Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal

The Welsh Crops. « GENERALLY GOOD SAYS FOOD I PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT. I Considerable progress has been made with 'I: the corn harvest in Wales despite the dult! weather of last week. Oats in particular are good; the crop, however, is much laid. ] Wheat has done well, and barley will be fair. From South Denbigh it is reported that some corn had been harvested and the hay crop practically completed. Roots have benefitted by the late rains, and pastures are looking well. Potatoes continue healthy a-nd, strong; and an unusually good crop may be expected. In Montgomery the rain has beaten down the crops rather badly, and the scythe will j have to be freely used on the remainder of the harvest. A good deal of corn has been stacked in the Severn Valley of Montgomery,, j but scarcely one-fourth of the crop had. been secured at the week-end. There are extraordinarily heavy crops of wheat to be seen in some districts, and many farmers are estimating the yields of these particular fields at over six quarters to the acre; taking the wheat crop as a whole it is j now certain that the yield will be well over the average. The barley crop is also very heavy in most districts; but the oat crop will not, it is feared, be up to the average, al- though probably very near it. Whilst doing j no noticeable damage to the corn, the recent rains greatly improved the pastures and after- muihs, which are now growing at a very rapid rate, so that the prospects for autumn and winter keep are excellent. There is disease in the potatoes in a large number of dis- tricts, although as a rule the attacks are not' very severe. A little hay is still out on some I of the hills, but speaking generally the hay I harvest is now over. A particularly satisfactory feature of this year's harvest for Merioneth is that nearly all the hay crop has been got in on the up- lands, and that the corn harvest is unusuaUy early on tne hills. I

The Chester Chronicle understands that a proposal for an adjustment of rents on the Cholmondelev estate is under consideration by the tenants. War demands are stated to be the reason for the proposal. Similar ad- I justments have been privately arranged on other neighbouring estates. A good deal of interest has lately been aroused by reports in the press as to the pro- line jield of oats on single stems. A few weeks ago a Welsh farmer claimed to have grown 147 oats on a single stem. A Winsford farmer later went six better, and finality it might have been thought had been reached, when a Lancashire farmer produced a stem bearing 216 oats. These extraordinary pro- ducts, however, have been left far behind by a Nantwich grower, Mr. E. R. Bellyse, of Stapeley, who obtained from one stem 433 grains. The variety which yielded this minia- ture crop was the Bountiful. We call the attention of our agricultural readers to the important public notice appear- ing in our advertising columns to-day con- taining the minimum rates of wages for fe- male workers in certain areas in England and Wales proposed to be fixecl by the Agricul- tural Wages Board under the Corn Produc- tion Act, 1917. The areas mentioned include Shropshire, Herefordshire^ Cheshire, Brecon and Radnor, Denbigh and Flint, and Merion- eth and Montgomery. It will be noticed that I objections to this proposed scale should be made in writing addressed to the Secretary, I the Agricultural Wages Board (England and Wales), 80, Pall Mall, London, S.W. 1, within I a month from September 6, and should state j precisely and, so far as possible with' reasons, j ,i p"t..n tn I

