At The Furrow’s End

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 218, 3 December 1927, Page 25 (Supplement)

At The Furrow’s End

Fertiliser Results Few places provide a better indication of the value of fertilisers for topdressing purposes than a saleyard on a day when a representative entry of lambs has come forward. Westfield provided convincing testimony of this the other day. There was a big entry of lambs, divided up into lots of anything from five to ten, and each lot was a walking advertisement to the class of country from which it came. Going to extremes for the purpose of definite comparison, in one pen were lambs well enough finished, but not extra prime, with a white, bleachedlooking dry fleece. It was evident that the pastures from which they had come were deficient in some element, and this was reflected in the condition of the wool. In the next pen were extra choice prime lambs, with yellow fleeces, full of yolk, in the pink of condition, and looking as well done as profitably possible. It was clearly evident that they had come off topdressed pastures. So it can be seen to a greater or lesser degree in the sheep and cattle pens. The quality of the pastures is reflected in the quality of the stock which comes off it. and the farmers’ pocket or bank balance is the final roister. Top-dressing pays. Nobody denies it to-day, and within limits every effort should be used to give the ground its fullest profitable quota every season.

Classing True to Sample t Packing- true to sample always pays in the end. Especially is this the case in regard to the producer who desires to continue in the one line of occupation. Perhaps one of the best indications of this statement is to be seen in the Auckland City auction during a sale of local fruits. Here some of the well-known orchardists can always expect to sell their produce at a slight premium, as it is known among the buyers as true to the top layer. The recent wool sale gave a good indication also of the value of even classing and baling—true to sample. The old days when the farmer could sometimes get away with a few good fleeces at the top of the bale and all his dingy and seedy wools in the middle are gone. Out of the 23 odd thousand j bales offered at last week’s Auckland sale only one man was found to have tried that trick. The buyers caught it when valuing, and the consequence was that it wasn't offered at auction. It wouldn’t have been any use. The buyers had lost confidence in the man’s classing. Throughout the sale it was found that the even, well-classed lines always brought a bigger comparative price than the mixed lots. Regularity of grade always pays. It creates confidence and offers no room for comparison.. It is only business that a lot should be judged rather on the value of the lowest grade than on that of the best sample. Tn the balancing of values of uneven samples there is inevitably a jLrend toward the lower levels.