ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6493, 13 April 1908, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

answers to cobkehpoxdbntb. Wo K'nall be glad to answer, as far as iiwallilo all (|iiestii)FH rolatimr to the pastoral, iißriciiltnrul. and dairying lt >' lloslrif.s, liCn-e.Mlt.nro. boil ienltuic. unite ir»-rai«iii(r, cti;, Iminirnm must send their full name ami address, an a guarmiteo .if pood faith, hut may also forward a nom-do plnmo for the purposca of reply. Koadera are aim invited to forward comment, nr personal experience on n„v points raised in those answers or on this pase.--Ed. band i’upo. "N.Z. Times." I STOCK HALES. Tuesday.—Associated Auctioneers. WaiIjukurau; Ahraham and Williams, JonnmUVMU' HORSE SALE, Wednesday.—Abraham and Williams. Lev-

cate with tho Chief Veterinarian, so that the nature of the disease may bo at once determined ami mutably treated.

HAWKE’S BAY OUTLOOK

To tlio ora/.ier of Hawke's Bay, especially the lamli fattenin'. tlio immediate prospect is not clieerimt. The ROM* r l'i”a which followed Urn ilrotif! it lnf'T nnab ed pastures to make a rapid and luxuriant growth, but Indore any substance can develop in the grew, frosts and cold woathPi- will be experienced. Dunne the past week l)u> weal her in Uawko» bay has been very cold. Heavy snow tell on the ranges, a rnontli earlier than usual, and the snow was lower down than usual for the season of the year. This means an early winter. Ihcro aro few turnips grown in Hawke s Bay, though Imre ami there small farmers have grown some mangels. Iho lapo has made a fair recovery, and t hf '™ }*»» been a fair second growth, but what growth has taken place has been poor in substance. T He tvee7.iug works have cleared up all available stock and the season for "fats" has practically closed. The prospects of winter feed arc npno too good. Fat stock for local requirements will bo at a high figure. The small farmer's outlook is rather hot ter 1-h.m that of tbo large holder. Jmutgrowera have had a splendid senson. though tho autumn rains have. as usual. Ken a sot-back to tho grape grower.

THE FEUIT FLY

THE POSITION op THE COOK GROUP. OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DOMINION'S TROPICAL ISLANDS. The statement has been mado to a Christchurch newspaper that the i contly introduced regulations to the importation of diseased infested fruit into this country, more * ns they apply to tho fruit ily, are liktiy to prove disastrous to tho fruit industry of the Cook Islands, and I hat the islands nro not seriously affected by the by the writer in regard to these statements, the Government Biologist, Mr T, Vf. Kirk, who is in charge of the administration ot the Act, declared emphatically that tho fruit liy existed in the islands to a considerable extent, though several of the islands of tho group were free from it, while tho pest was not nearly so common in the group as in Tonga and Fiji. 'T have suggested/' said Mr Kirk, "to various growers in tho group that they should got their local authorities to at once locate tho places where tlia fruit liy is bUKKjifig, u;nl .they would then be ablo to certify as to tho cleanups 0 f the fruit from tho rest of the islands.” . Will tho Act prejudicially affect the Cook Islands? ~, _ ~ “No,” was the reply, the regulations aro really stiongly in favour of tho Cook Group. As f have already pointed out tho fly is-not widely spread there, and if tho breeding grounds were located tho necessary certificates could be supplied, whilst other islands in the Pacific aro so badly infected that they will not, at any rate for some timo to come, bo ablo to furnish tho required certificates. Thus tho regulations can only bo regarded as advantageous to our own islands.” Gun you give any idea of tho extent of tho infection in tho Gook Island*? “Yes,” said Mr Kirk, “here arc some figures. In 190 G 118 cases of Cook Island fruit were burnt for maggot—6l at Auckland and 87 at Christchurch; in 1907 Zl9 cases wore burnt, 138 at Auckland and 111 at Dunedin; and from April, 1907, to February of this year U 3 oases wore burnt, 70 at Auckland and 3-13 at ’Wellington. This apparently indicates that the fly is on tho increase in tho group, or the packers arc not quite so careful as formerly. However, the proportion of Cook Island fruit condemned is very low indeed compared with the condemned proportion from other islands.” What about the control of tho pest in the islands? "So far as the Department is concerned,” replied Mr Kirk, "the Cook Islands being under local government the Department has no control in that part or th© Dominion.” la there any inspection at all in the Islands ?

