ONION CULTURE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1789, 30 June 1913, Page 10

ONION CULTURE.

A NEW VARIETY BEING TESTED.

In. favoured localities onion-growing lias proved an effective mortgagedifter, anil this /act lends interest to the following sories,of questions put to the Department of Agriculture's experts by a Taihape , grower:—l. The best and most profitable i seed to sow, and averago yield per acre i from same. ' 2. Is this district a good one for growing onions (soil, rich brown)? If to, the time to p/lint, quantity of seed £er acre, and best fertiliser to use. 3. loes frost and enow, affect growth? If eo, method of protecting plants from same. , _ Tho Director of the Fields and Experimental -Farms Division has replied as unThe best onion-seed is' Australian. This seed can be obtained from New Zealand seedsmen, Tho yield of onions per acra might be anything between 2£ tons aua 15 tons; 10 tons is a very good average on moderately good soil. I have no personal knowledge of the soil and climate of Taihape, but I understand it is very cold, with a late spring. If this bo the caso it cannot be considered an ideal place lor growing onions. I know of no practicable way to protect tho' crops from snow and frost. It would bo useless to sow until snow and hard frost is past, as a few degrees of frost would nip the tops and check growth. In the Manawatu district many people do not sow nntu middlo of September, and succeed in ripening crops. Late sowing is not desirable, as there is additional risk from mildew. Sow Australian Brown Globe or Brown Spanish. These varieties mature well, as ft rule. Sow as early as you think safe, having in mind the above remarks re frost and snow. lhin quickly, and cultivate well to encourage rapid growth. Soot and wood-ashes are excellent fertilisers; so are superphosphate and bonemeal—two of superphosphate to one of. bonemeal—3 cwt. per acre.. -lo hurry growth, give, 1 cwt. nitrate of soda immediately after thinning. Apply the other fertilisers two or three weeks before ■sowing.' The ! soil should be preparod tome week* before sowing. If tho-land is in grass it should bo ploughed m autumn, and well-worked to breajf down the sods. It is necessary to secure a firm and even seed-bed by means oi a level-ling-drag *nd roller, or the drag only will answer both purposes if heavy enough. A rough slab of timber that one horse can pull makes a good drag. This implement will level small hollows and crush lumps. It is usual to sow the fertilisers at tho same time as the seed, but I think that in the caso of onions it should be broadcasted separately, m advance of the sowing. Three pounds of seed is sufficient for an acre. This Department is this season- testing a new I variety of onion,, which is said to mature auickly. If this characteristic is proven, it will be a boon to growers m such places as Taihape, where the season is short. THE BYERS' PIANO. T-- " (By Arrangement.) " An excellent exhibit'of these famous .pianos was made at the Hawera Sno", Slider the' personal supervision of Mr Jolm Gilmour, of Manaia, who has the stole Tara'naki agency. These pianos are especially well constructed, and are noted for* their very fine tone. A feature that added much to the exhibit was the play, ine of Miss Kuby Curran, of Wanganui, who though only & child,- showed remarkably good knowledge of technique. The very fine quality of these instruments was effectively brought out by. her playing, and as indicated befoTe, the pianos are oi elegant design-and of handsome appearance as pieces of substantial furniture. The pianos can be supplied; from Ml 103. upwards, and Mr. Gilmour will be pleased to give intending purchasers all information. Mr. Gilmour's address is Manaia, Taranaki. ,Calf Food: Up-to-Date.—Tho "GiLruth" Calf Food is now prepared in two qualities No. 1 (blue brand) for feeding with skim milk, and No. 2 (red brand) for feeding .with either casein or cheese whey. Obtainable all Stores.