AGRICULTURAL NOTES

Otago Witness, Volume 15, Issue 1487, 15 May 1880, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL NOTES

The following interesting Bketch of tbe Canadian land system occurs iv a letter to the New Zealand Times, by a Mr George Sain :— " I will proceed to bliow what the land law of the latest of all British settlements is, merely premising that it is founded upon the combined experience of Upper and Lower Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward's Island, British Columbia, and the vast territories formerly under the Hudson Bay Com. pauy, collectively known as the Dominion of Canada. By the Dominion Lands Act froo grants of land are made to every male or female head of family, on condition that they at_ once erect a residence on tbe land and live on it six months in the year, and that year by year they bring an increased area under cultivation. Manitoba is [the last cff.shoot of that enormous territory, and was admitted into the Confederacy in 1870. By its laod^law every child of 18 years old can take up 160 acres on tho same conditions. At the end of three years, if fcheaa conditions have been complied with, a Crown patent w issued, and theu the pettier can deal with his land as he likis. O a receiving his grant the settler may preempt a further 160 acreß, for which he must pay at the end of three arsye 4s per acre, and then he may purchasa for cash 320 acres more, or 640 acres in all. More than this he cannot buy, as no person in Manitoba can own more than 640 acres, or one square mile. In 1872 the Legislature of Manitoba passed in its first session a Homestead Bill, which enacts that the farm of 160 acres, the house, stables, barns, fences, furniture' tools, farm implements, one cow, two oxent one horae, four sheep, two pigs, ani 40 daysl provender for the above live stock, are exemp, from seizure for debt. Under euch libera, teznia the Dew province is rapidly filling up, upwards of 20,000 souls having arrived that year." The following is an extract from < a London letter reoeived by a South Australian sheepowner : — "As regards the meat venture per Strathleven, I have prooured several authentic particulars, for which I can vouch. The meat was sold at the hammer in the usual way by one of the leading London, meat: salesmen, but it appears on rather an unfortunate day as regards competition. The beef sold for 5d per lb., and the mutton for 6d., averaging in both cases higher prices than those made on the same day for the Amerioaa meat offered and sold at the same time. The meat has since been retailed at 9d per lb., and has given thorough satisfaction. It appears, however, that when treated as this meat was by being frozen immediately after being killed and kept continuously in that state, it requires hanging for some time before cooking, just as ordinary meat killed in the usual way doo-i, and thus the popular notion which prevailed that it was necessary to cook and eat as soon as possible proves to have been at fault. This ciroumstance, however, renders the process all fche|more valuable, as it increases the facilities for retailing. Improvements in many details have been discovered by the experience afforded by this first trial, and it seems necessary to cover all the meat over with canvas to ensure its appearing to advantage on arrival. This was only partially done in the case of the Strathleven, You will observe that in speaking of this subject I have used tho term processes in the plural. I did so advisedly, becauseit appears there is a French process which has in general estimation proved an improvement on that of Bell and Coleman, and which, has^ been most successfully applied to several shipments from the River Plate. The patent for this has been purchased, as far as the Australian Colonies are concerned, by Mr Fairbairn and others, and a Company has been started here recently under strong auspices to promote the use of the process. So far, then, I think I may summarize the information on this subj set by saying that tho feasibility of preserving and sending fresh meat from distant to the homo markets has proved a success. To what extent it may succeed commercially has yet to be proved. The Strathleven vonture, however, covered cost, and I learn that some of the Orient vessels are now boiug fitted with meat chambers. The question, therefore, as to how far the operation will prove a paying one will not remain very long unsolved."

A correspondent writes to the Queenalander in reference to tho reward offored by fch? Queensland Government for the discovers of a cure for rusfc as follows :— I etrontfly advise those persoi'B who sue trying for the £1000 reward to give liuio siud salt a fail' trial. I f>sel confident wo only have to find out the proper proportions of lime and salt that the soil requires

