AGRICULTURAL NOTES

Shannon News, 1 February 1924, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL NOTES

A flock of 100 hens produce m eggshells about 1371 b of chalk annually. Shearing operations are now practically finished in the Gore district (Otago). Agriculture is the basis of all life, and for the sake of the nation it must be made to flourish. —Sir Herbert Matthews. About 2000 lambs wci'e put through the Pukcuri work (Oamaru") on one day last week. The board is at present occupied by 25 slaughtermen and several learners. A prominent West Coast farmer says settlers are becoming increasingly interested in the possibilities of pigraising on the Coast. It is expected that some excellent samples of seed -will be obtained from the Waim'ca Plains district (Otago) this year. Harvesting operations are already being carried out. Generally speaking, conditions in Southland have been very fair, but the dry winds of last week have caused considerable damage on the farms. The dry weather Avas reflected in prices at Friday's Dannevirke sale. A Hue of odd ewes, comprising some 400, changed hands at prices ranging from 3s 9d up to 7s 6'd each. Beef cattle arc hoav comparatively scarce in the North Otago district. With the brcaking-up of the large estates, cattle-Taising was practically abandoned. One settler in the Oamaru district 'nearly doubled his returns for wool this year, compared with last year. This was due to his heavy lambing percentage and the increased price of his clip. Following the lead of Canterbury, the dairy factories in Oamaru recently increased the price of butter Id per lb. This will, in time, bo passed on to the public by the retailer. The cause of the increase is said to be dry weather and shortage of supplies in Australia. Poverty Bay's full allocation of 3000 bales was offered at the latest wool sales at Napier, and the range of prices was exceedingly satisfactory. The highest price was 20id for super A hogget. The average price for the clip was in the vicinity of 17d, which figure is eminently satisfactory for the producers. ! The quantity of butter received for grading at the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's store this season, to tire end of December, totalled 725,416 boxes, compared with 770,853 for the corresponding period of last scaI son, a decrease of 45,437 boxes. The quantity received for grading during December was 207,777 boxes, against 220,024, a decrease of 12,247 boxes. The Government has decided to extend the guarantee of one penny per lb net return on all shipment of apples made from New Zealand during the 1924 export season, the guarantee being restricted to a maximum of 250,000 cases. Last year close on 150,000 fuses of fruit were exported. Maoris working on farms in the neighbourhood are making good money, and the Eltham Argus was informed that some of them are getting

up to £l6 per acre for thinning mangolds. At this figure mangolds are going to be expensive winter feed for some of the farmers this year. The new season's lambs are :11 in ' good condition in Central Otago, and ) there should be some heavy stock for ) the freezing works for the opening of the season. This year, although a dry one, conditions have boon much better for fattening purposes than last season.