OFFICIAL RETURNS OF MARKET PRICES. The oittctat returns (I. market lirice, for the week j ending (dept. 4, compiled from the epo os received now tlie Bt-atv or Agr-cun >i: > murKet reporters j givt; ths following luformation j Efti Cattle —Cattle have again oeen shown in fairly good numbers, the majority of the markets showing ..a increase-, while the total for the week at all mar- kets included m the Return is 9,849, against an aver- age for the corresponding weeks of the past three t years of 11,882. Some specially good quality beasts were shown at Wellington (Salop), while at Hull and Wakefield, as well as several other places, the Reporters refer to the nice quality of the beasts on offer. Sheep have been shown in similar numbers to last week; there was a much shorter supply in London, where only 8,500 were on offer, against I nearly 11,000 the previous week, while at feutforU there were fully 1,400 fewer than last week, but against this there were increased supplies of 2,400 ¡ at Leeds, and 1,3W at Newcastle-011-Tyne. The total supply during the week amounts to 54,960, against 52,Ml last week and a three year average of 55,638. All lots were sold at the controlled rate of Is. 2Jd. per lb., plus the value of the kíu, which now aver- j ages about Id. per 1b. of the, carcase weight, while :1 Is. 6d. per head is deducted to pay the cost of distribution. Pigs have beer, bown in smaller num- bers, and the supply is quite insufficient for the Store.—Tho chief interest in the store markets is centred in the autumn sheep sales, which are now commencing. At tileCranm Arms (Salop) sale of Cluus, Kerries, etc., wea made up to 110s. per head prices on the whole showing :t rise over last year of I 4s to is. per head; and reports from other centres I generally indicate a dearer ttrade than last year by 3s. to -is. per head. Rearing calves aiie Di<i bought very freeiy, farmers apparently b.eicg morn I inclined to sell their ruiik than to rear calves. Store pigs further declined in price, the difficulty 01 ob- taining feeding stuffs being stated as the cause. II Oswestry (Sept. 4th).—Fewer cattle on offer, but & large number was super-graded. Useful entry of I sheep and lambs; pelts made 3s. 9d. to 4s. M., and lamb skins 3s to 5s. (id. each. Fat pigs sold at the- I maximum price. I Shrewsbury (Sept. 3rJ).—Slightly more cattle on offer than last week; quality wa.s again good, tne majority being placed >11 the 1st grade, in fact the I' condition of the cattle generally is nearly up to pre- war standard Tor the time of the year. Smaller show of sheep and lambs, quality not being so good as last' week; pelts made up to 5s. 6d., and 14inb skins 6s. each. Pigs numbered 33, and were of very t good quality, all being sold at 21s. per score live weight. (August 30th;.—At this special sale OOb I' store cattle were shown, the entry including a good number of beasts direct from the farmer; there was a better attendance of buyers, consequently trade ruled keener, and prices on the whoie were a shade higher, although the top quotation was again 80s. per live cwt., which was realised for a small bunch of Devon heifers weighing 6 ewts. A lot of very useful Shorthorn heifers of 1% cwts. also realised 80s., and another lot of 51 cwts, 78s., while a good bunch of 15 Angus cross bullocks of Si cwts. made 7Ss. 4d., another lot of 8 cwts. about the same rate, and other useful bunches 73a. to 748>. 6d. per live cwt. A very level lot of 14 Hereford bullocks of 10 cwts. sold at 76s. 3d., while some, younger steers of just over 8^, cwts. made close on 7Ss, other lots of about < cwts. 738. to 76s., two bunches of yearlings 72s., and 73$., ;?nd barren cows up to 75s. per live ewt. I Some Hereford Shorthorn cross bullocks of 7? cwts. j realised nearly 76s., and & few &horthorn bullocks from 70s. to 75B. per live cwt. On the whole best! quality cattle made from 74s. to 78s. 4d., with an extreme of 80s,. secondary sorts 70s. to 73B., and inferior down to Otis, per live cwt. About 75 per cent, of the supply got sold. (Sept. 3rd).