AGRICULTURAL NOTES

Press, Volume XLVIL, Issue 7691, 24 October 1890, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL NOTES

It was with considerable regret that wo notice from the report of the A. and P. Association meeting that entries fjor this competition were not coming in ah freely as could be desired. This is the more to be regretted, because there can be no doubt out that euoh competitions are productive of mach good to the colony. Farmers should not hesitate to enter their farms, thing is very popular in Victoria, and is doing much towards the general Improvement of agriculture amongst the holders of small farms—a I class of colonists what should be fostered in every possible way in New Zealand. We. are.ln hopes that the'extension of time which has been made will have the desired effect; we should particularly, like to see • the dairy farm class Well rbpre- . sen ted. ~: An Australian authority says that the teaehinjg of experience is " Mak&epallaae well if you can; but make In viewoiiihis we are glad to be able to announce that our correspondent "Silosopher " has his plan all ready, and that we shall publish it in our Show number With full explanation s. r „.. „ HoJ jg deferred makeththe heart sick.'* And In li%<6 manner it may; be said that ralti deferred maketh corn and grass Sick. Since our last Issue there have been many indications <of rain.- but as often have I they passed off, leaving tbe country drier tban*ifc was> before. From the-Bluff to the Harh'nal farmers and are beginning to experience the ill effects of the protracted drought. With tho exception of the extreme South, where some fine rain has fallen, all along the Hue the want of moisture is beginning .-to show ''itself, especially Is this co on the lighter soils and late sown corn. Potato planting Is now far advanced, aud active preparations "are commenced for.tbe turnip ctrops, which will be extensive this season. The continued drought is oausing farmers to consider tbe question of deeper tUlagUi '.There caaiwno-doubt of tte wisdom of i this couraa.. provided thafein spring the harrovra are freely, used; In fcnefekse of corn, and the driH #übber; with root crop), including potatoes. A ! very limited amount of moisture conserved: -_xjthis:w«T' would go.iar to: counteract tho evil effects of * fight, ralnfaU. The 5 matter is ohb "wbrthj"of the- best eon-f eiderafclon of ©very farmer. The farming of.iheiutaro must be f not possible area under crop with the least possible amount of-labour, but to cultivate; as much only as can be thoroughly well done. Our neighbours bti the other side have; had thing? «rrasged differently. ; Jo YJ»torla we read scour is prevalent, owing to tbe Bupei»bundauco of, ranpigrowing; frass,' the result of art abundance of rain, ho same news comes from Sew South i Wales. "' BSven frbm the far north in | Queensland the rainfall has been abundant, aud the crop prospects are good. A generous act was that of Mr Job Osborne, who has made a free gift to the A. and P. Association, of the deep well recently sunk on the Show Grounds So the Association. The well is the deepest .flowing well inNew Zealand, and cost Mr Osborne'more than £100 va labour and YYI O __A¥*ii__7 »;'-■'■' The single at agricultural slMJwsis.&st country. To the credit, of Scotland, be it said, that many of the greatest reforms in the conduct of agricultural shows have originated In that country. At the last show of the Hi«bl-ud and Agricultural Society* held in 3uly last iv Dundee, many of the classes, were judged by single judges, notably the Shorthorn, Ayrshire®, . Indeed aU the classes, with the exception of Aberdeen-Angus cattle and the horses, and judging from therenMfcaof tho show itt m SopEtph 'Mfc m@kmexM a would appear to have given universal satisfaction. It is somewhafe singular and suggestive that the only ©bases In which the awards were not generally endorsed by the pa bile were those adjudicated upon by three judges. The feature of the ureaiSebtcish National Ayrshires. The stock of the celebrated; bulla Hover-a-bUa_and ware again invulnerable. .-An Interesting!; description: of th&maxmer in which the freezing of mutton Is carried out In La Plata appears la come of the English journals. It is found to be essentially necessary that, the congealed meat be placed on board fc&estesjai&E without being ia contact,, even far a few minutes, wlt&Jhi sun, -.mm. the carcasses are therefore conveyed direct from the freezing chambers of j;he factory to those Of the steamer! .'Twenty menfeija easily slauehter 1000 sheep in a day. The carcasses are hang apt© dry.la a large chamber for tsreral end "are then taken to the first freshing chamber, any which chow the' slightest? «fga of any wound or defect being put on one side and sold at the market of th©,towxw The first freezing chamber is on!y about lOdegf Fahn, as it Is not desirable to let the meat be frosen too suddenly upon the surface, but rather that the cold air; should penetrate gradually. After being in the first chamber a few-hoars the carcasses are taken Into a second, where She temperature Is as low as 30deg. below aero, remaining there thteod&ysv st thread of which time they are completely conge&M iad M .hard as wood. Toey are theft "par Into foarse muslin bags to protect thempWhJjjlxt, and S laced in storehouses capable of storing \om carcase®, ahd the tsraperatar® of which la the game aa trhat of the second free-lag ebamfeer. Tbe average weight of the carcasses in La Plata IS 481b, The cost of sheep there does not exceed 4s each, and the freight to London net quite a penny & pound, -and -aa tk© ■ AEge&Ma® Government pays a small premium there is a good margia for preSs, especially As the offal and the Hood is all utuieed. The nuisance of house flies Is not at all a - mystery. - The ; ofexpressed W0&&or *• wfcere can they all faa-trs come teem" I* answered far the satur&Ust. who has watched their inception' In manure plies, waele they are batched by the warmth of mat&ir before the weather i@ warm -enougfe to breed them la Hie mm. The fly Uvea bf consuming dirt, and Its . e«gs are naturally placed la aaaaare piles or cesspools. The pigpen, stable*, bsahoasss, should be as well cleaned, aud tbe maanre either flowed. Into or, harroWed under ihe soli. _ae raOsst eor&mon breeding place for flies about* the house Is the pool at the huois. deor»where refuse Is often thrown. If ao provision te made for breeding the® thero wUV bo no files, bat if dirt aboands §bey come because they are needed to elm* ii> away. Uawelcome as fliee are, fchay paver come without aa . iavttx&t ioa, ■mmty'Sm hafe not- ©*fen» ssofesa. Now is the time, therefore, before the hot weasharaeta fes,t®-Jfeen Us® of the dwelling—stable,, oatbouses, and stoeky-r4**i~kHSS!~sa mm draia®d, so aa. to remove all harbour where there is a lIk«Ul*oo4 oitfee eggs hatched, v -1