FARMING AND COMMERICIAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1549, 19 September 1912, Page 8

FARMING AND COMMERICIAL.

THE SMALL FARMER. HINTS ON FARM MANAGEMENT. An address whichi rany serve the purpose of helping to put the new small farmer on the. track of making the most, of his capital, and Ms energy, was given by Mr. K. Evans at a recent meeting of tho Kaiapoi Branch of the Farmers' Union. In dealing with the question of how to manage a small farm of 100 acres, Air. Evans siid he would tnko land which would bear an annual rental of £3 per aero. This capitalised meant tho land was worth i!CO an acre, and from this basis ho proposed to argue that it was ultimately to pay a small farmer better than inferior land at .820 per aero. He should expect his small farmer to work at it early, and eat for a time the bread 'of carefulness, but ho need not necessnrily be a slave. If the man had enough capital ho could buy his land out at .£OOOO, if not, ho might pay i'looo down', and pay interest on the balance. This 100 acres Mr. Evans proposed to farm with a dairv herd and pigs. It would be essential for this purpose to have a pure water supply, and a sufficiency of it for cleansing, and hkewiso to have shelter plantations. The land should not bo boggy or liable to be water-logged. There was any extent of this land of'land on which the ditches were not deep enough nor clean enough. River deposit was the best land, but all could not get that class of hind, but in the Dominion there wcro millions of acres which would suit the kind of small farm which he had undertaken to advocate. Tho stock for the farm he proposed ought to, include; sixty-five cows, eight to ten sows, two light farm horses, and'necessary implements, and he would allow £1000 for stock. To feed the cows-and pigs livo acres of lucerne would be needed (which would hot come to maturity in the first year), and it might require that a potato or pea crop would have to be taken before the lucerne was sown. There was needed, twelve acres of green feed, oats, fares, or Capo barley, or a proportion of each—five acres of Partridge peas, two acres of mangels, one acre carrots, two acres onions, two acres of maize, and one acre of potatoes, which would leave seventy acres to be dealt with. Of this ten acres should bo cut for clover hay early iii December, so soon «as the clover canio into bloom, and the aftermath of that crop would be available for the pigs. The other sixty acres'of grass provided /he summer feed, amd the yield from the hay, etc., a ration of 251b. of hay, with 121b. of carrots, for every cow'for autumn and.-winter feed. Tho mangels'were for the pigs, and occasionally for cattle. To show tho account in money lines, the outgoing he estimated at: /'' £ ' Hent or interest 300 Taxes , 10 Married man ; : 100 Hoy .|0 • Extra labour 40 Housekeeping 150 Blacksmith, oil, seeds, manures etc. 100 And the receipts would be approximately :— Butter-fat from cows .-. 780 Sale of pigs 2.50 Onions and potatoes 100 .61130 . There would be carrots, mangels, and ihuy sometimes'to'add. • i Feeding the Cattle. . As to the feeding of the cattle, five acres of lucerne, giving two cuttings would provide at least 25 tons of hay. From' tho 12 acres of oaten hay there should bo 36-tons, and with tho pea straw and clover hay he estimated 86 tons of fodder would be saved for winter use, providing the ration of 251b. for each cow tor about one, hundred days from the middle of Jiuie.-jtill, the end of September. From this supply there might bt> a surplus of .perhaps 12. tons of hay.aud six or. seven to"iis*''of ..carrots from, say, a-crop of 40 tons to the acre. There must also be a surplus of mangels. To' get good results the cultivation must be thorough nnd : deep into tho subsoil, especially to obtain good lucerne. In Eider Haggard's book on Danish farming, tie stated it was possible to get 1000 gallons of milk from every cow. in n large herd, and Mr. Evans considered it should not, itherefore, bo too much to expect 700 gallons per annum. That meant for'2Gs days the milk vield averaged 27ib. alone, and the but-ter-fat at 11-Jd. per lb. was equal to .