Rural Topics

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2221, 26 October 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

Rural Topics

During the past week weather conditions have been exceptionally favorable for growth, and pastures are rapidly getting into good condition. 'J’lio now season’s lambs aro coining on nicely, and tliero should bo another good entry at next Alatawliero sales. In this connection, it may not be out of placo to suggest that an earlier start should bo made with tho sales. Tho best part of tho day is gone beforo tinfirst pen is submitted, and the last portion has to bo rushed through with indecent haste, to permit of tho lot being put through beforo dark. The result is apt to bo very unsatisfactory to those who send cattle in for salo.

A farmer in the Chertsoy district about three weeks ago, thinking that tho wheat market had reached its limit, sold a lino of 3000 bushels at 4s 7d per bushel.

Tho area shut up for cocksfoot on tho Peninsula is not quit© so large as it was last season, and tho growth is rather backward, but given suitable weather tlio crop should ho a good ono, and tliero is every prospect of high prices ruling for good seed. Feed for cattle in tho Alasterton district is very backward at present, and consequently spring cattle are not in a very forward condition. In tho opinion of a local stock expert it will be tho middle of next month before tliero will an abundance ! food. For this reason Alessrs Abraham and Williams have postponed their spring cattle salo for a month. Tho following is tho list of entries in tho various live stock divisions for the Alanawatu Metropolitan and Agricultural Show to be held next month: —Horses—Thoroughbreds 14, ponies 15, saddle horses 66. Cattle—Shorthorn 31, Hereford 20, Aberdeen 4, Ayrshire 8, Jersey 80, dairy 14, fat cattle 23. Sheep—Lincoln 94, Romney 156, English Leicester 46, Border Leicester 27, Downs 80, fat sheep 37. Pigs—so. Dogs—324. Poultry—lo 9. Art and Industries—Photographs 89, technical schools, 318, public schools 383, needlework 145. Homo industriso—l6s.

The mixed farms on Banks Peninsula are looking extremely well. In spite of the unseasonable weatlief the grass is coming along well, and feed is fairly plentiful. On tlio whole tho lambing has been better than ivas expected, tho -average ranging from 90 to 130 per cent. Cutting and tailing is in. full swing, and sec oral drafts of lambs have been sold to Christchurch dealers for delivery in January. Most of the farmers arc preparing for shearing. Tho dairying season lias commenced in earnest, and most of the cows aro in good condition. Tlio prospects for clieeso are very- encouraging. The Barry’s Bay Factory has sold its season’s output for export at 53d per lb, delivered Lyttelton, and tho German Bay Fa., tory' has sold at 6d. RURALI6AIS. A lazy dairyman always has profit--1<? Feel proud of tho f aot that you :ao a farmer? AYell, you have a right to feel so —if you aro a good one. The most extravagant thing a dairyman can do is to head Ins held A-iibh a scrub sire; this is a step n»en and a continual slide as long as -l© continues such methods. FAT LAMBS FOR THE LONDON MARKET. To produce fat lambs of the finest quality for export is undoubtedly tine ambition of a large majority of how Zealand slieen-o-wneys to-day'.. lliey go to vast expensp in procuring mutable sires and producing green teed co “ton” off this valuable product ol their 'flock. It therefore behoves them to seo that no screw is Jett Loose which might, tend to deprive them of any of tho fruits of their labors. .Strange to say, however, float screw too frequently is left loose, with a consequent leakage of tine profits which should go into their owners’ pockets. I.t is a great pi-ty :o grow a good crop of rape or turnips and turn in lambs thereon undipped. There are always more or less ticks about undipped lambs, and these ticks keep annoying the little bloaters to such an extent that it is quite impossible for them to make the best of the food provided. Lambs should therefore, always be dipped in i lion-poisonous dip of the best quality before bein|g fed off. A poisonous preparation should never be used for this..purpose, because the latter is li.abl-q to give lambs of tender ago a slight check, which, of course, also moans so much feed wasted. Lambs dipped according to directions in Quibell’s Liquid Dip (non-poisonous) will thrive every hour after leaving tho hath, and thus nut tho maximum amount of profit-into the pockets of their owners. It costs only one-fifteenth part of a penny per head to dip your lambs with this high-class preparation.