Rural.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1036, 8 June 1894, Page 3

Rural.

» NOTES. The poultry-house should be cleansed daily, if possible, and dry earth should be sprinkled oh the floor, which permits of sweeping the latter with a broom. Cleanliness prevent^disease. Messrs John M'Nairn and Company, writing under date Glasgow, April 12, say : — The butter season is now at an end, and it has been a most successful one for all concerned, more especially for factories. We are pleased to advise that the quality of butter received this season has been up to the standard, and undoubtedly in many cases it has been equal to the very best Danish. The best proof of all this is the prices realised, which have been almost isqual to those realised for the very best Danish, j Meantime the market is very sick, and it is difficult to quit butter at anything like a fair price, the value to-day of choicest quality being from 96s to 98s ; 100s is the outside limit for anything specially fine. Regarding cheese, the same corres pondents write : — We are now in the middle of the colonial cheese trade, and we are pleased to advise that the quality being received, especially from New Zealand, is very high-class, being equal I in many respects to the best Scotch. We are making to-day for the very highest-class quality 58s, and we have now advanced our price to 595, because Canadian cheese are decidedly firmer, and being in short supply there is nothing at all to be had to compete with New Zfialauds until we receive new grass goods from the States and Canada, which will not be here before the beginning of June. The imports of hay into the United Kingdom during the month of December, 1893, as shown by the Board of Trade Journal, amounted to 37,314 tons, and for the 12 months ending December 31, 1893, the quantity of imported was 263,050 tons. This is an emormous increase on the previous year when the imported hay amounted to only 61,237 tons. The larger portion came from North Russia, Holland, Canada, United States, and Argentine Republic. Victoria is not mentioned in the list, but South Australia sent 9 tons, and New Zealand 40 tons. Small contribntions were received from Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and Bombay, while Malta sent nine tons and the Canary Islands sent one ton. A great industry that was to add to the wealth of the Canadian NorthWest has almost collapsed. This is the ranching business, which has been boomed to the skies during the past few years. Among the reasons given for the collapse of the business is mentioned the fact that the Government has given notice to the ranchers that their leases will not be renewed, as the intention is to throw open the lands for settlement. Of course, those who are in the business cannot immediately got out, as stock cannot easily be disposed of, but where reduction is possible it is being made. It is stated that the ranchers have lately been conducting their business at a loss. Now that the question of loans to farmers is being urged on the Government, it becomes interesting to learn what the Czar of Russia is doing. The British consul at Baton m, in the TransCaucasus, writing to the Foreign Office aa to the crop of 1893, says : — 'lt is impossible as yet to form an accurate opinion as to the real result of this year's crops in view of the small quantities of grain brought down by the railway, owing to the existing low prices, ' producers being now in a position to hold their grain and wait for better times, as the Imperial Government is making advances on produce to growers at a reduced rate of. interest (5^- per cent), and has likewise reduced the cost of insurance on the grain stored and held as guarantee for the advances so made.' It is notable that in one point at least the autocratic Government of Russia is more * liberal ' than Australian Governments, ■ Scarce as money is at the present time, and unsaleable as almost every other kind of stock is, a good cow is still saleable, and prices of any such are higher than they have been for many years. Farmers are disgusted with grain growing, sheep have disapointed them, and in their trouble they are.j turning their attention to. the cow. It properly treated, there is no doubt that she will be a very great assistance to them. A different system of farming, however, will, in many cases have to be adopted. Cows must have an abundant and a constant supply of food, and to ensure this at all seasons of the year a very great deal of forethought ia'neces*

sary. Sheep and cows do not usually work well in company, but the cow and the pig together are admirably adapted for small holdings, and as a fair price for pork is now almost assured, farmers can make their calculations with far <nore likelihood of being correct in <l»'alinjnr with milk and pork tlun they cm with grain, and sheep. That ihe •lairy industry will make very rapid strides during the next season there can be little doubt., and farmers should at onoe begin to educate themselves up to the change. If they do it will greatl}' help to rpmove the present depression and prevent its recurrence.