AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2237, 14 January 1897, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The purchase which Mr C. Pharszjrn, of Longwcod, ha« jast made from Mr W.. Nelson and Messrs Williams and Kettle, is that of about 6000 acres of limestone country ' on the Fuketoi Rauge, on the boundary between the Hawke'a Bay And Wellington district", with aboub 7000 sheep and 350 cattle. The Wellington Post understands that the price paid was between £25.000 and ££6,000, and that it is intended to spend a large farther Bum in felling the leaa&inder of the bush and improving the property. The purchase is made for Mr Godfrey N. Pharazyn (only son of the late Mr William Pharazyn, formerly Assistant Law Officer) and Mr H. H. Pharazyn (a son of Mr C. Pharazyn), who will carry on the property in partnership a» G. and H. Pharazyn. Mr H. H. Pharazyn is now at Trinity College, Cambridge, and will return to New Zealand after taking his degree Mr G. N. Pharazrn is a B.A. of the same c allege. It is satisfactory to flod young meu, after a university education, returning to the colony and deroting themselves to the true work of ooioaists. At a meeting of the Gear Meat Co., Wellington, a dividend of 10 per cent, was adopted. Some objection was taken to carrying over co large a balance »s £3810, and it was urged the dividend might be made larger ; but the general feeling was in favour of holding a good balance in hand to meet possible risk. Shearing operations (writes a correspondent of the Tuapeka Times) have just been finished at Teviot station, and the result has been moifc satisfactory, nearly 500 bales- having been clipped. Under Mr Scrimgeour's management the Btation has improved wonderfully. No fewer than 5000 fat sheep from this station were sold off tnrnips in the spring. The Oamaru Mail says :— •" We understand that in the Hakateramea and Kurow district* the crops are withering fast for want of rain. Indeed, so far as the H&ka Valley if concerned, the crop is already reckoned in many instances to bo beyond care. Oat* promise to be par» ticularly soaroe. Farther down— Duntroon and the Plain way — things are much better, bod even h»re rain » badly wanted." A reliable correspondent writes :—": — " There will be a great scarcity of grain and chaff in Central Obago this season, and there is now but little hope of a turnip crop. I understand that there is hardly any crop in the whole of the Maniototo Plain, and right through interior Otago the same state of things exists. A$ Hyde there are * few small patoheß of gnilii

but only sufficient to supply the growers' own wants, and altogether things are not cheery- j looking for Central Otago farmers this season. I It is becoming every year more evident that small holdings are a mistake except in favoured spots in this district, as farmers need enough land to enable them to go in formix-id farming. Some of the settlers on the small dry sections of 200 acres will have a pretty hord time of ib this winter." The Hastings (Hawke's Bay) Standard reports that At Maknuri a couple of sheep have been found dead, with no evidence of disease on them, bub marks on their heads point to their being destroyed by weasel*. The New Zealand Times h*s been informed that ono flax miller sent some time ago a sample o£ New Zealand tpw— a bye-product usually burned ab the mills — for treatment in London. There the tow was freed from glntinous matter, and the firm who made the experiment mean to weave the prepared tow. They slao say that they think it very suitable for the manufacture of binder twine. Tho surveyors are busily engaged surveying Tokwabi estate into suitable areas. The North Otago Times understands there will be very few small blocks, as it has been found by experience that settlers tequire as much land a» will wholly maintain them, without forcing them to the necessity of looking for work off their sections. New varieties of potatoes continue to arrive from abroad for the experiment which the Normanby (Ta.ra.naki) Horticultural Society i» conducting with the id a* of ascertaining the most suitable kinds for cultivating in this colony. Fi»e sew varieties are on their way out frtm a French firm, aud seven choice kinds from Mesws Carter, of London. The products of all the heeds sent are to be exhibited at the Norrntnby Society's March show. The accounts given by farmers in town o& Saturday (says the Oamaru Mail) as to tht condition of the crops vary considerably according to localities. Prom the Upper Waitaki and on the Canterbury side of the rwtr the story runs generally en the theme of failure Bub from Maerewhenu*, Awtmoko. s.nd Papakaio the accounts ar« morn cheerful, and tho hope is held oat that fairly good yields may yeb be obtained. Many of the earlier sown crops appear to have withstood the drought well. From the Waiareka Valley the reports are more encouraging, and from the southern parts of the district we have the assurance that tho wheat crops have not suffered so severely as might have been anticipated, and that fair yields may yet ba hoped for. As to oats and potatoes, all are pretty well agreed that unless rain comes quickly tbe returns Hill be poor, and as to feed for stock, the cry is of impending scarcity, the only hope of averting Buch a condition resting upon an early fall of tain starting the grass into fresh growth. It is some years since the country presented such a parched appearance