£ll 13s. 4d. for each head. It was, however, possible,, and very, probable, some of the stock would return ,£ls to £W to the annual aggregate. Relative to ensilage feeding, Mr. ■ Evans said it had advantages, buttbs silo had to be well managed and. the ensilage given, with hay. Clover and rape with maize were most suitable for tho 'pigs, the animals to have about 21b. of. grain daily. As to the permanency of the butter market, on which his present, calculations depended, he referred to statements made by Mr. Race, Canadian Commissioner to the Exhibition, who said that New Zealand might have to send to Canada for its wheat, but for butter and lamb Canada would have to look to iVew Zealand. In 1908 tho butter export to Canada was 2900 boxes, 'and the last return was 103,000 boxes valued at £204,000, some of it selling in Ottawa at Is. 7d. per lb. He believed they had not seen- the highest prices yet for New Zealand butter. PALMERSTON SHOW. . , " THE SPRING GATHERING. The .schedule for the spring show of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association, which is to bo held at Palmerston on October 30 and 31, and November 1, contains a programme- for three days of education, interest, and recreation. A comparison with last year shook reveals many changes. Not many classes are dropped, but. many new ones aro inserted; Some of the divisions, notably dogs, art needlework: and home industries- have been entirely remodelled. There are many new and valuable cups and trophies offered for coin-petition, in addition to the wellknown Short, Southdown. Highland Dip, and other trophies which are still running. This-year is to bo the first competition for the Wheeler Memorial Perpetual Challenge Shield, presented by the New Zealand Roniney-Marsh Breeders' Association'for the champion- Romney.rara._ This, always a keenly-contested division, is promising a more than' usually interesting struggle, as there is a possibility of the Short Clin being lifted this year. There' is also the M'Dougall Cup, for competition. All divisions of live* stock are well catered for. in the way of cups and-' trophies, and this year commences many new fights. A special fast show stock train is scheduled from Anckland, and if this is well supported, tho Manawatu committee will lie hard put to it to successfully accom-modato all tho slock. Thn committee anticipate that the forthcoming event will eclipse all previous records. As Palmorston North is a full town at show time, it is as well that intending visitors should look ahoad if accommodation is required. A STALLIONS BILL. EARLY INTRODUCTION PROBABLE. In reply to a question by Mr. E. Newman, member for Rnngitikei,, the Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. W. F. Miwsey) staled yesterday that the Oovernmcnt hoped to introduce early next session a Bill to-prevent tho occopfnnco of fees for the services of unsound draught stallions: The provisions of the Bill, ho said, were intended to be optional in the caso of thoroughbreds. >■ • - "There's money in it," is an observation sufficient in itself to make the averago factory manager cock his ears. J.nd if he has any "go" in him he gets at the root of the matter in doubie-'iuick timo. This accounts for tho gre.it success of "Victor" Vats—there's money in them, as dairv men quickly realise. Better send along that order to-day. Albert .1. Parton, Carterton.—Advt. A WINNER OF COMPETITIONS. The Egg-laying competitions for 1510-11 and ISIM-J wero both won by pens reared on 'A. and P." Chick Raiser. The first essential for profitable poultry keeping, Obtainable from all Storeksivperj.—Aavt.

1 ' ' NEWS AND NOTES.

