GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1886, 21 October 1913, Page 10

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

There will be' rather moro than the usual number of attractions at the Wairarapa Show at Carterton at'the end of tho present month, and the various tastes will bo well catered for. Purebred stock of all kinds and of the ..linest quality takes prido of place, and tho largo number of extra stock not shown in the Wairarapa before will make the attractiveness moro pronounced. Besides the aeroplane, side-shows, including tho merry-go-round, have booked spaco enough to give the youthful visitors a record afternoon of enjoyment. It is expected that the plant for separating the butter-fat from the whey will be in readiness for use at the llexdale (Mangamaire) Cheese Factory by tho beginning of next month. A dairy farm of 100 odd acres near Konini is reported to havo changed hands during tho past few days at £46 per' acre. The new cheese factory at Hopelands will be roady for the making of cheese on November 1. The,'daily supply is now 1300 gallons. N Thero is every indication that tho output of cheese from the Mangatainoka cheese factory this Boason will show an increaso on that made during last season, /l'lie milk supply on Friday totalled 1908 gallons, as compared with 1664 gallons on tho coresponding day "of last year, an increase of 244 gallons. Tho number of export cheese manufactured totalled 22, whilo tho number made last year on the corres'ponding day of-tho month was 18. About three years ago tho Ashburton County Council imported about twenty German groy owls, which have the reputation .of being the .'natural enemies of small birds. This step was taken with a view to coping with tho small-bird' liuisauce, as agriculturists were becoming alarmed at the yearly increasing toll levied on the cereal crops b.v these feathered pests. Several of tho owls died during the voyage to tho Dominion, but'the remainder (about sixteen) were liberated in a plantation adjoining the Ashburton racecourse. Tho owls remained in this plantation for some time, but they oventually disappeared, and have since been seen by farmers in various parts of the country, extending from tho hills to ' the sea. There is a divergence of opinion as to whether the owls havo accomplished the purpose for which they were imported, tut as they prey upon their enemies during the night 'it is difficult for anyone to form an accurate opinion. It is stated that feathers aro frequently seen under the trees.in plantations in which' tho owls have taken up their residence, and that small birds shun the abodo of the owls.

Onc« upon a time there was really no assistance for the checse-maker; he had to take "pot luck" with whatever crude apparatus came his way.. And even a few years back cheese-making was ail uncertain process. Then came the "Victor" Vat and with the advent of this most efficient aid'cheese-making was lifted out of the "rut," and. is to-day one of the chief industries of this country. Every cheese factory manager should instal "Victor" Vats or at least send to Mr. A. J. Parton, Plumber, Carterton, for particulars.—Advt. Develop' the milking ..propensity and high butter-fat test by using tho "Gilruth" Calf Food. The constitutionbuilder. . It is not only tho best, but also the cheapest—Advt. Readers are reminded of the important unreserved clearing sale, which is to .bo hold at Paraparaumu, on account of Mr. ,T. S. Adams, on Wednesday, at noon. Tho sheep to bo offered compriso ewes 'with lambs, dry ewes, specially good lines of ewe and wether hoggets, cows and heifers in profit and coming to profit, and spring-cart horses, milk-cans, and numerous sundries. As Mr. Adams has disposed of his property, everything offered will bo absolutely unreserved. Tho sheep are all in tho wool, and, having been bred on sandy country, aro very hardy. The dairy stock have all been carefully selected, and buyers in want of first-class cows and heifers should not fail to attend this important fixture. Brakes will meet all trains at Paraparaumu railway station, and the homestead is only three miles from the rail.

empty cows, £i\ bulla, £2 12s. 6d. to £6; agcil bay mure, £7 15a.; aged gelding. £5 lis.; tip dray. £9 10s.; S.F. plough. £5 155.; mid 3 sows, with litters of from 7 to 9 young pigs, sold at £10 lfe., £10 and £7 15?. On Tuesday, at Stratford, I had only «. fair entry, with very iittlo 'nquiry, prices bcin.j as follow;— Yearling heifers, £2 '/s. to £2 lus.; yearling steers Ismail), £2 ss. Cd. to £2 6s. Ml.; 2-year empty heil'eiy (rough lines), £3 £•■?. to -lo 9s. 6U.;' bulls, £1 12*. fid. to £4 12s. Cd.; store cows, £3 10s. to £'', Bs.; and irom £1 12s. fid. to £2 Im. for small or aged cows; forward cowji, £4 12s, to £5 95.; fat cows, £7 5a.; yearling heifers, coloured, but. small, £3 3s. In tho dairy pens 1 had a good entry. Springing hoileiiy realised £11 16?., £8 155., £8 it's., £8 55., £7 165., £7 10s., £7 ra„- £7 &. 6d., £/, £6 155., £6 10s., £6 55., £6. £5 12s. 6d.. .» 10s., £4 17s. 6d„ £4 12s. 6d„ £4 as.; dairy cowa, £9, £3 17s> Cd., £7 lfe., £6 ICe.. £4 6s At Stony Kiver yards, on Octob.v 15. tliciu was a fair entry, mostly good taleablj cattle, which sold as follows;— Yearling heifers irom £2 to £3 os., for grades; 2 small lines of choice Jersey yearling heifers wcro. yarded, these selling under keen coinnotition at from £5 is. to £5 9s. 6d.; yearling steers, £2 10s. to £2 175.; small, £1 Os. 6d. to £1 135.; mixed yearlings, £2 55.; yearling bulls, £1 12s. Cd. to £3 7s. fid.; store cows, small or aged, £2 Is. to £2 135.; good, £3 12s. to £4 135.; forward cows, £4 19s. to £5 125.; llolstein bull, well bred, £15 10a.; grado bulls, £4 10s. to £9 Its.; springing Heifers (in demand), £6 2s. 6d. to £7 155.; small, £4 7e. 6d. to £4 155.; dairy cows, £6 23. 6d.; weaner pigE. 16a. Cd.; storo pigi?, £1 7s. to £1 14s. Cd. On Thursday, at Stony Eivcr, for my Epring horse fair, horses were yarded in full numbers. Good hoavy horses sold readily, and any useful spring carters elicited keen bidding, tho majority of these staying on the coast. Light horses were very hard to auit. HORSE FAIR. Messrs. . Abraham and William®, Ltd., I'ahiatua, report:—We held our first, liorso fair for this season oil Saturday, when we offered a licavy yarding, considerably in excess of advertised numbers. In spite of the inclement weather stopping tho talc, we have to report a good clearance; the pricea at present ruling sere not quito as good as in the past. We auoto as follows:—Heavy draughts, 3 and 4-year-olds, £26 10s., £27 10s. to £51 10s.; aged draughts, £12 to £16 10s.; . good springcarters, £18 to £29; medium, £11 to £17; liacliG, £7 to £11 17s. 6d.; othcß, £3 ss. to £6 10.i.; harness horses. £6 to £12 55.; good ponies, £7 to £10 The Second sale will be held next month at a d-ato t-o bo arranged later.