—Advt. Mr. W. D. Lysnar, of Gisbbrne, addressed a meeting of farmers yesterday afternoon in support. of tho movement for securing better facilities for the handling of New Zealand produce in England, says a Press Association message. .A motion was carried approvineg of tho proposal to form a Bristol-Dominions Producers' Association. h Wc do not say "Everybody's Doing It," but we do say that every Cheese Factory Manager ought to do it. That is to instaf "Victor" Vats in the place of the old fashioned flat bottomed Vat. If you haven't done it—do it now. It means a material help to you and the quality of tho cheese you'will make will be greatly improved. In fact, a "Victor Vat means" better. Cheese and Bigger ProfitsSend for particulars to-day. Albert J. Parton, Plumber, Carterton—Advt. LIVE STOCK SALES Musrs. Dalgety and Company' report:At our Wavcrley sale, on Friday we had a full yarding of sheep and a small yarding of cattle. Bidding was .brisk, only one pea being passed*at auction, and a total clearance was effected.' , Breeding ewes showed a good rise on previous quotations. Two-tooth wethers, 15s. lOd.; six-tooth wethers, 17s. 3d.; forward wethers, 17s. 9a.; ewe lambs, Bs.; wether lambs, 12s. 6d. ; mixed-aged ewea, in larmbs, 13s. 9d. to 17fl. Id.; f.m. ewes, Bs. 9d.; maiden Tarns, 18s.; others, 17s. 6d.; store cow®, £3 11a. 6d. to £4; yearling stoere, 31s. Messrs.. Dalgety an-d Oo„ baring held their usual etoqk saJe'-;at Danne virko on Friday, when they offered a fair yarding of sheep to a large attendance of tho public. They quote ac follows Lambs, 45., 65., 75.. Un to 10s.; two-tooth ewes In lamb, 155., 15s. 5d., to 15s. 7d.; wethere, 17s. 6d.; fat lam be, t 165.; fat ewes, 16*5. Bd.; sound-mouth ewes in lamb, Bs. (sd. to 13s. Id. • f Messrs'.' Dalgety and Co.. Ltd.. Palmerstori North, report having a good yarding • of stock at their Feilding ?ale on Friday, last. Quotations Sheep: Poor empty cwc«, 7s. Bd.; good woolly ewe lambs, 15s. 6d.; ewe lambs, 11«. 6d.; wether lambs, lis. to Us. 2d.; medium mixed lamb. lis. lQd., lis. 4d.: fair mixed lambs, 7s. 1 3d,, 7a. 4d., to Bs. 9d.; good line of two and four-tooth wethers, 195.; gocd line of four and flro year cwfts in lamb to S.D. rame, 18s. 7d.; fa,t ewes, 14s.'6d. to 155.; fat wethers, 20s. 9d. Messrs. Williams And Kettle, I/td., report having held their usual fortnightly salo - in the Dannovirko yards on Friday last, when they offered a email yarding of cattle and a good yarding of sheep to a representative attcudanco . of those interested. They report a total clearance at price® in adva-nce: of late sales, and ouote the following pricos:—liwos in lamb ?B 9d. 10s., 135.; m.s. lambs (shorn), 7s. $d.; 91 tai owes, 14s„ 14s. 9d.. 155.; old cows m calf, £2 10s. to £3. ' Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency / Company, Limited, TepottAt Feilding. on Friday, wo had a heavy yarding of sheep. There was a good demand for bettor-class hogicts, but tor inferior sortis competition was 'not so keen. Quotations Small lambs, 65.; medium lambs 7s. 9d. to 9s. 10d.; good mixed hoggets, lis. 4d. to 12s. 6d.; eifo lambs, 12«. and up to 15s. for a nice line of shorn Komncy hoggets on account of Messrs. Smith Bros.; A-gcd ewes in lamb, Bs. to lis. 9d.; f.m. ewes in lamb, 130. 3d. to lfe. 7d.; small two-tooth ewes in lamb, 145... on account of Messrs. Smith Bros., two-tooth ewes. IBs. 2d.; three and four-year ewce, 19a.; fat eirra, 153. lOd. to 17s. 2d. Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report on their Martinlioroupli etoek tale, held on Thursday Inst-.-Wc had a largo yarding of sheep and a medium one of cattle, and hare to report a total clearance under the hammer at undermentioned priceo;—Lambs (btwt), Bs. 3d.; others, ss. 2d.; s.m. ewos ill lamb, 10s. to 10s. Bd.; cull two, four, «n<l six-tooth owos in lamb, Us. fid.; two-todth to four-yetir ewes in lamb, 15s. 3d. to 15s. 5d.; swinging heifers £5.100. £5 155., £!i 176. 6d„ to £«; weaner heifers, 38s. to 425.; bulls, £2 sa. to £2 10s.; dry cows, £3 IBs. to JS4 2s. Messrs. A. H. Atkinson and 00., Ltd., Feilding, repoTt-a brisk market on Friday for pigs and poultry, with unlimited market for young turkeys and cockerels. We sold draught horses at £21, £23 10s. t '£29 10s.; aged light 'horses, £6 ss. to £7 10s.; harness, £3 to £5; Cambridge roller, £7 10s.; ploughs, £3 to £5 55.; harrows. £4 10s. to £3; mower, £6 155.; dray, £6 155.;. gig, £5 17s. 6d.; weaner pigs, Bs. to lis.; store?, !2e. to 22.=.. 6d.; bnconcrs. £2 14s. Poultry, per pair, hen?. 3s. 3d., 3s. 6t1., 3*. 9d., 4e". 4s. 6d.. 4s.' 9d.; I'ockerels, 4s. 3d.. 4s. 6d., 4s. 9d.; ducks, V. 3d., 4s. 6d., 4s. 9d:; turkeys, 15s. 6d. Pig potatoes. 3s. 6d. bag; table- 7a. to 10s. M.; onioiis, IPs. to If?.

