On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 11 September 1913, Page 59

On the Land

GENERAL. The annual report on the State nurseries and plantations states that over 10,000,000 trees were successfully raised in the four Government nurseries in the year, a little more than half being in the Rotorua establishment. Since the formation of the nurseries in 1896, over 60,000,000 trees have been sent to the plantations and 3,000,000 to outside places. The total cost of the seven nurseries (three of which have now been closed) to date was £117,743, of which, however, £25,323 was represented by permanent works. The failure of the potato market this season to return to croppers anything like an adequate compensation for the labor and risk attached to growing is likely to be keenly felt by many who based their chances of liquidating their liabilities on the prospect of obtaining good prices (says the Oamaru Mail). The conditions attached to export are such that merchants can scarcely Be persuaded to accept potatoes as a gift, and even if they were saleable, it is doubtful if the price obtained would much more than pay for the picking over that is necessary at this stage of the season, and other contingencies incidental to marketing. In the annual report of the Lands Department, it is stated that during the year 19 new estates were subdivided into 242 farms or holdings, aggregating an area of 128,138 acres, and offered for selection. Two of the estates were situated in the Hawke's Bay district, fourteen in Canterbury, two in Otago, and one in Southland. The total number of holdings occupied under the provisions of the Land for Settlements Act now number 5379, aggregating 1,366,518 acres, from which accrues an annual rental of £329j890. The number of sheep depastured on the lands is estimated at 1,010,000, horses 19,100, cattle and other stock 85,700. The 'total value of improvements at the date of last inspection was £2,371,366. At Addington last week the entries were about equal to those of the previous week in sheep, but cattle of all classes were offered in larger numbers. Beef was somewhat easier. Store sheep were in keen demand, and fat sheep were firm. Pigs of all classes sold exceptionally well, and prices showed an advance. Prime wethers made 24s to 31s; lighter, 19s lid to 23s 6d; prime ewes, 21s to 25s 3d; others, 16s 6d to 20s 6d; hoggets, 18s 3d to '2os 6d; merino wethers, 22s lOd to 23s Bd. Pat Cattle: Stores made £8 5s to £l2; extra, to £l7 10s; heifers, £6 10s to £lO 15s; extra, to £l3 10s; cows, £5 17s 6d to £9; extra, to £l3 2s 6d. Fat pigs: Choppers made £3 10s to £6; heavy baconers, £3 10s to £4_; extra, to £4 7s; lighter, £2 15s to £3 ss. These prices are equivalent to 6sd per lb. Heavy porkers made 45s to 48s; lighter, 38s to 42s (equal to 6£d to 6fd per lb). / V H About three years ago the Ashburton County Council imported about 20 German grey owls, which have the reputation of being the natural enemies of small birds. This step was taken with a view to coping with the small bird nuisance, as agriculturists were becoming alarmed at the yearly increasing toll levied on the cereal crops by these feathered pests. Several of the owls died during the voyage to the Dominion, but the remainder (about 16) were liberated in a plantation adjoining the Ashburton racecourse. The owls remained in this plantation for some time, but they eventually disappeared, and have since been seen by farmers in various parts of the county. There is a divergence of opinion (says the Guardian) as to whether the owls have accomplished the purpose for which they were imported, but as they prey upon their enemies during the nighE it is difficult for anyone to form an accurate opinion. At Burnside last week there were average entries of cattle and sheep, and a large one of pigs. Prices for cattle were on a par with those ruling at the last sale, but owing to the number of pigs forward prices were somewhat easier. The fat sheep forward totalled

2567. The quality all through was good, there being some pens of very prime wethers. Prices were hardly so high as last week’s extreme rates. Quotations: Prime wethers, 27s to 29s 6d; extra, good, to 35s 9d ; medium, 24s to 26s 6d; light, 21s to 235; best ewes, 24s to 26s 6d; extra, to 30s 9d; medium to good, 20s to 22s 6d; light, 18s 6d to 19s 6d. One hundred and sixty-six'Tat cattle were yarded, mostly medium cattle. Prices all through were much on a par with late rates, although towards the end of the sale values were slightly easier. Quotations: Best bullocks, £l2 10s to £l3 10s; extra, to £l6; medium to good, £ll to £l2 ss; light, £9 10s to £lO 10s; best cows and heifers, £9 15s to £lO 10s; extra, to £l2; medium, £7 15s to £9 ss; light, £5 10s to £7. One hundred and thirtytwo fat pigs and 66 stores were yarded. Prices were easier all round.

SHEEP RETURNS. ;;;'( ' A return of sheep in the Dominion up to April 30 last shows that as compared with 1912 the number had increased by 441,657. The totals are as follow:

North Island net increase, 527,356. South Island net decrease, 85,699. Dominion increase, 441,657. The number of sheep in the Dominion is the second highest on record, being beaten only by the 24,369,620 recorded in 1910. The district totals are as follow: Auckland, 1,340,318; Napier. 5,780,201; Wellington, 6,024,926; Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland, 1,298,287; Canterbury, 5,193,691; Dtago, 4,554,387'. There were 21,527 sheep owners, as against 21,471 last year.

HOW NOT TO DRENCH LAMBS. A Government veterinary officer, who recently yisisted a farm for the purpose of assisting the owner in determining the cause of some mortality which had occurred among lambs (writes Mr. C. J. Reakes, M.R.C.V.S., in the Journal of Agriculture), makes the following remarks in his report upon the matter: 'ln conversation with Mr. I learned that he had been drenching the lambs with turpentine and linseed-oil, and that nearly all—possibly all— of the deaths had occurred very shortly after drenching; also that he had used a pewter syringe to drench with, and believed in doing it quickly, and with force.' In these days it seems difficult to realise how any man could imagine that to force liquid medicine down the throat through the medium of a syringe is a right and proper way of administering it. It is an excellent way of forcing the liquid into the wind-pipe and killing the patient, and I have no doubt but that these lambs were in this way killed by the owner. With sheep and lambs, as with other animals, liquid medicine should be given slowly and carefully, a small quantity only being quietly poured into the mouth at a time, and care being taken to pour in no more until that is properly swallowed. The head should be held, by the upper jaw only, slightly above the horizontal line (care being taken not to compress the nostrils), and the tongue left quite free.

North Island South Island ,1912. ... 12,618,089 ... 11,132,064 1913. 13,145,445 11,046,365 Totals .. 23,750,153 24,191,810