FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1418, 19 April 1912, Page 8

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

SMUT IN WHEAT. HOT WATER TREATMENT. Ono of tho most striking points abouf tho Canterbury Agricultural College harvest report is the fact that <-ue paddock of wheat yielded 70 bushels to the acio, while tho rest of the crops, which were of the samo vnriety (Hordier), yielded "at best 19 bushels. It seems moro than a conincidcmce (says the "Press") that the paddock that yielded so well was tho only cno in which*tho seed sown was treat-id with a modified form of Jensen's hot water treatment lor a certain form if smut. Most tanners know the two common varieties of wheat smuts, naincl)', "ball" or "sticking" smut, and "loose" or "flying" smut, but possibly all aro net aware that there is a kind of flying smut, indistinguishable from the ordinary loose smut, that is unaffected by tho ordinaiy pickling in bluestone or formalin which seed wheat generally undergoes. Briefly stated, this particular form of smut, which it is thought has brought into tlio Dominion in French, wheats, is not affected by the usual pick-' ling operations, bcc.-uiso tho spores ol thofungus do not germinate outside !the grain, but in tlie wheat flower, from whence is penetrates the substance of the grain, and so remains untouched by anv e.xternnl applicatibjs, until the seed l's sown, when it grows np with tho young plant. Last autumn Dr. Hilgendorf, tho biologist at the College, treated a quantity .of seed wheat with tne hot water process, .and it is (his crop that has done so well. •It had o germination of 100 per cept., and was practically free from smut, only a few smutted heads being found round tho edges of the field, which. raises the supposition that these heads were infected with spores that had been lying dormant about tho gorse hedges. It is probable that the large increase of yield in this paddock is not solely due to the treatment, but also to the i'act that tho paddock had what was practically a summej 1 fallow, because the grass on it was conspicuous by its absence for some time anterior to the sowing of the wheat. However, the success of the experiment is such as to encourage Dr. Hilgendorf to persevere, and he is at present engaged in treating a larger quantity of seed for this autumn's sowing. The Process Explained The process used by Dr. Hilgendorf is Freeman's modification of Jensen's hot water treatment; Mr. Freeman being a North Carolina expert, while Mr. Jensen is a Norwegian. The treatment is simple,, but tedious, and is as followsTho selected seed wheat is placed in wire baskets and steeped in cool water (05 degrees Fall.) for six hours; it is then drained and placed in water at a temperature of 115 degrees Fall, for one minute; from this it is placed iu water at a temperature of exactly 129 degrees Fall, for ten minutes. Tho grain is then taken out, drained, and dried quickly on sheets, either in the open or in on "airy shed. The drying is not absolutely essential, but apart from the difficulty of sowing damp seed, it is found that sometimes'the sowing when wet causes a too quick germination, which may result in the small plant getting scorched up with heat, or more liablo to be damaged by heavy rains. Dr. Hilgendorf treats 201b. of seed in the baskets (which are shallow trays mado of perforated zinc) at a time, and can completely treat 16 bushels of seed wheat in a day, enough to sow ten acres. It is admitted that the treatment is ■too laborious for a farmer to do the whole of his season's sepd wheat at once, but this difficulty is got over by growing a small paddock of treated wheat, for next season's seed, the grain being absolutely free from smut of any kind. .Both Mr. T(. E. Alexander, tho Director of the College. and Dr. Hilgendorf stato that they do not wish to assert that the increased yield of the paddock referred to is only because of the treatment, because there v.ere undoubtedly other, conditions that wero favrarable, but this .first trial, was so eminently satisfactory that it is well worth persevering with. AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTIONA NEW SUPERVISOR. Mr. A. 0. Banner, the new director of tho Feilding Technical School, who is also to be agricultural instructor for the schools of the district, arrived ' from Sydney by the Ulimaroa. Mr. Banner was previously on the i staff of tho Hawkesbury Agricultural College. He was a student at this college, and then went to • the Bathurst Farm as actingscience master. Returning to the Hawkesbury College he was assistant lecturer in Chemistry and Physics, and during last year he was assistant science master at the college.

