GLEANINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6623, 12 September 1908, Page 3

GLEANINGS.

The Stratford Cooperative Dairy Co. is paying its suppliers Is for August and September butter-fat. Mr J. N. Newton, of Raumai, Ashhurst, has installed a five-bucket Dominion milking madftine plant. The champion Canterbury Clydesdale, Royal Standard, by Royal Fame (imp.)— Young Marchioness, has been purchased from Mr J. Boag at a long figure by Mr John Douglas, of Curlewis, NewSouth Wales (formerly ol VVaihao Downs, South Canterbury). New South Wales farmers are clamouring for more experimental farms. The Minister for Agriculture is endeavouring to meet the demand for information by appointing instructors, and establishing ■experimental plots in as many places as possible. It must, said the King, speaking recently at Hereford (K-ngj, be a source of groat satisfaction to English breeders, to find agents from foreign lands constantly visiting their country, in order that they may purchase horses, cattle, and sheep to iinprovo their own stocks. Ono thing that is likely to kill the idea of have a now wool pack, with no fibres attached to get in the wool, is that of expense. Bales have been, suggested that will cost Is and Is fid more than tho preent bales, and now wo hear of one being sent from Bradford that will cost 4s 3d. Such bales will certainly never become popular. The English Shorthorn Cattle Society last year issued export certificates to ton different countries, as follows:—South America, 992; Canada, 45; Australia, 13; Germany, 13; South Africa, 13; British Bast Africa, 4; Franco, 3; Sweden, 3; Spain, 2; and United States, 1. The small number issued to the United States was particularly remarkable, as they were at ono tame very largo importers of Shorthorns from England. In view of the policy of the Government, in regard to fighting tho San Joso scale in Nelson—cutting puck and spraying free of cost to tho growers—it is interesting to note that many of the Western States of America have law’s empowering them to destroy all fruit infected with Sau Jose scale (the truly yellow peril), and inspector© see that every grower cleans his orchard, or they will clean it for him, and charge it against his property. The English Lelcesters at the Melbourne Royal, were somewhat of a puzzle to the judges. The exhibit© hailed from Now Zealand, Tasmania, and Victoria, and represented throe types, and that made tho distribution of the prizes difficult. Mr C. M. Threlkeld, the Canterbury brooder, did the beet of the Now Zealand division, his record being three seconds and two thirds. Apparently, the new English type was favoured .

The calculations of a number of farmers in the Ashburton county have been upeot in regard to the wheat market (says the "Mail"), and, although tho price of wheat, a month or two ago reached the handsomely remunerative figure of 4s 6d per bushed, a comparatively largo amount of last year's grain, still remains unsold, witli a decrease in tho price por bushel of from 5d to 6d. Those who are still holding thedr wheat are now obliged to face the prospect of an uncertain, market, and to suffer the regret of not having sold when "the tide was as its flood."

To 200 of the Hawera District High School pupils 600 packages of garden seeds are now being distributed for home gardening (says the '‘Hawera Star*'). Mr Straok (headmaster) also intends to distribute 300 packages among the Maori® in the district, and to forward 300 to tho Wanganui Education Board for distribution among pupil® for school gardening. The seeds are worth about <£ls, and havo boon donated by various persons. It is satisfactory to know, say® the "North. British Agriculturist" of July 23rd, that a fairly good enquiry is being experienced, for Border Leioesrters from New Zealand. Within the past few days Messrs Campbell and Sous, Hlieston, Mid-Caider, have disposed of thedr first Ayr and champion Glasgow gimmer to Mr Landells for exportation to that country. Along with the gimmer goes the very attractive shearling ram that was fourth at Ayr and second at Glasgow. Both are by tho Clark sheep, which has been doing so well in the Illieston flock, and both show quality and breeding in a high degree. Air Landells has also acquired from the DaJkeith Park flock the very good home-bred old ram which waa fourth aFtho Royal, and was also well forward at Edinburgh. Speaking at the Western Australian Farmers' Conference, which was opened by the Governor on August 26, the Premier (Mr Moore) said that everything in

connection with agriculture was on the increase. So far ns laud settlement was concerned, they had no fewer than 64,500 settlers, and some 7000 acres had been alienated last year under first-close conditions. Another pleasing feature consisted in the fact that 611,000 acres had been cleared during the same period. The land under crop this year showed an increase of 46,000 acre©, equal to 26 per cent, on that of last year. Tho State had entered the wheat export trade, and the outlook for the future was extremely bright. The system of advances to sot tier© had proved of the utmost assistance to tho man on tho land.

The apprentice system is now m full operation at the various State farms in Queensland, the whole of the accommodation having been taken up. The Hermitage Farm, with ten apprentices, has the largest number. The proi>o©al originated in a desire to provide for the sons of parent© who were unable to pay the fee© demanded at the Gatton Agricultural College. Tho apprentices do not secure the high scientific training given at the college, but they get an excellent grounding in the practical work of a farm. They are well looked after, but get no allowance for their labour until the second year. The course lasts three year©. The, system is working to tho satisfaction of tho authorities. Tho Argentine shcepbreeders have been working hard for some time now to make a name tor themselves in tho sheep-breeding and wool-producing world. They have succeeded well, and, although they have some distance to go yet before catching up to tho high standard reached by this State, they are nevertheless making progress. They have Imported a number of good wool sheep, a© well a© first-el .'if© mutton producers. That they have done good work in the latter direction particularly can be judged by the rex>ovt issued by Mr G. F. Terrett, Inspector of Smith field market. After making reference to the standard of the New Zealand mutton, which he said was not as good a© formerly, as much of it lacked the bloom of the old Canterbury mutton, he ©aid:—“Meanwhile the breeders in Argentina are finding some result© from the use of the splendid rams they have_ purchased in vShropshire and elsewhere in this country, and have been sending us a class of mutton which is improving year by year, and bids fair in a short time seriously to challenge the claim of New Zealand to the premier position. - ”