so early in tho season. A Press Association telegram states that a private letter from the Cape says the rinderpest has practically wiped out all the cattle north of the Orange River, and the transport, is being done by mules and donkeys. The pest is daily expected to cross the river, though the Government are doing their utmost to keep it out of Cape Colony. A correspondent supplies the Oamaru Mail with the following particulars at Balruddery :—: — "Two thousand one hundred and twentyeix three-qnarterbred ewes were shorn on one day last week at Balruddery by 12 men, being an average of 177 sheep per man. The highest tally was 234, which, was by Mr A. • ftlatheson, of Kakanui, the next being by Mr H. M'Connell, of Dunedin. On tho name day 52 bales of wool were pressed. On the following day 2030 sheep were shorn, tho two shearers above named heading the list with 214 each." For the last four years an experiment has been in progress in Ottawa, wherein 40 acres of land are set apart for the purpose of growing cereals and green forage crops, all of which are used in feeding cows. The object is to show how many cows can be fed per annum for such an area of arable land. The cultivation is only of the kind that is within tbe scope of the ordinary farmer, and it is sought to direct attention to the practicability of keeping cattle in larger numbers than is usually the case on the moderate and small-sized farms in Canada. Thirty cows per annum have been fed on the crops from the 40 acres, a little wheat, bran, and oilcake being .allowed in addition. The total quantity of milk yielded in the second half of the year was 59,9861b, equivalent to about 15001b per acre. The total quantity of butter fat was 2,3061b, equivalent to about 601b per acre. The yield of butter has been at the rate of 1151b for every 1001b of butter fat in bhe milk: If the whole of the milk had been made into butter the 40 acres would have yielded 26521b — or 661b per acre— in the half year July to December. Why not breed mules P is a question asked by the Chrisbohurch Press, and our contemporary continues :—": — " Messrs R. L. and D. Adams, who have just returned from the Cape, tell us that that part of the world is likely to be a good market for mules for many years to come. The rinderpest is pretty well exterminating the bullock, and as horses are not in favour, mules are in brisk demand. A shipment whioh arrived when oar informants were leaving was promptly taken in one lot at £10 a head, and being reshipped up the coast was sold again at over £50 a head, and there could be little doubb that the prices would go higher owing to the imperative need for freight. New Zealanders ■how great enterprise in breeding most kinds Of stock, importing the best efcud animals Obtainable regardless of tbe cost, and it seems Vimngo that no one will venture to import some

of the high-class Spanish jaokanßej which are in favour w.th mule - breeders elsuwhere. These animals, judiciously mated with our mares, would get large, hardy, docile mules, possessing many timed the constitution and endurance ot the ordinary gelding, be he half draught, or nearer the thoroughbred, or from one of the trotting or lighter draught breeds. Suoh mules would not only be usnable in this country, bafc would possess a value for export to Australia or America as well as to the Cape ; in fact, it seems impossible that they should ever become such a drug iv tbe market as we sometime* see horseß reduced to. Our informants formed rather a high opinion of the docility of the mules they saw at work at the Cape, and they discredit the impression given by American journals of the mule's stubbornness and unkindly ways. They are certain aboat the demand, for means of freight were getting ridiculously scarce when they left, and soras comical-looking teams were t<> be seen, as a horse in the lead, ft bullock following, and a tall raule haruessad alougsido a diminutive donkey by the pole." This season Mr J. Prestou, of Forestvale, fthore soma 9600 sheep— 4oo lees than last season, but he bsd 12 more, bales of wool from the smaller number. A<i Woodfilee Downs, too, the clip averaged nearly lib par sheep more than last season. Wa (Wyndham Herald) understand that on both the properties an attempt bas been made to cross for » higher standard of wool, and no doubt the owners will be pleased to find thoir efforts h&va met with success. The Lyttelton Times' Little River correspondent, writing on tha sth inst., «ays : — " During the past week the weather has been extremely hot and dry, w&d the effect upon the cocksfoot crops is both marked and favourable, and the ripening proceeds rapidly. The vrck of rtap-, ing has commenced in leveral of the early crops, and with the coming week the work will be general. Numbers of grass-seeders encamped in various localities are anxiously waiting the commencement of the hMvesß. There is about the same area in cocksfoot as last year, but the crops are not looking so promising, and the yield will probably be some 20 per cent. le*s." The Oxford correspondent of the Press writes :—": — " The heavy gale on Wednesday last was not a nor'-wester, as the dry, hot, tearing blast came from due north, and it scorched everything in front of ib in the shape of fruit, vegetables, grass 1 , aud corn. Oxford appears to have fared the worst, Oarlton not quite as bad, whilst View Hill and Woodstosk are Jibtle the worse. Fortunately