On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 17 August 1911, Page 1606

On the Land

Milk quietly,, quickly, cleanly, and thoroughly, Cows do not like unnecessary noise or delay. Commence milking exactly the same hour in the morning and evening and milk the cows in the same order. • Rape, in common with other plants having broad leaves, obtains* comparatively large quantities of carbon from the atmosphere,. which, when large residues are ploughed under, as is practically possible with this crop, adds much, to the humus of the soil.. At Burnside last week there was a large yarding of cattle, 205 head being offered. At the commencement of the sale prices were from 20s to 30s lower than the high prices of the previous week. Quotations: Best, £l3 to £l3 10s; extra, to £l4; medium, £ll to £ll 10s; inferior, £8 to £8 15s; best cows and heifers, £8 10s to £9 10s; extra, to £ll 10s; medium, £6 5s to £6 15s; inferior, £5 to £5 10s. There was a large yarding of sheep (3541), which included a number of very good quality sheep. . Prices, on account of tho large yarding, were easier by Is to Is 6d per head. Quotations: Best wethers, 21s to 235; extra, 255; medium, 19s to 20s; inferior, 16s to 17s; best ewes, 18s to 19s; extra, to 22s 6d; medium, 15s to 16s; inferior, lis to 13s. The lambs penned numbered only 180. Prices, owing to freezing buyers not operating, were easier. The yarding was bought by butchers and graziers. There was a small yarding of slips and suckers, for which there was very little demand. Porkers and baconers were in good demand, and prices were firm. Quotations: Suckers, 3s to 6s 6d; slips, 12s to 15s; stores, 18s to 245; porkers, 23s to 325; light baconers, 35s to 41s; heavy baconers, to 60s. The quantity of butter exported from the Dominion last year amounted to 17,509 tons, valued at £1,873,420; cheese exported, 22,253 tons, valued at £1,279,552; representing a total value of £3,152,972. In addition to this the consumption of dairy produce in New Zealand had to be taken into consideration. This was estimated at £2 5s per head of the population. This estimate was based on the consumption of milk, butter, and cheese, and taking the last return of the population at 1,008,407, it would mean an additional sum of £2,268,915 to be added to the export value, bringing the value of the entire output up to £5,421,887.

At Addington last week there were only small entries of stock, and a fair attendance. Fat sheep showed. a rise of 2s to 3s per head. The few fat hoggets in also sold well. Pigs showed some improvement, but there was not much demand for cattle. The yarding of store sheep comprised mixed lines of ewes and hoggets and a few pens of wethers. There was a good demand for all classes. Several lots of ewes failed to find buyers at the prices asked. Wethers, if anything, were firmer. There were 237 head of fat cattle penned, chiefly of good quality. . Though a few lots were passed at the opening of the sale, the bidding became brisk when values had been established. Steers made £7 7s 6d to £11; extra, to £l6 10s; heifers, £5 17s 6d to £9; extra, to £l2 15s. There was a very small entry of fat sheep, including a few lots of show wethers. There was a keen demand on the part of butchers, and prices advanced 2s to 3s per head on previous week's rates. Prime wethers made 23s to 29s 6d; extra, to 455; others, 17s to 22s 7d; prime ewes, 20s to 26s 9d; others, 18s 6d to 19s 6d; extra prime merino wethers, 26s to 31s 6d. There was an exceptionally small yarding of pigs. Owing to the shortage there was a very keen demand for fats, and all sorts sold readily, prices showing a slight advance. , Large baconers realised 58s to 645, and smaller sorts "44s to 56s— prices being equivalent to 44d to 4|d, in some cases 5d per lb.