AGRICULTURAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 78, 27 March 1886, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL.

Rabbits are said to be increasing rapidly to the north of Auckland.

New Zealand sheep are free from disease, saveior Borne scab-infected flocks in Marlborough. Grapes are plentiful in Tauranga this season, and are of extra good quality. New Zealand tinned mullet are being introduced successfully into Sydney. At Cambridge Horticultural Show on Wednesday, March 16, an apple weighing 21bB. was exhibited

One-half of the salmon ova Bent to Canterbury from the lonic turned out in good condition, which is considered very satisfactory. Tho Rev. Mr Habens has been appointed Secretary of the Education Deportment, and will take up his duties immediately on the retirement of Mr Hislop,

According to the Wairarapa paper, Mr Dixon, of Masterton, made a profit last year of £35 from about 20 hivea of beea, to which ho attends in his leisure hours.

Mr Murphy, Secretary of Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, haa forwarded to the Indian-Colonial Exhibition two cases containing samples of grasses and grain anyone of which are of extraordinary growth.

The Canterbury harveßt is a partial failure thia year, the oat crop being estimated to produce 1,020,379 bushels less than last year, the wheat crop 847,950 bushels less, and the barley crop 205,562 bushels lesß. A similar falling off will take place in Otago. After the address of Mr Tee Smith Milton on Friday night, March 19, the Bruce County Farmers' League was formed. A resolution was unanimously passed that tho time had come for State intervention on behalf of mortgagors and tenants.. A resolution was also carried affirming the advisability of establishing a State bank. Professor Thomas has been inquiring into the existence of parasites among sheep in this colony. He has just returned to Wellington from the South Island, and is going up the West Coaat of this island. The East Coast -the Professor has already visited. The result of his observations is that tho colony is singularly free from any parasitic pest. The season has been eminently unfavourable to the lung worm, etc. An important trade has been inaugurated which, though it looks very like sending coals to Newcastle, may have great possibilities in it. A Christohurch firm have sent a steamer load of seed wheat to South Australia, its despatch being suggested by tho fact that the South Australian harvest had partially failed, and it was thought that the introduction of a new class of seed would provo acceptable to tho farmers. The Canterbury wheat was considered suitable because of its resemblance to Adelaide wheat. The only drawback ia that there ia an ad valorem duty of 10 per cent, levied on imported wheat, and the shippers wero unsuccessful in obtaining a rebate of the duty in their favour. At a farmers meeting at Henleyl Otago, on Tuesday night, the 9th March, the following resolution was carried :— "Whilst deploring the difficulties which have mado it necessary for state tenants to appeal to the Government for relief, the meeting respectfully but strenuously protests against any partial legislation in favour of a particular class, and claims, in justice and in right a fair equitable readjustment by the State of rents, interests, and other burdens on lands as the only effectual moans of relieving tho present deepening and growing depression and averting the ruin of tbe agricultural and pastoral community." A committee was formed to co-operate with the Farmers' Loague throughout Otogo.

MrG. B. Federli, who went to Hokianga last year to pursue sub-tropical culture, reports to Mr Murphy, Secretary of the Hokianga Fruit Growing Company, that he has planted apples, pears, plume, apricots, .minces, pomegranates, figs, almonds, o'rangee, Liabon lemons, bananas and pineapples, which are doing very well. The 4,000 vine=cuttings that he has planted have alroady attained^ a growth of four feet, and his tobacco of the Havana, Virginia, and Connecticut harvests haa been admired by both Europeans and natives. The latter, who grow " the weed" in the district, consider it the finest growth they have seen. The maize grows to perfection, and he expects a crop of 200 bushels to the acre; whilo the watormolons and rockmelons can be easily cultivated. Mr Murphy's opinion, as stated to a Proas Association reporter, is that Hokianga oilers a fine field for persons with a email knowledge of gardening, and patience to work for a time for profitable returns. There is access by water all through the block, on which could be grown tomatoes, early cucumbers, straw berries, oic, to supply the Southern market.