FARM AND STATION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14854, 20 December 1913, Page 16

FARM AND STATION.

Shipments of frozen mutton and lamb from Australia to the United Kingdom this season show a great increase, while beef shipments are also larger. The totals for the four months from July Ist to October 31st compare as follows: — July-October. 1912. 1913. Mutton, carcases ... 245,-00 1,233,900 Lamb, carcases ... 99,700 457,750 Beef', quarters ... .520,250 545,750 Australian mutton for the four months thus 6hows an increase of 988,500 carcases, lambs an increase of 358,050 carcases, and beef an increase of 25,500 quarters. An interesting experiment has been carried out on the Central Research Farm at Werribee, Victoria, to test the suitableness of various breeds of sheep for producing fat lambs. An even lot of first-cross owes was purchased, and equal numbers wero mated with Lincoln Dorset Horn, Border Leicester, English Leicester, Shropshire, and Southdown rams, and after lamb-marking, wero put together, and run on tho same pasture. A fair run of the wether lambs from each lot were sent in to market recently. The Lincoln cross, which were tho largest, and carried the best fleece, and also handled well, made 15s. The Dorset Horn lambs, wellgrown, and fat, and fairly fleeced, mado 13s 6d, the Border Leicestere, which were next to the Lincolns in size, made 133 9d, tho English Leicesters 13s Id, Shropshire- 12s lOd, and the Southdowns, which were rather on the small 'side, owing, no doubt, to climatic conditions, as each breed had equal chances, made lis <3d. It is understood that the ewe lambs out of the sarao flock are to bo shorn, and sent to market in the course of a few weeks to tost the relative values of shorn and wooiled lambi-

"May Be Solution of Rabbit Pest in Australia" is tlio striking headline of an article in "The World" of September 27th, published in Vancouver, British Columbia. It states that Mr G. T. Curtis, a resident of Vancouver, has communicated to the Commonwealth Department of Trade and Customs a suggestion for the introduction of tho Canadian rabbit disease into Australia. The article states that every seven years a mysterious disease or epidemic almost wipes out tho myriads of rabbits that abound in Northern British Columbia, the Yukon, and parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. This year (1913) is the sixth year of tho cycle, and rabbits are said to be so numerous in parts of Canada that one almost trips over them. Next summer tho strange malady is due to decimate tlie rabbits' ranks as it has done regularly for the last thirty years, as recorded, and for many seven-year cycle*., previously, according to the Indians. It is said that the Canadian rabbit disease does not affect any other animals or human beings in that country. Mr Curtis states that he has received a letter from the Commonwealth Government, stating that the Premiers of the various Australian States intend to tako the question up with the different Pastoralist Associations in each State. Tho proposal will require very close find careful scrutiny, for Australia has had bitter experience in the introduction of foreign disea.es, and does not want to run any further risks.