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EDITORIAL FARM NOTES.

" Weekly Press and Referee." THK MARKETS OV SOUTH AFRICA. Wβ have seen a letter to a business firm in New Zealand which corresponds with the reports of short«j,6 to hand -in the Cape papers. The Johannesburg Star of a recent date has an article which clearly sets forth that the visible meat supply in the country is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the people. Beef has risen Id per lb and mutton £d. Further rises are imminent. "All the internal sources of supply are "drying up." Mutton is as scarce as beef. On* district which usually supplies 30,000 sheep has this year produced scarcely 5000. The harvest prospects are said to be a blank. At Saldanha Bay the farmers are giving the cattle the run of the crop 3. Potatoes and onion 3 have already gone up from 50 t» 70 %. With such prospects before the people of Capetown it is little wonder that a vigorous protest is being made against the continuance of the usual heavy import duties on the necessaries of life, which pro entirely unprocurable in the country." If a trade is to be opened up between New Zealand and the Cape Colony the heavy import duties must firat be suspended. In the meantime, no doubt, careful enquiries are being made by those interested in the colony touching the open, ing up of a trade for our produce in South Africa. THE RIN'DKRPKST OR CATTLE PLAGUE. In our last issue we drew attention to the terrible havoc caused by this fell plague amongst the cattle of South Africa. Sound- • ing a note of caution, our morning contemporary in a recent issue published a letter from a resident in South Africa, from which it appears only too true that the disease is travelling south. He cautions the people of New Zealand to keep a watchful eye, and to prohibit the importation of all kinds of skins, rugs, &c. By the last mail we received a tile of Cape papers, which givo detailed accounts of the progress of the plague southwards. The ride is the remedy I used ; when the disease breaks out on a farm the whole of the cattle are shot. On a farm south of the Vaal river 400 head of cattle have been shot. The farmers in Natal are in a Btate of anxiety, and are petitioning Government to close the district. As regards preventive treatment innoculation has proved a failure, and a like result appears to have attended other prescrip- • tione. A farmer writing to a friend in Kimberley, claims to have saved his cattle by giving them sulphur and salt, in the proportion of lib of the former to 261bs of the latter, twice a week. Hβ adds that while the cattle all round died, his are still alive and well, a fact which speaks volumes for the specific. The greatest difficulty which the authorities have to deal with is the nativcclement, which will readily be understood when it is stated that the cattle belonging to the tribes are their chief source of wealth. No doubt a watchful care will be exercised over importations from the Cape, for our Agricultural Department no doubt recognises the fact that if the rinderpest is brought into this country the Department will have to prove to a highly indignant community of ruined stockowners that every possible precaution was taken to keep it out. THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. . • . The last number of the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, just to hand, amongst other interesting matter contains a suggestive paper on the dairy industry in Greatßritain. The home production and imports of butter and cheese for 1895 are given as follows:—The home pro-? du<itionfor the was 9500 tons less than; previous yea-r, which was 87,559. tons, ad againeb 78,059 tone.'* Australia sent 13,007 tone, Canada sent 1947 tons, and New Zealand 2663 tons, Denmark sent the largest quantity, 58,139 tone, while France sent 22,742 tone, Germany 5617 tons, Holland 9561 tons, Sweden 16,540 tons, the United States 3347 tons, Belgium 1237 tone, and other countries 1056 tons. The total imports of butter including the. Home production amounted to 219,343 tons, being larger than any previous year. In cheese Canada sent 57,501 tons, Australia only sent 893 tons, New Zealand 3,745 tons, the United States sent 25,070 tons, Holland "15,296 tons, France 2,820 tons, Belgium 1,077 tons, other countries, 338 tons. The Home production was 134,164 tons, making a total of 240,854 tons. It will be seen from the above a tat emen t how small a part New Zealand plays in sending butter aa compared with Australia. Denmark is the largest exporter of butter, while Canada is the, largest exporter of cheese. New Zealand will have to go much more seriously into the business before we can claim to rank as a ' large exporter. * Australian's export for the year 13,007 tons was the largest on record. THE SEASON AND THE CROPS. The want of rain is beginning to be felt through Canterbury and North Otago. Fanners are becoming anxious, especially those .farming the lighter soils. The progress of the turnip sowing is being hindered for want of rain, and large areas which have been got in are in anything but a promising condition, while considerable areas have already been resown. Ib is feared that unless v change speedily takes place, accompanied, by rain, serious losses will be sustained, not only by shortage of the root crops, but shortage of cereals and grass. Many of the wheat and oat crops are already spindling into ear while the straw is . very short. On the better lands things are a little ir.ove hopeful. It is cheering, however, to note that while ■ we write there are indications of rain, which coming now would change the face of Nature, at least of our cornfields and pastures, which latter are beginning to suffer Hay making is now proceeding; the crop is a good one on the moist lands, and those fanners who are engaged in this work are hoping for a continuance of fine weather. Potato planting is proceeding, and large areas will probably be put under this crop. The prices this season have been so aalisfactory as compared witit the last few years that formers will be encouraged to plant more freely. ••DROUGHT IJJ SOUTH AUSTRALIA. While the farmers in Canterbury are grumbling because there has been little or no rain for four or five weeks, our neighbours in the above colony are suffering from a drought indeed, which has extended over a period of nearly two years, and the result ' of which is simply disastrous to agriculturists and pastoralists alike. The loss of stock and tho suffering all round is the most severe ever experienced before in any part of Australia. Thousands of sheep have already died, and the summer haa yet to be faced. The Adtlaide Oburveft representative, who has visited the blighted districts, tells an appalling story of the wretched condition of man -and beast. Old settlers state,that the drought of 1864-5 was as intense ; but as the country was then open, ' and not so heavily stocked; the losses were not so great. The wheat crop over large areas is completely destroyed. In 1890 there were 130,000 bags of wheat sent by I rail from Hammond ; last year, owing to the bad season, the output had fallen to 16,000 bags, while this year it is feared that not & angle waggon load will leave the district. £t is contemplated to form a Drought Distressed Farmers Fund. It is feared that Should the drought continue the whole of

