dominion firms would have b'ecn acquainted of it. However, he proceeded, shortages in America do not concern us much. They do not export; they use their own wool. America did a certain amount of importing and New Zealand sent the States a certain amount of wool through the American buyers who attended tho purchased on the London market for America. But , ,'notwithstanding that advices have not been received from London, and thatthe authority interviewed is very likely right, if the report is true and the shortage is great the States may become a keener buyer for a time. At tie last colonial wool sales in London the quantity bought for export to the State, was estimated to bo 1000 bales. PEDIGREE STOCK IMPORTATIONS. ARGENTINA'S "PURCHASES. In view of what is said from time to time to tho effect'that Argentina, will become a serious rival of iNcw Zealand in the Home markets, interesting particulars of the .numbers of.pedigree stock imported by that couutry: can be found in the official returns-for the last four years. Nearly two and a half thousand pedigree cattle were imported in 1906, but the number fell to more than a thousand loss in the following year. In 1(108 the total was down to 710/..but iu 11)09 it rose to 774. Tho most favoured breed of cattle in the Republic is the" Shorthorn, of which 21S0 wero imported ill 1906, 1210 in 1907, 613 in ISOB, and C 55 in 100!). The number of Jerseys is very small, and was down to a dozen last year; in the previous year the number was the same; it was 1C in 1007, and 23 in 190 G. Twentyfour Herefords wero imported in 1909, 27 in 1908, -1G in 1907, and !B ii. VM>. In sheep, Lincolns have been imported to a greater extent than any other breed, and, also, than nil tho othur breeds collectively; but last year <the number brought into tho country had fallen to a fifth of what it was three years previously. The figures arei-IMG, 0555; 1907, 3551; 1908, 1765; and 1909, 1332. The next largest importation of sheep has been in Hampshires, which decreased from 412 in 1906 to 87 last year. Shropshires fell from 299 four years ago to 59 in 190S, and had risen to 92 last year. The importation of pigs was greatest m 1907, when it totalled 941, in the following year it was 400 lets, and last year went' down to S2. The number of horses imported has decreased annually. Racehorses have been taken into the country in larger numbers than other breeds. There wero 302 racers in 190G, 210 Clydesdales, and 100 hackneys. In 1907 the numbers were 219, 1-IG, and 40; in 1908, 197, 7G, and C 2; and last year 279, 35, and 17. GENERAL FARMING NEWS. On Saliu-Say afternoon at Hawera a number of South Taranaki Jersey breeders met and formed a branch of the NewZealand Jersey Association. It will be known as the South Taranaki branch, and the committee, which may be added to, includes Messrs. J. R. Corrigan. R. J. Linn, Phillips, Tower, Short, and J. l\ittigrew. Mr. Corrigan is chairman, and Jlr. F. G. Treweek secretary. . A correspondent of a Taranaki paper says that the manager of the ffaroa Dairy Factory informed him that (luring the whole season not ono can of milk was rejected at the Warea Factory, and tho whole output was graded first-grade. The winter poisoning of rabbits is now bein" vigorously proceeded with throughout the Soujh Wairarapa district (says a Masterton paper), and the officers of the Government Department are encouraging settlers to do their utmost to reduce tho number of rabbits to a minimum before the breeding season commences. The work of poisoning row in progress provides employment for a number of men at a time when other work is difficult to obtain. Stock in the Pongaroa district is said, to be doing exceedingly well, except young hoggets, among which there has been great mortality. A Jlastertoman who has just returned from a visit to the district (according to an exchange) states that not iu any part of New Zealand has he seen such well-kept fences and general evidences of careful farming. In 1819 ono Purik ram and threo ewes from Tibet wero presented to Queen Victoria and turned out on the farm at Osborne, and: within a year the flock numbered 15, not a single rain lamb, however, having been born. This curious breed of sheep was discovered by Moorcroft, one of tho earliest explorers of Tibet. "Perhaps," says Moorcroft, "tho do" of the British cottager is not so completely domiciliated as the .Purik sheep of this country... In the night it. finds shelter cither in a walled yard or under the roof of its master, and frequently, in the day. it picks up its food on a surface of granite rock, where the cvo of the cursory can scarcely discover a speck of vegetation, but the industry of the animal'detects and appropriates substances so minute and uninviting as would be unseen or neglected by ordinary sheep. If permitted, tho Punk sheep thrusts its head into the cooking pot, picks up crumbs, is eager to drink tho remains of salted and buttered tea ■or broth, and examines the bands of its master for barley flour or for a cleanlypicked bone, which it does not disdain to nibble. There exists, not; a cottager in Britain receiving no parochial relief who might not keep.three of these sheep with more ease than ho now supports a cur dog; nor a farmer who -might not maintain fifteen or twenty without appropriating.half an aero to their use. A Taranaki -exchange, states that Jlr. ,T. Grant, of Taiporohenui,- returned from Sydney on Thursday, whither he had been with a consignment of fourteen draught horses. Mr. Grant was over a couplo of months ago, and he has space booked to take over twenty more (all draughts, including colts and mares) next month. He reports having found the market fairly satisfactory, but with a down-grade tendency. \ lecture' on tho fruit industry generally will bo given by Mr. W. O. Boucher,-Government pomologist, in Palmerslon during next month. Mr. Boucher was to have given an address on the fruit exhibits at the National Dairy Show, but owing to indisposition he was unable to carry out his engagement.