AGRICULTURAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8407, 8 November 1912, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL.

ITEMS FOR FARMERS.

It is estimated that owing to the disastrously wet weather experienced in Canada the Dominion's wheat crop will amount to only 205,000,000 bushels, a decrease of 5 per cent, on last year's crop. •

Much damage has been caused in Nelson by adverse weather conditions to the tomato and potato crops, especially to the former. The frost was most severely felt in the southern portion of the city. Toi .Toi Valley, however, suffered severely, and the Italian and other gardeners there have, for the third year in succession, lost all their tomato plants, running into several thousands.

Mr W. T. Ritcli, of the live stock branch of the Canadian Department of Agriculture, is on a visit to. New Zealand, making inquiries on behalf of an English company as to whether a suitable climate can. be .obtained here for the Karakull or Persian sheep, the pelts of which are highly valuable. The purebred sheep require a mild climate, but ibhe halfbreds from which the most valuable pelts are obtained, require a cold country to develop the proper growth of fleece.

The grain circular issued by the American Agricultural Department, which has just been received locally, is most favourable. It predicts that the yield of corn during the coming season will be three billion bushels. This will be the largest crop in history, and is 500,000,000 bushels in excess of . the 1911 crop. The wheat yield is estimated at 720 million bushels, which is 100,000,000 bushels more than that of the previous season. The output of oats will probably be 1,400,000 bushels, an increase of 500,000 bushels on last year's figures. The total estimated value of agricultural products has been set down at 10,000,000,000 dollars. The railways are congested everywhere.

The report presented at the annual, meeting of the Ayrshire Cattle Breeders' Association stated that the year just closed had been a very successful one, the balance-sheet showing a credit of £25 6s Id. In addition to this there were a large number of herd books on hand. The membership of the association had increased satisfactorily, and now stood at over 100. During the year the .association .'had lost.one of the veteran breeders of Ayr shires, in the person'of Mr Wm. Cowan, whose name would long be remembered and associated with the proportion of Ayrshire cattle in New Zealand. The- second volume of the Herd Book was now being issued, and was being readily' sought after by the members of the association. The councillors felt that a more progressive attitude should be taken by this association in the direction of bringing the Ayrshire breed of cattle before the public and demonstrating their utility. The election of officers resulted, as follows: President, Mr Wilkie; treasurer, Mr J.'Woodley (fcewbury); secretary, Mr P. Neilsen; auditor. Mr G. Carter (Porirua) : councillors, Messrs Buchanan and Kyle. Mr Cuddie, Dairy Commissioner, addressed the meeting on the. semi-official, testing of cows. Mr Singleton explained the actual methods of testing. The meeting approved ©f the semiofficial testing as carried out by. the Government.