BREVITIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 17 August 1907, Page 6

BREVITIES.

| _ Fining the soil is equivalent to fertilis|ing it, so far as plant growth is concerned.

The habitual use of so-called condition powders for horses is to be strongly deprecated.

It is desirable to damp the food of horses suffering from cough, broken wind, or any respiratory trouble. Good ewes in any diss of sheep breeding are half the battle. They iave the rearing of the lamb quite apart from their influence In the blood. One authority assures us that a ton Of lucerne is equal in feeding value to a ton of bran: that is, if the lucerne be well saved and the leaves not lost. An Ideal ewe for the small grazier or farmer is the three-quarter bred Lincoln or Leicester. This ewe, crossed with a good Shropshire or Southdown, produces a splendid lamb. The young man who is college-bred, who has received the benefit of tuition from agricultural experts, must succeed, and in doing so will shed the acquired knowledge far and wide. One of the surprising things of the last twenty years of agricultural history is the slowness with which some farmers in some sections of the country have adopted the idea of having a silo. The growth of crops suitable for ploughing in or feeding off, and the return of animal manure to the soil are all means by which an improvement is effected in the water-holding power of the soli.

The mission of the dairy cow is to give milk. If she tries to produce beef in the place of producing milk, when the milk is most wanted, she has failed in her mission, and should be worked up into beef.

| The number of sheep in Australasia at December 31st last amounted to 103,548,330—an increase of 9,711,782 for the 12 months, very satisfactory considering that just on 16,000,000 were slaughtered for meat.

What is meant by systematic feeding is simply knowing how much each horse requires per day, how much grain and how much hay, how mUth good food, and what proportion to give each horse and at wliat intervals.

The quality of bone in the coach and carriage horse is important, while in the draught horse size of bone is considered: the big lone is valued in the big gelding and is imperative in the draught stallion.

It is stated on good authority that all the cargo space of the Canadian AustraJ lian line for a year to come has been secured by certain Australian shippers, "ho fill forward to the order of Western Canadian importers 30,(KH1 carcases of frozen mutton, besides hides, etc. lor some time pa-t the supply of mutton on Canadian markets has'lieen insufficient that some 60,000 sheep Lave been annually imported from the United States. It seems a truly remarkahle state of affairs that with its millions of acres of grazing lands, Western Canada cannot, or does not, supply the local demand for mutton.

It is slated that the earnings of the English agricultural laborer range between 15s and 22s a week, the average given being 18s lid. The lowest earnings are in the eastern counties and the liigiiest in the northern, lu the eastern and southern and south-western groups bread and Hour, costing 4s a week, are consumed, and meat valued between 3s and 3s Gd, while in the northern and midland counties the weekly expenditure on bread and foodstul'.'s is about 3s, and on meat 4s lOd to us 3d. The estimated value of the principal articles of diet comes to about 73 per cent of the estimated weekly earnings. It must, of course, be borne in mind that no account is taken in the above calculations of tile profit a laborer may derive from a garden, an allotment, or flic keeping of pigs and poultry, 'l'he estimates are naturally high, being based on the ordinary retail prices in the various districts. Nor has anything been allowed for the wage-earning capacity of the wife.

At the annual re-union of the management and employees of the New Zealand Dairy Association, Mr Wesley Spragg, the managing director, who occupied the chair, s.iii l lie had "a'vfuHy analy-H the terms under the laranaki agreement, and found that the Association's men had for ye.rs past U-,n 'xtter o/i in the matter of hours and conditions, and had in the aggregate received higher wages by £582 7s 4d per annum than they would have received under the new agreement which was such a marked advance in Taranaki. He thought the Taranaki agreement was based on fair pr no* lion-, and wouiu b-j accepted as a precedent in deciding other awards.— Waikato Times.

The Angora goats which the Department of Agriculture placed under the charge of Inspector Moore, and which were sent to an island in the Sounds about four years ago, have thrived exceedingly well, it will be remembered that the experiment of crossing the Angora with one wild goat was for the purpose of ascertaining whether the progeny would still be useful for exterminating noxious weeds This has now been achieved, and it is said that the third cross cannot be recognised from the parent goat. The next experiment will be tried by the butcher.

THE MARKETS. NEWTON KING'S REPORT. At the Haymarkct on Saturday pigs sold well, slips making 8s (id to !)s (id, small stores 14s (id to £1 Is, porkers £1 6s, pony £3 I2"s Cd. Trees and shrubs usual rates.

At the Mart there was a good demand for poultry. Ducks amde 2s to 3s, geese 3s, turkeys 4s to ss, cockerels Is Md to 3s, pullets 2s to 3s Od, hens Is Cd to 2s 7d. A quantity of furniture and sundries was disposed of at prices in favor of buyers. Fruit—Prices during the week were as follows:—Apples, cookers 4s to (is (id, dessert 7s to 10s, lemons 3s (id to ss, oranges 7s to 10s. Cattle—At Douglas on Friday, 9th inst., Mr Needham's clearing sale was well attended, and everything sold well. Springing cows made £5 15s to £9 15s, September calvers £4 15s to £7 10s, store cows £2 2s Od, trap mare £22 10s, store pigs 7s Od to 12s (id, breeding sows £2 2s tid to £4 10s.