THE SHEEP RETURNS. SOME OF THE COUNTY FTGUBES. LOCAL INCREASES AND DECREASES INDICATED. .The following figures, as applying to .Wellington, Hawko's Bay, nntl Tamnnki, nro taken from tho table in the annual (interim) sheep returns, issued by the Government, showing the number of sheep in each county on April .10, 1911 anil 1912>April 30, April .10, 1911. 1912. Wairoa 025,008 083,413 Hawko's' Bay ' 1,143,931 1,081,928 Wnipnwa 404,290 -101,145 Waipukurau 97,993 101,57:) Pntangata 748,228 006,492 Weber - 107,897 Dannovirko 205,309 207,312 Woodv-ille 102,029 85.912 Clifton 95.409 82,009 ToTannki 45,698 33,505 Egmont 13,300 9,809 Stratford ~... 136,343 115,839 Whangammnona 109,307 90.731 Eltham 55,212 52,332 Hawera 97,397 83,512 Waimate West. — 1.056 Tatea 268,514 250,835 Waitotara 194,022 292,5051 Waimarino 192,681 155,966 Kaitieke .' — 29,643 Wanganui 528,349, 526,740 Eangitikei— '. Hunterville Subdivision 752,019 690,019 Feilding Subdivision 193,920 242,512 Oroua ; 156,269 100,658 Kairanga 115,583 108,419 Kiwitea 317,827 322,576 Pohangina 150,810 151,960 Manawatu '... 130,947. . 158,786 Horowhenua 160,001 149,687 Hutt 159,791 151,818 Jlnknra 85,027 77,742 Feathcrston 521,971 476,955 South Wairarapa : 185,314 190,451 Masterton 001,918 620,291 Castlcpoint .'. 174,312 173,159 Akitio 253,649 278,403 Pahiatua 239,402 211.93S Eketahuna 110,471 81,787 Mauricevillo 79,152 81,085 On the. above figures -increases are shown in the following counties:—Wniroo, 59,805; Waipukurau, 3580; Dniinevirke, 2003; Waitotnra, 8543; Feilding Subdivision of Eangitikei, 48,592; Oroua, 4389; Kiwitea, 4749; Manawatu, 27,839; Soutli Wairarapa, 5137; Mastcrfon, 24,373; Akitio, 24,754; Maiiriceville,l933. The following counties in the above table show decreases:—Hawkc's Bay, 59,006; Waipawa, 3145; Patangata and Weber, 33,839; Woodville, 13,717; Clifton, 16,400; Taranaki, 12,193; Egmont, 3497; Stratford, 20,506; Whangamomona, 18,576; Eltham, 2880; Hawera and Waimate West, 12,829; Patea, 17,679; Waimarino and Kaitieke, 7072; Wanganui, 1003; Hunlerville Subdivision of Eangitikei, 56,600; Kairanga, 7164; Pohangina, 4850; Horowhenua, 16,314; Hutt, 7973; Makara, 7285; Feathcrston, 45,016; Castlcpoint. 1153; Pahiatua, 27,524; Eketahuna, 28,684. ' In last year's figures Weber and Patangata were included, also Waimate West with Hawera, and Kaitieke ' with Waimarino. If you are satisfied to'work yourself and family to death for a mere .living wage, well and' good. But if you want to'.make things easier.all round, and at tho s.ime time increase your profits, the means to this end aro within your reach. Any man who knows dairy farming must allow that Machine Milking is far more profitable than* tho old method. And there is not the slightest doubt that no power is to be compared with "Anderson" Oil Engines for reliability, simplicity, and economy. ,A good Milking Plant, driven by one of these engines, will raise dairv farming from a "grind" to a profitable business. "Anderson" Engines are built in New Zealand, and aro guaranteed to give every satisfaction. They require very little attention, and can easily bo managed hy an average schoolboy; 'Mako a-bid for fortune by installing a Milking Maehino and an "Anderson" Oil Engine. Andersons, Ltd., Christchurch.—Advt. . LIVE STOCK SALES. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd.. report:— At our Wanganui sale yesterday we yarded 550 cattle and 700 sheep, and have to report a. good clearance.. . Cattle were in good demand, and, with the exception of one or two odd lots, all lines changed hands under the hammer. Hoggets, 15«. 6d. to 165.; three-year bullocks,, £6; twoyear steers. £2 15s. to £4 35.; yearlinus, £2 ss. 6d. to £3 76. 6d.; heifers, £3 13s. 6d. to £4 Is.: store cows, £3 16s. 6d.; culls, 335.; milk cows, £4 63. to £6 lCs. • Messrs. Abraham &n.l Williams, Ltd., roport on their Jdhnsonville sale, held yesterday, as. follows:—A good yarding of prime bullocks and sheep came forward, and sold: readily at ruling rates. Prime heavy bullocks, £12 2s. 6&. to £12 55.; prime bullocks, £10 17s. 6d. to £11 7e. 6d.; lighter, £10 ss. to £10 12s. 6d.; vealere, 385.; prime heavy wethers, 245. 6d. to 265. Id.; prime wethers, 225. 6d. to 235. 3d. to 235. 