to enable tis to'oroduce both healthy plants and animals. Experience tells me that less than three bushels of lime and th-ee bushels of salt to the acre is of little or no use. Some soils will require twelve bushels of aalt and twenty bushels of lime to the acre. This suggestion of mine may be laughed at, as my letters on burnt feed and salt for sheep were some years ago ; but I am induced to write again, as I find in the Queenslander of the same date your Moreton correspondent says :— " Newly burnt grass I have found to keep sheep from dying when they ; were considerably gone with rot (or bottle), and I have known a ewe that seemed to have no'hing but water in her veins to lamb and rear her offspring on newly bnrnt grass." Another correspondent, a wool-grower, writing about " Sheep Under the Range," advises to give them plenty of salt. I will go still farther than either of the above correspondents, and state that with light stocking, newly burnt feed, and abundance of lime and salt, they will be able to produce as healthy sheep on this side of the range as ever was done in the earlier days of the colony j but. the thing to consider is, Will it^ pay at the present price of land ? In conclusion, allow me to say that I stated in 1872 that I tried salt with perfect success as a preventive of rust in wheat, but no notice was taken of it. I trust that this communication will be more fortunate, and that lime and salt will get a fair trial. Depend upon it, it will not deceive The Downs soil may not require the lime, but I am confident it requires salt." ________ By the mail steamer Hydaspes, which has arrived within a few days of the Assam, we have Bnglieh advices up to the Bth of March, The weather during the fortnight appears to have been of a very favourable character, and, as a consequence, the prospects of agriculturists were more cheering than for some time previously. As regards the state of the crops and farming prospects, the Mark Lane Express of tho Bth March says :•— " The excellent condition of tho land has given a great impetus to agricultural work of all kinds, and a considerable breadth of spring corn has been sown throughout the United Kingdom. Some delay has, nevertheless, ootrarred on those soils from which the floods have but reoently subsided j but, aa a rule, ploughing and sowing have been carried on with vigour, and an early and favourable seed time, so essential to the future well-being of the crops, seems likely to be secured. Up to the present' but few complaints have been heard aa to the aspect of autumn sown wheat, which has grown rapidly, and, considering the severe weather it has had to endure, presents a generally satisfactory appearance, The present month is an important one for the grass crop, and the pastures are as forward as can be expected. A mild temperature and warm rain always do wonders for the graßS, an abundant yield of which will be a great boon to f aimers, owing to the scarcity and dearnesß o£ all kinds of fodder. Vegetation generally haa made a considerable advance during the past fortnight, and the country is beginning to show unmistakable signs of returning spring. Winter wheat is beginning to show a thicker plant. Beans appear to have perished in part, and a large acreage will have to be resown. In Scotland the weather has been boisterous, but spring work is fairly forward." Respecting the prospects of the wheat market, the Express makes tbe following remarks :—" Just at present, opinions seem to be pretty equally divided as to the course of prioes in the immediate future, the chief interest centreing upon America and the chances of ultimate success or failure of the manipulations of the ' riug.' The offers of wheat from New York- have indicated a greater pressure to sell than for some time past, and by some this is considered the first sign of a collapse, while, on the other hand, many holders believe in the power of lhe combinaiion to effect itß object, and patiently await a further development of the enterprise. Other sources of supply may help us to do without America for awhile, but it cannot be for long, if the recently received accounts of soaroity in Russia are to be relied on. The weather and prospects of the growing crops both here and on the C mtinent will be more anxiously watched than ever this season, as another failure of the French and English crops would' practically place both countries at the mercy of America, who, no doubt, will meanwhile discount liberally the probabilities, for or against, a good harvest in Western Europe." The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act of 1878 has done its work well in Great Britain, so far as foot and-mouch disease is concerned. In the official return for the week ending 24th January last, not a single oase of foot-and-mouth, disease is recorded in the United Kingdom. It haa just taken the authorities one year to stamp out a disease that for 40 years has coat Great Britain a loss of many millions of pounds. It is many years since Professor Gamgee insisted that the only means of stamping it out was by preventing its introduction. He insisted that if the ports were guarded against foreign infection the disease would quickly perish in England. His doctrine was sneered at by many veterinarians. It was at last adopted, and with the above happy result. The only fear now is that with the advent of the Liberals to power the work so admirably performed by the Dnke of Richmond and Goidon may be undone. The Act in its passage through Parliament was, at the instigation of the Liberals, shorn of BeveraJ of its leading provisions, under the impression that it would rise the price of meat ; and now, instead of being an arbitrary measure in respect of closing English ports to diseased countries, it rests entirely with the Government of the day as to whether or not animals from diseased countries may be landed alive in England. The Blacks correspondent of the Dunstan Times says :— There are many men in this distriot who, when they first started farming, took up as low as 50 aore sections, other-i again 100, and so on, for the very simple reason that their means would not allow of them taking up larger areas. Well, these men have so proved themselves good settlers, that by industry and fruija'fity they are now in a position to take up more land. But no ; the administrators of tbe law say, "You have had your opportunity, and as you then did not taise up to the full extent, you must now suffer ; and if yon are not satisfled with what pou have got— let it be much or little — and you want more, you must go to some other country, for you won't get it here." This is virtually what is saidj the consequence is, those who cannot help themselves stay and g:owl, wnile those who can, and who should be offered every inducomont to stay, pack up their traps and seek pastures new. It is a fact patent to all, that no man oan improve his position on 60 or 100 acres of land, therefore something must bo done to aid him in increasing his holding. The time could not be more, opportune than the present, just on the eve of Parliament ; and I wouldd suggest that our member bo called upon for his construction of the deferred payment clauses of tho Act, and if he is at one with the distric, to extort a promise c'rotn him that lie will not alono work for but obtain an alteration of the law accordingly. Tho interpretation put on the Act by oho Waste Lanhs Board, cannot possibly be the one tho framers of the measure intended, and it is high time the two were brought in unison

