FRUIT FARMING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2388, 18 February 1915, Page 8

FRUIT FARMING

ABOUT AN-AUCKLAND EXPERIMENT. In a reoenUy-publishcd article, the Horticultural Division of the Department of Agriculture was rather freely criticised. The article said that .the Division' had, "conducted experimental orchards in various parts of the Dominion, where labour and money has been freely' spent for many years, without any consideration , for monetary', returns, and yet not one of these experimental orchards can show where at any time it has discovered anything which practical orchardists had not already discovered before them, or done anything which had., not already been done by the individual working at his own expense.'-'. ' 1 It was pointed out; to a Dominion representative - yesterday that the . experimental orchards are not under'the control of the Orchard Division, but are under the same control as the experimental farms. The article referred to says, also, that long after it had been proved that the northern gum lands could be made to grow fruit most successfully, tho Horticultural Division undertook to show how the gum lands orchards should be worked; but. it absolutely neglected the three first essentials, including deep cultivation, and artificial fertilisers.

" It is considered that the writjr of the article refers to the case of a nan-derson-orchard in which the Department undertook to demonstrate the best •means of "controlling codlia moth and restoring the' orchard by spraying and ap-to-date methods of culture. This case arose thirteen or fourteen years ago. A committee of Auckland fruit-growers was appointed to watch the experiments and advise. The committee reported that the orchard consisted of about 12 acres, that the land had been cleared of scrub, and had had one ploughing, and that the trees had been planted for about seven years; but that then the owner left the district, and the orchard waa neglected. The Department was given the right to hold the orchard for four years,' or to give it up before then if such a course, was desired. The committee's report was made in 1900, and in 1903 the committee advised that the orchard should be given up, as in their opinion nothing would be gained by continuing the experiments in this locality, as, owing to the nature of the soil, combined with the exposure of the land to strong bleak winds, the idea of seeing what could be done with regard to fruitgrowing'in the district could not be .carried out successfully. The owner suggested that the Department should carry on the orchard for another year, and demonstrate the effect of green majouring and deep cultivation . However, in'the face of the committee's recommendation; the Department did rot feel disposed to accept this ofiter, and, therefore, surrendered the orchard.

The Ballance Dairy Company's reoord ■monthly payment of £9860, paid out to milk suppliers this week, included Is. per -lb.- for January's butter-fat, arid an extra penny on the supplies for the two preceding months.

Jlr. A. Eddie, Pabiatua, who is interesting himself in the proposal to start a-co-operajtive bacon company, to b9 primarily supported by the various dairy companies in the Pahiatua district, lias returned from a visit to the Taranaki. district, whero he has gleaned much valuable information regarding cooperative bacon companies' (states onr Pahiatua correspondent).

The weight-guessing competition held in connection' with the Pabiatua A. and P. Association, resulted as follows:— Fat bullock (exact weight 787J1b.). H-v R. Wilton, 7871b., 1; Miss E. Bradey, 789}1b., 2; W. Hull, 785, l lb., 3. Fat sheep (exact weight 126j1b.), H. : J. M'Peark, 126}1b. and J D. Galvin, 127 lb. (tie). 1: J. H. Escott, M.P., 127i1b.. 2; N. Small, 1261b., A. D. Bglinton, 1261b., G. R, Sykes, M.P., 12741b., L. W. Longmore, 12741b., P. Cade, 127}1b., and Mrs. A." Geange, 12741b. (tie), 3. >

Service, resource, results/' For several years now' wo have been, building up our business and have been successful in gaining the confidence of' several hundred fanners, and other produce men. We can only again offer clients that are coming to us daily our best services, our resources, and we will give results.. We can handle all your cream, butter, and eg|s. Wanganui Fresh Food and Ice Co.

