On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 6, 11 February 1925, Page 53

On the Land

MARKET REPORTS. There was a large yarding of fat cattle yst Burnside last week, 380 being penned. ''Sj'his entry was much in excess of butchers’ requirements, and in consequence there was a very dragging sale. Prices opened at about 30s below the previous week’s values, and as the sale progressed there was an easing tendency, and at the end of the sale prices were back at least 20s below opening rates, and a good many pens were turned out unsold. Although the entry was a big one there were very few pens of prime cattle forward, and for this class there was not such a big drop in values as there was in the medium and unfinished cattle. Fat Sheep. For last week’s sale 2025 were yarded. There was a good proportion of heavyweight wethers forward, but the bulk of the yarding was of medium quality. About onethird of the entry was made up of ewes of good to medium quality, and taken all over prices may be quoted as on a par with late rates. The sale was very erratic, especially for heavy-weight wethers, but all exporters were operating for light sheep, and there was a steady sale throughout for this class. Prime heavy-weight wethers made from 46s to 49s 9d, medium 42s to 445, light 37s to 395, heavy ewes 38s to 41s, medium 32s to 345, light 26s to 28s. Fat Lambs.-650 were penned. The quality was good, and all exporters were operating at late rates. Extra prime heavy-weight ewes made from 44s 6d to 47s 3d, prime 38s 6d to 41s, medium 34s to 365, light 28s to 325. Pigs.—A large yarding. The entry was much in excess of requirements, and prices receded os per head below ,late rates. At Addington market last week there were very heavy entries in the shorn sheep and fat cattle sections. Fat Lambs. —A small entry of 3150. There was an improved market. Prime made 12|d, light-weights 121 d, and over-weight llfd, extra prime lambs 47s 6d, a few special 50s, prime lambs 40s to 445, medium 37s 6d to 39s 9d, light 34s 6d to 375, store 32s to 345. Fat Sheep. — A small entry, mostly ewes priming in price, values being beyond exporters’ limits except in occasional pens. Extra- prime wethers made 49s to 52s 6d, prime 44s to 46s 6d, medium 40s 6d to 43s 6d, light 35s to 39s 6d, extra prime ewes 45s 9d, prime 38s to 41s, medium 34s 6d to 37s 6d, light 32s 6d to 34s 3d, old 29s to 325. Fat Cattle. —An exceptionally heavy yarding of 610 head, mostly cows and medium steers. It was too heavy for the market, and there was an easing of 30s to 35s per head. Primest beef made 37s 6d to 40s, and there were a number of passings; prime steers £ls 10s to £l7 17s 6d, medium £l2 10s to £ls ss, light £7 to £l2, extra prime • heifers £l2 2s 6d, prime £8 10s to £ll 10s, medium £5 10s to £8 ss, extra prime cow’s £l3 2s 6d, prime £8 to £ll, medium £5 10s to £7 15s, aged £3 to £4 15s.

;PFIJNGXJS DISEASES: PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT. Fungus diseases are caused by minute vegetation organisms attacking plants of a high order, and in some seasons the losses

caused are very serious, and humid conditions are very advantageous for most of them, Where the drainage of land is bad, the conditions are usually very favorable for the rapid propagation of these minute plants. In spraying against fungus diseases, it should be borne in mind that treatment should always be preventative rather than curative, for once these organisms enter their host plant they are beyond the reach of effective treatment. The aim of the horticulturist should ho Io coat with a fungicidal spray tin* plant to be protected, so that Hie spore of tin' disease, on germination taking place, would come into contact with the fungicide that separates it from its host plant, and thus cause its death. If the tree has not been protected by coating it with a fungicide, the spore or germination sends out mycelial threads, which find their way beneath the skin of the host plant and commence to feed on its tissues. The skin and tissue of the affected parts are killed, and it is the inability of these dead parts to expand and keep pace with the growing parts of fruit that causes the cracks in apples and pears when attacked by Black Spot fungus.

WORKING HORSES: CARE ON THE FARM. Horses, like all oilier farm animals, require to bo carefully treated and attended to, if the maximum is to be got out of them; especially is this the case with the working horse (says an exchange). A teamster should be a man of great patience, and must be prepared to study the temperament of his horses individually. The hours of work should not be too .long and should be regular, as far as possible, each day’s work being balanced, with the previous day’s. A four hours’ spell in the chains is quite long enough for horses doing heavy farm work, but the animal may be saved a great deal of strain by careful handling, and by putting each horse in the team in a place which best suits him. Horses in the collar should never be hurried in turning. The teamster who yells and roars at his horses is never a good horseman. The proper and regular feeding of horses is the most important consideration of all. The time to be given them in the morning should be of not less than one hour and a half’s duration ; in fact, three hours is better, while at noon the minimum should be set at one hour and a quarter. In the evening the time allowed should be two hours. Working horses should never be fed the whole meal in one lot. The horse, especially when tired, will only nibble at the food and pick it over, taking all the oats' he can and leaving the chaff. A feeder should be small on the bottom so that the animal cannot sort out the oats easily. However, if food is given a little at a time, the animal is induced to clean up each lot, and in this way will eat a good deal more. A horse cannot work continually if he does not eat well. During winter months, if grass is scarce, a small, ration of. carrots will be found beneficial. In dry weather chaff should be moistened for working horses. Half an ounce

to one ounce of Epsom salts in the feed every morning will be found to keep the animals free and soft in the coat. Salt is an absolute necessity, and every manger should have some placed in it.