GENERAL FARMING NEWS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 89, 8 January 1918, Page 10

GENERAL FARMING NEWS

/ ' The Buller Valley Dairy Factors Company paid out £1250 for cream i 5 November, and will., pay : dose on £14.03 for December oream.-Bonus payment have been made in addition: one supplier received a cheque for £27. A few years ago the "fleece-oh" in a shearing shed was glad to receivo £1 ss. per week and found. ■ This yeariin th'o Wairarapa this class of labour Jas commanded Is. 6d. per hour, wlncli works out at £4 10s. per week, Vith, several meals a day given in. / Pulverised limestone continues to be in favour as a soil sweetener or fertiliser, according to reports from producers to the United States Geological Survey Department of the Interior. Since the figures of production' were first compiled in 1911 the indusfty has steadily increased, and the output for 1916 of 1,086,376 short tons, vslued at £229,816, represents a gain of, 512 per cent, in quantity and 460 percent, in value for the six years. The increase for 1916 compared with 1915 vas about 32 per cent, in quantity aijd"2B per cent, in value. /

The wheat statistics of Canterbury are being taken this year by the fields inspectors of the Department of Agriculture in the different parts of the provincial district. The figures (states the "Press") are not yet complete, but it is anticipated that when all the >eturns have been; obtained there will be, for the first time, ft . complete and reliable record of, the acreage 1 of the farms and of the' varieties of wheat grown. The returns will enaole the Government wheat controller to allocate the wheat yield amongst the millers of Jlie Dominion.

The problem of the farmer with regard to the question of grass seed becomes increasingly acute, and imported grass 'seeds., '.particularly, are steadily rising in price (states the Auckland "Star"). ; Auckland-grown grass seeds are also increasing in price, and v'ith the exception .of New Zealand ryegrass the prospects are for higher prices this season,than ever. Ryegrass should not show a- very' great 'increase owing ■to the good crops , in Canterbury' and Hawke's Bay. Quotations for the rew crop of cocksfoot, however, opened at Is. 4d. per lb. f.0.b., s.c., at Lyttelton, recently/and these prices seein i likely to be maintained._ In the Auckland district the principal demand is

for autumn sowing. The continued fins weather will probably mean earlier ' -.burns than usual, and so far as fan be "seen the new crops of rya and cocks- ' fact will not be available for these sowings, a fact which will certainly not ..jtend to lessen the prices. It is estimated that where a farmer could formerly

sow his burn at about 235. per acre it ■will now cost-him something in tho

It. . ■ ■ .•. ■ vicinity of 40s. per acre. With regard Jo danthonia, which is practically the only locally-grown crop, the indications are that it will be vary much .smaller than usual, and consequently higher prices may be expected for this also.