RURAL TOPICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14396, 12 June 1907, Page 8

RURAL TOPICS.

AGRIOTILTURAL AND PASTORAL. At a mooting of the- Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association on Saturday, Air Baxter. local manager for the Christchurch Meat Company, offered to renew the company’s donation of private prizefe, but wished tho conditions to be altered, by doing away with tho stipulation that tho sheep should bo killed at tho company’s works and the skins and fat valued. The company proposed bo give prizes of seven ana three guineas for five fat wethers or maiden ewes suitable for the export trade, the general all-round value of the sheep, both skin and carcase, to be taken into consideration by the judge iu making his award. Minimum weight to bo not less than 481 b (freezing weight), maximum not lass than 721 b; minimum average not less than 541 b. Mr Orbell said that he bad contended for tho abolition of the killing condition all along. Tho "secretary pointed out that Messrs Dalgety and Co. offered a prize for the same sort of sheep, omitting limits of weight, and Mr Lowry said hLs firm would change the object of the prize.

A blight-resisting potato which has received considerable attention in Great Britain recently is the Solanum commersoni. Tho claims of its nal producer concerning its diseaseresisting qualities and its enormous yielding capacity were at first considered extravagant by exports in the Old Country, but repeated teste have confirmed its position as a really remarkable potato. A few samples were exhibited at the Dunedin show by Air H. E. M’Gowau, of Wilknvhridge, South Canterbury. They were dark-skinned and well-shaped, but the eyes are set in so deeply as to involve considerable waste in peeling. But for this notable fault the Solanum oommensoni would undoubtedly have a great future, as its productive and its disease-resisting qualities are indubitable. MrM’Gowan Ijas arranged for the importation of a lair quantity of this seed, and next season will bo iu a position to dispose of some to other growers.

Butter imports into the United Kingdom during March amounted to 378,723 cwt. against 899,097 cwt for March, 1900, and 355,427 cwt for March 1905. Of the total imported in March this year, 142,554 cwt were from Australia and New Zealand, and 236,169 cwt from foreign countries. The following is a comparison of the imports ci butter into the United Kingdom for the first quarter of the last three years:—

* | Referring to Australian farming conditions, the “Australasian' - ' of June 1 says:—The past week's weather, so far as it has affected Victoria, has left little cause for complaint. The downfalls might hare been heavier in places and a little lighter in others to give universal satisfaction, but rain is one of the many conditions that cannot be regulated. * The western district, the YvTmmera, the Malice, ■ the Goulbuni Valley and the north all received moderately good supplies of moisture, sufficient, at all events, to enable ploughing to be pushed on, and to give a start to the grass. When it has not been raining the Weather has on the whole been fine—warm and sunny —inviting tho landowner to- take full advantage of tho improved condition of tho soil. The prospects in the Wimmora and the Maliec have consequently been much improved during the past fortnight, and as tho ground is now in a good stateMor ploughing, without being boggy, the seed drills' are working full time to make up for the delay caused by the dryness earlier in the season. In tho Riverina, _too,_ there has been a.n alleviation of the distress, although tho precipitations have- not been sufficient to remove all apprehensions for the'-coming winter. An inch or two is well enough to soften the surface soil lor ploughing, but unless followed by heavier showers the rain that fell last week will not he responsible for any lasting good. Many parts of New South Wales are becoming as seriously affected by the absence of rain as the Riverina. The Mc-naro for months past has been in dire need of assistance, and on many holdings a lessening of the stock has been necessary.

If the winter outlook in New South "Wales is not all that it might bo, Queensland is still going strong. Not only arc her coastal and tableland agricultural areas enjoying a prosperous time, but practically all over the western country there is reported to be abundance of feed, even if in places it is boginning to get a trifle dry. North of the tropic the country was beginning to give out a. few weeks ago, but rains in tho interior have relieved the position. and northern stations may be ex-p-cted to pull through without less. There have bean many transfers of station properties at good prices, and improvement work has been proceeding-as fast as the supply of labour would permit. Shearing has commenced about St George, and will be in. full swing in the south this month. An alteration ha« been made iu the programme for tho Palmerston North Dairy Conference. The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon R. M’Nab, will deliver his address on the work being done at the "Weraroa Experimental Station in the grading-up of a dairy herd, at noon on the second day of the show, instead of at 2 p.m., as previouslv announced.

The North Island - correspondent of the “Lyttelton Times' 1 writes:— Mr A. Ridd,_ of Waipuku, Taranaki, is at present in Australia in connection v.dth a milking machine he has patented. It is said that Mr Ridd expects to he able to make arrangements on “ the other side ” for the immediate manufacture of his machine. The Ridd machine will ho awaited with interest. It will probably ho considerably in advance of several mechanical milkers now on the marker. Mr Rind was probably tie first man in this country to use a JLawrence-Keunedy machine of tho original pattern, and the present Hiiocessful model embodies in one of its most valuable features an idea, of Mr Riddbs. It is recognised that the Gillies patent made the Lawrence-Ken-nody. and ?dr Itidd’s patent bad tho i-anid objective us that patent, but improved on it, and tho circular ring, ‘through which air is admitted to_the teat cup, at the head of the L.K.G. cup, is Mr Ridd’s improvement to the machine. If any man knows the good and weak points of tho L.K.G., Mr Ridd does; and if bo is confident he has a success!ul nmchino, there is a fair ground for supposing that ho has a good thing iu. his present patent. Moist of tho Peninsula cbeeso factories anticipate a consvd'M-pldo inc-wase in tho milkVnpply nost peas n n. Tho Harry’s Bay factory is taking steps to enlarge its budding, in readiness. Ten-, dmw arc now being inviiedi for tho rebuilding of the Wainui Factory, tho canvass' for suppliers having been satisfactory. Tho now building will not bo bo large as the one burnt down, but will bo built with a view of extension if needed.

any Tain line fallen in tlie Peninsula during tlie, past -week, fli©

weather having been bright and sunny. On Saturday the sharpest frost of the season was experienced. Feed is getting very eoaroe, and one of the oldfashioned three days’ heavy downpour ia badly wanted. The ground is quite hard and dry.

From I DOS. 1906. 3907.’ Colonies c;vt. cwt. CT7t. Victoria ■ 327,227 159 476 182,607 New Soutli Wales fit 523 71428 93.716 Queensland 25,175 25,167 44,505 Australia. 216.825 256,071 320,82 New Zealand 175,636 139,012 161,852 Canada 2/107 5,613 — Total colonies 895,118 420,726 432,680