AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The Dairy Commissioner complains bitterly of the way in which cases of southern theose were sent to V\'ellingicei to ha graded and shipped to London. Iliey are alleged to have been knocked about on board the coastal steamers. He al«o finds fault with the disfigurement of cases by the application of shipping marks in paint. He ia sending one of his instructors to visit some of the southern factories to correct errors ki manufacture. Owing to lack of shed accommodation the commissioner finds he will have to abandon the idea of grading in Wellington the southern cheese sent to that port for transhipment co London.

Under the heading '•English v. Foreign Wheat,", the Field of October 12 records a very important experiment in wheat-growing which has bceu conducted uy Colonel Cot-ton-Jodrell, of Reasehen.th Hall, Cheshire. A little more than a year ago a speaker at a meeting of the Cheshire, Shropshire, and North Wales Farmers' Supply Association urged the experiment of growing foreign wheat on English soil. Colonel Cotton-Jod-rell, the chairman, at once offered an acre of ground at Reaseheath for the expoiment. Half the land was sown with English wheat and half with foreign, the soil in both cases receiving exactly the same treatment. The foreign wheat came from Kansas, U.SA., acid ths English seed was square head wheat. Both were sown on November 8, 1900, the American sample in the proportion of two measures to the acre, and the English article in the proportion of three measures to tho acre. The foreign crop was mowed on August 5 this year, and the home wheat cci August 16 The Kansas wheat yielded 17 measures of grain per acre, &ncl the English square head threshed out at 29 mea&ures to the acre. The product of straw was even more in fa\oiu; of the home plant, for while the American wheat gave enly at the rate of one ton nf straw per acre, the English straw yielded at the rate of two tons per acre. Colonel Cotton-Jodrell cays : "The Kansas wheat produces a smaller, hard&r, and finer graiu than the square head. The foreign wheat is bearded in the ear, and the straw was very inferior to the home product." The two lots of grain have not yet been submitted to the milling test, and it yet remains to be seen what the value of each yield is from that point of view, and what price will be got for each sample. It should be stated that when the matter vw\s dir cussed. Colonel Cottor.-Jodrell gave it is hie opinion that the test could lot be a corwJuMve one unless it \\a3 c<u»ied ou for .evcral years.

The Manitoba wheat crop has been safely harvested, and one tiam of 30 cars viill haie to pass Winnipeg every half-hour from now tUj. E&ttgtfkbei: 1 to move the orog^ is addi-

tion to the estimated shipments of cattls niid tho visual quantity of freight toming from British Columbia o\er the C.P.R. line. If the C.P.R. doubles up, making cachi train of 60 cars, hauled by two locomotives, then o\ery hour a train will pas-s Winnipeg 1 from now to December 1. The whole crop --wheat, barley, ami oats— of Manitoba and the North-we^t will approximate 80,000,000 bushels. Allowing 600 bushels of gram to a car, a train of oO cars will carry 36,000 bushels. It will take 2222 trams to move 80,000,000 bushels, and allowing for one train, of 60 cars every hour these trains will not get through mo\ing the grain crop alone for 96 days, which is about the length of time to December 1. Then the ordinary traffic has to be handled ; and someone made a, prediction the ojher day that 60,000 catti© would be shipped out of the North-west; this fall. Following out this line of reasoning such a series of trains that will be necessary to transport the crops to the seaboard, if made into one train, would reach 854 miles. An average Canadian railway car is about 11 yards in length, and a 60 car train 650 yards. Two thousand two hundred and twenty-two trains would reach 1,466, 520 yards, or about 834 miles.