WINTER SHOW DATES,

June 4-B—Waikato Winter Show, at Hamilton. June 5-B—Taranaki Winter Show, at New Plymouth. June 12-15—Dominion Dairy Show, at ' Hawera. June 25-2S—National Dairy Show, at Palmerston North.

NEWS AND NOTE&i

| MOUMAHAKI STATE FARM, ' REQUIREMENT, S OF DAIRY FABMKRS. I Some sixty farmers visited tlio Monmahnki State Farm curly this week, and, according to reports, wore favourably impressed by much of what they *>aw, especially with regard to the experiments with fodder plants. After tlio trip, «i representative of the Stratford 'Tost" was told by two of the visitors thai tho concensus of opinion was that the Stato Farm, while exceedingly nsefnl, did not quito fulfil tho requirements of the dairy farmer. For instance, tlie farm has only one breed of cattle—Ayrshiros. Some of these were very fine animals, and they included tho bull that was specially purchased for tho Government by Mr. Dunlop, one of tlio Scottish Commissioners, and tliero was no question that so far as it wont, tho farm was doing excellent work, but they wanted something more. They wanted a farm in central Taranaki, where experiments could bo made with tlio various breeds of cattle. In their opinion tlie timo lvad arrived when the Government should launch out and give the dairy farmers an experimental farm, where experiments might "be made with all breeds of cattle so as to produce animals that would givo tho best results from tho butter-fat point of view. LIVE STOCK SALES, Messrs. Dalgety and Company report:— At our Palmerston sale yesterday there was a good entry of sheep and a heavy yarding of cattle. The majority of pens sold under the hammer at the following rates:—Fat and forward owes, to lis. 7a-: 5-year ewes, running with rams, to 12s. 6cf.; small weancr heifers, 18s.; 18-inouths steers, £3 15s.*, cows and calves, to £5 Ss. 6d.; bulls, to £4 7s. 6d.; 2-yoar steers, to £4 lis.; fat cows. £5 55., £5 to £6 65.; prime lieavy fat heifers, to £7 75.; dairy cows and heifers, £5 12s. 6d., £6 7s. 6d., £6 17s. 6d. to £8; fat bullocks, £8 35.; 21-year steers £5 65.; forward bullocks, £6 16s. Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report:—At c»ur usual Palmerston North sale, held on Thursday, we had a fair yarding: of both sheep and cattle. Sheep were hard to quit, but cattle met with ■ a good sale at the following prices:—Forward 4-year bullocks, £7 65.; 3-year ditto, £5 ICe. to £6 7s. 6d.; 2i-year steers. £4 15s. to £5 Bs.; .yearling steers, 365. 6d.; weancr steers, 225.; fat and forward cows, £4 10s. to £4 155.; forward cows, £3 10s. to £4; storo cows, £2 10«. to £3: 18-months heifers, £2 10s. to £3 7s. 6d.; yearling heifers, £2 25.; dairy cows, £4 10s. to £9. Sheep: Cull wethers, 9s. 6d.; cull empty ewes, 2s. lid.; 4 and 5-year ewes, in lamb, 12s.4th The ICew Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., Palmerston North, ro port:—At Palmerston North on Thursday we had a pood entry of sheep and cattle. A good sale resulted, cattle being iu better demand. We quote:—Sheep:- Cull ewes, 35.; 6tore lambs, 6d.: store ewe®. 6s. lid. to 9s. 6d. Cattle: Wcaners, stwre, 355.; weaner heifers, 365. to £2: weairer bulls. £2 75.; yearling steers, £2 Bs. 6d.; storo cows. £2 3s. to £2 17?.; forward cows, £4 2s. to £4 135.; heifers, in calf, £3 ss. to £4 7s. 6d.; springing heifers, £6 ss. to £7 2?. 