Items.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 4987, 30 May 1891, Page 4

Items.

A London correspondent, after describing the prospects of the English wheat crop as satisfactory, goes on to say : —ln recent years there appears to have been <1 disposition among New Zealand farmers, as well as among farmers in most other countries, to contract their wheat area. It was well that it was so, for wheat had become a druy in the markets of the world. But in my opinion, the depression is {Kissing away for a time, at least, the consumption having fully overtaken the supply. The wheat acreage of the world was but little, if any, greater last harvest than it was ton years ago, and it appears to me that the time has come when those who are most favorably situated for growing wheat may safely produce more of it. New Zealand wheat when well harvested is always in brisk demand in Europe, and commands top prices. Moreover, the yield of the crop is greater in New Zealand than in any other countries except Great Britain and Holland, and about equal to the yields of these two conntries. Even at current prices—New Zealand wheat being 41s to 4.'5s a quarter in London—it is probably profitable to grow wheat; quite as profitable. I imagine, as to produce milk at 2id a gallon, or butter at 6d to 8d a pound. At the rooms of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association is a sample of ensilage. which shows that even weeds may be turned to profitable account under some circumstances. It is comjiosed entirely of Scotch thistles, and was made by a farmer on Kaiapoi Island, who, having some jiaddocks overgrown with thistles, conceived the idea of turning them into winter food for his stock. He accordingly cut the thistles, stacked them, and weighted the stacks with earth and stones. The result is a capital specimen of ensilage. which the cattle cat with great relish.—Lyttelton Times. The Auckland Heraid writes :—As regards the projxjsed Income Tax upon all incomes over L3OO, an exemption being allowed to that amount, it is intended to reach that class who have considerable incomes, but who would not be affected by the Land Tax. As a matter of fact, a man who speuds, say, LSOO per annum in household expenses and the maintenance of a family, contributes heavily to the revenue tlirough the Customs. The Income Tax must be looked upon as a special tax to enable New Zealand to meet her engagements till by the increase of population and wealth its other means are 1 sufficient.