Canada has achieved remarkable results in connection with her agricultural exhibits at the Pan-American Exhibition at Buffalo. In cattle Canada breeders secured, in round figures 3,111.10d0l m prizes, as against 3,813.4 Otlol won by the Ameiieans. In hog% in the breeds in wliich Canadians entered, the record stood 481.50d0l for Canadians and 95d0l for Americans, while in sheep the score was almost as satisfactory. Even more noteworthy than the statement as to 1 ow the prize money was disrlibuted is that showing the awards -in sweej^takes. In c.ittle the shorthorn tweep e ta!;es for age-1 bu'l aud cow v.eie won by a Canadian; the Hereford sweepstakes for bulls comes to Canada ; in Holstein cows the swecp e lal;a was won by a Canadian miller ; in Ayrshire-? a Canadian herd got sweepstakes in aged bull and two-year-old heifers ; in Guernseys Canada put up the sweepstake winner in co'.vs, end in .French-Canadians the swecpclnkc3 both in aged bull and cow come TO C.'s country. This record is all the irore u-'inß ikable when the extent of tho handicap Canada carried is remembered. In population Americans stand as 12 to 1 against Canadians ; in horned cattle the Americans have "f4.Q00.000 head, as against about four find a-!>alf millions in Canada ; m sheep they ha\o <*20n0,000 a<; compaivd v,ith t\yo and a -half millions in II 11I 1 c T)cir "ion, and in o.c 3? tho number is 39,00'J.000 and 2,50C,CC0 rc c pective.y. During "the past fmr ycrs 17,832.723 fiozen rabbits and 28.110.875 rabbitskins have been exported from New Zealand.

There are about 70,030 Micop to be shorn at Messrs Williams and Jso;thatn"s Brancepath (Wairarapa) stai-ion this teason, and 80 hrnda are engaged to iiTform the v.ork. Thus the Oamaru Mail: — Though ;1.0 local price of potatoes is very uncertain, wo are informed that some wore told in Oamaru last week at fro.v £3 10 5 to £3 15=. on trucks. The fjiet remains that at the tirue the price quoted in the Dunedin markets wa-i only £2 10s.

A Wai mate resident has aLout three acres of ra pfcevry bushes, which, laden with the ripen'u 1 ™ fruit, arc a picture to look ar. Tho local papjr srate* i'ial Mr Fitch, v, hen around on his lour of inspection on Lehalf of the Go\era.meufc the other day, expressed surnris* al,a 1 , ihp <-if:Wt.

The beneficial tfrects of t'lt! recent i:\lns r>re to 1-s pjcn in. t'.ip impio-, ement (j€lcepliW" in iho crop; and ai\iSa' in all i";rcctions (-ipys the Oair.ara Mail). In tho Walari'ka Yalloy a ail up ilic liiie. Lryond Eldcrrlie a great change i= noticeable. v\hile all along the pouth line the difference in the appearance of the country from what it was a weak ago i< remarkable. Still it will readily be vuxleistood that, welcome as th& rain has bocv,. it o&me too late to pioducoa pomyili te> iccovery. and all that can be looked for is a move or less satisfactory rescue from tolal collap=e. The treasurer of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club rect iveel 407^ dozen small birds' eggs wncc last inoptiily meeting. \ South Oanteibuiy farmer says iliafc owing to the depression in the frozen meat market, and the low price of produce land there will not bring within 332 an acre of the iii^h prices of a veai ago. A thorough and exhaustive inspection is at present being carried out, under departmental auspices, of the whole of the dairy herds in Southland. The work is being supervised by three of the State veterinarians. The Wyndham Farmer learns that, so far, the general health of the dairy cattle in that district is very good, as only in a few instances have suspicions of tuberculous or other disease been met with.

Some very rich tests of milk were made by Mr G. Reeve at the Gore Dairy Factory on Monday morning:, the milk being from Mr Quertier's Jersey cows. The nighfc and moruing milk was mixed, and then the samples, taken. The yiero#itage of butterfat was as follows- — La Favourie, 8.3; La. Belle. 8.0; La Jolie. 8.7 Mr Reeve thinks tins is about a record. Mr Quertier intends showing- these fine cows at the Gore show next week. — Southern Standard.

The following advertisement recently appeared in the Peloious Guardian: — ' "Wanted, a young man to drive milk wagsron from Kaituna lo dairy factory; spply to 35. Bartlctc, Rocky Creek. To make matters comfortable, Mr or Mrs Bartlett will drive on wet or unpleasant day?."

The North Otajjo Times understands that tho immediate difficulty in connection with the resumption of the Windsor Park estate by the Government ia the hopelessness of raising money at a rate of interest that will clear the department of loss when the land is let to settlers at a 5 per cent, rental. We have mentioned this before as the reason for the almost total cessation of land purchases. In cases where the owner is prepared to accept debentures for a certain number of years, the obstacle to the purchase might be overcome. The London, money market might reasonably be expected to be easier as soon as the South African was is finished.

