RURAL NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1829, 27 March 1884, Page 3

RURAL NOTES.

A correspondent sends the Witness the following cutting from the Palmerstown Times :— " We are informed that recently three local shearers in Mr M. U. Orbells sheds, Ballington Statiou, named Charles Hoad, Thomas Brown, and James Apes, put through 200 sheep eacli the first day, and 220 eacli the second day of the season — making for the two days' work a total of 1260 shorn sheep. Not bad." — Another correspondent writes :— " It is simply preposterous to say that it is a common thing for shearers to do 200 sheep, and it is only done where shearers are allowed full scope : and, moreover, the man who does that number covers from three inches in eacli cut he takps. These fast shearers cut the wool mostly with the upper blade of the shears, in a manner not common to shearers generally ; and although the sheep appear to be evenly shorn, it is not t>o in closer inspection — leaving, in feet, the best of the wool on the body. Other milch cattle come occasionally into the front rank in America besides Jer serys and Aysliircs. At times we read of shorthorns having a wonderful record, and the Prairie Farmer has the following record of a herd of Holstein cows, by Dr Rhodes, of the Agricultural Academy at Aldena, which confiuns the extraordinary milking qualities of cows of that breed. The herd referred to consisted of 36 cows, and 1865 a lecord of nine of they was kept, .showing a production respectively of 5016 quarts, 4720 quarts 4620, 4490, 4365, 4800, 6016, 5009, 4000 quarts, an annual average produce of milk of more than 4700 quaits per cow. The annual yield of milk of the nine cows was 92,8851b of milk, which if made into cheese, allowing 9ilb of milk for a pound of cheese, would have produced 9777-361b.au aveinge of 10861b of cheese annually per cosy, while the maximum yield of the best cow would have been 11441b of cheese per annum. Mr John Reid of Elderslie (says the Oamaru Times) has just received a letter fiom the Australian Company of London, who are his agents in the frozen-meat tiade, in which the following paragraph occurs— namely : "In oidor to work up the country trade, we aie insetting adveitisements in over 150 country papers intimating that we aie prepared to supply consume) » direct, horn one carcass and upwards. We bought yesterday for the country prime New Zealand mutton at 5-W, but as the weather gets brighter and cooler, we look for an improvement." This new effort is in addition to the country outlets afforded by Mr Reids arrangement with John Bell and Sons, who have over 100 depots already opened for the sale of meat in Butain, and the fact that it is being made will doubtless be interesting to those of our readers who are engaged in stook-niising.

Messrs \V. J. Hunter and Co , will sell at the Cambridge Yards on Ihursd.iy, April 3rd, 3 and 4 jear old steers, fit cows and hellers, joung heifers, fat sheep, d.nrj cows, &c. On Saturday, the sth pro\ the) will sell at Cambridge, 40 marcs and geldings of all kinds saddlery, hnrncss S-c &c. On fupsd.iy, April Bth, they will sell at the Olnupo Yards, 100 longuool ewes in lamb, well-bred )«unjr cattle of both sexes, fat cows and steers, 20 Riade Hereford Cows in calf to pure bull, (iO steers from Native Country &c. &c. You will do well to furnish your house rom G.irlick and Cr.m well's. I hey have now the most complete Furnishing Warehouse in Auckland, furnituie to suit all classes, good strong, And cheap. They have Tapestry Carpets „-oni 2s 3d pei yard, Brussels from 3s lid per yard, Linoleum from 3s 9d to ss, Oil Cloths from Is Cd to 4s Cd per yard, good 12 feet wide Oil Cloths at 3s Gd per yard. Immense assortment of Iron Bedsteads from Infants' Cots to 5 feet wide half-tester Bedsteads. Double iron Bedsteads from 255. 480 Bedsteads in stock to select from. Beddings of all kinds and sizes kept in readiness. Dining, Sitting, Drawing-room Furniture, and and a large assortment of Manchester and Furnishing Goods, including .1 lot of Cretonnes. Book Catalogues sent free to intending purchasers. Garhrk and Cranwell Cttv H»U "irrado Qnpf n-strpft AnrkianH