—Dairy I cows were certainly no dearer, the top price being X57 IW-. All classes of store pigs cheaper, strong j stores being bought at 90s. to 100s. per head. Wellington (Sept. ind). Shorter supply of cattle j comparod with last week, Lut the majority- were 1st grade beasts, and practically all the Hereford bull- [ ocks were super-graded; the entry mcluded a bunch i f?. 10 HceHeIJt Hra?s-fed Hereford and Hereford Shorthorn cross bullocks, which averaged nearly 12 cwts. each. There were hardly any 2nd grade cattle in the market, and very few 3rd. Small show of sheep and lambs, only 112 being in the market; skins made from Ss. 6d. to 5s, 6d. each. j Grain and Meal.—London.—Wheat: New English is in somewhat increased supply, and the quality is very good; the price of 75s. 6d. per 504 lbs. (72s. per 4B() lbs.) free on rail represents 76s. 6d. per 504 lbs. (72,s. 9d. per 480 lbs.) ex London warehouse. There is a good demand for seed wheat, especially Cones and Revitts. There has been little trade in imported wheat, but Australian has sold at 853. 3d. to 85s. 9d. per 496 lbs. (82s. 6d. to 83s. per '480 lbs..), Argentine j at 82s. to 83s. per 496 lbs. (79s. 3d. to 80s. 3d. per j 480 lbs.) and very inferior Canadian at 75s. to 77s. per 496 lbs. (72s. 6d. to 74s. 6d. per 480 lbs.), Barley There is very little thrashing as yet, and supplies ot new English at 07s. per 448 lbs. (59s. nd. prv -i-i ) ibs.; free on rail, are smaller than usual for early Septem- her. 84s. per 448 thit (75s. per 400 lbs.) is paid for I the best winter barley for seed, but there are samples which have 1)a?Kd the seed test at 758, to 6?ls. per ,H8 ibs. (67s. to 716. 6d. per 400 !bs.). 3s. per ewt.1 is paid for English pale malt. Oats: There is a better supply of English; winter sorts, both grey and, black, make 63s. to 70s. per 336 lbs. (58s. 6d. to 05s. per ¡ 312 lbs.) for seed, while a-ii new spring oats are taken at the fixed price of 48s. 6d. per 336 lbs. (45s. per 312 lbs.) ex warehouse, buyers being prepared to j take any of fair average quality at legal maximum. Imported oats are a good trade, American making Cls. 6d. per 320 lbs. (60s. per 312 Ibs.) and Argentine 03s. to 64s. per 320 lbs. (61s. 6d. to 62s. Gd. per 312 lbs.). Maiice: Permitted products sell at 460s. per ton j for Garten's maize gluten feed, 440a. for Watney's 1 maize feed, 500s. for write maize flour, and 4S0s>, for yellow maize nour. Pul?: Recent sales have included i new winter beans at 17M. per 532 lbs!, old spring beans at 200s. per 504 lbs., new maple peas at 185s. 1 per 504 lbs., flue eew marrowfat peas at 315s. per 504 lbs., and new winter tares at 320s. per 532 lbs. 1 the last named for seed. The sales of imports have ) included Rangoon beans at 41s, to 43s. per cwt., ana j Wiscomin green peas at &7a. to 688. per cwt. Lx store, or 66s. to Ms, 9d. per cwt. ex quay. Meal: Trade for br" is suspended; and there are no midd. lings, barley mea) and lice brin at the moment, but barley dust at 340s. and broken rice at 450s. per ton are obtainable. Oatmeal makes 680s. per ton for | ordinary Aberdeen. Oilcake: Palm kernel cake at 275s. per ton is in demand for pig leeding. There is very little trade in other oil-cake, but oilseeds, oii nuts and palm kernels are sought after for feeding use. Brewery and distillery products: An excellent busi- ness continuesto be done in the by-products, at 26os. per ton for malt cwiins, 280s. for dried porter grains, 235s. for ale, and 305a. for distillery grains. Milk.—London (Paddingotn).—The demand has been I rather better, but the supply is sufficient for present requirements. Birmingham: There is a fair supply of milk, sufficient to meet the immediate demand. Manchester: Supplies decreased at the week-end, I¡ when there was a fair demand,