The crops on the poorer land in the Masterton, N.1., district aie phenomenally stinted, and in some cases will not be worth harvesting. Krverton dairymen are complaining of the falling off in the yield of milk as compared with the quantity given by the cows dm ing November, 1900. A consignment of 41 hives of bees, to thtf order of Mr W. Mills, arrived at Oamaru on Thursday evening by rail from Outram. Tins is (the Mail is informed) the first large consignment ever carried by the department. Mr D. D. Hyde has made an estimated

calculation that the number of eggs consumed annually in New Zealand is in round figures about 173 millions. This lot of eggs would weigh about 800 tons, and calculating them at 6d per dozen their value is close upon £322,916. The' Wyndham Farmer learns that the Edendale Dairy Factory has decided to discontinue the manufacture of cheese this season — at least, until 31st March next, — and has contracted to send all its cream to the Taieri and Peninsula Dairy Company, Dunedin. Presumably, this resolution has been arrived at on account of the low prices ruling for cheese. The butter-freezing works at Patea are now practically complete, and a trial of the machinery c.nd chambers the other day proved that everything is in firs-t-e!as3 going order. Butter will be received in a few days, and a shipment of butter will be made from the works to the Home boat in about a fortnight. A settler who has been closely identified •with the Wyndham. district since 1862 informs the Farmer that, with the exception of that of 1865, the present has been the most backward and changeable season .he has ever known in his long experience. The *65 season, which marked the " rush " to the West Coast diggings, was of a very similar nature to the present one. An interesting instance of forethought of the early settlers who went in for treeplanting has been brought under the notice of the Temuka Leader. The year following the '68 flood Mr Woffenden planted on a section on Geraldine road (since acquired by Mr Kelman) some blue gums. That these have grown "apace is evidenced by the fact that one felled recently yielded 1070 ft sawn timber, and many others are equally good. Several sawmillers in the district are engaged in .converting well-grown Pinus insignis into- marketable sawn timfeer. A good deal of this is being utilised for building material, and in its proper sizes this timber makes good butter boxes.

The butchers of Reefton have not only Tai&^l the price of meat, but are charging 6d a 1b for fat.

At the Balclutha Police Court a few days age (says the Leader) the owner of a traction engine was fined for propelling the engine along a public highway — viz., Clyde street, Balcuitha, without being accompanied by two men to keep a look-out. The owner was not aware that this was required by law, and we daresay other owners are equally ignorant on the subject. In the present case the information was intended merely to dispel this ignorance, and to serve as a warning, and only a nominal fine was inflicted. But apparently the use of the road by these engines is attended with considerable danger to riders and those using horse vehicles, and accidents have already occurred. Owners if traction engines should, therefore, acquaint themselves with the law, and see that it is carried out, otherwise they may be mulcted in heavy penalties 1 .

For the six months ending September 30 the Bruce County Council has paid £42 4s Id for the suppression of small birds. -

fiie New Zealand Farmers' Union has arranged with the Commercial Union Assurance Company to insure the members of the union throughout the colony against loss under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents and Employers' Liability Acts, and Liability at Common Law. Specially favourable terms- have been granted, to the Farmers' Union in consideration of the large number of policies that will be taken out.

Mr J. R. Sharp, who for the past six and a-half years has been in charge of the Rataia agency of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) has •been promoted to the Gore gency. Mr E. S. lieversedge-, of the Ghristehureb. staff, succeeds Mr Sharp at Rakaia. The Waipahi correspondent of the Clutha lieader writes : — As the result of the late unseasonable weather, the crops are not looking as well as they should be, the tops of the braird having turned yellow. Grass is alsc scarce, and there won't be a plentiful supply till we have had a few weeks good ■weather. The lambing season is now over, and the percentage of lambs on an average ■will be from 15 to 20 per c&nt. lower than last year. The rough weather at the lambing time accounts for about half of the decrease. The fanners are now preparing the ground for next season's turnip crop, and when this is finished the work of ctiltivating will te finished for another season.

A branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union has been formed at Motueka, with a •membership of nearly 100.

