FARMING & COMMERCIAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 169, 13 April 1921, Page 10

FARMING & COMMERCIAL

NEWS AND NOTES

AUCTION SALES FORTHCOMING FIXTURES. TO-DAY. 157 Lambton Quay, Wellington, 10.30 a.in.— Furniture sale (Johnston and Co.). Wallace Street, Karori, Wellinffton. 1.30 p.m.—Furniture sale (Hodukina, Oarver). 137 Lambton Quay, Wellington, 2.30 p.m.— Property sale (Hodgkins, Caryer). 105 Customhouao Quay, Wellington. 7. JO p.m.—Property sale 'Nathan and Co 1 ' TO-MORROW. Workson Road, Masterton, 12 noon.—Sale of pedigree cattle (Wtfirarapa Farmers'). Upper Hutt. 1 p.m.—Stock sale. Dominion Avenue, Wellington, 1 p.m.—Sale of medical instruments (Vine and Wilson). Ohau. 1.30 p.m.—Sale of pedigree cattle (Abraham anJ Williams). 21 Portland Crescent. Wellington. 1.30 n.m. —Furniture sale (S. G. Nathan and Co.). 157 Lambton Quay, Wel'ington, 1.30 p.m.— Sale of mercery (Johnston and Oo.). Awanuni Racecourse. —Sale of racehorse (N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. Distributing Co.. Ltd.). 167 Lambton Quay. Wellington, 2 p.m.— Sale of toys (Johnston and Co.). FRUIT FOR EXPORT IMPORTANT EXPERIMENTS ARRANGED THE ATHENE'S SHIPMENT A series of experiments is about to be carried out by the Horticultural Division of the Agricultural Department in connection with the fruit export trade. In conversation with an officer of the division yesterday, a Dominion reporter learned that the pending shipment of New Zealand fruit by tho Athenic to the London market will be made the subject of a threefold experment. The first experiment lias to do with maturity, and small lots of fruit from Hawke’s Bay have been selected for the purpose. One variety of fruit will be picked and packed in different stages of maturity, full details being secured at the time as to maturity, age of tree, soil in which grown, and the like. These particulars will be forwarded along with tho fruit to the Department’s representative in London, Mr, G. Stratford, who will examine the apples and furnish a full report on his observations. Another experiment has to do with packing and packages. To this end 50 cases of pears from the Motueka district have been selected by the local orchard instructor,, and packed by him under varying conditions and in different shapes of packages. The consignment will be dispatched to Mr. f» ratford for observation and report. The third experiment touches truit picked off young trees. The general experience in connection with fruit off young trees is that its keeping qualities are unreliable. Consequently the Departmental regulations provide that no fruit taken from trees which have been planted in orchards for less than seven years will be accepted for export. This embargo bears hardly to some extent on owners of young orchards, and in order to demonstrate its efficacy or otherwise ISO oases of apples taken from young orchards in the Nelson district are being consigned on the Athenic to the Department’s London representative. As a great deal 'has yet to be found out with regard to New Zealand s export fruit trade, the result of the three experiments will he awaited witht great interest by growers throughout the D - minion.

MARKETING POTATOES PROPOSAL COMPANY. By Telegraph— Pres. Association. Christchurch, April 12. At a meeting of delegates of the South Inland Potato-growers’ Association, a proposal was made to form a email limited liability company, with about £5OOO nominal capital, 25 per cent being called up, io th. 6 distributing agents in handling the crop *r this season, and to net as an adjunct to the present machinery. The proposal h:w been referred to branches for approval, and will be aubmitted to distributors later. The objects of the proposed company are to assist in marketing the crops of weak holders who, it is alleged, by having to sell, are largely the cause of the low prices obtaining. FARMERS’ UNION MEETING OF DOMINION EXECUTIVE ARRANGED. The quarterly meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union will be held at the Dominion Farmers’ Institute Buildings, Wellington, on Thursday. April 21. The meeting will, among other things, discuss the fceneral situation with regard to the marketing of the Dominion’s produce, and also fix a date for tho holding of the annual Dominion conference. SHEARERS’ WAGES SHEEPOWNERS APPLYING FOR AN AWARD. The sheepownere of Canterbury are applying for an award covering shearing operations during next season. A Dominion reporter was informed yesterday that it is probable that similar action will be taken by sheepowners m other parts of New Zealand. In this connection it is interesting to note that at the abortive conference between the sheepowners and the shearers’ unions in February last, the men demanded 30s. pec 100 for shearing, while the employers askvd that the old rate of 20s. P''/’ 00 be reverted to. leaving to the: Arbitration Court the question of fixing the bonus to compensate for the increased cost of living at the tliine when the award iras under consideration. SOUTHERN MARKETS By Telegrn"’’ P'-'-bh Association. Christchurch, April 12. Little oats are offering. Much remains In stack, and farmers are disposed to leave if there until something turns up. Potatoes are worth from .23 10s. at country stations, with seller not numerous an that figure. Inquiries continue to come from the North, quite an amount of business would be done were shipping available, but prompt delivery cannot be guaranteed.