GLEANINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6624, 14 September 1908, Page 3

GLEANINGS.

The Edendalc Cheese Company has paid its .suppliers 131<l to April 3Uth and 12d to the end of the season.

Sinco tho last meeting of the Otago Farmers’ Union Mutual Insurance Association business has increased to tho extent of .£7242.

It is expected that one station in tho Hakataiema district (in tho back country of North Otago) will lose 15,050 sheep as a result of the disastrous Benson.

At tho Government stud farms in Franco there are in all 3350 stallions, of which 2-10 are thoroughbreds, tho balance being half-breds and draught horsos. For the purpose of the army Franco has iu round figures 120,000 saddle horses and 180,000 draught horses.

Writing under date of London, July 31st, a Home wool authority says: '‘Tho Continent this week has bought more liberally of medium and fine descriptions. while America is still maintaining its purchases. About 10,000 bales have gone to that quarter compared with 6l)U0 in May, 4000 bales in March, ana 6000 bales in January. Hero we have again another evidence of expanding purchases for across tho Atlantic, and it can how bo taken for granted tnat wo have eecn tho worst on American account,"

I believe (says "Drover," in tho "Witness," and he ought to know-) over 6d will bo paid for cheese later on, for the Canadian supply is short, and prices will rise iu London after tho end of this month, and remain high. No matter how good the price for butter is this year as last, chceso factories, will certainly pay milk-suppliers a much Larger price than butter factories. A local farmer informs the Palmerston South “Times" that during the i resent season he has discovered that rock salt is very beneficial to stock. Hs had a largo number of sheep on tur'nips, and was much concerned owing to the abnormal mortality in his stock. Ho was advised to try rock salt, and procured half a ton, at a cost of about ,£2 10s. The salt was taken full advantage of by tho sheep, and, marvellous to relate, not a single death has occurred sine© tho salt was placed in the paddock.

The moat noticeable feature of tho stock that is yarded for sale from time Jo time at the weekly markets at Ashburton and Tinwuld is tho healthy appearance of the wool, the staple of which is strong and unbroken (says the "Ashburton, Mail") This fact ie no doubt duo to tho existence of green feed throughout the wunter as a result of tho comparative mildness of tho season. Slock has not been wintered in the Ashburton county under such favourable circumstances for many years past. A new system has been adopted in tho south-western part of Queensland (says the "Sydney Morning Herald") where a co-operative sheep-shearing company has been established. The headquarters are at. Charlesville, which is tho centre of a district in which there are many eelectoie carrying sheep. There will bo a permanent sheep-shearing plant, and hero ail tho selectors will be able to get their sheep treated. For greater convenience tiro plant has been laid down at tho woolscouring works. It is expected that owners of travelling sheep will also take advantage of the system. One reason for tho establishment of tho concern is probably the stringent, conditions required by the Shearers’ Accommodation Act in the matter of accommodation, etc. Selectors will be spared this expense.

Writing of the sheep market of this island, “Drover/’ in the ‘‘Witness/' says: —"The winter has been exceptionally mild, and sheep have done well on the grass, which kept in very fair order all along. The local market is easily glutted, and the best policy for fanners is to export as much as possible as their sheep and lambs become it. The local market will advance as the surplus is exported. This is how- the dairyman acts, and consequently prices are high, as the - poor consumer finds to his cost." The 'iSydney Mail," referring to the dissatisfaction expressed by New Zealand breeders at the results of the last Sydney sheep sales, remarks:—lt must bo recollected that breeders on this aide know a good sheep when they see one. If New Zealanders continue to send over flocks and try to pass them off as studs, they must put up with the consequences. If flocks are sent, and sold as such, then the consignor will be—or should bo—content to receive flock prices. Many years ago Sydney .was often flooded with the English breeds from New Zealand, and many of them were poor specimens of the breed they wore supposed to represent, A few were

bom-lit, and sold to tho butchers at a profit. Tho worst or it is that some oi our brooder; Uwf-.<l ‘,ho.-e rather e.v« n-ivclv. Breeders now recognise that everything that is imported is not necessarily of tlie best. The prevalence of tuberculosis in dairy cattle I* still a qu..Miou of first importance in the United States, and no other matter appears to be claiming equal attention from dairymen, in tnis connection the president of 1 lie Michigan Live Slock .Sanitary Commission h:y* brought out some instances of tho strange persistence of the disea-o alter it was supposed to have been extirpated from certain farms and herds. “ \Vc have been," ho say s> "quite successful, not only in State hcrd:>, but in rnivato once as well, in many c;k*s, in practically cleaning .un tin* invasion. But in our successful ci.sei wo are often staggered by what occurs. For iu-.tan.ee. wc were many years fight iucr the malady in One very large herd oHiloldein cattle. This herd has a reputation that now is worldwide for tho raising of some of the best producers of the breed, and is realising noticeable sums of money in the disposition of breeding slock, la a fight with tuberculosis iu that herd, covering a period of perhaps ten yeans, we practically eradicated it. But after skipping over three or tour years, a typical reaction and a typical case of tuberculosis was developed in a yearling bull, raised in that herd and never having left the environments in which it was born, A test or two since disclosed no reactions."