6d.; 3-year steers, £6 4. Messrs. Dalgety and Co.. Ltd., report as follows on their fortnightly, stock sale, held at Upper Ifutt, on Thursday:—We had a medium yarding of sheep and cattle. There was a fair attendance of buyers, and wo arc plonked to report having practically cleared the yards. The following prices were realised:—Two-tooth lis.; f.m. breeding owes, 7s. to 7s. 6d.; cull ew<Hs, 4s. 3d. Springing heifers, £6 10s.; heifers, calved, £4 55.; heifer? in caJf. £3 12?., £4 to £4 35.; cows, with calves, £3 to £3 18s.; store cow/?, £3 to £4; 2-year steers, £4; mixed woaners, 205.; yearling bull, £3; bull, £3. BUENSIDE MARKET. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) . Ounedln, April 17. At Bumside to-day 196 fat cattle were j yarded, comprising mostly cows and heifers and light and unfinished bullocks. Prime bullocks were scarce, and showed a rise of about 10s. per head. Cows and hoifers were a good deal easier. Best bullocks, £10 10s. to £11 10s.; extra, to £13 IDs.; medium to good, £8 10s. to £9 155.; light and unfinished, £6 10s. to £8; best cows and heifers, £7 10s. to £8 10s.; extra, to £10; medium to good, £5 15s. to £6 10s.; light, £4 to £5 10s. Fat sheep: There was a large yarding, 3261. being penned. Only a- few pens consisted of prime wethers, tho majority of the yarding comprising old ewes. Pri.ces for wethers showed a rise of 6d. to Is. per head, but ewes declined Is. to Is. 6d. per head, and towards the finish were almost unsaleable. Best wethers, 18s. 6d. to 215.; extra, to 235. 6d.j medium to good, 15s. 6d. to 175.; light, 13s. 6d. to 155.; best ewes, 16s. to 175.; extra, to 19s. 9d.; medium to good, 12s. 6d. to 14s. 6d.; light and inforior, ss. to 15s. 6d. Fat lambs: 2202 penned. The quality all through was not up to last week's standard. Prices were easier by 6d. to 9d. per head, but this was due to the poorer quality. Best, 15s. 6d. to 16s. 6d.; extra heavy, to 19s. 6d.; medium to good, 13s, 6d. to 14s. 6d-: light, lis. 6d. to 13s. Pigs: 66 fat pigs and 74 storeß were yarded. Prices all round were much tho same as last week, but towards the cud fats dropped 3s. and 4s. per head. Suckers, lis. to 145.; slips, 16s. to 18s. 6d.; stores, 20s. to 325.; porkers, 40s. to 515.; light barconers, to 635.; heavy do., to 705.; choppers, to 86s. COMMERCIAL ITEMS. INVESTMENT SHAKES. A sale of Gear Moat scares, £1 paid, at 655. was the only transaction recorded yesterday. The buying and selling 1 Quotations were ®. under:— Buyers. Boilers. £ 6. d. £ b. d. Bank of New Zealand ... 11 5 6 11 8 0 National Bank — 6 3 0 Well. Trust and Loan ... — 713 0 Christchurch Gas — 9 5 0 Gisbornc Gas — 117 6 National Insurance 117 9 — Christchnrch Meat — 15 7 6 Gear Meat (£4) — 13 0 0 Jf.Z. Shipping 14 10 0 15 12 6 Union. Stcara 2 7 0 2 8 6 Jtosgicl Woollen 3 6 0 — JTikurangi Coal — 0 19 6 Taupi'ri Coal 116 — Westport-Storkton — D 3 0 Leyland-O'Brien — 18 6 Totara — 2 8 6 0. M. Banks, Ltd — 10 0 Crown Brewery — 115 0 Dona shy Hone and Twino — 12 3 Ward and Co — 5 4 0 W.F.C.A. (£5) - 15 0 NEW ZEALAND HEMP. . It is peasing to note that the exports of New Zealand hemp aro beginning to expand. It is obvious that millers have accepted the fact, and realise that low prices will continue for some time, and have sot about to reduco the cost of production with