Mr. James Sadler, who was invited to con- test the Eddisbury division of Cheshire as agricultural candidate, has definitely declined to stand. It is claimed that the New Bridge Street National Restaurant, at which *he average price of a Inceul is under Md., yields a profit of L70, after allowing for full rent, management charges, reserve for renewals, interest on capital ana dararecietion.

FOOD CONTROL. ï I FROZEN MEAT RATIONS. I NEW ORDER FOR NORTH WALES. I The Live Stock Commissioner for North Wales ha.s ordered that 60% of the meat re- quired for registered customers in the area I shall be- the limit of the supply from local I source;" and that the remainder must be frozen meat from abroad. North Wales butchers met the Live Stock Commissioner at I Rhyl on Wednesday, when he stated that be was acting on definite instructions from the Ministry of Food. It was. suggested that I North Wales should be divided into four dis- tricts, each to take all frozen meat for one week in rotation, but butchers from Denbigh and other tons which have a non-fluctuating population object to the arrangement, be- cause if they get 60 to 75% of home-killed meat they will have enough to supply nearly all their registered customers. Experience shows that no district takes its full ration. Some people take poultry instead of meat, and others are unable to afford all the ü.eat to which they are entitled. If the present system continues these towns and villages will subsist ¡ entirely on home-grown beef and mutton, whereas if the proposal to have imported meat one week in four were adopted the whole country would be treated alike. It was under- stood that this solution was accepted by the Commissioner at, a recent conference at Col- wyn Bay, so that when this week's permits were received and it was found that the supplementary permit for visitors had been cancelled the butchers felt they had been un- justly dealt with, as they accepted all import- ed meat last week. NEW BARLEY ORDER. The Food Controller has decided that no barley which is fit for use in human food shall be permitted to be sold or used except for milling for human consumption, rnalting, munition spirit distilling, vinegar making, or any other licensed manufacture, but that the extraction in the milling of barley shall be considerably reduced. The effect of this will be that, compared with the amount of offal obtained. from milling barley at. the present extraction during the past season, a much larger quantity of offal should be forthcoming for stock-feeding purposes during the next season, as the feeding value of the new season's offals will be very much higher that of the offals obtained from the old ex- traction—the feeding value of the increased quality will also be materially improved. It should be clearly understood that no farmer may use as feed for his live stock any damaged wheat, rye, barley, dredgecorn or tailings, dressings, or screenings of wheat, rye, barley, dredgecorn, unless he holds a licence. This announcement does not affect the special con- cessions already promised to smallholders and I to persons cultivating excess acreage. j ITEMS. I The Food Controller has issued an Order giv- ing county council* power to deal with the rat Deat. Traders in lard are not allowed to supply it :to fish and potato friers, as they will bo supplied with other fats. The Food Controller has made another allot- ment- of butter on the basis of l-5th of Ae ap- plications. Grocery syrup can only be obtained for manu- facturing purposes on a permit issued by the Food Ministry or a food control committee. Priority certificates for millers' offals are now issued by Live Stock Commissioners in respect of pigs. Allocations of palm, kernel cake are also being: made to County Feeding Stuffs Com- mittees for pig feeding, and Tiersons desirous of obtaining either cake or millers' offals should apply to the Live Stock Commissioner of their I are,a for the necessary certificate. The Food Controller has sanctioned the sale of poultry other than by weight so long- as the maximum price is not exceeded. Mbimum prices are now fixed for fne following:—Part- ridges (young birds hatched in 1918 and sold prior to the 1st January, 1919): Whole-sale 3s. 3d., retail JJ., All other partridges: Wholesale Is. Gd.. retail 2s. 3d. Pheasants: Cocks, whole- sale Set. 6d., retail 78,; hens, wholesale 53., retail 63. 6d.

National Farmers' Union. I FORMATION OF A WELSH SECTION. I A conference of representatives from Welsh county branches of the National Farmers' I Union held at Shrewsbury was attended, by I Mr. G. T. Apps, general secretary of the Union. The conference considered the ques- I 't: 0 I. of the amalgamation of all the Welsh county branches with a view to the creation I of a body which should consider all questions j connected with agriculture in Wales without i severing or weakening the connection be- tween the Welsh branches and the executive in London. Mr. R. H. Roberts (Foxh-ill, j Denbigh) was elected to the chair, and a.ftcr I, discussion the proposal was ador)ted, .)ii the motion cf Mr. Richard Edwards (Oswestry), stfonded by Mr. R. Pugh (Towyn, Merion- ethshire ). Henceforth, the Welsh branches of the National Union will therefore be united as the Welsh section of the union, and there will be a, Welsh advisory committee, comprising I two members elected by each county, to con- sider all questions connected with agriculture l in Wales. The new committee is to be ap- I pointed forthwith, and will hold, its first meet- ing at 'Shrewsbury.

I Mr. John Pritehard (Messrs. John Pritehard I }fr. Johil Pritchard John Pl'itehal'd and Co., Bangor) sold by auction, last week, Brynmor, the residence of the late Alderman J. E. Roberts, Bangor, to Mr. Blackmore, of Bangor, and formerly of Oswestry. The pro- perty included two cottages and over one acre of land. The bidding started at £ 2,000, and at 1:2,500 the sale was declared open. There was, however, no further bidding. ¡ Two branches sent resolutions to the Che- shire Farmers' Association last week with re- I gard to the tenants' positions under the sale of estates. The following resolution was for- warded by the Middlewich branch and agreed with by Crewe, Altrincham, Stockport, Mac- clesfield, Chelford, Northwich, Wirral. Wins- ford and Chester branches, and adopted That provided he is farming in a manner I satisfactory to the War Agricultural Com- mittee, no tenant of farms now being sold be I i,t?.' leave his farm until I 2?ninthR after tiM end of the war."