9d.; light wethers,. £1 to £t Os. 6d.; prime ewes, £1 os. 9d.: light ewes, 19s. 6d.; prime spring lambs, 163. 9d. to 17s. lCd. . Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd.. roport on their Huntor.ville sale, held yesterday, as follows:—We had fair yardings of both sheep and cattle, which sold well up to late rates. We quote-.—Sheep: Good ewe-hoggets, 18s. Id.; small mixed hoggets, 83. .9d. to 12s. 2d,; fat and forward ewes, .13s. 10d. Cattle: Yearling steers (bad colours), £2 4s. 6d.; yearling \heifersi £3 25.; heifers in calf, £4 12s. 6d. to £4 15e.; springing heifers, £5 lCs. to £6; fat cows, £8 Is. to £8 145.; fat heifers, £8 Ife.;. light-do;, £5 16s. : THE ADDINGTON MAEKET. (Bt Tcleßraph.—Special Correspondent.) Christchurch, September 18. At Addington yesterday there were moderate entries of stock and a fajr attendance Fat cattlu eold jycll. there beinrr a. rise in cow beef. Store sheep showed no change. The fat lambs and fat sheep .market opened at an" advance. Fat pics ■ sold' irregularis-. Thero was a keen demand for 6toro cattle at higher rates. The yarding of store sheep was a small one. various classes being yarded in about . tho usual proportions. ' Throughout the sale there was keen competition., and all lines offered changed hands at prices that showed no change from those current in the, previous< week. The attendance of. buyers was limited. Quotations:—Wethers, 19s. to 19s. 6d.; merino wethers, 12s. 7d. to 165.-; wctlitx boggew. 12b'. id. to 15?.; extra,-to 16s. 3d.: lines.of hoggets of-mixed , sexes. 16s. 4d.; black hoggets, 13s. 9d.'; ewe 1 hoggets,- 14s. 7d. to. 165.; ewes, 20s. 6d. Thirty-eight of the new season's lambs wore, penned, and they sold well, especially those-in prime condition, prices ranging from 16s. to- 265.The yarding of fat sheep was smaller than that-of last week, and was composed chiefly of crossbred and halfbred wethers, with a few pens of ewes and several lines of merino wethers. The sale opened well, ? rices for wethers Bhowing an advance of g. to Is. 6d. 'per head, and were above the limits that graziers have lately been giving for medium-weight wethers. Though the market for owes was slow at one period, it recovered again towards the close. Though graziers did not secure a very large number of lots there were several outside butchers operating. The range of prices were:—Extra prime wethers, to 30s. 6d.; prime, 21s. 6d. to 255. 2d.; others, 14s. lid. to 215.: extra prime ewes, to 255. 6d.; prime, 18s. to 245.; others, 14s. lid. to 17s. 6d.; hoggets, 17s. Bd. to 19t>. 6d.; merino wethers, 14s. 2d. to 195.-9 d. The yarding of fat cattle totalled 178 head, as against 269 for the previous week, and 169 on September 4. The average quality was satisfactory, and the demand' for ajl descriptions was keen, cow beef being dearer than at recent, sales. Beef ranged from 28s. to 375. per 1001b., according to qualityi -Steers realised £9 to £12 10s.; extra, to £15 155.; heifers, £6 7e. Cd. to £11 10s.; extra do., to £13; cows,'. £6 ss. to £10; extra, £11 7s. 6d. ■ There was a fair-sized entry of store cat-, tie, but the quality was indifferent. All classes, however, sold well. Yearlingsrealised 325.; fifteen to eighteen-month sorts, £2 Is.; two-year steers, £5 55.; twoyear heifers, £4 17s. 6d. to £4 195.; threeyear heifers, £6 17s. 6d.; cows, £1 15s. to £6. Southland cattle sold as under:— Eitrhtcen-month sorts, £3 103.; two-year heifers, £3 12s. j6d. to £3 155.; two and a. half-year heifers, £4 3s. 6d.: cows, £4 2n. A line of eight well-bred springing Shorthorn heifers, offered on account of .M. Dcthcll, of Pahau- pastures, made £8 to £8 10s. Dairy cows sold at £5 to £9 15s.

A medium number of fat pigs came forward, but the demand was irregular., At the opening there was nn animated demand, prices being rather above those of the previous week, but the sale had not. proceeded far when there was n decided casing of values. Choppers realised £3 10s. to £5 55.; heavy Iwconcrs. 655. to 725.; lighter pigs. 60s. to 575. 6d.. equal to Sid. per lb. Heavy porkers brought, 4U. to 4??.. and lighter sorts 355. to 40e.. these prices being equal to 51d- to 5?d., and in a few cases to ii, pcx lb, Store pigs met with..