cwt.; carrots, 2=. f/(l. to bag; P ea °< f-' fid. to ss. 6d.; pumpkiufl. 8?. to 9s. K-axjk; pressed hay, £4 15s. to £5 ton; oalenshcaf chaff, £4 155.; oats, 3s. 3d. to 3e. 6d.

Mr. Xowton King, Now Plymouth; supplies the following weekly report:—At DoupUw, oil Jtonda-r last. I had a good entry a-nd demand for all' classes eicopt two and a Imlf-ycar and older steers; verniers and yearlings gold well. Store cows mado from £2 16s. to £4 25.; forward and fat vows, £4 7s. 6d. to £6 10s.; springins heifers, £5 to £6 175.; dairy eows (forward), £7 2s. 6d. to £9 10s.; la to cfll vcre, £5 to £6 55.; empty 20-month heifers, £2 7s. 6d.; Jcrpcy-Holstcin weaner to ye<irlinp heifers, £2 14s. to £3 55.: grade weaner to yearling heifers, £2 Qs. 6a. to £2 35.; mixed ■ weancTO to yearlings, £1 165.; 20-month to two-year steers, £3 15s. 6d.; bad-eoloiircu, £3; f.m. ewes in lamb (poor), 50. to Bs. On Tuesday, at my Stratford yards, I had a nira.ll entry, the majority being elcared at satisfactory prices. Weaner heifera mßdo £1 lfe. 6d.; good-coloured lieifers, £3; weaner steers, good, £2; empty 20-raonth. heifers, £3 7s. to £3 7s. 6ti.; in-calf coloured heifers. £5 to £5 95.; choice Jersey hciferfi, £7; two and a half-year steers, £4 18s. 6d.; store cows, £3 ss. to £3 125.; small fat cowe, £5 Is. to £5 Bs.; .forward bullocks, £6; good-conditioned two ona & half-year steers, £5 9s. Oil Wednesday, at Stony River, there wes a fair entry, in- > eluding eereral pens of g-ood in-calf, ncuers, for which thcro was only a fair inquiry. Other classes of oattlo sold at priccs slightly in advanco of late sales. Best weaner to yearling hcifeTs ma dp from £1 Ife. to £2 45.; weaner steers, £1 16s. 6rf.; mixed wean&ra, £1 155.; in-calf heifers. £o 17s. 6d. to £6 12s. 6d.; 20-month and twoyear steers, well-grown line', but several coloured. £3 13s. 6d.; dairy cows, £6 ss. to £6il2s. 6d.; store cows. £2 6s. 6d. to £3 155.; ewcci in lamb, four, six, and f.m., 14s. On account of Mr. A. Gray, who has Bold his farm, a riico line of two-year w-calf heifers, all by a Moma-haki pedigroo Shorthorn bull, and well grown, realised £5 165.; two-year Shorthorn bull, £4; cbostuut mo,re, £26; bay gelding, £25 103.; pair bullocks and dry, £30 10s.; hack, £4 y s »» spring cart, £13 15s. At Kapuiu, on Monday, for Mr. A. F. Davidsons sales, tiiero wasi a good attendance of the public. I had good competition for the dairy herd, choice cows selling at from £11 10s. to £15; good eows, £8 10s. to £11; aged or late Sabers, £5 Ss, to £7 55., making an average for the 55 cows of £9 10s. On Thursday, I held a very successful sale on acconnt of Mrs, John Reeve, Egmont Village, # probably t<he best sale held in this district. A few vtTfy choice two-year heifers were offered, these selling ' very readily, iforses, implements, and furniture sold at eatisfactory prices. Choice dairy cows brought from £12 ss. to £15; best cows, close to profit, £9 to £11 10s.; backward cowe, £7 10s. to £8 55.; averaging £10 ss. for the herd.