The New Zealand Times say«: Concentration of New Zealand butter has long been regarded as essential to securing regular ■ shipments of the produce to London, the.most vital question affecting the welfare of the trade. With the increasing number .of grading ports — due to the necessity of .conserving local interests — the consummation of the ideal of concentrated shipment* .at two central ports in the colony had liitherto been looked upon by leaders of dairying in the colony as hopeless. The •■weakness of the shipping arrangements for the coming season ig, however, unexpectedly about the desired end. Canterbury "butter, which was formerly shipped at Lyttelton, and Otago butter, custcjiarily shipped at Dunedin, is to be all shipped by coa&tal steamers to Wellington, re-frozen, and Icadfid jjftto tl*a Horn* boats at this jjoii..

together with the whole of the North Island butter. Thus, for the first time in the his- j , tory of the butter industry, will the very ; acme of concentrated shipment be arrived , at, a fact which should at last make possible I absolutely regular supplies in London. Toe ' regular arrival in London is in the nature |-of a dream 'at present, and unfortunately i the complete success of the dairying indusi try will never be reached till that dream , becomes a realisation. For the success of the butter industry, and the accompanying succes of the colony, it is to be hoped that the present enforced concentration will dc- ' clare its advantage in such a decided manner that the colony's butter shipments will never again be broken up. i By the as. Tongariro there arrived at Lyttelton yeaterday {says last Wednesday's Christchurch Prep) a valuable consignment of stud Shropshire and Southdown sheep, which have been brought out by Mr James E. Davenport, of Christchurch. As a whole these sheep form the beet collection of Downs that have come to the colony, the Shropsihires being very much better than those imported two years ago. The consignment consists of six Shropshire rams bred by Mr R. P. Cooper, of Berkamsted ; one -Shropshire ram bred by Mr P. L. Mills, of Ruddington Hall; two Shropshire rams bred by the late Sir Joseph Pulley, and ! sent out for his brother, Air G. P. Pulley, I of Loburn, and one Shropshire ram bred ■ by Mr A. E. Mansell, Harrington Hall, and imported for Mr Rtipert Parry, of Timaru ; I 10 Southdown ewes, bred by his Majesty the I King, five of which are for Mr A. Boyle, , and. two Southdown rams bred by Mr Edwin Ellis, of Guildford. There is also a Lincoln i ram bred by Messrs Kirkham Bros., of j Bisrathorpe, sent out for Mr G> H. Rhodes, of Claremont. The sheep are all shearlings, t and as will be seen, they are from the best flocks in England. They have arrived in | splendid order, only one ram having been • bad for about a fortnight on the way, which 1 speaks well for the smoothness of the voyage, and the way they have been looked af- , ter. The Shropshire rams' are much nearer I the type that is advocated here for the pro- ! duclioa of lambs for the frozen meat trade , than most of thoss brought out previously. They are mostly low set and compactly built, short and dense in the wool, and well covered. Three of Mr 'Cooper's rams are by the noted sii*e Royal Record, and the other three, and also Mr Mills's ram, are all by Royal vyimiers. One of the Royal Record rams is an especially good animal. Mr Davenport sold another Cooper ram to Mr Ballard, of Auckland, and six i i Shropshire ewes that he pl-so brought out j were purchased from him at" Hobart. The Southdowns are an exceptionally nice lot ! of sheep, the ewes being well grown, and J the rams having- good shape and carriage. , i The Lincoln ram also appears to be a very j , good one, and was much thought of in England. "

Some astonishingly high oiitter-fat testa (says last Wednesday's Ensign) have been secured from the C3W3 of Mr A. Quertier's (Guernsey Park, Mataura) famous Jersey herd. Recently these tests (made at the Mataura Dairy Factory by Miss Dumbleton) were higher even than usual, and to confirm these results Mr Ouertier yesterday brought samples from the ordinary morning's milk of three of his cows to Gore to be tested by Mr G. Reeves at the local dairy factory. Mr Reeves confirmed Miss Dumbleton's tests completely, the percentages of butter-fat for the milk of the three cows being: La Favorie, 8.3; Ls "Belle Creme, 8.0; La Belle Jolie, 8.7. The cows La Favorie and La Belle Creme took prizes as first and second in the yearling Jersey 'heifer class at Dunedin Show last year.