crop-railing here is only looked upon as subsidiary to sheep and cattle raising ; otherwise the effects of the gain would have spelt ruin in many instance s, aud even as it is a good many have suffered heavily. The best crops of oats yet cut are" self-sown, the result of l«st year's blows, and as one farmer on swamp land ram-irked, • It'n an ill wind, &c. I have cub the best crop I ever had.' Turnips and rape that had germinated will have to be resown, and, worse still, in some instances the s:>il bat all gone away with the gale. The green carpet which was so pleasant to look upon a week ago is now burned to an Australian summer's brown. The best patches of feed are on the old bush spurs, and even there I am sorry to record that a good deal has been destroyed by the. On the whole the matter is not bo disastrous as might appear ab flrst sight, because th« are aunder grain crops is, camparative'y speaking, very small indeed, so that the main miicbief centres in the feed »tnffs, whioh at any rate can be partially replaced, and in the event of a favourable autumn matters agricultural may not turn out bo very bad after all." There appears to t» an unwonted amount of mortality of a certain kind amongst sheep in different parba of Ihe colony at present that i» b» filing professional skill. The latest instance of the kind that has come under our (Southland Times) notice is the loss by Mr Peter Barron, of Redan, during the past two months of 20 sheep, 16 being unshorn. Mr Barron's loss with his sheep drtring the paot season has been uncommonly heavy for paddock-raised stock. He lost 18 lambs in docking, and nearly 100 ewes duciDg lambing. Have aDy of our readers experienced similar misfortunes to the foregoing ? I have been told (writes •' Tussock ") of tho following interistiug veterinary case : — " In the latter part of November 1894- a bay gliding, then five years old, the property of & Christchurch suburban resident, got staked. When discovered, a portion of gorse wood several inches loDg protruded, and was removed from the seat of injury, midway between the point of the bock and the buttock, and on the posterior aspect of the thigh. As the wound refused to heal, several practising ' vets ' were called in in turn, and though ' many kerosene tins full of medicine' wers n«ed, the results were negative. This continued up to October 5, 1896, when the horse was taken to Mr Charlton's veterinary hospital for advice. So often had the horse bean thrown he actually lay down when asked to do so without the application of rope or hobble. Examination showed a wasting of the musses of the entire quarter. The wound, from which issued a characteristic discharge, was just of sufficient siza to admit a stout probe, and little difficulty was experienced in detecting, at a depth of some Bin, in front and to the inner side of the great thighbone, a foreign body. This was cut down upon and removed, the wound dressed, sntures inserted, and the patienh discharged. The foreign agent proved to be a piece of gorse 2Jin long by 2^in in circumference, and there can be no doubt that ib occupied its position in bhe horse's thigh for 20 months. Within a. few weeks of its removal the thigh was natural in appearance, the wound

completely healed, aud the animal absolutely sound. The piece of wood has been left at thia office." The Oamaru Mail says :—": — " Some very fine limbs tiro being slaughtered in <his di&tricb this season, hub one killed by Mr W. Harrison, of Pukeuci, on Christmas Eve was an exceptionally noe one. Ib was a crossbred, &ud though barely five months old, when dressed turned the scale at 82£1b." The sale is reported in England, by Mr W. Mullen, Ly ii dale Valley, Paversham, Kent, for export to New Zealand, of a consignment of io-lamb ewes and ram lambs from his registered flock of Ksnt or Romney Marsh sheep. The well-known breeder of Shropshires, Mrs Barrs, Odstone H*ll, Salop, has sold some selected rams, also for New Zealand. The tuberculin test for tuberculosis in cattle, although ridicu'ed in several countries, notably America, is now all bat universal in Franoo. Dairj -farmers havo their cows inoculated, and announce the fact as an advertisement. Dairy shops also display placards th*t their products are from tuberculiaed cows. The tuberculin is to be had like the serums against croup, &?., at every apothecary's shop. Connected with tho agricultural syndicabes are branch societies for the mutual insurance of cattle, and no animal will be accepted until tested by tuberculin. Our (Palmerstou Times) readers will no doubb haveavivid recolleotiou of theproceedingsincounection with Mr Thoma* Johnston's cows at Elag Swamp, some of whioh were alleged to be suffering from variola, and the action of the Stock department in connection therewith, which resulted in serious loss to Mr Johnston, in consequence of which he applied to bbc department for comp?nsation. The following letter from Mr J D. Ritchie, in rapiy, which explains itself, has been handed to us for publication • — " I am direobed by the Hon. the Minister for Agriculture to acknowledge tho receipt of claim amounting to £75 9s 3d for loss alleged to have been sustained by you in connection with the action of the officers of this department; in the matter of your cowb. In reply, I have bo say that the question has been before Cabinet, and upon taking the whole circumstances into consideration it has been decided that