On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 46, 2 December 1925, Page 53

On the Land

MARKET REPORTS. There was an exceptionally heavy yarding of fat cattle at Burnside last week, 422 head being forward. The quality in most cases was good, and, on account of the heavy yarding, there was a considerable drop of from £2 to £2 10s per head. Extra prime bullocks made to £26 12s 6d, prime £l9 to £2l, good beef, medium weight, £ls to £l7 10s, unfinished £ll 10s to £l3, best cows and heifers £l2 to £l3 10s, extra prime to £l7, medium £lO 10s to £ll 10s, inferior £7 10s to £9. Fat Sheep.—There were 4481 penned, and the supply was much in excess of the demand, with the consequence that several hundred sheep were passed out unsold. Competition was irregular, and prices on the average were easier by about 4s per head. Extra prime woolly wethers made, to 61s 6d, medium 51s to 535, medium weights 43s to 455, extra prime shorn wethers to 48s 6d, prime 39s to 425, medium weights 34s to 365, light and inferior 29s to 31s, extra prime shorn ewes to 42s 9d, prime 34s to 36Sj aged and irftrior 21s to 245. Fat Lambs. —There was a good yarding, 135 being penned, a number of pens being of unfinished quality. Competition ■at the commencement of the sale was fair, but as the sale progressed butchers got their supplies filled, and towards the end sales were very hard to effect. A few extra prime lambs brought up to 45s 9d, prime 34s to 375, good 30s to 325, medium 23s to 25s 6d. Pigs.—There were 278 fats and many stores. Prices dropped heavily, the fall being more than 10s per head taken all round.

Excess yardings were the rule at last week’s Addington market, and there was a decided drop in values, particularly for fat sheep. The uncertainty regarding feed was the cause of the heavy entry. Fat Lambs. —Six hundred were entered, being more than butchers wanted, and there was a drop of 2s to 3s a head. Values averaged from 9d to lOd a lb. Fat Sheep. —A heavy entry of 11 races, practically all of which were shorn. The market dropped from 3s to 4s per head on the previous week, and towards the close of the market the bulk of the sheep were passed. Values were lower than they have been since last Summer Show. Wethers 43s 6d to 51s Gd, extra prime wethers 36s 9d to 41s 4d, prime wethers 33s to 36s 6d, medium wethers 30s to 32s 6d, light wethers 27s lOd to 29s extra prime ewes to 33s lOd, prime ewes 27s to 31s, medium ewes 24s 6d to 26s 6d, light ewes 21s 6d to 245, inferior ewes •17s to 20s, prime woolly ewes 37s 6d to 41s 6d, extra good to 52s 9d, prime woolly ewes 36s to 44s 4d, medium woolly ewes 29s to 355. Fat Cattle. —There was an excess entry, 645 being offered, including about 100 from the North Island. There was a ding-dong sale, with a drop of 50s per head on big steers from the preceding week, and about 40s on lighter. Prime'medium-vveight beef averaged i6s 6d to 49s 6d, and in a few cases to 51s per 1001 b. Prime heavy-weight beef brought 43s to 465, medium 38s to 41s, light and inferior 34s to 37s 6d, and rough down to 255. Extra prime heavy-weight steers brought to £23 17s 6d, prime heavy-weight steers £l9

to £2l, prime medium-weight steers £lB 15s to £2l 10s, medium steers £ls 15s to £lB ss, light steers £ll to £ls 10s, extra prime heifers to £ls 7s 6d, prime heifers £l2 10s to £l4 ss, medium heifers £9 to £l2* 15s, light heifers £6 5s to £8 15s; extra prime cows to £l6 12s 6d, prime cows £ll 5s to £l3 15s, ordinary cows £9 to £ll, light cows £5 to £8 10s. Vealers'. —There was a heavier entry and an easier sale. Runners made to £8 10s and vealers to £6 17s 6d. Fat PigsThere was a large entry. Baconers sold at little change, but porkers were easier. Choppers brought £3 to £7 10s, light baeoners £4 to £6 —average per lb, 8d to 9d; porkers brought 55s to 75saverage price, B£d to per lb. GARDENING NOTES WORK FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. The Vegetable Garden. All the spring planting of vegetables and seed sowing for the main crops in the season's supply should be finished by now, and the principal work in the garden centred in securing a good healthy plant growth. This consists largely in hoeing weeds and thinning out where seeds have come up too thickly; the latter especially in regard to carrots, parsnips, turnips, onions, leeks, and kindred plants. Spinach and lettuce should also be thinned out as required. Continue sowing a small quantity of seed and planting out cabbage of different sorts, including cauliflower (autumn giant is the best for a late crop). A good square of this variety should be put in as soon as possible, as it comes in late in the autumn and is very useful at that time. Give plenty of water at time of planting, and an occasional application of liquid manure during the dry season to keep them moving. A good square of early and late brocoli should be put in now, using plenty of water at time of planting. Sow thinly a line or two of round spinach—this is a good "wholesome vegetable and a supply should, be found in every garden. With regard to spinach the best plan is to frequently sow a small quantity m good rich soil. Keep up a succession of lettuce and radish, sowing them in rich soil, and well watering during dry weather. Now is a good time to sow peas, beans, scarlet runners, and French beans. Pumpkins marrows, and cucumbers ought to be planted out, using plenty of manure and water to assist their growth. Keep the soil constantly stirred with the Dutch hoe and thus ensure an adequate supply of air and food to growing vegetables. During the time when watering is necessary a supply of fertiliser before watering will prove very beneficial. The Flower Garden—All the bedding out should now be finished, and work in this department confined to the- regular mowing rolling, and watering of the lawn, and to caring for the newly bedded-out plants by watering when necessary, and hoeing out weeds. Stake dahlias and chrysanthemums as a protection against strong winds. Out back privet, laurel, holly, and Matipo hedges. Now, while the .growth is soft and fresh, is the best time to carry out the work

of hedge-trimming; the second trimming prior to winter-will, too, be found a much easier operation as a consequence. , '" The Fruit Garden. —Trees with a luxuriant growth should be looked over and where there are many shoots of young spray these should be pruned back to about three inches from the stem so as to give light and air to the fruit, and also do away with unnecessary growth. Spraying for codlin moth and fungus diseases must be now attended to; the necessary material with instructions for use being obtainable from dealers in gardening requisites. Now is the time to thin out late "grapes. At least half the berries require to be cut off; this should be done with sharp-pointed scissors, taking care not to handle the branches but using a branched stick to steady them during the process. If mildew is showing dust on sulphur or apply with a little bellows.