On Monday, at Bell Block, I held a clearing sale on account of Messrs Western Bros. There was a moderate attendance, and all young cows made full values. Old and backward calvers were hard to quit. Grade Shorthorn springing heifers made £5 5s to £8 ss, springing cows £5 lUs to £B, late calvers £3 to £4 10s, aged cows £2 to £3. Implements and sundries made fair prices.

At Toko the same day there, was a fair attendance at Mr D. Maxwell's clearing sale. The cows were a medium lot and made from £3 Ids to to 2s fid, store cows £2 to £2 ss, heifers in calf £2 12s Od to .€3, empty do. £1 15a, harness mare £3O 10s, do. £ll ss, colt £lB las, spring cart £l7. At Stratford on Tuesday my usual [fortnightly cattle sale was well attended, and stores met with better enquiry. In the dairy yards, however, bidding was quiet, and prices ruled in buyers' favor Calves to yearlings made 10s to 18s, 15 mos. steers £2 ss, 18 mos. heifers 33s to 355, store cows 34s to 50s, fat do. £4 lis to £5 7s. In the dairy pens springing heifers made £3 15s to £5 ss, early calvers £0 to £7 jus, backward calvers £3 to £4 10s, aged cows £1 15s to £3.

The same day at Cardiff I held a very successful clearing sale for Mr Alf. Smith, excellent prices being realised for both live and dead stock. Early culvers made £7 to £l4 ss, springing heifers t'-'i 15s to £4, IS mos. empty do. £l l:)s to £2 ss, harness horses £l7 10s to £2B 10s, breeding sows 3(>s to £0 7s #d. store pigs 12s, ewes in lamb l!)s. Implements, sundries and furniture sold well.

At Stony River on Wednesday there was a good yarding, and nearly everything sold at the hammer. Twelve to 18 mos. steers made 33s to 355, store cows £1 5s to £2, forward do. £2 103 to £.l, fat do. £4 14s to £5 Bs, springing heifers £3 2s (id to £4 10s, store pigs 17s fid to £l. On Wednesday at my Stratford yards I sold Mr A. Nelson's dairy cows, and also tlie balance of Mr Totty's herd. On account of the former prices ranged from £4 5s to £7 ss. On account of Mr Totty from £4 to £8 os. On Thursday at Oakura the clearing sale on account of the execuutors of the late Mary Wood was well attended, ■and considering the class of cows, which were most'y backward calvers, good prices were realised, prices ranging from £3 10s to £O. Jersey bull £'J 15s, yearling heifer; 30s, light draught horses £23 10s to £26, 2-year filly £l7 10s, gelding £lB 10s, store pigs 13s to 17s, slips 8s Od. Implements and sundries sold well.

At Stratford the same day I sold Messrs It. Richmond's and P. Hancock's dairies, when good prices were realised. Cows at profit made £8 to £B, springers £(J 10s to £lO 15s, September and October calvers £4 to £6 15s. WILSOX AND NOLAN'S KEPOttl. At our poultry sale on Saturday, we had a keen demand for all lines at the following l'ates:—Hens Is lOd to 2s 2d, roosters Is to Is lid, cockrells Is !)d to 2s 2d, «hu-k» Is lOd to ■>*. turkeys .'is !>d to 4s (id. The usual mart sale was held, anil a large !|iiantity of furniture and sundries changed hands.

VICKKIJS AXD STEVENS' IUiI'ORT. Vickors and Stevens report that there was a lug muster „f tsock in their fnglewood yards on Wednesday, and young atock were in better demand. Dairy cows are still in excess of demand and consequent 'y prices are low. Calves made from 15s to l"s Od, yearling heifers £1 to £1 4s, yearling steers £1 8s to . 13s > stor e <»W6 £1 5s to £2 13s springers £2 15s to £3. ' At Tarata on Monday there was n fair muster. Heifers in calf Jroln ~l* F 2 1,s > springers £2 10s to £4 13 ml, hoggets 10s Od. At .Mr J. Mattock's sale on Friday there was a good attendance. Old and backward cows made from £2 to £3 5s I springers and early calvers £3 10.S to' I £# ss, 2-year filly £iq.