The monthly meeting of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club was held on Nm ember 25, Mr W. -J. Livingston (president) in the chair. A reply was read from the Traffic Superintendent of Railways, Dunedin, stating that the usual train arrangements would be made to suit the agricultural show, and that excursion tickets would be issvied es heretofore. The President reported that the show ground was in excellent order. The president and vice-president were authorised to a.ttoud to necessary lepairs ill connection with the building. The President also reported that all arrangements in connection with the show were well in hand. The prize list would be arranged in a day or two, and ready for printing, and he expected the show programmes to be out early next week. In the annual report on State forests it is announced that the area of Tapanui State Nursery will be shortly enlarged by taking in land from run 140b. A good many hands on the Dusky Foiest are leaving at the end of the present month. It is likely that prison labour will be employed there next year for digging pits for next season's planting. — Tapanui Courier.

The Timaru Post of the 26th ult. says: — A good many farmers attended the trial of the Southland Implement Company's rotary diso ridger, held" yesterday on" the farm of Mr Crowe, jun , at Morven. The ground on which the ridger was put to work was rather rough, but nevertheless the farmers present considered the work done satisfactory: A purchaser was found icr the machine on the ground. A large block of laud comprising 65,570 acres, chiefly tussock and bush country, in the Napier district, lias lately been disposed of by Messrs Hopkins, Simpson, and Co., on baiudf of Di Hay., of Coolauaatta, New

( South Wales. Soriie idea of the" size of this j huge estate may be gathered from the fact that there is over 100 square uiiles of country. It adjoins the Pohokura block, lately acquired by tho Government from the Na tive=. Cromwell was at its best on. Friday, 22nd ult., when the sixth annual show under the auspices of the Upper Clutha A. and P. Society was held. The attendance was good, much better than last year, but the entries, with the exception of those in the sections devoted to horses', were extremely disappointing. In these there was great competition. There was only a MTiall exliibit in cattle, but the qtiality was fair. Fat sheep were well represented as far as quality goes by a few pens from Morven Hills, but the other sections brought cut a very poor lot. In dairy produce the entries were small ; quality distinctly good. The Mas«ey-Harris Company showed a large variety of agricultural implements, which attracted considerable attention. The entries in groin and seeds wero poor, and wool was not represented.

The sanitary condition of some of the dairies ot Timaru is at present engaging attention. Di Symes has ordered one dairyman, who has several cases of scarlet fever in his house, to discontinue selling milk for the present, and he directed further that no members of the family should assist in milking the :ow;. The doctor intends to have an inspection made of other dairies.

Mr Consul Woodhouse, of Riga, refers in the following terms to the new Siberian butter trade, says Cold Storage: — "Butter is another important item which will now have to be added to the list of exports from Riga. A special line of steamers lias been established between Riga and London in connection with the Siberian butter trade, and arrangements have been made for the quick transit of butter from Siberia to Riga, provision being made for storing it in speciallyconstructed refrigeiators. These steamers will convey not only butter, but also frozen game, poultry, meat, and other similar perishable articles to London. The plan thus adopted has exceeded all expectations in point of success, more than 800 ton* of butter alone now being- shipped every week."

A matter of considerable iropoitance to ratepayers and local bodies has just been, brought under notice, writes the Ma^terton correspondent of the New Zealand Times. It appears that under a statute passed some years ago, ostensibly for the benefit :>f snowafflicted districts in the South Island, the system of land occupation known as the '"small grazing run system" was introduced. Under this system a person holding 1000 acres of Crown land or over is entitled to constitute his property a " small grazing run." la Masterton district there are numerous small grazing runs, and it has been found that these contribute only one tithe of the rates of freeholders or of those holding land under different tenures. An illustration of the effect of the system may be found in the Langdale estate. One man holds 995 acres of this estate on "the lease-in-pprpetuity system. He will pay ordinary taxes to the local authority. Another holds 1030 acres, which he intends bringing under the small grazing run system. The rates of this holder at b per cent, on the capital value will be much lower than those of his neighbour, probably one-tenth.

.The special reporter of the DusrStan Times at the Upper Clutha Agricultural Show writes: — A practice very common at country shows, where there is no apparent organisation for the prevention ; of cruelty to animal*, was very evident. A fine milch cow was* allowed to go the entire day with her udder quite full, a stare of affairs infinitely worse than tlip so-called cruelty in the process of dehorning.