apparently satisfactory results. In the year ended March 31 last there was a shrinkage in tho Quantity exported, but this was probably owing to adverse climatic conditions. Tho Quantities exported and tho values of same for cach of tho Bast ten years to March 31 show as under:— March 31. Tons. £ 19C3 22,300 575,153 1904 24,761 659,064 1905 28,209 730,803 1906 27,422 690,577 1907 28,773 850,653 1908 25,471 686,597 1909 14,196 310,364 1910 16.E08 373,145 19J1 21,038 405,672 1912 18,094 310.884 It will be seen' that since 1909 tliorc has been, a marked decline in the value. For the year ended March 31. 1909. 14,196 tons of hemp were valued at £310,364, while for the year ended March 31. 1912, 18,094 tons realised just £520 moro than a very much smaller Quantity did in the earlier period. HOTEL SALES. Messrs. Dwan Bros, roport having sold Mr. Gcoi'go G. Mackay's interest m the Grand Hotel, Hastings, to Mr. T. Cotter, formerly of the Masonic Hotel, Dannonrkc; Mrs. C. Bcauchamp's interest in the Tramway Hotel. Adelaide ltoad, Wellington, to Mr. Frank M'l'arland, wall' known in tho bakery business in Wellington; Mr. Hilton's interest in the Facknkariki Hotel to Mr. 0. T. Gayne, formerly of tho Phoenix Hotel, Palmerston North; Mr. .1. Coffey's interest in tho Waipara, Ilotrl, Canterbury, to Mr. Denton, of. flie Bluff; Mr. E. Crabtree's interest in the Junction Hotel. Norscwood, to Mr. Hugh Beveridge. of Tokouiaru; Mr. Lutz's interest in tho teaso of tho Royal Hotel, Gre.vmouth, to Mr. M'Fnrlane, late of the Clyde Quav Hotel, Wellington; tho frcohold and furniture of tho Telegraph Hotel, Otaki, for £2500, to "Mr. G. Dempster, of Palmerston North; The Tenul Hotel. East Coast, lo Mr. .1. K. Brown, of Invcreargilt; Mr. V. A. Butterfiold's interest iu tho Wimbledon Hotel to Mr. Hugh Patrick, of Palmerston North; Mrs. Cusark's interest in ' the Masonic Hotel. Waitarn. to Mr. John Harrington, late of the Hoyal Hotel, Dciiniston; Mr. C. W. Merrylces's interest in the Mangatcra Hotel, Danncvirke, to Mr. 6. Duncan, of Whatawhata Hotel, Hamilton, Waikato; Mrs. M'lntyrc's interest in the Star Hotel, Addington. jo Mr. ,1. Barry, of Oamaru; also Mr. F. W. Wright's interest fn the trochoid of tho Duvaucholles Bay Hotel, Canterbury, to Mr. J. Gaskin, at JMa Eirer, Omtocbuiz,

I.ONDO.S' MAKKETS. Now Zealand I.oan and Mercantile Akcrv.v Company, Limited. have received tile following cablvn'am from their Loudoll house. miller dale April 17:—Wheat.: Sold an Australian cargo at 40s. I'd. c.i.f The market, is quiet, hut steady, ami crop reports are unfavourable The outlook is uncertain for American market prospects. We quote per quarter c.i.f. New Zealand wheat. lons-ben ied, 38.5. 6rt.; short-berried, 38h. Tallow: Wo quote present, spot values for the following description :—Good mutUin 35» 3il. pei cwt,, good beef, 335. 3d. per cwt.: mixed, 325. per cwt. The market is firm. AUSTRALIAN I'KODI'CE MAKKETS. By roleirratih-l'rpM Aeseciutlon-CnDrrlehl (licc. April 18, 10.45 p.m.) ... Sydney, April 18. VTlieat, OS lid. to 4s. Id. Flour, citv brands, £0 55.: country, £9 2s. 6d. Oats, Sparrowbills, 3s. 2d. to 3a. 3d.; (iiant-- 3» 4d.; Algerian, 3c. 6d.: New Zealand. 