your claim cannot be recognised. It is to be regretted that your action in disposing of the cattle without first notifying the departmenb of your intention of doing so has alienated any sympathy towards you whioh might otherwise" have bsea given. It would seem that by thus disposing of the cattle you have rendered yonrse'f liable to a penalty. Tha expenses incurred in connection with the inquiry, whioh wa« forced npon the department, and other hicidenbal expenses have totalled to over £140 " In explanation of his sellinc the cattle, Mr Johnston informs us (P. and W. Times) fchat ib was agreed to examine them on the Ist July with the iatenbion of releasing them ; thab Messrs Jeffries and Stringer, two neighbours, examined them on bhe 2nd Juiy *, aud bhab he did nob dispose of them antil the Utter end of Auguab, at whioh time there was not the slightest trace of any pox, and that ia faot the cattle were free from it at the time of the visit of Messrs Jfffri.es and Stringer. Mr Johnston also informs m thab he was unaware at the time he sold the cattle thab it was necessary to notify the department of his intention. Under these oircumsUnoes 're consider the oaee one of extreme hardship. The Southern Standard says :—": — " The horse bat-fly has baen busy during the past three or four days laying her eggs on the jaws of horses, and causing a great deal of annoyance to those animals. We would counsel the nse once a week of preparations for the destruction of the eggq, such as sheep dip cr kerosene emulsion. Suoh substances will destroy -tho eggs, and if applied regularly throughout the seasou horses' stomachs can bs kept clear of the grub, and there will be the satisfaction of knowing tha t whan a horse exhibits symptoms of colic during winter and spring the cause cannot be ascribed to bob." Strange as ib may appear, farmers in some parts of the Ottinaru disbricb are (says the North Oc»go Times) nob anxious that there should be any rain before harvest. Their orops are heavy, and they fear that heavy rain would injure them. Generally, however, rain would be accepted as a blessing. The farmers in the Mataura district are (according to tbe Southern Standard) dreading a shortage in the oat crop. There is only an odd paddock to ba seen that can b>3 called a really good crop. Tha straw will be short, and even with a substantial heavy ear it will not make up the deficiency that exists in many of the oat paddocks. Had ib not been for the recent rains bhings would have been much worse. Tbe light land has suffered most. The cold non-growing weather of November and tb.9 dry weather of December has had a serious effect. Dr Babcock has made a discovery which is of importance to the cheese-miking industry. It is well known that in the process of the manufacture of Caeddar and several other kinds of cheese the condition of the card is tested with a hob iron. A piece of curd is pressed against the iron and gently drawn away, with the result that if its condition is as expeobed, fiae threads or strings adhere up to a certain point. There has been a danger of the abolition of this rule* of-bhumb test by the introduction^ of what is known as the acid test. Lactic acid is developed both in the curd and the whey during the manufacture of cheese. At a certain stage the best is made with the object of ascertaining the relative quantity of acid present, and the idea seems to be that if the same proportion of acid as was found at the aam a stage of manufacture of a cheese whioh proved subsequently to be of high quality is found in the card of other

j cheeses of the same type, the maker may j confidently look forward to their also being of i high quality. According to Or Babcock there are other materials in oheene besides lactic acid which are responsible for thß plastic condition of curd. He says that the test with the hot iron has no tangible relation to acid, in spite of the fact that tbe threads between the curd and the iron will be long when acidity is high. , If borax or bicarbonato of soda are used for I the purpose of neutralising the acid, the curd will adhere to the iron, and the threads will be | just as perfect as if the acid were fully de- ! veloped. He says further that where the curd iH precipitated or produced in milk naturally it does not always striug, therefore ;it would appear that the hot iron does ' uot indicate the degree of acidity so J much as a condition of the curd which ! may be formed in other ways than by tha production of acid. Any substanoe which possesses a solvent action upon the casein, of which curd is so largely formed, appears to have the effect of causing the curd to string | upon the hob iron. It will be understood tbat j curd strings more readily when it w mellow • and plastic than when it is tough and rigid. It ii true that acid will produce this mellowness, bub there a;e other reagents which have the same effect. Or Bibcock tells us tbat there are various organisms iv most milk which I ara capable of bringing about this plastic coa- ' dition in curd. The lactic ferment or bacterium unquestionably prevails, but there are others iv milk whioh have a solvent or digestive influence upoa casein, and which therefore euab'>e the curd to string. We shall have to take o»re that we are not taught ao much by modern investigation that ws have to unlearn. In the meantime, the hot-iron test is likely to remain a good friend to the cheese-maker.— Exchange.