Shropshire Sheep Breeders. ANNUAL SHOW AND SALE. This annual event took place on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at Shrewsbury, and proved a grea.t success. Judg- ing was in the capable hands of Mr. T. A. Euttar and Mr. T. Frank, and their awards gave general satisfaction. The awards we.t as follows:— Single Sh-ar'ng Ram: ;st, B. C. Tanner, 2nd, E. Nock: 'iid. -I. S. Berry: 4th. K. W. Milnes; reserve, A. a. Berry. Tive Shearling Rams: 1st, Duke of Westminster; 2nd, E. C. Tanner: Srd, K. W. Miines; 4th, E. Nock; 5tl\, A. 1; Berry; reserve, C. L. Coxon. Twenty Field Ewes: 1st, K. W. Miines; 2nd.. T. Holdcroft Two Earn Lambs: 1st, K. W. Miines; 2nd, W. Barnett; 3rd, Duke of Westminster; reserve, A. B. Birch. Heavy rain fell throughout the day, hut Mr. Alfred Manseil, who conducted the sale, had a pleas- ant task, as the competition was keen and well sus- tained right through, buyers hailing from Sussex, Lancashire. Leicestershire, Denbigh, Cheshire, Scotland, Montgomery, Monmouthshire, Rutland- shire, Yorkshire, Essex. Lincolnshire, Warwick-shire, Staffordshire* Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Ireland. Business commenc-ed with Mr. E. C. Tanner, his first pm- ram making 110 guineas to Mr. C. W, Keiiock. others made 65 gns. Mr. E. Nock. 40 jnis. C apt. Townsend, 40 guinea-s Col. Charteris (Ireland), 35 gns, Mr J. Minton, Mr. Tanner's average being £ 50 14s. lOd. Mr. C. L. Coxon's made: 33 guineas Mr. 11 H. Bo wen, 48 gn-s. Mr. R E vera II, 25 guineas Mr. Mil], 36 gns. Mr. K. Everali, the average being i334 Gs. 5d. The Duke of Westminster's sold well, the- following being the best prices: 100 gns. ii: 8. F. M. Nevett, 69 gns. Mr. Joseph Brown. 2-0 gas, Duke of Grafton, average jE44 Os. 9d. ,Mr. Nock's best prioes: 55 gas. Miss Inge, 40 gns. (2nd prize ram) Mr C. W. Keiiock, 37 gns. Duke of Grafton. average £ 24 ?8-s. Od. Mr. J. A. Everall's were in request, best prices: 53 guineas Mr. Morgan, 40 gus. Mr. Gaundsrs, 30 guineas Mr. Lockhart., average R42 1-4. 8d. Mr. R. E. Birch's: 14 gns. Mr DeUiug, 10 gas. Mr. Reale, average £ 10 17s. 0,1. Mr. A. 8. Berry's best prices were: 67 gns. Mr R. E. Birch, 15 gns. Lord Glanusk, 15 gns. Mr. T. J. Wolley j average £21 15s. Od. 2\1r, F. libby's best price: 25 gns. M-ss Inge. Miss Inge sold rams at 11 gns. Col. Grenfell, 10 gns. Mr. Walters, average £10 17s. Os. Mr. K. W. Miines' best prices were: 35 gns. Mr. Tanner. SO gn8. Mr. Dakin, 19 gns. Mr. F. Nock, 30 gns. Mr. W. Barnett, average £27 ¡¡s Od. Exors. ot late Joseph Everali had a good sale, best pnees: 41 gns. Mr. J. T. Woolley, 23 guineas Mr. Wooley (SAbcot-e), 51 gns. Mr. J. Smith, 20 gns. Mr. Bunner, average £32 ]2s. 7d. The ewes were a small show owing to the large number exported. Mr. K. W. Mil];0r winning f-wrs made 14 gns. and 8 gns, respectively, 'the 20 averag- ing 231s. Mr. Holdcroft's averaged 100s., and Mr. P. Instone's 50 ewes made 104s., 1008., S9s.. 77s., and | 75s.. averaging 89s. Ram Lambs sold up to 15 gns., 14 gns.. 10 guineas, 12 guineas, etc. Cross-bred and Hill Ewes made 74s., 83s., 8! 82s., 74., 693., 858" 688., etc. A great feature of the sale was the large number of rams bought for crossing where an early fat lamb is the object in view, it being very generally found that under existing conditions (shortage of cake and feeding stuffs) that Shropshire Cross Lambs come to market much earlier than the majority of crosses. BbropslJires have always been specially noted for thriving on somewhat scanty feed, and this has brought them into increased public favour the lait two or three years.