pood demand, large ?nris miliiutr 40?. to 45=.; medium. 3fs. to 3?*.; smaller. 18.-. to 25d.; wcancrs, 14=. Cd. to 20=. COMMERCIAL ITEMS. INVESTMENT SEAKEB. A sale of X.Z. Loan and Mercantile shares at 9s. was the only transaction recorded yesterdny. The buying nnd Felling quotations were as under:— Buyers. Sellers £ s. d. £ a. d. National Bank 6 16 — N. 7.. Loan and Mercantile. -- 0 9 3 FeiltlinE Gas 1 n ' Well. Gas (£10) - 18 2 6 Well. Gas (pref.) - 110 Ohristelittreli Meat.' 15 7 6 Well. Woollen ford.) 3 14 0 — Well. Woollen (prcf.l 2 17 0 - Westport Coal — 18 6 Tarlnganttitu Totara ... 2 5 6 2 6 3 floldcii Bay Cement 10 0 110 N.Z. Drug - 12 0 Saarland':, preference — 13 3 LONDON WOOL SALES. The next of the series of London wool males will begin on Tuesday of next week, when about 143,000 bales will be available. The sale statistics compare with those of last year as under:— . Sept., 1912. Sept. 1911. Bales. Bales. New arrivals 170,000 130.000 Sent direct 56,000 43,000 ■ 114,000 87,000 Brought forward... 29,000 40,500 143,000 127,500 The quantity, though larger than was available at the corresponding sales of last year, is within manageable limits, and the general opinion is that values will improve. Whether this opinion is based on solid reasons or merely on sentiment, but a comparison of the quotations ruling for Bradford tops during the currency of the July-August sales, with those ruling now. will help to an appreciation of the position:— . ■ July-Aug. Sept. 13. d. d. Sixtv-fours 27} 274 • Super sixties 265 261 Common sixties 255 251 Fifty-sixes 813 213 Fifties lfl I?, Forty-sixes 15 15jr Forties v 14 141 The crosshred and halfbred. counts are higher, and the whole tone of the market is distinctly firm. Messrs.. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., forecast an advance of 5 per cent, for crossbred wool, with merino at par to 5 per cent, higher than at the last sales. This is probably a conservative estimate of the position, and it can readily bo believcd'that there are possibilities of even bettor results. In Great Britain there is considerable industrial activity, and the Home markets must be relied upon to hold up wool. There arc factors against an improvement which ought to bo taken into account, because, they may develop to a point at which they would be a menace to the wool market. There is first of all the state of the money-market to be considered. Bank/rate is up to 4 per cent., which is not out of the common, but in the United States money is expected to be comparatively dear during the rest of the year. The Presidential election is disturbing trade, and out of the American position anything may develop. . It is a contingency that must be kept in view. The Continental situation cannot be accurately estimated. The disturbance in the Balkans, the 'redistribution of the places of the fleets, and the unsettled state of affairs in Turkey arc elements of danger. The trade position in Germany in July was not very satisfactory, and the Berlin correspondent of "The Economist' (London) wrote:—"Tho hopes of an improvement in the woollen industry have up to the present been disappointed, export business remaining particularly dull. Woollen and half-woollen women s materials 'in Saxony and Thuringia havefound few buyers in the United States, while the demand from England and its colonies has not come up to expectations. Business with Russia has been bad, and cxport= to the- Scandinavian countries have shown a further relanse. The trade in carpets, furniture stuffe, rugs, etc., which at times has 'shown some improvement, is again very- quiet, and felt manufacturers arc complaining .that change m fashion has spoilt their sales. Saxon trimmings and embroidery goods, which usually find a good sale in tho United State have been unfavourably influenced by tlio political condition' acroi-s . the Atlantic. Knitted goods have suffered from the same causes, and manufacturers are now hoping for a cold winter and the consequent demand for winter sport articles, which has assumed large proportions in Germany during the last lew years-.'"