AGRICULTURAL JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1182, 26 October 1894, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL JOTTINGS.

We have to acknowledge receipt of the annual report on Village Homestead Settlements in New Zealand, by Mr J. E. March, Superintendent of Settlements. Here is a good example of the weasel suisance :—Mrs McDonald, of the Pohangina, says the Manawatu Times, has lost no less than 25 goslings by the attacks of weasels. Finding that the goslings were disappearing at the rate of two or three per night, Mrs McDonald placed both goose and young ones in a box, which, however, was left uncovered. In the morning no less than 14 of the goslings were found deal, each one having been bitten in the neck. • • • • Shearing is commencing already in this district, says the Marion Mercury, and many contracts for the larger stations have been let. Mr J. Duncan, of Otairi, musters next week, and his shearing will be in full swing in a fortnight. The number of sheep and lambs to be put through at Otairi will be between 50,000 and 60,000.

Mr Edward Baker, of Lancefield, in a lecture on swine recently, before the West Bourlce Agricultural Society, in regard to the curing of bacon, stated that “the pig, when dressed, should be hung up until thoroughly cold. A large 3cwt or 4cwt pig would take 48 hours before cold. If not cold it will not take the salt well. Cut the pig up, rub well with salt, let the brine run off; the following day, well rub with the following mixture :—4lb salt, lib dark sugar or treacle, and 2oz saltpetre. Turn the flitches every day; after rubbing them well, put the top one at the bottom, adding more of the mixture as required ; all brine must be allowed to drain off. A pig of 1501 b weight ought to be cured well in three weeks. If hams are taken off, make sufficient brine to float an egg of the above mixture to cover them well. Take large hams out of pickle every day, and rub the same as bacon and

return them to the pickle ; they will be cured in from four to five weeks. When flitches are cured, wash and dry them, hang them up to be smoked; the* same with hams.”

The millions of people living in India are formidable rivals of the American wheat growers in the world's markets. During the last four years they have exported nearly 135 million bushels of wheat, of which 27 millions were exported in 1890, 56 millions in 1891, 28 millions in 1892, and 22 millions in 1893. The total product for 1894 is estimated at 258 million bushels, as against 268 million bushels in 1893. This year's crop is 2 million bushels below the average. \ More than the usual average of wheat was sown,, owing to the generally favourable summer and autumn rains The winter and spring weather varied widely in the different regions, so that, though the harvest was excellent in the Punjab, it was decidedly bad in the central provinces, and only fair elsewhere. The cultivation of this cereal appears to be extending in Bengal, and also in the north-western provinces. Although the home consumption is great, there has in general been little trade in wheat between the provinces. Prices have been moderate, even in those sections where the crop was a complete failure, and the decline in the export trade has combined with the general abundance of all the grain harvests to keep the price of wheat below 50 cents, per bushel.

In a paper by Professors Brown and McFadyean issued by the Boyal Agricultural Society of England on anthrax will be found some hints as to means of preventing the spread of that fatal disease that may be studied with profit by colonial stockowners When a cow or sheep dead of anthrax is opened immediately after death the bacilli which are the cause of the disease are found unmixed with other germs in. the blood all over the body, and in special abundance in the spleen. It is mainly during the last few hours of life that the complete invasion of theblood takes place. As soon as the breath has left the animal, growth and multiplication of the bacilli cease because the germs of anthrax belong ta the class called aerobes, for the growth of which oxygen is strictly necessary. During the life of the animal that harbours them the bacilli obtain the necessary oxygen from tjie same source as the animal cells—namely, the blood, which becomes charged with oxygen in passing through the lungs. From the above it will be seen how essentially necessary it is that the carcases of animals dead of anthrax should be burnt with despatch, and that they should not be cut open, as the blood escaping will contaminate the soil. This is especially the case when it isintended to dispose of the carcase by burial, as the atmosphere coming in contact with the blood in the tissueswill impart to the anthrax organism the oxygen on which the maintenance of ijS activity depends, and thus it may be kept active underground, and,, as M. Pasteur has proved, be brought to the surface by earthworms. Asveterinary advice is not obtainable in the country we cannot too often repeat the advice that the carcases of all animals that have died from whatever cause should be completely consumed by fire.

