ON THE LAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2413, 30 January 1909, Page 2

ON THE LAND.

BRITISH SHEEP MARKET 6

GOOD PROSPECTS

The agricultural writer of the Loudon "Times” holds hopeful expectations as to sheep .prices in Britain in t)he spring. Writing at the cud of .November, he said: —"The depressed "state of the sheep markets is one of the most remarkable features of the year. 'When a class •cf. stock worth from -50 s to- 70s each depreciates in value to the extent of 10s per head in the course of a twelve-; month, it might be supposed that there 'would he some apparent reason for so marked a change. But it b. difficult to suggest a sufficient explanation of the heavy drop in the prices of sliee;p this year as compared with last. Flock-owners themselves are as much at a loss for a solution of the problem as others, it is true that the official statistics reveal an increase of about a million head in the aggreglte of sheep in the country and until quite recently local reports in-, dicated scarcity of keep in many districts, hut against these- considerations lias to be set- a considerable reduction in the imports of sheep and mutton, so that the influencing causes in either side 'would seem to discount one another. Probably the -present depreciation is nothing more than a reaction following a period of prosperity, and if this is the case it is inconceivable that the present low rates can continue much -longer. The position of the farmer is strengthened by the continuance of mild open weather. There has been such a vigorous and sustained growth of grass flint up till now live stock of all kinds have been maintained at little expense, and, moreover, have done remarkably well! both in growth and in the development- of flesh. The advantage of a: productive autumn is that it ensures ail abundance of keep for the winter months, and stockowners are thus relieved of the necessity of reducing their flocks or herds regardless of their market value. Instances are known of fat wethers having been sold recently at less money than they cost when bought in' some months ago, and although flit -anemails do not improve by keejiing, appearances suggest that it might be a prudent policy to inoderate the fattening process in the hope of obtaining in the spring higher prices than are likely to be current at the winter markets." IMPORTANT NATIONAL WORK. DOMINION AGRICULTU R AL 'MUSEUM. Mr M‘Nab’s retirement into private life, the general elections, and labor troubles are evidently mainly responsible for the Government’s delay in starting with the erection of a Dominion agricultural museum. It was decided some time ago by the Government that this important stiniet.ure should be erected oh the old drillslicd site in "Wellington, and a vote was passed by Parliament iiaot session from which money could be Hvkcn to- make a start with the work. The Prime Minister is now Minister for Agriculture, and he lias his hands fall just now with the- miners’ trouble. It is to be hoped (states the "Dominion”) that when ho has time to make himself familiar with the Agricultural .Department he will without delay recognise the importance of taking this early in blind. .Such a museum flias been urged upon the Government- for years past bv agricultural' associations and conferences. The Palmerston North Agricultural- Association realised so strongjly tile import nice of the unde'-making that it carried a resolution some time ago that if the Government could not establish an agricultural museum shortly, they be asked whether they would be willing to hand over the valuable collection already in possession of the Department of Agriculture in order thn-t- it might be--proper. ]y -housed. -Those who visited the International Exhibition at Christchurch will remember the- interesting display of New Zealand products made by the Agricultural Department —products on whoso instructive value and interest distinguished visitors from abroad and officials from England and Australia commented with praise, and mentioned in their reports to their Governments. A part of tins collection is now deteriorating by being stowed away in eases in unattended rooms and damp cellars. It was announced by. the Government before last session that steps would be taken to have the collection properly housed .and displayed -in a building worthy of the purpose. Such a museum would not only be of value to farmers, but it would help in the education of the young, and become a feature of commercial interest to foreign visitors. Mr M'Nab apparently realised this, for lie distinctly stated last year that it wirs intended to -establish the museum on the old drillshed site, Wellington, at an early date.. The present building is in such a fearfully leaky and dilapidated condition ias to be quite unsuitable for the purpose. The establishment is recommended in connection with the museum of a. system of travelling-cases, available to those unable to visit- the museum itself—cases containing samples of the principal artificial manures, with anialyses and short notes as to the kind of soil and crop to which they are adapted; grasses, weeds, seeds, in-

Farm and Station.