- ' ' . FROZEN HEAT. .■. In writing on frozen meat, ■ under date London, August 9, Jlcrera.. W. Weddel and Co. state that the trouble at tho docks is at last settled, but although the bon»are now discharging . much more frcejy, it will naturally.be some little time yet before the work resumes normal conditions. There has been a. very'fair inquiry for frozen lambs durinn the week, and although larger supplies- are. now available, the market has become steadier, and at tho close values are,-.if. anything,., a shade firmer than those quoted during the.week. This applies moro to the 36421b. v grade, which appears to'be once more coming into favour. -The light-weight lambs, however, still command the bulk of buyers' attention, and easily realise a, substantial premium over the other grade. The 42-501b. grade lamb is still being entirely neglected, although sellors are' offering same at 2d. per lb. under prices ruling for light-weights. The few Australian and River Plate lambs available arc being offered at 4Jd. to 5 3-Bd. per lb., according to voicht. There have been parcels of over 421b. River Plate lambs offered on the Smithfield market at W. ner lb. The active demand for mutton has been well maintained, and it has been no matter of difficulty to make sales. Australian mutton is selling at , practically New Ze-iland; figures; small sheep being worth 4d. to 4 l-16d. per lb.. and heavy and medium wejghts at 3Jd. to 33d. per lb. River Plate mutton is firm at 3»d. to 33d. per lb. The inquiry for frozen beef is still very dull, but just at the (dose, with shorter marketings of chilled, there have been one or two inquiries of mostly a retail character. Crops are worth about 3d. to 3 l-16d. per lb., and hinds 3Jd. to 3Jd: per lb. New Zealand fores are quoted at 3Jd. per lb., and hinds 3Sd. per lh. River Plato beef is worth about 3d. to 3Jd. per lb. for fores',' and 33d. to 33d. for hinds. Chilled beef closes at 31d. per lb. for fores, and 3jd. per lb. for hinds. Customs duties collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £2811 7c-. Bd. ' ■ BANK SnARES. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright London, ScDtember 17. Yesterday's closing- Quotations were:— Bank of Australasia, £118 (buyers), and £120 (sellers), ex div.; Bank of Victoria, £4 15s. and £5 ss. THE METAL MARKETS. , (Rec. September 18, 11.30 p.m.) London, September 18. . Copper.—On spot, £78 6s. 3d.; three months. £73 3s. 9d. per ton. • Tin.—On spot, £223 10s.; three -months. £219 IDS. per ton. Pig iron. £3 7s. per ton. Lead, £23 per ton. SILVER.' London, September 17. Bar silver is quoted et 29 3-16 d. per ounce standard. . MINING NEWS, . WELLINGTON SHARE MARKET. The raining share market'was very quiet yesterday. Only two sales were recorded, a sale of Talismans at 395. 9d. was reported at the morning call.-and a sale of Waihi at 365. 3d. at the afternoon, call. The buying and selling prices were as under:— ' ■ „ „ Buyers. Sellers. ' £ s. d. £ s. d. Con. Goldfields - 014 6 Kuranui Caledonian 0 13 0 16 N.Z.. Crown - JJ 2 5 New Sylvia 0 14 0 16 Occidental ■■ „ — ~ J J 5 Ross Reconstructed 0 4 11 0 5 2 Saxon .; J° ' J °10 Talisman J, »J, 119 6 Victoria •' J. J n 00 9 Waihi ' 15 9 ,1 16 3 Waihi Grand Junction .... 12 6 13 3 Waiotahi • 0 19 — Wnitangi » "• 0 0 11$. STOCK EXCHANGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.; Auckland, September 18. Business done at this morning's call:— New Sylvia, Is. :sd. Occidental, le. 4d. Wn-itangi, lid. ' Talisman, £1 19s. 6d. «' Grand Junction. £1 3s. Taupiri Coal, £1 2s. Auckland Gas (old). £3 35., and (new), £3 4s. - New Zealand Paper, £1 Is.Tho following business was done at the 3.15 p.m. call:— New Sylvin. Is. sd. Talisman Consolidated. £1 19s. 3d., £119s, Christchurch, September 18. Sale reported:—Westport Coal. £1 Bs. 6d. Dunedln, September 18. The following sale avo* reported on the Stock Exchange to-day:-Saxon, 10(1.