The export bf) live sheep from Argentina to Loudonissteadily increasing, and with the new system of compressing fodder by hydraulic force is likely to be still; further extended. A late report from Buenos Ayres says ** Even cargo boats go from the Biver' Plate to England in 30 days. 1 hey are consequently able to send not only cattle but sheep to England alive, and this is being done at a great profit. Sheep carry much better than cattle. The latter get knocked about a good deal if rough weather is met with, but the sheep, being lighter and protected by a soft cushion of wool, sustain little or no injury, and, in fact, very often arrive in port at the end of the voyage in better condition than they left their native country. Every steamer that sails from Buenos Ayres for England now takes from 800 to 1200 live sheep as part of her cargo.” Figures are supplied in connection with a shipment of 650 sheep sent in this way. They were good sheep, hitting the market at a good time, and realised 38s a head. The freight was 7s per head—formerly the shipping companies charged 12s. The fodder on the voyage cost 8s a head, but a portipn of that left over met with a good market

iii England. The cost of pens came to 2s a head, and charges in London to about 2s 6d a head. This brought the eicpenses Up to 19s 6d a head, and, without taking into consideration the stim realised from sale of fodder, left 18s 6d per sheep to the producer. If the same sheep had been sold in Argentina, it is stated, they would not have realised mere than 11s 6d a head. Admitting that in this case high prices were obtained by the hitting of an exceptionally good market, still the figures given show a considerable margin left to work upon, and it is evident that in future we will have to compete, not only against frozen mutton from Argentina, but also against the stock landed alive from that country. The necessity, therefore, of doing something on behalf of Australia to secure a fair share of the English trade by the means proposed to be tested is clearly apparent.

At. the last meeting of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Mr Overton moved —“That the names of the judges be advertised, and that the minute passed at a former meeting prohibiting this bo rescinded. He said that he moved this resolution because the practice which he wanted to see established was one which was in force in England, and wa3 also going to be.done in the South. Besides this, there was a feeling amongst the outside exhibitors . that the committee had an advantage. He might say that the secretary had received several answers from other associations on the subject, which might be summarised : Hastings, in favour; Wellington, in favour; Timaru, contrary ; Dunedin, asking the opinion of exhibitors; Oamaru, in favour ; Invercargill, in favour. The motion was . lost on the voices by a large majority.

The date of the spring show of the Horticultural Society has been fixed for November 13th and 14th. It is believed that on those dates roses will be at their best. In addition to the « queen of flowers,” the display of pelargoniums and other pot plants should be exceptionally good, as special prizes are Offered in this division. The secretary will gladly supply schedules or any information required. , • The estimated visible supply of American wheat is 98,100,000 bushels. ''-* * ' * The authorities of the War Department have inspected Mr Nelson’s mechanical thawing process, and express themselves well satisfied with the result. At a "meeting of the Executive Committee of the A. and P. Association on the 18th, it was decided that the fares to and from Wellington and intermediate stations for the show should be arranged on the same basis as last year; that no horses or vehicles, excepting those for exhibition, should be allowed on the ground on either day of the show, and that members and holders of complimentary tickets should have full access to the grand stand. It is'expeeted that the London Dock Committee will shortly erect thawing premises and that the recent invention of Mr Nelson will be adopted. The Central Sanitary Council of Vienna has decided in favour of permitting the importation of Australian meat, subject to stringent precautions against disease. The Poverty Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s Show was held on Friday, and was a great success. The weather was delightful, and the attendance over 2000. There was a large entry of horses, and the animals shown were of a splendid stamp. The champion thoroughbred prize fell to Strowau. The entries of sheep and cattle weie not so numerous, but the stock shown was of first-class quality. Messrs A. Bead (Napier) and A. Austin (Auckland) were the judges for horses, and Mr Thomas Cross, of Hastings, the judge for sheep and cattle. The American meat companies demand > that the Smithfield authorities should abolish the ancient custom of abating lib in eveiy quarter of beef. The London Butchers’ Trade Society are protesting against the proposed innovation, as they fear the colonial importers will follow the American example, which they declare would result in a loss to them of 45500,000. There is nothing more annoying, or likely to lead to more confusion, than indistinct /addresses. Farmers should note that it is more business-like, and that it saves time to have-their names and addresses printed on their memo forms and envelopes. They can get five hundred forms printed with envelopes to match at the Mail office for 12s 6d.