A ROSY OUTLOOK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 99, 12 September 1912, Page 4

A ROSY OUTLOOK.

PASTORAL PROSPECTS TX Till' MAXAWATU.

Palmerston X., September 1(1. These are wonderful times for the graziers. ''Not for many years past," said a well-known Palmerston stock auctioneer, "has there been such a good spell of lambing weather as we have had throughout the North Island this spring. There is a grand lambing going,' and docking tallies will be to hand in about three weeks' time, but meanwhile it is obvious there is going to be a splendid return. Dry ewes are as rare as diamonds, but twins and triplets are dotted about in the paddocks as plentifully as blackberries. Nearly all the lambs we have obtained have lived. The ewes themselves have been singularly free from misadventure. The whole outlook is for a record lambing."

The weather during the last six weeks has established a record for excellence from a grazing point of view. It has been one series of sunny days and gentle easterlies with nights which, though sometimes cold, were dry and generally still.

It is well that there is a good lambing, for New Zealand has a considerable shortage to make good in the year's sheep returns. Last year's heavy exports of lambs and the winter losses in the south depleted the breeding flocks to below the normal level, but in this district, at all events, the intention is to save a very great proportion of the e\ye lambs this season to augment the breeding flocks, and also to use all the available ewes for breeding next season. The prices at the store stock markets for both sheep and cattle are higher than they have been for some years past at this season. The demand is particularly keen for young cattle, the scarcity in this department resulting from ' the wholesale slaughter of calves which has occurred for some years past. This slaughtering is much less evident this season, the farmers realising that the demand is worth catering for.

There is a very strong conviction all through the north that the demand for sheep will continue right through the season. The expectation is based on the fact that last year's uncompleted burns will bo added to the burns of the present season, which, owing to the early, dry spring, are likely to lie extensive, and a large enquiry will therefore develop toward lie l"(o autumn for stocking the young surface sowings, There is certainly a rosy outlook for the graziers.