Half-an-hour's inspection of the Richmond Oil Engine will convince you of its great, simplicity—perfect finish, and handihess. One year's use of the Richmond will demonstrate its wonderful efficiency, and, what is of great importance just now, its fuel eoonomy. You should get details. Write to Mr. A. J.. Parton, Plumber,-Carterton.—Advt. LIVE STOCK SALES. .Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd..: report on -their Johnsonville sale aa followB: We::had. a. good entry of bullocks .and eheep, and there was a fair demand. Butchers were anticipating lower prices for 6heep, but there was very little change in the market. Prime bullocks. £14 to £14 55.; lighter, £12 17s. 6d. to £13; vealers, 265. 6d. to 315.; fat cows, £9 Bs.; prime wethers, 225. Bd., light wethera, £1 to £1 os. dd.; good e-.ve", 19s. to £1; light ewes, 176. to. 18s. I prime lambs, 175.; good lambs, 14s. lid. to 155.: shorn lambs, 13s. sd.

Slessrs. Abraham and Williamp. Limited, report on their Pahiatua stock sale held on Tuesday as follows:—We had a lai-ge yarding of sheep and c medium one of cattJe. We have to report a good sale, every line of sheep being disposed of before close of the sale. Quotations Sheep: Black-face lambs, Bs. to Bs. 3d.; 4-tooth and 4-year ewes. 16s. 9d.: f.m. ewes, 9a„ 10s., 11a. Id., to 12s. lOd.; 4 and 5-year ewes, 14s. 2d. to 15s. 2d.: young ewes, 14s. 4d.; miied % tooths, i6s.; Fat sheep, 205.; S.D. rams, 4 to 4Jgns.; 2-tooth wethers, 16e. Cattle: Empty cow 6, £3 7s. to £5 12e. 6d.; 15-month steers. £2 7s. 6d.; weaner steers, 355. 6d. and 18s.; wconer heifers, 275. 6d. and 245.

ADDINOTON MAHKET. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) '. Christchurch, February 17. At the Addington live stock market there were smaller yardings of. fat stock, but a fairly large entry of store sheep. Owing to the block at the freezing works, no export buyers were operating, and there was a general decline in prices, store sheep lieing alfcotcd, in sympathy with fate. Beefdeclined sf. to 6s. per 1001b.; store lambs, 2s 6d to 45.; store cwee, 2s. 6d. to 3b. 6d.; fat lambs, 3s. to 5e.; and. fat sheep, 2s. to 5s ner hca/1. / Storo Sheep.—Forward In.mbs. 13s. 5d.; ffliriv good tombs, 106. to lis. 3d.: medium lambs, 74. 7d. to 7s. 9d.; inferior lambs. 4s 3d. to 70. 3d.; prime lambs, lis. Id.; good dniiTid-mouth. ewes, Us. lo 15c. 3d.; fair eound-month ewee, 12fi. I« 13s. 3d.; 2-tooth IS, M, ; to 188- '6d.; medium 2-tooth.