The glass grubs which have been doing such a vast amount of damage to the pasture landb of the Abhburton County during the last few seasons (says the Aahburton Guardian) are evidently increasing, and ie behoves tho s e who desire to see the pest diminished to take steps to that end promptly. Every night, at dusk, swarms of these insects, which are now on the wing, rise from their burrows in the soil. The system of lighting 1 fires, which has previously bee,n recommended, should be carried out whenever the insects take flight in a body. Tn the country, old stacks and gorse cuttings may be burnt. Many of the town lawns are impregnated with these insects, and each night towards nightfall the nights of the pest resemble that of a swarm of bees. It is to be hoped thai every possible opportunity will be taken both by farmers and town residents to effect a reduction in the number of these undesirable visitors.

in conversation with a representative of the ChviFtchureh Press, the Hon. T. Y. Duncan, Minister for Lands, expressed his satisfaction with the present condition of the special settlements which have been taken up in the vicinity of Christchurch, and which he visited. He slated that the sections which had not been applied for in some of the. settlements were boing taken up gradually. Referring to the settlements recently acquired near Papanui and the Styx, he said that the larger sections had been taken up, and that he considered if several of the smaller sections were amalgamated they would soon find app'icants for them.

While Tic to nan wheat producers are gtill waiting for the result of inquiries with regard to the sluomeut of. grain in bulk (re-

I ports the Age), the New South Wales people j have the satisfaction of knowing- that their firsj effort in .this direction has been successful in every respect. The 1000 tons of bulfo wheat shipped in the Persic from Sydney to Liverpool was reported to the owners of that vessel on being Janded to be in splendid condition. The stevedore who looked after its discharge paid "it is cool, dry and clean, and is quite equal in every respect to that carried nf bags. In the opinion of several connected with the grain trade, this experiment must be considered a complete success, as the condition of the grain could not be improved on." The Victorian commercial agent in London states that when in Liverpool he interviewed Mr James Is- ] may, of Ismay, Irnxie, and Co., the owners of the Pereic, who expressed himself favourj able to the carriage of bulk grain in their steamers. Mr Ismay intended sailing for j Australia by the Ortona. ) At the present time (says the Australian j Meat Trades' Journal) 2400 cases of eggs j are in the cold stores of the Board of Exj ports, Sydney, this number having been placed there since September. Large quanj tities continue to arrive. The season for ! hares and rabbits is closed. Mr Jackson es- ; timates that there has Tieen over £30,000 ; worth of stuff passed through the stores since j January I—nine1 — nine months. There have been ! 25,394 fowls, 15,494 ducks, 3375 turkeys, i 84,000 pairs of rabbits, and 120,920 hares. The approximate value of the rabbits and hares was £13,000. Rabbits are worth 6d j per pair, and hares about Is 7d each. Over £7000 worth of butter has gone through the I stores during the period, portions of which { were for export, and in some instances were : submitted for the board's inspection and 7 1 certificate. ,

I The Timaru A. and P. Association made a profit 'of £220 out of the late show. | ! At last week's meeting of the Clutha Covmty Council it was decided to pay Is 6d per 100 for small birds' heads and eggp. | From last Friday's Wyndham Herald: — Mr D. K. M'Rae, of Wyndham station, has this season experienced his greatest loss of cattle from tutu poisoning. He states that the plant is deadlier in wet seasons. — We have heard of several good returns of lambs among farmers' lots. Mr W. Horman's 94ewes produced 130 lambs, equal to 138 i per cent, (nearest fraction). Mr 1. Rabbidg© got 312 lambs from 240 ewes — 130 per cent. On Wyndham station the percentage was very satisfactory. Notes from Wendonside, in the Southern ' Standard : — The oat crops are looking re-, markably well considering the rough weather. Grass also is, on most of the farms, looking well, as is usual at this time. Sheep have done well. I have seen some weil forward lamb? on Mr William Laidlaw's farm. Cattle, with a few exceptions, I never saw looking poorer than this spring. Recently we had several dealers in the district trying to buy young cattle, and I hear that two mobs of about 40 each were secured at ' figures satisfactory to both buyers and sellers, i

