Miscellaneous Notes.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 2, 11 June 1887, Page 2

Miscellaneous Notes.

THE remarkable freedom from disease enjoyed by New Zealand stock is espeeb ally noticeable in contrast with the s'ster colonies. In almost every Australian paper taken up mention of disease among cattle or horses in one or more districts of the colony is made. The latest Melbourne papers to hand state that a virulent disease has broken out amongst the cattle at Jamberoo. and 15 deaths have already occurred. All the organs of the animals are healthy excepting the liver, which is perfectly rotten. The Government veterinary surgeon has been asked to report on the disease. Clean English barley for seed is difficult to obtain in Victoria, and a local firm of brewers has set a sum aside for the purpose of importing a supply. This course has been previously adopted, but the good results have been nullified by farmers sowing on dirty land. A Home paper thus sums up New Zealand’s advantages and disadvantages in the wheat market: —“ New Zealand is now at the head of the wheat production of Australia. In 1873, South Australia produced twice as much wheat as New Zealand, which was behind Victoria. In 1882, Victoria took the lead, New Zealand coming second. In 1883, New Zealand came first with 10,250,000 bushels, Victoria followed with 8,750,000 bushels, and South Australia came third with only 7,250,000. Further, the average yielded per acre is greater than in any other country in the world, including England. The New Zealander, however, has not yet learned the American art of sorting, packing, or transporting his grain ; and until he has done so, he cannot command the same price here, or retain the same hold on the market.” According to the American Florist cut flowers seem to be highly valued, and fetch fabulous sums in New York, judging from the following quotations of retail prices : —Rose W. F. Bennett, is each ; La France, is to 2s each ; General Jacqueminot, 2s to 4s each ; Niphetos, 7s per dozen ; carnations, 2s to 4s per dozen ; lilac, 6s to 8s a spray ; violets, 6s per bunch. If New Zealand growers could realise such prices they would think themselves handsomely remunerated indeed. The Sydney Mail states that the Parramatta Fruitgrowers’ Union is doing much praiseworthy work. The success which attended the efforts of a tew of the fruitgrowers to successfullyexport oranges to England has encouraged others to lend a helping hand, and we now find the union with a full programme of projects, each of which is promising to lead to good results. The prospects of fruit canning and drying factories are being considered, and steps arc being taken to form a compnay to export oranges to

England. The fruit exported by a wellorganised company, with a brand and a name, is likely to command more respect than lots sent from private hands. Poultry farmers tn this countty (says an American exchange) are much inter> tested in a feceht irtipoftatioh ftdttl £hg* land of black Minorcas. These httis ttrte said to be great layers, and they havte drawn-out this note of praise from the New York Sunj whose edh,of has .Stihg thousands of dollars in fancy fowls— The great thing about these Minorca eggs is that they average two ounces and a-quarler each, six of them making up a full pound. As a regular glass of eggnog contains exactly twelve ounces, ihit would leave only nine ounces and thraaquarters for rum and sugar—a change altogether in the Interests of temperance. Poultry should have a certain propor* tlop of salt in their food.. It will be fodfid profitable to pfocllfd fresh biobd Iroht the slaughter-houses whenever it can be obtained, it datl M put in a bag and cooked, or it may be mixed with two parts corn meal and one part shorts, baked into cakes and crumbled for the chicks, whenever it la needed; Fed to hens it increases egg production cheaper than meat and much more beneficial. ] Milk can be fed to poultry in any condition, either as skimmed milk, buttermilk, curds, or when mixed with meal or ground grain of any kind. It is a valuable food for egg production. Always fatten a fowl as quick aa possible. Ten days are long enough to get a fowl ffttj and it should be confined either ip a cbop or a number In a small yard. Give them pltehty df flesh Watßfi and food four tfiries a day, beginrtlild early and givitig the last meal lata. A mixture of corn meal three parts, ground oats one part, shorts one part, scalded, is the best for the first three meals, with all the corn and wheat that can be eaten up clean et tiight. A dish of water containing a handful of rusty nails placed in the hen-house adds greatly to the health of the occupants. Avoid top ventilation in” the poultryhouse. It will cause roup, swelled heads, closed eyes, and other difficulties.