10s. io 12b. 3d.; forward 4 and 6-tofch wetbcrs, 15s. .to 17e. sd. Fat, Sheep.—Prime mothers, 20b. to 245. 6d.; medium wothers, 16s. 6d. to 19s. 6d.; others, 13e. 6d. to 16b.; merino wethere, Be. lOd, to 22a. 6d.; prime ewoa, i&s. to Sis. 10d.; medium, ewes, 15s. to 17. 6d.; others, Bs. to 14s. 6d.; merino owes. sr. Fat Cattle.—Ordinary stoore. £7 10s. to £10; extra primo steers, to £13 5e.; ordinary heifers, £5 17s. 6d. to £8; extra prim© heifere, 1o £12 2a. 6d.; ordinary cows, £5 Sc. to £9: extra prime cows, to £10 2s. 6d. Prico of .beef, 28e. to 375. per 1001b. Store Cattle.—Yearlings, 245.; 15 to 18i months, £3 2s. 6d.; 2-year stoere, to £4 14b.; ; 2-year heifcra, to £3 5e.; 3-year steers, to I £6 7s. 6d.; 3-year heifere, to £5 155.; dry ! cowfl, 30s. to £s;'dairy cows,. .£3 to £11 se. Plgß.—Ohoppers, 50s. to £3 12s. 6d.; light : baconcre, 57b. 6d. to '55b.; heavy 57e. to £3 125., equal to sid. to s*d. per lb.; porkers, 25e. to 405., equal to sid. to 5Jd. per lb. Store Plgß.—Large stores, 245. to 30*.; medium, 14s. to 205.: elipe, 83. to lis.; weaners, 3e. to sb. . COMMERCIAL ITEMS INVESTMENT BHAEES. A. EflJo of Union. Steam ordinary shares at 245. was reported in the investment market yesterday. The quotations were as follow.— Buyer??, Sellers. £ s. d. £ 6 d. National Bank - 5 8 3 — Bank N.Z . (£3 is. Bd, paid' up) 10 5 0 — Bank N.Z. (£6 . 13s. 4d. . paid up) ; 16 11 0 — Union Hank — 55 17 6 Wn. Int..T. and A Oil 0 0 11 J Chch: Gas (£5) 7 7 0 — Meat' Export (£4) 4 12 6 5 1 0 Meat Export (£2 12s. 6d;) 2 15 0 217 6 Union Steam (ord.) 1 3 3 14 0 Union; Steam (pref.) 1 0 10 110 Mosgicl Woollen ...; 3 11 0 — Westport Coal 111 6 1 12 0 i Wn. Woollen • (ord.) 4 8 S — , Westport'-Stocktott '0 5 0 — teylajid-O'Brien 119. - Customs duty. collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £2056 12s.' Sd. LONDON WOOL SALES. i Dolgety and Company, Limited, hare received'the following cablegram from their l London office, under date February 15:— "Owing to the congestion of the Port of London, for the second series of wool sales, offerings have been limited to arrivals up to Febrnary 2. The net quantity available is 102,600 bales. The third series have been Axed to open on March 16. The li6t for this series closes on March 2, or on the day when 50,000 net new arrivals have been reached in addition to the balance of arrivals to February 8."

SYDNET WOOL SALES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyrieht (Hoc. I'cbruary 17, 9.40 p.m.) Sydney, February 17. i At the irool sales there was the keenest competition, and the. best prices for all good classes of wool. Greasy crossbred fetched 15Jd„ the season's record price. WHEAT. London, February 18, ■ The wheat market is firmer. METAL MARKETS. London, February 15, ■ Copper—On the spot. £6315e. to £64; three months, £64 to £64' 5e. 1 ■ ■ Tin—For forward delivery, £156 to £154 10s. Lead—£l9 to £19 2s. 6d. Spelter—£39 ss. to £39 15a. MINING NEWS ' > WELLINGTON SHARE MARKET. - In the mining market sales were recorded of Waihi at 40s. Gd„ and Waihi Grand Junction at 245. 6d. The quotations were ie under i— -, Buyers. Selleri \ - £ s. d. £ i. d Montezuma 1 0 S — Murray Creek (old) 111 0 114 0 New Sylvia 0 0 8 — Boas Reconstructed 0 0 10 0 1 0 Talisman 18 6 19 0 Waihi 2 0 3 2 0 9 Grand Junction 14 3 14 9 Waiumgi 0 10 0 13 STOCK EXCHANGE. (By SWegrapli—Pre«s Association) Auckland. Febrnary 17. Sales;—Waihi, 4m. 6d.; Auckland Trams Co., 21s. 6d. Chrlstchurch, February 17. Sales reported:—Bank of New Zealand (fully paid), £16 55.; Talisman, 28s. 9d.

LONDON MINING QUOTATIONS. By TelCEiapli—Press Association—Co ijyrilhi

London, February 16. British Broken Hill, 255. buyers, 265. sellers; North, 40b. and 425. 6d.; HempdenOloncnrry, 23a. 9d. and. 25b.: Mount Elliott, 70s. and 725. 6d.; Mount, Lyell, 225. and 235.; Associated, 46. 3d., and ss. 3d. Australian Loan and Mercantile. £85 6a.; Dalgctjs, (£5), £6 3s. 3d. and £37 10s.; Melbourne Gas, £99 15s. ■ WAIHI KEEPS-GIGANTIC. The following telogram was received in Wellington yesterday from the mine manager of the Wathi Beefs-Gigantic Consolidation, Ltd. "Drives advanced 44 feet at 1000 ft. level for week; total of north crosscut, 219 feet; south-east, 137 ft.; North face looks extra good. Water issuing from drill holes in face. Let another 100 ft. of driving, same price." -