AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12391, 28 June 1902, Page 10

AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE

"Fommt Day. The ronfercneo resumed at 10 o'clock yes. Urday morning, Mr John Uofccrls, C'.M.Ci., presiding. The C'hiiinnan mode reference to llic honour of kuightlioud that had been conferred on Captain Kutscll, and suggested that the conference shoiihl semi him ii metsage of congratulation. Captain (now Sir William) Kuaell hail always been α-ilrons friend of the agricultural and pastoral industry. Tho conference unanimously decided to adopt the suggestion. γ-iseask in- sheep. The. Chairman- read the following paper from .Mr W. Sonter on :, Krgot Poi*=oniiijj ": "Mr Chairman,—l may say that what induced me to write this paper on 'Ergot' was the report of such a jrenl mortality amongst lambs, both south and north, and the belief that a little time, and attention would 'prevent his* in the future. A good many year* ago I lost a great many of my lambs, and I could not acvount for it in any way, as f thought they had everything iii their favour, f ■ consulted with the. late Mr John Douglas, V.8., and he at once told me what he believed to be the cause—viz., ergot poisomng.-and from that time every year when T ses that my grass , is likely to Rα to seed I put the mower over the paddocks and it improves tire pasture and prevents frgot from Retting a chance of growing. Krgot is a noiroiious fungus which grows on ryegrass, cocksfoot, and other grassna. When the seed is ripe and left standing, should any Hidden spurt of growth occnr it fosters the growth of ergot, and when developed it is very dangerous for stock, especially horses and lamb?. The first symp.toms in lambs is scouring, then they get very ' staggery,' and many die. All iilfcered fall off in condition very quickly. Mares in foal depasturing on grass where ergot is in evidence are liabl'o to abortion. -Ergot is to be found in every ripe grsss seed, but it does net grow of itself, and any metis, with the least appearnnec of ergot- will not .grow. The richer the soil the. more liable' io bo affected with ergot, and a wot season favours its growth. The only prevention that "I know is the mower, when tho seeds arc in flower, or heavy Blocking to cat it'down. My experience U in favour of tho mower."

A . bhoct discussion on the paper then followed.

Mr Whedcr stated thnt in his dislriet the stock on the new bush had some years ago bi'Coma quite mmianacepble. They could not even be moved. Thny teemed to- lose all control of themselves, and if moved seemed to have lost their sight, running into loss. Thay had to bo left alone, and he lost about 25 pereent. lie hnd no hesitation in contrihut-ing that state, of affairs to ergot. Thoush there had (.ir,ce then been lileiity of ergot visiljle in thq' Brasses, he had had no other considerable \<m. He had licen anxious about other forms of ergot poironins;, but had had no deaths except Ihe. first venr.

Mr Oiilnith said lie had Eeen ergot in the North Island as never clfowliurc, except cultivated. Sir.co his arrival in the colony the only trouble he had seen practically arise from ergot had'been a very severe (Wifrene of this feet. On rattle runs, in tlic North Island especially, where ergot was plentiful even to-'dav, cattle emild bo found with one foot completely severed, hut quKo normal otherwise. He very nuich doubted if ergot produced tluV amount of aborticm with which it credited. Looking into the qucFtinn as ho was nt present, he- found that cows wifh gangrenous feet did not abovt as a rule. He had bet;im to believe that ergot proyrntctl rather than niv-si abortion. Of the difjasa in flienn, such as described, ho had not had experience, but, was not propared to sseribft its cause to ergot. MrManson drjcribad an effectual remedy brought about in the ca-c of lamb.? affected by into'clean, elm yards. Mr Chaytor tpoke in similar terms of a remedy for oipot poisoning produced by drifting; tlio sheep. Mr Stevenson .was of (ho opinion that '' flavor?" was a farm of indigestion, mid not to be attributed io ergot, at. least not to ergot in the pped. as llio diccaso was most prevalent in tlio drv season; it was not oxptrienced when thi're «-.-w abundnnce of giuss am! it was srecn. Mr Wheiilcr thoujjht there was no question but the. ergot was upon (ho reaves. Ho jmr.;;inad the send snread its-If by spores, and these fal'inp; on the herbage, were taken by tlie riieep. Mr Kirk said that as a matter of fact there were very few. grasses upon which crjtot bad not been found at ionic time or other, and road an extract bearing on tlio subject from a report by Mv J. ]{. Charltoii, (lovornment vaterinarian, oil "Ergotism in C'.ittle." Tlic discussion then nlos. % tl. ' cnxoLusiox. On the motion of Mr Kettle, it was decided to hold the next conferaco in Auckland. The following cbmmittro vras set up to hive effect to. as far as possible, the rc?oliltioas of (he conforonee:— Messrs John lioborts, Hon. T.. Fergus, 1 , . Pattullo, ami (j. KolCTfri. Vptop of thanks were pa?sed to Mr M. MuvDhy Isecrotai-j-), io'thc Agriculhiral Department, to the Commillitt of tlio Otairo A. and P, Association, and t» the chairman. Tlio conference then adjourned. I.UNCHEOX AT TitK OTA GO CLUB. The members of the Agricultural Conference were the giicfls of the Otago A. and V. Association at luwh at the Otngo Cluli yesterday. Mr John Kubcrts presided, ami Mr Cieorse Kolierte fillcil tlie vicc-clmir. After luncheon a short toa?t list was rntei'cd nn.