Dulgety and Company, Limited, report having iieid their lorinighlly nulu ol" grain, etc., on Tuesday, 13th August. A lair representative catalogue was submitted, consisting 0) oats, maiie, potatoes, clialf, etc. Bidding was somewhat backward, but most of the lines offered were chitted either at auction or privately. Values ruling are as under:— Oats—The market is quiet with little busin«3s passing, Seed iines arc ill good demand for small lots. l'rimo leed oats havt a limited enquiry, while discolored lines for crushing are occasionally asked for. We quote: Seed lilies 3s (id to .'is lUd, prime feed 3s 3d to 3s ad, medium feed and discolored 3s to 3s 2d per Ijushei (sacks extra). \\ licat—There is no change as regards values in this market, i'owl wheat is asked for, but buyers will only purchase limited quantites at the high rates now ruling. We quote: Best whole fowl wheat 4a (id to is (W, medium 4s 3d to 4s sd, broken and damaged 4s to 4s 2d per bushel (sacks extra). llaize Several consignments of Australian maize have recently come to hand, and met with a lair market, as prices asked were considerably under Auckland quotations. We quote: Best Auckland maize 3s iOd to 4s, best Aus* i tialian maize 3s (id to 3s Od, medium do. 1 3s to 3s 4d per bushel (sacks extra). Potatoes—The arrival of Australian and Tasmaiiian potatoes during the past week has beeu exceptionally heavy, with the result that supplies have exceeded th demand, and to quit consignments lower rates had to be accepted. We quote: Seed lines £0 to 17, prime table potatoes 14 10s to JCS, others £3 to £4 per ton (bags in). Chair—Prime brigl,. well-cut oaten thcai is in g u0l ( j e , a)IJ tllc mar ki't is firm. Discobred chall, however, has little enquiry. Straw chair is asked for, and is selling at satisfactory prices. He quote: Prime oaten sheaf 15 os to 15 7s (id, extra to 15 los, medium and discolored 10s to £5, .straw chall' £3 to 13 10s per ton (bags extra). Straw—A good inquiry for baled straw at 1 roin 50s to 52s (id per ton.

BUKXSIDE STOCK SALKS.

Uunediu, August 14. At Burnside stock market to-day, 1555 sheep were penned, including a good number ol prize sheep. The sale opened very much on a par with last week's tates, but as tile sale progressed prices ghoweu an advance oi la (id to 2s per ■head. Towards the linish, however, prices receded to late values. Best wethers 25s to 27s 3d, extra prime to 2!)s u<l, medium to good 20s to 235, extra good ewes to 275.

Lambs iss penued. Prices were a shaae easier. lSest lambs 10s to l!)s, medium to good 14s (id tu 15s (id. othera 12s (id to 14a.

i'igs 150 yarded. I'riees were linn at lute rates. Suckers 12s to 10s, slips 17s (id to 225, stores 25a to 2Us, porkers 34s to 435, light bacoiiers 4(ia to 535, heavy 58s to 05s.

Cuttle 204 yarded. The entry consisted of really priiuc bullocks. The demand lor liuislied cattle, on account oi the large yarding, was not (piite so good as ol late, but medium aud unlinished sorts sold well. Hest bullocks AIIO to £ll lUs, medium £8 las to ■tl) 10s, unlinislied £7 17s to £8 15s.

ADDIXGTON STOCK MAliKl.'.T Christchurch, Augusut 14. At Addington market to-day there were small entries of stock and a moderate attendance. Beef sold at about the previous week's rates, i.s did fat sheep. ytore sheep were in good demand, but there w.as no change in prices ol lat lambs. l'ig:, n;-.'in brought good prices. Store and ilairy cattle were dull of sale.

There were only a few lots of store sheep penned, and there was a ready sale lor all classes. Among the sales were— 2tiD -ouml-mouth ewc o at 2Us Ud, 81 at 1 7s 7.1, li'i at 17s 3d, HI at 14s Gd;' - a ' oue 1-s l((d, 200 at 12s Bd, smaller lots 12s to 14s Id. The entry of f„t lambs comprised less than a dozen lota, and they sold at last weeks rates, ranging from 14s ad to US Od. New season's lambs made lis to 2tls. There was a small entry of fat sheep, the bulk prime Wethers, and there were a few lots of special quality crossbred wethers and ewes und merino wot hers. There was a good demand on the part of the butchers, and good prices were obtained for prime and extra prime. •The range of prices was—Extra prime wetliers 28s to 355, prime 22s (id to 2tjs lid, lighter 18s fid to 225, extra prime ewes 24s to 30s, prime 20s to 23s (id, medium 16s to IDs Od, extra prime mej nno wethers 21s 0d to 265, prime 15s to IDs.

The yarding of fat cattle totalled 190, «t which a large proportion camp from the North Island, There was a fair demand at late rates. Steers brongh .EG loa to iiVl 17« Ui. t extra to £l4 10s, heilers I*s 7a (id to £O, cows C-1 10s to ,f8 2s (10, W|«!\i to '22s (id to 25a for prime, 27s ff(l f or extra, and 20s to 22s for medium, per IDOlh. Veal calves sold well, making 7s (id to 57s (id and up to lifts lox* and liravy. A low mid lots df store cuttle wero dull of sale, and 11icrc was no( much demand fur dairy cows. Of (hose that changed hands, yearlings made 10s, 2ycur heifers ,(J2 10 s, 2'/i-year steers .£4 (is, .i-year steers I'll Ss, dry cows 30s to 525, dairy cows ,C 3 to £1 15s. , Pigs were iu short supply and sold well, especially porkers and choppers. Heavy-weight baconers made 60s to 70s, lighter 45s to 555, equal to 5d to !>%d per II); large porkers 38s [o 40s, lighter ■•10s to 355, cijuaHo fid to (i'/ 2 d; choppers CI lOs to ,C 7 7s (id. medium stores to 2Ss, small Kis to 225, weaners 10s to 12s (id.