"Some timo ago the local government appointed a fruit inspector, but bo far a© I have been informed no attempt has yet been made to locate the breeding grounds of the fruit fly. It is very desirable indeed,” continued Mr Kirk, "that tho local authorities should at once appoint a qualified man to ascertain exactly where tho fly is breeding, nnd then take drastic stops for its control. If they do this at one© in an energetic manner it means that thero is no reason why the Cook Islands should not supply the whole of tho citrus fruits and bananas required by Now Zealand.” Is is evident from the above statements of tho Government Biologist that tho Pacific Islands of tho Dominion aro being practically offered tho whole of our tropical fruit trade. That is, if tho local authorities in tho islands will only grasp their opportunity. It remains to bo seen whether they will rise to the occasion or by a supine policy lose the lucrative trade they have built up with this country and thus allow their islands to lose their main source of revenue. The position is so serious, not only from the point of view of the inhabitants of tho islands but of that of tho consumers of this country, that the Government of th© Dominionsheuld Interfere in the matter and see that a rigorous policy in regard to fighting the oest should be at one© undertaken by tho local authorities.

A SHEEP TSOUBLE

THE DUTY OF OWNBES. A peculiar affection of the head of sheep has been noticed recently in tho Uanawatu, apparently a form of eczema. A redness appears around tho eyes and an different parts of the head, and an irritation which accompanies it causes the affected animal to mb its head mrainst tho wire of a fence or other similar object mid thus loses its hair. At a late sale a number of affected sheep ivoro withdrawn from sale. The Chief Veterinarian is investigating tho trouble. Tho presence of tho disease suggests the necessity of farmers meeting with any trouble to at onco communi-

GLEANINGS,

Districts in the South are reporting the untimely appearance of frosts just as pastures are making rapid growth. Little fruit is now being grown in Taranaki, the "Garden of New Zealand," and a newspaper correspondent is suggesting that (ho industry should bo revived. the erection of a factory to deal with surplus fruit being one feature of his scheme. So that no misconception may result over the quotation of the record price for the season of fat sheep in this part of the Dominion —21s lOd, at Mr McDonald’s clearing sale at Levin on Friday—it should be pointed out that the sheep were only suitable for the local trade. For export tho legs alone would be of use. Tho carcase weight would bo about 851 b. An Ashburton farmer, on being asked why farmers were not at present anxious to buy sheep, said that, although the feed was growing splendidly, and farmers generally wore understocked, the experience they had had in former yearn with regard to over-stocking had taught them a lesson that would not be readily forgotten.

THE MARKETS

FEILDING. A. H. Atkinson and Co., Ltd., report;— On Friday, our usual sale of pigs, poultry. produce and general sundries was well attended. A fair consignment of nifis of good quality came to hand. An exceptionally heavy entry of poultry arrived, including some old birds, which accounts for tho low prices. An average entry of produce sold at late rates. Quotations—Horses, aged pony £1 16s, 3-year-old mare .£ls 15s; nigs, wenners. good Gs. 6s 3d. 7s Del, small 4s 3d, 5s 3d. 5s 6d, mirnh slips 3s. ss, Bs, Os 6d, small stores llh 9d,15s Gd, IGs Gd, 18s 6d, good stores and small porkers 20s, 20s Gd, 225. 25b Gf), 265, 275; poultry, hens, old lid, Is, uood and young Is. Is 3d, Is Id, Is 7d, la od, 2s sd. roosters Is, Is 3d, Is cockerels od, ducks Is sd, Is Gd. Is 7d, Is Sd. geese 2s 3d. 2s sd. 2s 7d. all at each; produce, s.b. table carrots Is 9d, potatoes, pig 3s 3d. is. oatine 10s 6d, 12s Gd, 13s; quinces Id to Hd per lb.