Ihe Chairman proposed '• The Kin s " iind T!io Governor," which wore loyally l'Cjioiirml in turn. In propojinir " The Atjriou'.'.ural Departmnnt," ooiiulotl with the name of Mr.Ritchie. Mr Roberto said the oonferraco luul had before it evidence thai the effort! of the. AsnciiHiiral Department v.w ispprccwtcd. Ho trusted in future they might have a more intelligont understandmjr of the department's work. They were indclitod to the Into Sir John M'Kcnzic for Uiis department, and for many yearn some of them wcro inclined to look on it ns :i doubtful experiment. They thought the good to be derived from it was problematical, but now, after 11 years' experience, it was steadily growing into a department which commanded respect. Ho was sure that tlic next 10 years would show that the result of the department's work irouM 'avgoly eurpass the. -vork'oi the '.ant 10 years. He looked forward to great result? in the future The toast was drunk with enMmsiasm, and cheers were given for Mr uitehio, Mr Kirk, Mr Gilruth, and Mr Kitwslla.

Mr Ritchie, .in replying, said that the •irsl. congratulations he g<;t on his appointment to the department 11 years ajro were from My Robcrtf. He assumed it with great misgivings. Sir John M'Kenzio only asked him to take charge of the Stock Department. The Agricultural Department was then in the hands of the Lands Department but Sir John M'Kouzio thought it would b< better if the two departments were amalgamated. He (Mr Ritchie) got every assistance from the experts, and tlioy tried to do the best tt'oy could. In publications a'.onc they had issued something iiko 10,000, ami they were available for anyone who eared to have tliem.

Mr A. Doughs proposed "The Visitors," suul appropriate replies were mnclo by Mr Huphannn and Jlr Euokloy. Mr Buckley, in tho course of his remarks, said that the conference was ono of the most plousant and imlnictive times ho had ever spent. Ho thought a great deal of benefit resulted from the fact that agriculturists and pa-tonilists from nil pnrtr of the. colony met together. .The Winter "how )n\wl have been a revelation, to those from the north. The Ohgo Association was 'Tactically the only one that had been able to establish a Winter plimv ami keep it up for a number of years. He thought it mow beneficial than a summer show, and he heartily _ congratulated the Otago Association on its micros?.

The Hon. T.' Fergus proposed "Kindred Societies," coupled with Die. names of Messrs Dick (Auckland) and Hsiwko (Southland). Mr Dick said lie could honestly say the show was n revelation to, him, and ho was especially struck with the county bays. Thoy had had a very Riccc&sful conference, and must not forget that it was largely due to the energetic committee and tho gentlemen who had presided with so much ability.—(Applause.) '

Mr" Studliolnic proposed " The Otago A. and P, Society," and in doinn m snirl that it was a ficat loss to Canterbury that they had not been able, to make u financial success of tlieir Winter show. They would make [mother attempt, and he trusted Otago would come forward ?nd help with exhibits, and that they would tend some of their irarvolloufi Swede turnips.

Mr George Roberts, in reply, attributed the success of tho Winter show in Duncdin tij-tho fact, that the committee endeavoured to stiidv the public. They always tried to bring forward some new feature?, .and ho hoped next year that they would < make it still morn attractive to people in (ho city. They had already made it suflk-icutly attra'etivo for the country'people. Mr l'attullo proposed "The Prcfs," and Mr llissct (representing the Canterbury lime) mado appropriate response. After the Chairman (Mr Roberts) and the Secretary (Mr Murphy) had been toasted, the company sang "Auld lang syne," and tlicn dispersed.