i sects, etc, —in order to give the dwellers in remote country townships similar jaidviantages to - those enjoyed by settlers within reach of the centres of population. Mr F. W. Kirk, Government Biologist, has recommended that if sufficient space is "available tho scope of the museum should be widened, so as to embrace exhibits of all manufactured articles having Now ’Zealand products >as their base, whether in direct relation to agriculture or not. "I have seen suck a museum,” says the Government biologist, “and can vouch for its utility.” BUTTER-FAT TESTS. NOT INFLUENCED BY FEED. Cliango of feed may certainly change the quantity of milk a cow will yield. But Will it also change the test? Apparently not —to nay appreciable extent. The point lias been proved by experiment on a: farm of one of the American Universities. A herd of cows was selected that for a number of years had received very poor care and feed. As they were located nearthe University farm, they were permitted to remain in their old home with their usual light feeding, for. one year after tho beginning of tlie tests. A careful record was kept during this time of the amount of milk given and of tlie test. At the end of the first year they -were removed to the University farm, where for two years they received the best of care and feed, and a careful account was kept- of their performance, after which they were returned to their original homo for one year, making, all told, four years of record under tho extremes of-good and poor leading. Six months after going to the University farm they had an average live weight gain of 45 pounds to the head, which speaks well for the care and feeding they received. The result, of the two years of good feeding and care was that the yield of milk and butter was about doubled. During those two years, that is the second and third years of tlio test, tho cows produced an average annual milk flow of 6,621 pounds, against an annual yield of 3.925 pounds on the farm during the first and fourth years, and 316 pounds of butter-fat annually at tho University, against 176.3 oil the farm. The increase of production by good feeding was almost double, while the test was only slightly raised. During tho first and fourth years of this test, while tho cows were at the farm oil short rations, the milk had an average test of 4.51. and during the two years at the University, with extra, good food and care, the milk had an average test of 4.77. BAD SEEDS ABROAD. ‘ ‘CHE A P A N D N A6TY.’ ’ Some comment continues to be made in various farming districts (writes a Southern correspondent) regarding the unsatisfactory nature of some of the cheap- seeds which are being imported to the North Island. The farmer is often hoodwinked by tlie perusal of a. .price-list in which seeds are quoted at from 25 to 50 per cent lower than-the prices quoted by standard firms; but he has found when his crop has matured that the “cheapest” seed has been the dourest. An instance of this is reported in the case of rape seeds, which have been bought for as low a price as threepence per pound, against froin fivepence to eightpence quoted by tlie better-known firms. If two pounds of seed are sown to tho acre, the 'difference between tlie cheapest and the dearest is teup'ence per laoro. This is a small sum when one considers that there will he a guaranteed first-class crop from tho eight-penny seed, whereas it is very' likely—-'in fact, it has been proved—that 50 per cent of the threepenny seed will often not germinate. The best rape crop-in the North Island, grown on Mr H. Morrison’s property, between Masterton and Gladstone, was sown ’’with the most expensive seed. If farmers are wise they will -make a point of buying only good seeds, and those .from thorough! reputable merchants. A WOOL CRISIS. SOME YORKSHIRE OBSERVATIONS. Under this heading, tho “Yorkshire Daily Observer” of November 24th publishes an interesting article, of which the following is an extract: —• "The whole explanation of the recent rise, in values is, however, not to he found in a little increased American demand. It is to be feared that the top trade is becoming more and more speculative. Perhaps this is in a, measure due to circumstances. As we Qiave pointed out many times, tlie conditions in the/woo-1 trade to-dav are very different from whi.it they were years ago. The world’s production of wool is no longer progressing by leaps and bounds. Thirteen- years ago it reached highwater level, -and although wo have had one or two high tides since then, there has been no further increase, and wo ihave had many years -with production -below the average. As a. consequence, the. great reservoirs oi .wool have been depicted. The world is now, and lias been for several years past, working much more closely to the slieep’s back. But contemporane-

ously we Rive learned this salut-aiy lesson. . There are other substances, not grown on file sheep, make wool goods. And further, wo have been taught by bitter experience that you cannot make ‘the liifetn in tho street’—otherwise the ultimate consumer —pay any more for his suit or his under-garments or his wife’s dress, than he is inclined to. And it must bo confessed that tlio position of the ultimate consumer sit the present moment in this country and in tho manufacturing communities of Europe generally, is lio-t such as to justify optb inism in regard to.tho immediate future of the retail trade. Industry has had a had knock, and the workingclasses »are by no means in ia position to bring -about any boom, either here or elswehere, for some time to come. And finally it will probably be found that, at present prices there -will be wool enough to go round, if men would only believe it.” NOTES. The Eltham Dairy Company paid its suppliers 11 id for their December butter-fat. And the butter of this company -was being offered for sale, by circular, in London, (at tlie beginning of last month at 114 s, whereas the purchaser at 11 fd would require to get 117 s 4d to clear himself and have a 3 -per cent commission. A cargo of frozen and chilled meat carried by. the s.s. Manchester City, which left Buenos Ayres for London and Liverpool recently, must be something like ia record shipment from Argentina. To supply this immense load no less than 27,799 sheep, 616 lambs, and 8454 steers were requisitioned. For its December milk the New Zealand Dairy Farmers’ Union paid 10-id at its butter-making, and Is at its clieeseninkiug centres. Some of the brands of this company were being offered for sale, by printed circular in London, at tlio end of November for 112 s, though the same firm was offering tlie butter of another New Zealand factory at 106 s, and olio of the leading North Island butters at II 4s!

There is |a- net increase of 2468Jtons in the amount of butter shipped from Australia, up to tho end ol : last year, as compared with tlie correspond ing period of last season. Victorian shipments show a decrease oi 26821 tons, but New South Wales an increase of 536 tons.

Mr Geo. E. Owen. M.R.C.V.S., who came out from Home under engagement to branches of the - Farmers’ Union in the Rangitikei district, and who subsequently entered into private practice, first at Marten, and latterly at Palmerston, has accepted an appointment on the staff of the Chief Veterinarian. Mr Owen wll- be located at Ashburton. *

When farmers were sendng slice,]) or cattle to market (said .a- stock firm representative to a. “New Zealand Herald” reporter) they took pride in getting their stock in the best condition to attract competition, and why should they not do so in tho case of wool? A wool pack did not prevent tlie defects from being seen, and the fact was that the best avenue for safe that was open to farmers, that was for wool for the American tiudc, was absolutely closed to unskirted and dirty wools.

Ragwort is beginning to show up with its beautiful ’ yellow heads all" over the district (says tlie AY area, correspondent of the “Taranaki News”). There are bunches coming up th is-year where there was no sign of it -last scvKson. At the rate it has spread during tho last two years, tlio district will be a ragwort farm before many more years if something is not done to the Newell run, tlie sced-bed of the ragwort and blackberry.