THE AGRICULTURAL YEAR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1851, 28 August 1907, Page 2

THE AGRICULTURAL YEAR.

REVIEW OF THE SECRETARY FOR AGRICULTURE. AN EXCELLENT STATEMENT. The r.anial report of the Secretary for Agriculture Mr John D. Ritchie,, was laid on the table of the House last evening. In reality it is an introduction to the annual report of the Department proper, the divisional sections of which will be presented later. On the present occasion Mr Ritchie has extended his' report; and this year it is a succinct review of the agricultural year. THE SEASON. In referring to the .varied character of the • past Reason, Mr Ritchie states that the exception to the prosperous season, the drought in Canterbury and North and Central Otago, resulted in 5000 of the 211,185 acres sown in wheat not • being harvested, as well as 21,000 of the 175,731 acres sown in oats. Of the total value of the colony’s exports, =£19,496,249, agricultural products were responsible for £16,859,730. CRCPS. Some comparative tables are given of the different crops. The area in oats increased by 34,023 acres, and that in barley 3774. The wheat area decreased by 11,481, the rye 255 acres, and the maize 2381. Throughout there was a deciease in the average yields—the wheat average was 27.18 bushels against 30.60, the oats 31.83 against 35.86, the barley 31.8 against 34.54, the rye '32 against 38 and the maize 45.83 against 60.39. There was undoubtedly a large increase upon the normal consumption of breadstuffs during the year, due nartly to the scarcity and- high prices of potatoes and partly to the great number of travellers during the International Exhibition period. . Consequently the current c°real . year (March-Febru-arv) was entered upon with a very small balance of old stock of wheat, and this year’s harvest, diminished as it has been by the effects of drought, will do little more than supply requirements until the next harvest. Naturally under the circumstances .the 9 Teal markets are peculiarly susceptible to outside influences, and the advance in other markets in consequence of the almost universal shortage in the world’s wheat-suprly hae been more than responded to here, pi ices being now (July) at a very high level.

During, the year the export of wheat and oats was practically nil. though a •' fair quantity 1 , of barley continues to be exported. - A largely increased area was •sown in tliTiiip©; and rape, b t owing to dry weather.the crops in many districts were a total failure. The turnip .acreage increased by 44,762 acres and rape by 5622. Mangolds decreased by 519 acres. The area under potatoes was 31,289 acres, an increase of 4455 acres. The crop in the. principal districts suffered from Want of-rain, and the aver,.age yield,, 4.59 tons, was the lowest of the decade, ' Disease was widespread, hut less severe than in the previous season. This was due to the dry season, the'selection of sound seed, and the adoption of spraying; There was a ,substantial decrease in the acreage and 'yield of both rye-grass and cocksfoot, due to the dry season. Rye gratis seed has. commanded high prices, but the . large stock of cocksfoot hiought forward" from the pievious year had until lately acted as a drag upon the market, for the latter seed. The presence on the market of a large quantity of old, and, in many cases, badly •saved seed should cause settlers to be doubly vigilant regarding the pur it v and geiminating quality of their purchases U fdr“ sowing' ' SHEEP. The interim returns for the year again show a very satisfactory increase,, amounting to 708.328,- while the -number of ewes put to the ram showed an increase of nearly 400,000. In some districts the lambing was phenomenal, over 150 per cent, being reported in many cases. The mortality was much below the average. - ... CATTLE. . .. There was a net decrease in the number of cattle in the colony on October 31st of 254,153, the decrease in steers and heifers under two years old being no lees than 330,181. The principal increase was in steers over two j-ears old —27,951. The decrease in young cattle was principally due, in Mr Ritchie’s opinion, to . vrh prices “for dairy* produce arid, to some extent, to replacing of cattle by . sheep on many--properties'.. Sneaking of "boned beef,” Mr Ritchie considers "hat although by -no- means prime it is quite sound and healthy, and no doubt fills a want in the Home country for lean meat suitable for the lower class of trade. The general health of herds lias been good. The inoculation for black-lag had practically- stopped the mortality. The general treatment of dairy stock, however, remains far from satisfactory. attempt is made to provide shelter from the weather or a proper supply of food when grass is short, even a supply of water being often'denied. * HORSES. These increased, by 16,093, and by 64,000 during the past five years. Prices, , however, are lower by 25 per cent., owing partly to the drought in the South and the high price of feed. Mr Ritchie .regrets that a large number of inferior and unsound entires are travelling the country. Until these are prevented from perpetuating their species, Mr Ritchie considers there will be no lifaucement to breed sound, serviceable animals. The practice of awarding prizes at shows to such stock should receive the attention of A. and P. Associations.

SWINE. During the year there was a decrease of 7454. This, notwithstanding a keen demand for baconers and less calves to consume skim-milk. Mr Ritchie expresses the hope that the trade initiated in frozen pork will not be allowed to lapse. The general health has been good, but in some districts a number have been found to be infected with tuberculosis, largely due to the conditions under which they are reared. WOOL, There was an increase in the export of wool • during the year of 21,082,432, valued at =£1,501,095. Mr Ritchie finds it di&cult to account for the increase in weight. Probably, he says, a quantity of the previous year's clip ivas not shipped before April Ist, and the past season’s was shipped more promptly than usual. The sales of the colony were increasing in importance. The number of bales sold was 170,149, at a value of =£ls 10s a bale. The year’s export -for .'Australasia Was 2,090,231 bales, a record, the Australasian average being =£l4 3s lid a bale. MEAT. For the year ending March- 31st the increase in mutton exports was valued at .£251,353, that in lamb at =£271,531, and in beef at £199,465. The draught in the South led to shortage of feed, and a consequent depreciatiQn in the quality of the exportations and preventing the advance in numbers which would otherwise have followed the increase in flocks. During the months of January, February, and March the proportion of Canterbury lambs over 361 b was unprecedentedly small, and the percentage of second quality correspondingly large. The export of lambs from the North Island was a large increase upon the number of any previous year, and the quality was, on the whole, fairly well maintained. The average weight of the lambs shipped from the colony during the season was nearly lib below that of the corresponding period of the previous season. There was a considerable increase in the total export of lambs, but mutton shows little change. The question of haviing a qualified veterinarian stationed in London to watch the interests of shippers calls for serious consideration.