the slock will perish. The Government have passed a bill granting a large sum of money for the purpose of supplying seed , wheat, and it may be sustenance, to the drought smitten districts. New Zealand farmers may congratulate themselves on the fact that- their only experience of such dire calamities is gleaned from the papers. We may thank our insular position for thi? happy immunity from such dire events. Clover Growing in* New Zealand. This industry lias now become an important one. Since the introduction of the bumble bee the plant seeds more freely than it did before. Many and varied have been the opinions asto the utility or otherwise of the bumble bee for the purpose of fertilising the red clover. An able pamphlet on clover growing, prepared by Mr A. Bcavan (of Andrews and Bearan), should be in the hands of all farmers. He gives the early history of the introduction of the clover plant into Britain, and its subsequent intro. ductton to New Zealand, with full instruc. tions for saving clover hay an-.J clover seed. We can confidently recommend the pamphlet. Copies may be had on application to Messrs. Andrews and Beavd.ii, Christchurch. TARAXAKI AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION. The twenty-second annual Show of this Association was an improvement on that of last year ; the weather, and consequently the attendance, being satisfactory, and the exhibits in excess of last year. In Shorthorns Mr Hunter's bull Master of the Ring was first, and Mr Fantham's cow Red Duchess wae first. In Ayrshire cattle Mr Coldwell's Earl of Woodlands was first. The entries of sheep were not numerous, Mr Western taking first prize for Leicesters, and Messrs Hoskin and Fantham divided the honours in Lincolns. In the light horse classes, thoroughbred stallion, Mr A. H. Emmett's Fraternite first; carriage stallion. Mr M. Jones's Ebony firat. The other classes were well represented, draught stallion, Mr J. D. Mitchell's Glengylc first. In dairy produce the Ha worth Factory took first for box of butter for export. The other exhibits were well up to those of former years in numbers and excellent in quality. Wyndham Show (Southland). The management have every reason to be satisfied with the result of their efforts. With the exception of sheep the classes were fairly well filled. As is usual in most of the show yards south of the Waitaki the Ayrshire element predominated in the catlls. Mr Jaa. Gault's bull took, first prize in the any age class. *Mr Muir secured a fair share of the honours. Shorthorns, Mi- P. Campbell's bull secured first place. Draught horses, any age, Mr W. Allison's Young Reformer took first place. Cow giving the greatest quantity of butter fat in one milking, Mr J. Gault's cow let, giving 4.8 per cent. Factory made cheese, Wyndham Dairy Factory let. Miss Doull secured first for new cheese. TOKOMAIRIRO FARMERS , CLUB. The thirty-firet annual Show of this club was held oa the sth and proved a great success ag compared with other years. The entries were 359, and the takings at the gates amounted to £32 12e. The show of Ayrshire cattle was very good. The draught horses were quite up to the mark, W* MacpheraoD's Earl of Fife taking the chain' pion. Shorthorns were not numerous. T. H. Russell took Ist and champion for bull and cow, any age. For the champion dairy cow W. McGregor Ist. In Ayrshire cattle I. and J. AUieon secured the champion card for best bulls. Mr W. Gray took the champion card fer the best cower heifer in the yard, and the prize