AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue LXIV, 13 September 1902, Page 4 (Supplement)

AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS.

Tho Friinley Orchard, at Hastings, already the largest in the colony, is being added to. Twenty-six acies have just been planted with peach trees. It is said that the number of fat wethers available in Southland is not sulliciont to feupply the demand, and that tho local trado will have to kill hoggets befoie the season is out. TJio grain market (writes Drover in tho Otago Witness) is brisk, and evidently prices will remain at a high level for tho remainder of the season, and until harvest. I anticipate fair prices to rule for grain for the coming season's crops, as tho Australian harvest must now be, even despite good rains, more . or less a failure. 'iho small birds trouble in South Canterbury is still a very live one. According to the Levels County Council, the birds are increasing, and the nuisance is growing more serious every year. According to the Dunstan Times, over 2600 fruit trees, including oranges, lemons, and figs, are to reach Clyde this week. They are to bo planted on the west bank of the river, within a mile from the town. Writes the Ensign's Waikaka correspondent: — "There ia a very lurge area ploughed here this season, and I am of opinion that a very large area will go into oats. Turnips are standing out well, but there are not a, great many fat sheep to be picked up. The up-north buyers have fairly cleared the market." Tho Eltham (Taranaki) Co-operative Poultry Company has acquired a site of 10 acres, and will erect buildings and commence operations at the earliest possible date. It is expected that k large shipment of joung birds for export will be ready in time for the opening of the season's markets in England. The Huntly correspondent of the Auckland Weekly News states that tEe King natives are doing some good work at Te Awaroa. Under the auspices of Mahuta and his chiefs, fencing and ploughing is going on. The Waikatos are also clearing some of tho bush, and an attempt will be made to drain the swamp.. Mr. Whiu Himiona has started a flaxmill, with an output of nearly two tons per week. Probably thora will be about double the amount of flax fibre dressed in the summer time, when the roads are more hardened and suitable for traffic. Tho engine is fueled with the coal which outcrops quite close to the Haxmill, upon his property. The balance-sheet of the South Canterbury Dairy Company, presented to the first annual meeting of shareholders, shows a deficiency of £456 15s in the profit and loss account, this loss being incurred before tho factory began operations. In tho five and a half months the factory has been running there was some loss in tho first two months, but Iliis had been made up and a small profit of £7 odd made on the whole period. The sum of £1421 17s 4d had been paid for milk, £1905 Is lid received for cheese and butter, besides £260 worth of cheese on hand. There are 507 shareholders and 3324 shares issued. Estimates by competent authorities (says the Kawhin. Settler) go towards showing that there js not a less quantity of flax near the seaboat\l of the Kawhia Country than n. hundred thousand tons. Tho value of flax in the market is £28 a ton. A large area of flax land near the harbour has recently been acquired by a settler from the south, and it is understood that mills will be at work there an soon as possible. But there is not the ghost of a road leading from tho flax country to the ocean outlet of Kawhia Harbour. A road of ten miles, over oasily accessible country, would put these extensive flax lands in touch with the deep salt water of Kawhia Harbour. A largo quantity of valuable sheep have been sent away from the Darling Downs to look for relief country up the' const of Queensland towards Marlborough, and oven north of that town. Reports come to hand that severe losses are being incurred, dingoes are plentiful, and oven rickets, brought on by eating tho zamia plant, have carried \>ff numbers. Country which up to lately it has been impossible to sell or lease is now fetching record prices for agistment purposes all tbe way up the coast The- experiment was recently made in, Northern Queensland of feeding sheep on sugar-cane. About 15,000 were taken on to country on the lower Burdekin and fed with* cane, and were doing well on their new feed. This .method of feeding stock has been adopted before in the southern districts, but it is believed this is the first time it has been tried in the north. A great deal more attention is being paid to tho horse-breeding industry in South Australia, and at recent sales of stallions some high prices wore obtained. Prices ranging up to 170 guineas were freely offered. Altogether (says the Pastoralists' Review) the sales give indication of revived interest in the horsebreeding industry. If better seasons prevailed it is believed there would be a good demand for country in the north suitable for horse-breeding Ten years ago (writes the Argentine correspondent of the Pastoralists* Review) our on.ly market was tho boilingdown places for grease, and local markets for food. Hides, skins, and wool were shipped to Europe, and for these alone had ye any prices to work upon, ■vow we have refrigerating prices for cattle- and sheep. We have a value for cows as butter-producers. We have tho export of lambs commencing, and by degrees wo are learning how to make a living out of small areas. As a result, small proprietors are springing up, and values of lund in smaller plots are being found and fixed. The growth of the dairy industry in Russia and tho Argentine Republic in the last two years may be estimated when it is considered that the fehipraonls of butter fuom those countries to England thus far this season are nearly double in quantity • what they were last season at this time. The production of butter in Victoria is reported to be increasing, and the worst effects of the recent scurcitv appear to be over. It cannot be expected, however, that shipments to London will start at all early, or that they will be as large during the now season as in 19011902. It is possible • also that delay in shipping to London w^buld occur if a South African demand should arise when prices approach the export level, as happened last year. The Australian drought and heavy demand for fodder has produced a good thing fur produce merchants in the Geelong District, Victoria. The other week no lower than fivo vessels called at Geelong and loaded fodder for New South Wales and Queensland, close upon 70,000 packages being shipped. Some farmeis have also done well. One district grower, however, who owned about 1200 tons of hay, was offered £7 per tou, but this ho refused in tha hope of securMig a higher price. It is questionable (says the Australasian) if the prospects wore ever so bad at lhe corresponding time of year in the cfrcal giowing area of Victoria. From the north-oast to the extieme north-west there is haidly any growth of vegetation of any kind to bo seen. With average sprang weather, tho general opinion is that there will be a disastrous" failure of crops. Copious spring rains, continued well into tho hummer, might iescue the situation, and produce a nioder- I ate return, but the chunces of anythin;- j of the kind occurring are not flattering, j