3s. 4d. to ii. sd. Barley, (Ja.pc, to. lOd. to •js.; English, 4s. 6(1. to ss. Maize, 4s. Bd., 4s. lOd. Bran, £6 10s. Pollard, £7 \ further rise of 10s. a ton in potatoes is reported, and Tasinanians are quoted at £9 to £i P j 1 ??' O"'on3. Victorian, Span- ! sh ' £7 - Butler, selected brands, 120 a.; prima, 108s. to 116s. Cheese, Bid. to 9d. Bacon, 7id. to 7Jd. m , , ... , Adelaide, April 18. WTieat, 3s. lid. to 4s. Flour, £9 2s. 6d. Bran and pollard, le. sd. Oats, 3s. 2d. MELBOUKNE HIDES MARKET. By Teleeraph—Press Association-Copjrltfht (liec. April 18, 10.45 p.m.) .... ... , Mclbourno, April 18. At the hides sales to-day there was an active demand. Prices were very fair ail round. There were good supplies. LONDON WOOL SALES. By Teleerapti—Fress A£sociaUon-Copyrlgkt _. , . London, April 17 ; Thero lias been a eood sale. Prices tie unchanged. Messrs. Levin ajid Co., 'Ltd.. have received advices from their London agents that the following clips have been sold nt the sales now current-, on Uieir account. I lie pr ices named are the average price realised for tho fleece wool in each in--IJICTrJIOXD BItOOK. Nelson. IOJd.; MAIIAKI. Martmborough, 10>d.; RAVENSWOOD, kelson, 93d.; It. BEOS., Nelson, Nel s° n . 3d-; 000, Kelson, B|d. ; J O M, Mastcrton, 85d.; OAKDALE, Masterton, 10 l-16d.; WILLOW BANK, Mastertou ,83d.; HUATA, Alfredton, 83d.: 1 AEitAU over PUKEKAKA, Jfoawhantjo, ®>d.; HILLEND, Jlasterton, 9 7-16 d.: l'lltli\OA, Martiivborough, 9gd.; KiIOIKUTU, Masterton, 93d.; JSC, Nelson, 9d.; W L, Alfredton. IMd.: J and A W. Masterton. 8 3-16 d.; MOUNT BAKEII, ilangainalioc, BJd.: P, Mauriceville, Bid. Messrs. Dalgcty and Company, Ltd., Wellington, have received the following cablc•grani from their London office, dated April 17:—vt 00l sales activc. The competition continued brisk, and buvinc was general from all auai'ters. As compared with the oJosfnpr rates of last series, priccs wero rather lower for western districts \ letorla super creasy. Good quality merino v/as par to 5 per cent niffher. Other descriptions were unchanged. For lino and coarse cross'ured wools any chan&c was in favour of sellers, but for medium crossbred suitable for America, prices were scarcely maintained. METAL MARKETS. By Tcleeraph-Press Association-Copyright London. April-17. CoDper.—On opot, £70 12s. Cd. per tontnreo months, £71 10s. Tin.—On spot. £197 10s. ner ton; three months, £194 12s. 6d. Load.—.€l6 35. 9d. Silver —Ba.r silver is Quoted at 27 Id ner ounce standard. TALLOW SALES. By Telesraph—Press As=ociation-Copyriiiht „ London. April 17. At the t-allow sales 1646 caske were offered and 1289 sold. Prices realised:—Mutlon. fine, 565. 6d.: medium, 335. 6d.; beef, fine, 355. 6d,; medium, 5Js. W'HEAT. By Telesraph—Press Association-OoDyrieM , London. April 17. The total risible wheat supply is 1C6,436,CC0 bushels. Customs duties collected at the port of Wellinston yesterday amounted to £i 832 Is. Id. MINING NONVS. WELLINGTON SHARE MARKET. Business was very ouiet yesterday, and there were only two transactions recorded and both wero in Talisman shares. At tile mornimit ea.ll there was a sale at 45<\ and in the afternoon at 445. 9d. The buyand £cllins quotations were as under:— ' Buyers. Sellers. , . £s. d. £s. d. Blackwatcr — 14 6 N.Z. Grown 0 2 8 — New Biir River ....: — 4 10 0 Talisman 2 4 9 2 5 0 Waihi 1 17 9 1 13 6 Wailn Extended — 0 0 11 Waihi Grand Junction ... 1 5 9 16 3 Waitanci 0 .1 0 — Worksop Dredßo 3 2 0 — MIKE MANAGERS' REPORTS. Waitanei Consolidated.