FARMING & COMMERCIAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3144, 24 July 1917, Page 8

FARMING & COMMERCIAL

-Nfew'SOUTH'WALES SHEEP !£r<:7 STATISTICS • ■ %UTUMN AND .WINTER LAMBING. ~-iTlie. Government Statistician (Mr. 3. 'B. Trirett) has, saye the "Sydney Morn•ing Herald, , ' .-issued official estimates of-tho-autumn and winter lambing, based on information supplied by the chief inspector of-stock from reports by the .various stock inspectors. The total estimated number of ewes in the State on 31, 1916, was 17,793,000, of which it is estimated 12,414,000 were mated, '.lambs dropped 9,248,000, or 74 per cent., and tho probable markings 7,779,000,. or ;*B per cent. It is estimated that 3,415,000 ewes have beeii reserved for spring or 6ummer lambing.... Mr. Trivett reports:—"The present season is more favourable than the last. The high percentage, of ewes put to, the ram is due to thesdesiro of owners to re:/plenieh their flocks: as ; quickly as pbs■siblo after their losses from drought and other causes." A. comparison for tho past five years shows that, while in some' pre--vious years there have been more ewes in the. State, the number mated last iyear exceeded-the figures for the previous five years. The lambs dropped were more, ■9,248,000, as against tho next highest lambing, 8,857,000 in 1914. The activity of sheepmen is due to the high prices ruling for both wool and mutton, and the fact that live stock are looked upon ' 'as a better proposition just now than .cultivation. We have, not arrived ,at the etage of development when the two w.ill bet.morfr thoroughly---combined. As it .is, the position is gratifying, as in every w;ay it is imperative that we should stock np'agaiu.ns quickly us possible, although most desirable that curly precaution should bo taken against tho devastating ravages of drought, which can bo expected to come again sooner or later. The total number of sheep in. this Stato show an 'unfortunate shrinkage when we sur■vcy the last.iten years.' From a total of -1J6.202.578 sheep in 1909, we.sank to 32,600,729 at -Tune 30, 1916. For a\country . where' wool and meat production count, for so much, this is an ominous development, and, hence' the , necessity for every effort to replenish our flocks.

: "...:. ■■ NEWS AND NOTES.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S \ . MARKER REPORT -. The Department of Agriculture, Industries, mid-Commerce has received the following cablegram, dated London, July 21, from the' High Commissioner for JNew /icaland. (Note: Quotations, unless .otherwise specified, are average market prices on spot):—' Meat—Home-killed'mutton and English lambs are in fair supply, and nro in poor demand ut lower prices, Uhl and-lfxl., per lb. All descriptions "of frozen meat in active demand owing to short supplies. New Zealand mutton, per lb., Slgd.; ewe -mutton, BJd.; Argentine mutton, 10d.; New Zealand lamb. KM.; Argentine lamb, lid.; New Zealand beef, no supplies available. Argentine beef, small supplies, hinds, 13jd.; lores,-lOjd. Butter.—Following maximum . prices have been fixed:—Salted butter, during next I wo weeks: New Zealand, per cwt., 2005.; Australian, 1935.; Irish creamery, 1985.; Argentine, 1.985. Uusaited butter: Price per cwt., 3s. additional in each case. All kinds' of butter are in small supply. Market continues firm. Danish, per cwt., 2135. New Zealand salted, 2005.; unsi'.lted, no. supplies available. Australian salted, 1945. to 1!J8s.;-Argentine and Irish creamery, salted, 1985.; unsalted, 20.15. Cheese.—Xo ma,xim.um prices havo been fixed. (Mutilated word here.) Cheese, while, 1325.; no official quota, lions. Homp.—Market in the Philippines continues firm. \ Present prices itimulating output. ■ Ecceipts, July 1 to 15, 52,000 hales. New Zealand hemp market continues firm. Little business doing owing to freight being very difficult to obtain. .Small supplies afloat-offered at: Highpoint, .£1)2; fair, £W\ per ton. Wheat.—Market remains -is last reported. No. 2 Manitoba, Northern, S2s. (id.; No. 2 Hard Winter, 80s.; Australian, 83s. • Oats.—Market quiet, with a tendency in favour of buyers-.' Ca.nadian, 60;. 6d.'; American, 62?.; Plate, 60s. 6d. WHOLESALE PRODUCE PRICES' Messrs. Laery and' Co!, .Ltd., 'Allen Street, report'wholesale' prices as follow:—Fowls' wheat, prime. 6s. Bd, per bushel; fowls' barley, If. 3d. per Husopl; Cape barley, ?,s. per bushel; blur peas, 17?. 6d. per bushel; partridge- peas, 7s. per bushel; maize feed, ss. 9d. per bushel; crushed* maize, 6s. 3d. per bushel; chaff, .oateheaf, ,£8 ss. per ton; hay. meadow, JES 10s. per ton; flour in sacks, 416 ss; per ton; oatmeal, 25's, ,£2l per ton; pollard, £& 10s. per ton; bran, i'"i ss. per ton. Bacon (all best fac-tory)-.-Sides, Is. Id. per lb.; rolls, Is. 2<T.' per lb.; hams. Is. 2d. per lb.; shoulders, lid. per lb. Cheese (factory)— Medium, 10d. per lb.; loaf. lid. per lb. Linseed meal—loo's. £tt 55.; 50'?. 155.;,20'5, /Jl3 5?.; linseed nuts, )2s. fid. per cwt.; linseed ground cuke, ]2s. 6d., per cwt.: wholo linseed, 2-ls. per cwt.; onion;. .£l2 per ton. Potatoes—While-, skinned' table', £5 10?.. .£6 per ton. Seed mrtatqes—Up-tO-Date, ,£7 ss. per ton; Northern Stars; ,£6 15s. per ton; Gamekeepers, -£6 15s. per lon. All poultry in very good demand:—Hens,

3s. 6d., ss. Gd. per pair; cockerels, 35., I ■Ss. per pair. Bucks—Peking aiid. Ayltsbury, 95., 10s. per pair; Indian Jtuiiners, 6s. 6d., Bs. per pair. Turkeys—• Is. Id., Is. -id. per lb., live weight. Butter (prime bulk)., 3s. 3d., Is. id. per lb.