The anticipated supply of Australian frozen meat ia viewed by Home stock breeders in a aorious light, and the feeling is gaining ground thafc it will be impossible for them t,> hold their own except under very different conditions to those now ruling. In discussing the question, the Mark Lane Express makes the following remarks :— " The ultimate result to home producers of tliis new competition ia fresh meat no one win now foraoe; but that 't xvill have a very marked effect on British agriculture no one can reasonably doubt. The land of this country will have to bo vented and cultivated undar conditions whioh will admit of home produce being grown at a profit to those engaged in agriculture, whatever Booial changes that may entail. Nothing must be allowed to stand in the way of the soil being cultivated to its fullest capabilities, and all artificial hindrances to agrioulture will have to be swept away. The trade of this ceantry, and to some extent Us manufacturing industries aa well, depends very materially on agriculture for its prosperity. Under present circumstances, to say nothing of prospects, the cost of producing food in this country i* greator than the price at which im. ported food cau be purchased ; and this state of affairs cannot, with safety to the community, be allowed to Jast much longer. Tho privileges, prestiga, and Bociftl)position;of one, two, or more Bmall classes— however powerful they may be — can never be maintained at the expense of the prosperity of the people, and we look forward with <!on6denca to such a ohange in the conditions under which British soil is now rented and cultivated aa will enable British farmers to compete successfully with the oxtraneous food growers of the whole world. The time has come for plain speaking and fearless aotion, not o'uly ou the part of the farmers, but on that of the people." News by the mail shows that serious losses from liver rot amongst sheep continue co be recorded in the Old Country in some case? whole flocks haviug died in a very short sp*ce of time. Several deaths of young cattle from fhe Bame cause are also reported. Extensive seizures of mutton carcasses, rend-red unfit for human food from advanced stages of rot have been made in London and provincial markets. A great many flocks of breeding ewes have been ' completely degtioyed— a most serious loss to the flookomster, who, afc tht3 time of the year, was anxwuoly looking forward for the lambiug season. In some districts lambing has com rnenced, The time at whioh it? is desirable to have the fall of lambs depends on the climate, thenaturo of the district, and the kind of sheep cultivated in it. From experiments at the Canadian Agrioul. «Ural College in the feeding of shorthorn steers, the following conclusions have been drawn :— That well bred steers, l early prime fat, gain 8£ per cent, more on the same food than others that ara not bo well b<ed and that were also 6 per cent less in weight when put in competition; that, in proportion to weight, the half fed ateers gave 68 per cent, more profit than the otheis; that, according to weight, tbe half fed steers gave 2J per cent, more increase than others almost prime; that, in proportion to weight, the half fed steers ate 18 per cent, more fojd rhan the' others ; that, as an investment, without reference to manure, the matured ani mals returned fully 9 percent., and the half fed ones 40 per cent, on the original coßt, being a difference of 31- per cent, in favour of the leaner animals. One animal, in 87 days, ate (flesh, fat, and heat producers)—turnips, 5741b ; »traw, 4411b ; corn, 8311b > total, IB4fllb. The deputation that waited upon the Treasurer on Wednesday (says a Melbourne contemporary) re the proposal to Bend a quartette of native champion ploughmen to England for the purpose < f trying conclusions with the champions of Great Britain may be said to have met with as favourable a reottplion as under the circumstances conld be expected It hits been announced by the promoters of the enterprise that the intention is to take home the Victorian made ploughs aa well, it being generally admitted by practical agricnlturislß that in this branch the skill of tbe Victoiian manufacturer stands unequalled in competition with the best implements from England or America. It ia alsoproposed that the meetings of agriculturists, when brought together to witness the contest*, might be utilised by the secretary of the ploughing team in submitting a concise statement of the inducements offered by Victoria to British farmers of capital and agricultural training, such aa -those who sent delegates recently to Canada. The Treasurer, while upproving of the general idea in the abstract, and pleading want of money as an excuse for making any immediate promise of a subsidy, nevertheless mentioned that, should the enterprise commend itself to the agricultural community generally, he would be glad to have a visit from the. deputation when the canvass for subaoriptions had proceeded further, with the tiew of having au opportunity of endeavouring to do all tl'at lay ia hia power to forward the objeot in view. The success or otherwise of the enterprise, it will be tnus seen, depends to a large extent upon the manner in whioh it is taken up by the representative agricultural bodies throughout the colony.