—Tho contractors finislied timberine tho main drive, and drivilne both faces wero proceeded with. The crosscut has been advanced 215 ft. from the main drive, and is . now trettinc a chnniro of country, with a bis flow of water from tho face. The main tunnel is alons 3311 ft. Tho reef is about 3ft. 6in. wide, and in {rood country. New Wait.aia.—ln the low level the country is good in the rise, and the reef looks very well. Some 36 tons of ore have been stamped at the battery, and the tailings aro now underpins troatmont. Tho oro from No. 2 winze shaped payable on the plates, and made a lot of slimes, due to tho amount of mullock unavoidably mixed with the fine dirt. The low level ore should bo eood, iudKinK from the plato amalcam. Waiotahi.—Tho drive towards the winze sunk on' the footwall dropper at No. 7 level has still about 27ft. to tro. At the IOCOft. level tho main crosscut is now 156 ft. within tho boundary of tho Waiotahi cround. Tho country is a little firmer, but contiuuos comparatively dry. Occidental Consolidated.—The drive on No. 2 reef is 15ft. from No. 1 crosscut, makine the total distance driven 125 ft. At last breaking down in tho drivo 101b. of picked stono was eot, with cold showins near tho back of tho drive. Tho stopc is near the break, and tho reef is much disturbed as well as small. At this point about threo pounds of picked stono was pot. Old Haurakl.—At the 400 ft. level tho roof in tho stones and the country rock continue favourable for cold. The 300 ft. level has been advanced 379 ft.. and 101b. of picked stone was cot. with cold showinc. The winze is down six feet, and five pounds of picked stono was cot. Stopine: In No. 2 block colours of cold are seen in the two stones. The reef looks promisinc in tho two stones in No. 3 block. Driving seaward at the 220 ft. level will bo resumed this" week, to cet- over the point where cold was cot in tl'o 300 ft. level. About 60ft. of driving will be required. Saxon.—Guides havo been nut in the compartments down to the bottom of tlio shaft. The enlargement will then be completed. and sinkinc another block can be started. Mountain Kin c.—The rise from tho lowest level is 13ft.. where the lode, which .lumped to the liancincwall side, is acaln ,to hand, thoueh still on tie wronir underlie. Tho ore cominc to hand is very foorl ouality. Tho battery dam is beinc fixed. Thames Deep Level.—The main crosscut is alone 1748 ft. The country in tho faco is a little firmer, and some water is ismine. Mnv Queen.—'Tho Tiririit Smile crosscut at 1000 ft. is along 470 ft., and tho country rock if> still cod. A ouartz strincer about, two inches thick is now beinc bomii Miroutrh. Tho Exchanco rise is up 75ft The lode fonnation is mnkine acain. TV stones in No. 6 level (May Onecn shaft! are nroduelnc fair Grade ore. lint tli" rcf bcine sm"U. the turnl" i« limited. Crushing should bo finished this week. STOCK EXCHANGE. (By Telesraph.—Press Association.) Auckland. April 18. Tho following business was done at tho 3.15 p.m. call to-day;— Saxon, 6d. Waihi Grand Junction. £1 6s. 3d.. £1 ss. 9d. Taupiri Coal, £1 2s. 3d. Dunedln, April in. Tho followlns Palo was made on tho Stock Exchange to-day:— Dominion Rubber. 7s. (prcm.). The following sales were reported:— National Bank, £6 Is. 6d. Union Steam. £2 17s. 6d.