A meeting to consider the formation of a branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union at Waikaia was held on the 23rd ult. Mr A. Chrift-ie presided, and some 20 farmers at- | tended: Messrs Kelly and Heenan, of the ; Riversdale branch, attended, and ga\e valu- i able asslsi-ance in- explaining the objects of the union, and the procedure necessary to form a branch. After discussion, it was de- j cided that a branch be formed at Waikaia. i The position of the- wool market just now (remarks the Western Star) is extremely un- ' satisfactory. Invercargill buyers ai-e only > offering 4d p lb, md altogether the aspect i of things in regard to this great staple pro- ! duct, which returned £4,000,000 to this ' colony, is anything but hopeful. In conver- I sation with Mr Henry Hirst, who is inti- I raately acquainted with York=hir«, we learned that recent ad\ices received from ' relatives there, who are connected with the wool trade, are anything but reassuring. a*id j it was stated th.it a number of tho mills

had had to close down, throwing numerous ' hands oiit of employment, owing to the falling off in the demand for all-wool goods and large amount of shoddy that is made lip and sold. Many buyers have been heavy losers. It is significant that American buy<?r« were absent from the first sales in this colony. The Clydesdale stallion purchased by Mr John Boag, of Middlerigg, on his recent visit Home (says the Christchuich Pre=s of the 26th ult.), arrived yesterday by the Tongariro. He has come to hand in capital order, and appears to have suffered little or nothing by the voyage. He is a dark brown, with foui white feet and white face, and stands 17.3 hands high. He was bred by Mr George Beau, of Montrose. Scotland, but was bought by Mr Boag at Newca&tle-on-Iyne, all the hors.es he saw in Scotland being too fine in quality to suit hk purposes. The horse is seven years of age, and is by Mount Royal, grand sire St. Laurence, and great grandsire the noted Prince of Wales. His name- is Royal Fame, but Mr Boag intends to change it to Prince of Walea on account of his having three ciosse= of the Prince of Wales blood. The horse has a very good top, but is rather plain about the legs. He is, however, the only Clydesdale horse of suitable size that Mr Boag could obtain to qbe him a change of blood for his Middlerigg stud, and his bleeding is all that could be desired. Speakias on tha question of stock on roads

at the Levels County Council meeting lasfc week, the Chairman said that the practice was too frequent altogether. He said thaj; he knew of one farm of 158 acres, the whole of which had been put in crop, scarcely 1 raving sufficient unploughed land to stand a dray upon. The owner had 12 horses aiid three cows, which had to live on the roads. There was also a dam of water on this farm, and yet fhe stock were- driven half a mile t«. water. The Waikatva correspondent of the Wyndham Herald writes: — Dairying is progressing very slowly. It i^> to be regretted that the settlers here are not unanimous in this matter, for dairying- is whai, the district is suitable for; but owing to tha- want of tact of some of the proprietors and the reluctance to issue a balance eheet to relieve the natural anxiety of some of the suppliers, the industry is not largely supported. There is a, rumour current here that a syndicate is going to start collecting cream along the rood to Fortrose if arrangements can br made with the settlers to purchase separators. This would be a great boon to many if the scheme proved a success, and there is no reason why it should not. Mr Kenneth G. M'Douald, son of MrAlex. M'Donald, Menzies Ferry, has been appointed to the charge of Pihama cream-

cry. raranakd, where the daily intake is about 2500ga1, of which one supplier alona contributes 320ga1. The Beathcote Road Board having adopted the provisions of the Noxious Weeds Act, edicts have (says the Lyttelton Times) been issued to ratepayers in that district impressing upon them the necessity of strict compliance with the terms of the act. As the board's jurisdiction extends over the Bromley and Flemington districts, where lupins, gorse, and broom flourish apace, and these growths are specified in the act, nou a little consternation has been caused to* property-owners. Agricultural banks are a great (success in Germany, but it is strange to find that thero is one in a flourishing condition in England. Mr Rider Haggard has made the dis--covery, and communicated it to the world af; large. It exists at Scawby, in Lincolnshire, and was founded in 1894, with a capital oF £200. Its total loans to small holders amount to £577, advanced in 22 cases in sums varying from £5 to £50. It is in a. very solvent condition, and the security upon which loans are made must be tangible and safe.

The linseed crops of the Poverty Bay district give promise of an abundant harvest. Many of them are in a forward state, and are just breaking nit into flower, which gives the fields a pretty blue tint. The Herald's estimate, that there are 3000 acres in this crop, is stated by those who are in a position to judge not to be exaggerated. The profitableness of the crop may be judged by the fact that last year some of the farmers netted over £8 an acre out of it. Of the 271 dairy factories in the colony, 223 are worked by steam, 37 by water power, 7 by gas, 1 by oil, 2 by hand, and 1 by horse power. The water, hand, and horse-driven factories are all in Taranaln.