GENERAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1502, 26 July 1912, Page 8

GENERAL ITEMS.

Mr. J. R; Davidson, of Springvale, the other day killed a heifer nine months old, fattened on lucerne, and slio turned the scales at 3601b. During the time he was in charge of the Bell Block Dairy Factory (some six years) Mr. J. Rutherford, who has just been appointed manager of the Te Aroha Dairy Company, has won twenty-three first prizes, besides numerous second and third prizes. Four trophies have been won outright, viz., two challenge cups mid two champion cups, and tile Bell Block company also has "a leg in" for three other trophies, viz., oire at Hawera and two at Now Plymouth. The present year has been one of the most successful Mr. Rutherford has had, as he has secured one or more prizes at each of tho winter shows held in the Dominion, viz., at Dunedin, Hawera, New Plymouth, Auckland, and Palmerston North. According to calculations which havo been made by "The Leader," and which are based on information supplied by farmers in all parts of the State, the area sown with wheat in Victoria this season is approximately 2,274,273' acres. This total, when compared with the area as.estimated at this time last year, shows a decrease of about 46,500 acres. The totals include the proportions sown for hay, which can only be ascertained later in the season. Owing to the favourable conditions prevailing since the rains set in, the-prospects point to a good total yield of grain, provided that the coming spring is mild and showery, and that there is an absence of early hot winds. Last year the deduction from total area allowed for hay was 301,388 acres, and it is expected that.when the necessary excision on that account is made there will remain an area of 2,000,000 acres or thereabout from which tho grain harvest will be gathered. In 1911-12 the actual area under wheat, according to tho Victorian Government Statist, was 2,468,454 acies, of which 2,16-1,006 acres were reaped for grain. That was 231,000 acres less than the area in the last preceding '-par, an:l about 101,000 acres more than that estimated to have been sow,n this season. On the assumption that the figures inde(lcpendently compiled arc approximately correct, there appears to be good ground for anticipating a yield of something like 21,000,000 liiishels this year. Theie is not one flockowner in a dozen, says an exchange, who knows half tintonus by which the various classes and ages of sheep may be described in different countries and localities. Taking the lnmb alone. "Pntely Bridge" says: "When newly born, from birth to weaning the animal is called a 'lnmb'; but in the South of Kngland the sheep retains the namn 'lamb' until it is eight months old, and sometimes even beyond this age. In Scotlaud the male lamb is railed a hip-lamb, and when castrated it is a hoir-lamb, while the female lamb is a ewe lamb in England and a grimmer-lamb in Scotland. Tup-lamb, ram-lamb, pur-lamb, and li-celer arc different names given to uncastrated males from birth to weaning. Prom weaning to first shearing the different designation; for unenstrated sheep include hog, hogget, haggeral, tup-teg, lamb-hog, and tup-hog; for castrated males, weterhog and he-teg, and for females griinmerhog, ewe-hog, s'lipeder-ewc, and ew'e-to". In Scotland tile tup-lamb becomes a tup-hog, and in Kngland similar sheep, after they wero eight months old, are wether nncl owo-tegs,- according to sex."

On Monday last Hip Tomonnn T'reey.inj; Works entered upon their 100,01111 fijuro in tlin niimbor of sheep untl lnml>s don It with during the season which is iii;f closing.