WOOL IN LONDON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1112, 27 April 1911, Page 8

WOOL IN LONDON.

- BIG PROPORTION OF NEW ZEALAND. Writing of London's second series of wool sales, which were commenced 011 March 11, the "Live Stock Journal" says tlwt of the quantity available it was noticed that a full lialf was from New Zealand, and, "011 that account, the offerings of crossbred wools were heavy; but trade, especially in this country, is so fully employed that 110 fear of oversupply need bo entertained." The three catalogues submitted consisted very' largely of crcssbreds. There was no change from prices current at the close of last series, with a firm tone prevailing. The South Africans included several shipments from the Orange Free State, and showed signs of the dry weather which has prevailed there; these, when sold, realised about last sales' values, THE PUREBRED BULL. k HERD'S FOUNDATION. A great many farmers who are about starting to buy a registered dairy bull fall , into the serious mistake of trying to buy a cheap purebred scrub rather than a strong foundation animal on which to build' the future' herd (says "Hoard's Dairyman"-). The paper proceeds;— The only thing they look for is the fact that the bull, is registered and is offered at a low,price. .., . . If oyer a man needs a first-class animal, it is when he is starting; Most men start out with tho idea /that they can buy such an animal for o0 dollars to 100 dollars. But if one was offered them that has come up from a long, careful course of wise breeding for 200 dollars, they would refuse to consider it. Right here is where they come to the parting of tho ways from tho wise breeder. When he starts out to look for a bull, prico is the last thing ho thinks of, for lie is doing work for a long time. He is building the foundations and he knows that the top structure all depends upon the foundation. So many farmers. look at this important, subject wrong end foremost. Lot them really investigate tile breeding policies of different men and .they will see what serious difference there' is in tho money value of one over the other.

GENERAL FARiVIINQ NEWS. ■ The secretary of tho Woodlands Hunt Club wrote to the Fcildiiig A. and I'. Association, pointing out that owing to recent legislation, hunt clubs would be unable to raise revenue at their meetings in tho shape of fees from bookmakers, and asking for assistance, and for the moral support in endeavouring fo get a tctalisator permit. At a moeting of tho A. and I'. Committee, Messrs. B'urrell and Guthrie proposed that tho association could not encourage the return of the bookmaker, nor the increase of totalisator permits; • but that the association would give .the hunt clubs all possible support by offering substantial prizes for competitions. The motion was agreed to. It is rumoured that a largo South Island meat works is to be closed. : The 'Riverlea, correspondent of the Hawira "Star" writes:—"The milk supply in this district, like other places, is declining rapidly, and the tests though only medium are very even. There seems to be abundance of feed here, aud stock on ths are looking exceptionally well for the coming winter." Considering conditions all round, the farming community of North Otago will doubtless be right in asserting that, for those depending for a living on the land, this year has been the most disastrous within the memory of those'wh'o can look farthest back (reports the Labour Department's agent in Oamaru). Until about a month ago, the one hope of tho •season, to tho farmer, lay in the potato crop, which has now been more than half destroyed by tho potato grub. " The Hawke's Bay A. and P. Society has selected Wednesday and Thursday, October IS and 19, as the days for its spring show. ■ This is from an American paper: "Tho English Royal Agricultural Show at Liverpool cleared 27,000 dollars, a great livestock show of all of tho pedigree breeds of live stock, agricultural products, and machinery. No side-shows, horse racing, or any ontertaiiimeuts are permitted on. the grounds to detract from the benefits of the show to the visitors who attend tho show. . What a contrast to our American fairs, with their disgraceful side-shows, liorso racing, and scores : of attractions to draw the visitors." Mr. B. W.' Snow, the American agricultural statistician,, gives an estimate of -15,334,000 as representing the number of cattle, other than milch cows, in the United States on January 1, 1911, a decrease of 915,000 head from the Government figures of a year ago, while 3,015,000 below tho Government estimate of 'two years ago. The head of pigs, as estimated by the same statistician, is •19,215,000, an increase of 1,-133,000 over January 1, 1910. The estimates go to prove (says the "Drovers' Journal") the long-time argument of beef shortage, and, although hog growth is showing some increase under stimulus of high priccs in tho past vear, it will be at least another year until the trade shall have received full benefit from tho effort towards increased production. Meanwhile, declining cattle production points to an alarming scarcity as probable within another year.