offered for the most points'; in" stocky' There were seventy-sixi entries *f aheejpV The following are the winners of champion cards: Merino sheep, j>. and A. Macpheraon ; Border Leicesters, best ram, W. Grey, best ewe, D. and A.. Macpherson; Downs, beat ram and ewe, H. M. Driver. There were ten entries of dogs, seventy of dairy produce, and twentynine of implements. WESTERN DISTRICT A. AND P. ASSOCIATION'S* SHOW, SOUTHLAND. The fifteenth annual Show of this Association was held recently dt Thornbury under favourable ciroumstances so far as the weather was concerned, although the exhibits and the attendance of the public was not as good ac in some former years. The show of sheep was the feature of the Show. Messrs R. and A Officer had the champion Lincoln and Romney rams, while Mr J. B. Sutton secured the champion with a Lincoln •we, as well as champion Leicester ram. Mr D. Reider took champion Leicester ewe, Messrs R. and A. Officer securing the champion Romney ram, Mr F. R. Boyd, champion Shropshire ram, J. Reid an 3 Sons, champion Shropshire ewe. In draught horses Messrs li. Citpples' Craievar Ist and champion fordraught stallion. MrW. Foley's Shorthorn bull took Ist. Messrs R. and A. Officer had some splendid Polled Angus cattle which attracted a large share of attention. THK SOUTHLAND SHOW. We think we are cerrect in placing this event last in the long list of events of the kind which commenced with Hawke's Bay, and like those which went before,, the weather, if not quite as fine as it could have been wished, . was not unpleasant. The entries were not as numerous as last year, but the quality of the exhibits was as if not better, than in previous years. The sheep were the feature of the Show. Messrs J. B. and Georgis Sutton divided the prizes in the Lincoln classes. Messrs McCustie and McKeroher Bros., . took all the prices in the Border Leicestor classes. 2*3 r McCustie's imported ram took champion, while McKfercuer. Biros', ewe took t?i e championship. Mr W. B. Logan had the champion Romney Marsh ram and ewe, the Hon. Mr Holmes securing four first out of six classes. Messrs J. Reid and Sons' Shropshires were the only exhibit. Messrs Helden and Awdry had the- champion Cheviot rum and ewe. In cattle, Mr Beanen's Young Blithe, was awarded the champion ticket. Mr W. Rankin had the champion Ayrshire bull, Messrs Officer's Polled Angus bull, Monarch, was champion in his class. CHAMPIONSHIPS. We would like to draw the.attention of committees of management of Shows throughout New Zealand, to what we consider a mistake. We refer to the practice of awarding champion tickets to animals in classes where there is no competition. Although the exhibit may be worthy of such distinction, it does not always happen it is so. Such distinctions are decidedly misleading. In our opinion a champion ticket should only be awarded where there is competition, and onlj then when there is special merit. We are aware that this is usually the course pursued. In the majority of cases awarding first and second class prizes where there is no competition is sdmissable, but we should not go further.

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Bibliographic details

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9605, 21 December 1896, Page 2

Word Count
2,400

EDITORIAL FARM NOTES. Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9605, 21 December 1896, Page 2

EDITORIAL FARM NOTES. Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9605, 21 December 1896, Page 2