ACCLIMATISATION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3045, 30 April 1867, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION.

To the Editor of the Dahy SoumraitN Cltosf. Sib,— Your correspondent does not appear to have caught the gist of my remarks at the public meeting at Howick a few days since. I muat beg the favour of a small apace in explanation. I said that, as so many persons kept goats in this neighbourhood, I would recommend them to ask the Society to introduce the Angora goat, which would answer equally well as milkers ; that the hair was worth 4s. 6d. per lb., and would average about 41b. each, clipped yearly ; that they were beginning to find their value at the Cape ; that I bad seen account sales of nearly 100 buoks sold there at auction, averaging from 80 to 100 guineas each. There has been lately also a shipment of Angora goats received in "Melbourne,— l believe on account of the Acclimatisation Society. I heard recently of a rough sheep run at Hawke's Bay, carryine about 20,000 sheep, averaging only lib. of wool each fleece, in coniequenee of the roughness of the scrub in that part of the district. If we reckoned the wool unwashed at Is. per lb., and 5«. a score shearing, it would bring the fleece to about 9d. for each sheep; still it would amount to nearly £1,000 per annum for wool. If the proprietor, instead of merino sheep, had the same number of Angora goats, the mohair would have been worth nearly £20,000 per annum— the animals hardier, and much longer-lived, more than compensating for the mutton of the sheep, which is not of much account on the run at such a distance from market. . The natural state of the province of Auckland u everywhere unsuited for sheep, but admirably adapted for the Angora goat, which would browse on the natural shrubs and prepare the country for sheep, to follow as cultivation progressed. The islands everywhere on the c«ast are better suited for goats than any other useful animal. An objection, of course, is their natural wildness, but they are not worse than merino sheep, where neglected to be herded. I heard lately that 8,000 merinos were lost, three years since, in one flock, on the mountains of the Middle Island, and none of them have since, I believe, been recovered. We have no such terra incognita here; animals could be followed and recovered from any part of the province. The demand for mohair is even greater than that for wool, and it is used for the most expemive and finest fabrics manufactured. I recommended the residents about Howick and the district beyond to ask for the introduction of Ayrshire (cattle. The country and management is unsuited for short-horni, which are too large a species, and require more care and better treatment than, they receive from small settlers on our rough runs. Ayrshire or Kerry cows would be much better adapted for the rough, half-cultivated country, and are much better milkers. Three cows would keep in good condition where two short-horns would starve, and the small breed would be jnuch more saleable fat, especially in summer. In speaking of caterpillars, I remarked that I did not believe the perfect fly (which I suppose belongs to the order " apes." as it has four wings) was indigenous to this country, but, like the field-cricket, introduced here about twenty years ago. The caterpillar so destructive to corn crop?, &c, is not yet found at Hokianga, and they are now only yearly advancing southward throughout the Middle Island, at the rate of about twenty-five mUes a year. I myself saw the fly some miles beyond where the caterpillars had ever been seen. Ten to fifteen years «nce, every year, caterpillars devoured every crop of corn and grais sown in this neighbourhood ; the cultivations were then small in proportion to the insect. I have always observed since, in new districts like the Mauku and elsewhere, where the cultivations were first small, that in proportion caterpillars were very destructive. At the time mentioned there was a great start in farming in this neighbourhood ; the whole of the country was ploughed and sown, »nd for several years the caterpillar nuisance was only partial. I have frequently had whole field* of grain not injured iath« slightest. lam sorry to say the evil is now yearly increasing, and it is the last season of such a startling character that, if we cannot devise Home means to abate the nuisance, the staff of life, at all events, cannot be grown in this district. I suppose we imported this pest, ai wellw, recently, the living rust from Australia. They do not appear to have found a remedy for caterpillars at Melbourne. I find there, as well as here, they are altering their habits, and destroying new kinds of plants, such as mangold, which they have not hitherto done. The fly is now busy laying its eggs at the roots of grasses, plants, and old •tubbles, their instinct leading them to depoiit their eggs in cultivations ; and they congregate there from the surrounding dutricto. The damage is generally in the same field or bank where ther are hatched. I have noticed that a brood lasts from ten days to three weeks. Digging ditches for them to fall into is useless. When caterpillars begin to travel in that way they have ceased to be of any injury; it is their instinct which teaches them to ru«h off to endeavour to bury themselves, which is necessary for their transformation into the pupa state. If we get a dry winter, look out for caterpillars next season, as I have seen mere in number of the perfect insect this year than I have observed altogether for the last 17 years. Ido not think we begin the right end to try to abate the evil. Destroying the caterpillar it all nomense; it is the flj we must endeavour to destroy, and imall birds are their natural enemies— the fly ii fortunately very atupid and easy to catch* I trust every country settler and every labourer in the province will give his rapport to the Acclimatisation Society. The losses to the agriculturists during the last season, from this came, »re greater in •mount than the rental of the whole province.— I am, Ac, • 'I, Evbiy Ma.oman. £utley Manor, by Howick, April, 1867.