No perceptible progress has befell made in the direction of shipping beef to the United Kingdom in the chilled state. It was stated' that certain ships were to be fitted with- the necessary plant for this trade, but no shipments have been made during the year. A sterilising process of preserving meat in . transit has undergone satisfactory tests between the River Plate and London, and, it is reported, is to be brought into practical operation. The question of the preservation of meat in the fresh state for a period at least equal-> to the ordinary duration of a voyage from New Zealand to the United Kingdom is the subject of investigatioix and experiment by many prominent engineers and chemists, and there is no doubt that, while methods have been greatly improved since the inception of the frozen meat trade,. further material advance is possible.' •• - ; Dealing with the inspection of abattoirs, Mr Ritchie directs attention to the fact that Wellington; is still without a public abattoir. ' i / DAIRYING. • With the bulk of our products-, butter and cheese, show large increase in volume and value.. The increased value of butter for the year was £78,819, and -'that of cheese £184,592. During the year the quantity of ere'amery butter was well maintained, but that of dairy butter requires improvement. Probably fresh legislation, says Mr Ritchie, will be required to 'control the manufacture of this class of produce. The appointment of a qualified man with practical colon ill experience to watch in London the interest of producers is strongly advocated by the Dairy Commissioner, and is to be “recommended. The'-.establishment' of a dairy school,' says Mr- .Ritcliie, -is within measurable distance. On Mr Singleton’s return the selection of a site and . erection of buildings will no doubt be taken in hand. The inspection of all dairies may also be said to have been- inaugurated. Registration will not be undertaken this season," but additional inspectors will be appointed. , Referring to the breeding of dairy cattle, Mr Ritchie says the quality of the bulls used leaves much to be desired. He points to the demonstration being made at the Weraroa Experiment Farm to indicate the value of systematically testing dairy cow*. HEMP. The increase on hemp was 1351 bales, valued at £160,076. While the output of the mills, was increased, the quality was not maintained, a much larger portion of the inferior grades being submitted for. grading. .. The. industry has. spread to most out-of-the-way places, wherever a. blade of flax is to be .grown. FRUIT. A systematic inspection of orchards is being carried out, and considerable improvement is already observable. Referring to the fruit fly, Mr Ritchie says a closer inspection of all imported fruit lias been instituted, and the risk of infected fruit being distributed will be minimised. CHEMISTRY. The work of this division is rapidly increasing, Mr Ritchie reports, and settlers are taking more advantage of the service it can render them. The question of soil-analysis of the whole colony lias been brought forward by the Chief Chemist, and an experiment in this direction is being made over a part of the country in the neighbourhood of Plimnierton. NOXIOUS WEEDS. Satisfactory progress in eradication of noxious weeds is evident, says Mr Ritchie, in all parts of the colony. Complaints are still made that dilatory owners are not being compelled to clear their lands. The complaints extend to Crown and native lands, and in some instances not without justification. The question of dealing with the large areas of na-

tive-infested lands is a matter requiring early consideration; but until some steps are taken to individualise those lands it will be next to impossible to make any serious attempt to clear them. So far, an experiment in using Angora and grade goats to clear blackberry is proving satisfactory. BIRDS’ NUISANCE. No systematic efforts are made to cope with the small birds nuisance, and it is hopeless, thinks Mr Ritchie, to look for any better progress until the Act is amended. As already suggested, the direction which legislation should take is—(1) Dividing the colony into fairly large areas, each to include all boroughs and town districts within its boundaries; (2) each area to be under the control of a Board appointed by the local authorities within the area; (3) a differential rate to be struck by the Board, and each local authority to collect its share and hand it over to the Board; (4) the Board to carry out the destruction of the birds. Under the control of a Board the work of destruction could be systematically taken in hand, and not spasmodically as at present. RABBITS. A marked decrease is shown in the number of rabbits exported—4o4,s2s, while 3,855,876 less skins were sent out of the country. There is uo evidence of the pest making any headway, except a slight increase in some parts of Otago and Southland, owing to the favourable season. The natural enemy is reported to be doing excellent work. Unfortunately it has spread to clean districts, and is blamed for killing fowls and even lambs. EXPERIMENT STATIONS. Some reference is made to the experiment stations, and the opportunity is taken to express the thanks of the officers of the department to the president, Mr J. G. Wilson, and members of the Farmers’ Union, for the keen interest they have evinced in the work of the farms. A SHOW SUBSIDY. Referring to. the Exhibition Show and the Canterbury A. and P. Association and the proposal that the Government should subsidise a Royal Show, Mr Ritchie says the idea is worthy of favourable consideration. The drawing together of the very best stock the colony can produce would be a great incentive to breeders to continue improving their flocks and herds.