On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 24 August 1911, Page 1662

On the Land

A dairy farmer in the Forty-Mile Bush district, who last season milked eighteen cows on a small farm of approximately 50 acres, states that he netted an average of £l3 2s 5d per cow for his milk returns.

The growing of peas for soil renovation purposes is advocated by Mr. A. B. Wood, agricultural chemist. ‘ Not only would the farmers find it profitable,’ said Mr. Wood to a Wairarapa Times reporter, ‘but the land would be left in a good condition, the farmer getting a free supply of nitrogen from the crop. I consider this one of the best means of regaining nitrogen from the atmosphere.

Something like a record for a big sale of dairy stock was established the other day in Taranaki, when Mr. J. Stevenson’s dairy herd of 166 head averaged £8 19s each under the hammer of Messrs. Gillies and Nalder. There were no special breeds, and Mr. Stevenson, who is a Kapuni farmer, is to be congratulated on the condition in which he marketed his stock. Mr. Stevenson has given up dairying for fattening.

There was a large yarding of 3790 sheep at Burnside sales last week. Prices on an average were less by about Is per head than those ruling at the previous sale. Wethers made up to 29s per head, and ewes up to 27s 3d. There was a yarding of 163 head of cattle, and the quality was certainly superior to that of the cattle sent forward in the previous week. The market opened firmly, and closed with values showing an advance of 10s per head on those ruling at the previous sale, prices ranging up to £ls. There was only a small yarding (609) of lambs, which sold at from 9s 6d to 15s. There was a very small yarding of both store and fat pigs. Suckers and slips were not in demand, but porkers and baconers sold very well. Suckers, 6s to 8s; slips, 9s 6d to 15s; stores, to 17s; porkers, 25s to 355; light baconers, 37s 6d to 455; heavy baconers, to 61s.

The original making of ensilage was nothing more than an imitation of the dog that digs in the ground to cover up and keep a bone or something else he wanted to keep and eat at a later date. But, while the silo in the ground serves a great deal better than none at all, it falls short of being as satisfactory as those built above ground. Of course the practical use of the silo is the keeping of forage in a succulent condition, and the most general adaptation is for the use of dairy cows. In this use of it the consumption of ensilage has increased very rajoidly in the last ten years. The digestive nutrients in forage of any sort seems to be kept in a more satisfactory condition as ensilage than any other way, and a far quantity per acre can be got from the land, so that any farmer who keeps many cattle will be certain to find that the silo is very necessary on his farm.

At Addington last week there were moderate entries of stock and a fair attendance. Fat cattle and fat sheep were firm at the recent high rates. There was a- moderate yarding of fat sheep, including a few pens of prime wethers. There was a keen demand for all classes, and the late high rates were firmly maintained. The range of prices was: Prime wethers, 23s to 295; extra, to 325; others, 17s to 22s 6d; ewes, 20s to 25s 6d; extra, to 27s 9d; others, 16s 9d to 19s 6d ; hoggets, 12s 9d to 18s lid; extra, to 275. The entry of fat cattle totalled 329, there being a good proportion of prime steers, but a number of not well finished animals were also offered. There was-a very good demand, and prices, if anything, were rather firmer. Steers made £7 5s to £11; extra, to £l7; heifers, £5 5s to £l2 ; cows, £5 to £lO 7s 6d. There was a medium entry of pigs. The demand for fats was good, though prices were barely up to last week’s rates. Choppers sold up to £3 14s; large baconers, £2 15s to £3 ss; smaller, 45s to 50s (equal to 4jd per lb); large porkers, £1 16s to £2; smaller, £1 10s to £1 14s (equal to 5d per lb). Store pigs sold very well, large sorts making £1 5s to £1 12s 6d; medium, 16s to 235; smaller, Us to 15s; weaners, 8s to 12s; sows in pig, to £2,