LLANGOLLEN STORE SHEEP SALE. i Messrs. Jones and Son held their firBt, annual store sheøp sale on Friday, when upwards of 1.000 ewes, lambs and wethers were penned. There was a lar^e number of buyers present, and an excellent trade was done. The follow- in* are some of rhe prices:—Jones, Berllan- heliff, Tregeiriog, 10 ewes, 616,: Morris, Pen- rhewl, 5s" 428. and 39s. 6d. Da vies, Cyrchy- nan Ucha, 50s. Morris, Llandegla, 47s. Davies, Glanogie, 37s., 35s., 33s. 6d. and 32s. Jones, Berll-anhelipr, 31e. 6d. Lloyd, Pont-riekei, 28: Ellis, Llantysilio, 35s. and 23s. 6d. Pugh, Ty Gwyn, lambs up to 37s. Davies, Hafod Adams, 11..) to 49s. Phillips, Tynycelyn, 31s. 6d., and lambs 2ls. Jones, Tyiivpiscvll, Nantyr, 49s. 6d. The next sale is advertised for Tuesday, Sept. i 24th. in c-onjunction with the usual fair. ç. i RUTHIN PROPERTY SALE. On Tuesday week, Messrs. Frank Llovd and Sons conducted a sale at the Castle Hotel, Ruthin, of six freehold farms, situate between Ru-t-fliri aii-ti Corwen, part of the estate of the late Rev. R. J. Roberts. Braichycwm (42 acres) was withdrawn at £ 900. Tyddyn Isaf (30 acres) was withdrawn ar £ 1,000. The vendors are open- to receive offers for these farms, Gallt-y Celvn (80 acres) was sold to Mr. John Stephen* at £ 1,825. Gwindir (127 acres) was purchased by the tenant, Mr. David Jones, for £ 1,600.. Bryndu (115 acres) was acquired by Mr. John Jones, Glegy Isa.f, at £ 1,600, and Glegy Isaf (195 acres) was sold to the tenant, Mr, J. R. Huehes, at £ 2,250. Messrs. Tatham, ,Wort-hing- ton and Co., of Manchester, were the solicitors for the vendors.

RAINFALL RETURNS The rainfalls for August were 2.55 inches at Fairieigh, Overton (Mr. B. J. E. Wright); 11.83 at Rhiwlas (Mr. J. G. Jones); 2.10 at Glyn Ceiriog (Mr. Edgar W. Foulkes); and 1.87 at Ellesmere (Mr. C. Pailing). — —

Experiments at the Coal Controller's De- partment show that with the grate register a quarter open a saving of 30% 'of coal can be effected and yet more warmth given out into the room. The "register," of course, is the shutter at the top of the fireplace where it joins the chimney. Our readers are urged to try the experiment for themselves. The Brewers' Society have suggested to the Ministry of Food that any beverage under 24 ?dogrees, to the sale of which as a substitute brewers h&ve no objection, though they strongly deprecate its being sold as beer, should only be offered under a name which would malie it clear to the public that they are not buying genuine beer, ale, or stout. The further opinion is expressed that beer substitutes below 24 degrees gravity should net be sold at 4d. per pint, which is the con- trolled price for beers of 24 to 80 degrees. x Farmers met at Chelford on Monday to consider the question of milk prices. Owing to the difficulties of production it was agreed that winter prices for Manchester and Liver- pool must Do£'b less than 2s. 6d. per gallon- an increase of lOd. The farmers complained of the increasing price of cows, and said the cost of labour would be higher than ever this winter. Mr. Sadler, of the Milk Association, said the outlook for milk this winter was gloomy, and unless people paid the farmers' prices there was a risk of a milk famine. anor- moua difficulties facing farmers.