NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1555, 27 August 1881, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company intend offering a twenty guinea silver cup for the best pen of merino ewes under 18 months old exhibited at the Canterbury Metropolitan Snow.

The Melbourne Argua states that Mr J. C. Cochrane has sold, on account of the Hon. William M'Culloch, the young Oxford bull Grand Duke of Oxford 2nd to Messrs J.; and P. Manifold, of Purrumbete, for 1000 guineas. This young bull was calved December 13th, 1879. and is now just 20 months old. His dam, Grand Duchess of Oxford 22nd, was bred by the Duke of Devonshire, and purchased at that nobleman's sale in 1878 for 2100 guineas by Mr M'Culloch, who imported her. His siro, Duke of Oxford 31st (33,713), was also bred by his Grace of Devonshire, and likewise imported by Mr M'OnUooh. Grand Duke of Oxford 2nd is the firßt pure Oxford bred and sold in Australia.

A writer in the Adelaide Observer makes a suggestion in reference to the poisoning of small birds, whioh is certainly worthy of consideration. Many farmers in Otago have already experienced the disadvantage of laying poisoned grain, and the methods adopted have proved very expensive to those persons who have made an attempt to lessen the evil. The writer in question thinks his plan will answer admirably, and says in reference to it :— " It is inexpensive, will oau.-e little trouble, and take but little time to prove. I have every oonfidenoe < in its effectiveness, and think it should be widely circulated. It is to destroy them by means of poisoned water, and the time for trying it is fast approaohing. It can be easily tried as an experiment by suspending a shallow vessel containing the poisoned water to a pole erected in tbe garden. Let there be a peroh across the vessel, or a few stones in the bottom for the birds to rest on. It will be out of the way of poultry, oats, and dogs; possibly the neighbour's pigeons may Buffer ; if so, two blessings will be effeoted by the same means. Perhaps some of your scientific readers will kindly give instructions as to the beßt and cheapest method of preparing the water, for not only must it be a destroying agent, but should be palatable to the birds at the same time. The buds on the fruit trees are just beginning to swell, and I notice tb*fc during the last week or two deoiduous frnit trees have more attractions for sparrows than they had heretofore. Is it a faot they are destroying the swelling buds, or do they find food of some other kind on the trees ? They are very buay with their beaks. What are they at ? This is the time to watch them." Canterbury is moving ia the matter of flax

onlture, but as yet Otago has made little Bign notwithstanding the inducements at present being held out by a gentleman who offera < to purchase the seed in large or small quantities. The > Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Society are offering special inducements at their nex. show to flax dreasera for twine, rope, &c, both from native and* European flax, to woollen factories, and to linseed growers ; while at the annual meeting of the Rangiora Agiicultural and Pastoral Association, one of the members (Mr Blackest) observed, that in hia opinion tho growing of linseed and manufacturing its products was ope of best local industries which, in the interests of the farmers, oould be begun. About £80,000 to £100,000 was sent out of the polony for these produots. The capital required would be about £1200 for machinery, £1200 for buildings, and about £2000 to commence operations as working oapital,

The Provisional Direotors of tbe Southland Frozen Meat and Export Company are working energetically in their endeavours to push off the shares in the proposed company. On Thursday, the 18th, a meeting was held at River ton for the purpose of onlisting the sympathy of the Rivertoniane. Mr Cowan, the chairman of the provisional directors, made an interesting speech, during which he said that he would take upon himself to say that this country oould grow equally as good meat and butter as Amerioa, and would compare favourably with the quality produced in England. Last year Great Britain imported from America meat to the value of £11,000,000 ; butter, £38,000 ; and cheese, £45,000. It was to the interest of the settlers to obtain a share of that consumption. The great impediment to the agricultural interest of tbe colony was the small consumption, and the fundamental basis of the proposal that he was urging was that it afforded producers a second market. It was a great draw back to the apricultural interest not being able to find a market when ready for it. Stock that was ready for a market bad to be kept baok until they lost condition and beoame store again Dairy produce, too, had been reduced in price to a minimum. Butter in London ranged from Is to Is 6d per lb. What a difference that would make in New Zealand, especially in places where root crops oan grow : the advantage would be much greater than from grain growing, and would lead to the enhanced pros perity of the colony. The company would give such an impetus to the production of stock that few could realise. Every property oould produoe four or five times as much as it does now, by judioiously stimulating the soil.— Mr M'lntosh, who followed, paid that he recollected when the export of wool from New Zealand ouly amounted to 39,000 bales ; but last year some 225,000 bales were exported. That meant money, and the value was returned and added to the property in New Zealand. There was nothing to prevent 500,000 bales being grown in New Zealand, and Ocago did not carry one twentieth the quantity of stock it was oapable of doing. Ifthemovement turned out a success farmers could profitably export veal, pork; and dairy produce, as well as beef and mutton, instead of growing grain at a loss. If the settlers oould only without fail rely upon 2d per lb for mutton, that would be an immense relief : but it would be n long time before it would be sold at less than 4d per lb in London. Under suoh a Bystem Is per bushel would not again be the price ruling for oats. — Mr Hamilton, as one who had given the subject some consideration, observed that he had perceived the baneful effects of growing grain always. In his opinion the reason why butter had not hitherto been landed at Home in good condition, was owing to the difference between the class of cargo that was sent Home and that which was imported, and as bearing out that theory he instanced an experiment he made in sending home a quantity of butler, whioh on arrival at London proved to be almost useless, although a parcel of the same butter deposited in a store at Invercargill at the time the former was shipped, was, on being tested, found to be perftctly sound. Sending butter Home amongßt a mixed cargo of wool, hides, &c, did not give it a fair ohance, as the heat generated by such a cargo injuriously affected butter, no matter how well it was preserved. Instead of eaoh farmer, however, making up his own butter and cheese, faotories should be established for the purpose, and then a good article could be exported. He was sure if the movement was a success, that such faotories would be started. Settlers were actually spaying nnd turning out their cattle rather than take the prices ruling at present for dairy produce.

The Clutha paper states that a considerable number of settlers in that neighbourhood are preparing to sow small quantities of European flax this season. — The same journal sa>s : — We understand that within the past iew days a very large quantity of strychnine has been purchased by settlers and others in this district — as muoh a? would poison half the people of the Middle Island. We have also heard of cases in whioh it has been used in a very careless manner, and that already extremely narrow escapes from poisoning have oocurred. If it be really necessary to keep quantities of strychnine about dwelling-houses we would strongly urge that it be handled with the greatest care, and that every precaution possible be taken against aooidents. '

The Secretary of the North Otago Agricul. tural Society has had the following receipt for the preparation of poisoned wheat for small birds sent to him :— Take 1£ yl strychnine and dissolve it in one pint of boiling vinegar, together with one shilling's worth of phosphorous. When fully dissolved add one bucket of water, in whioh immerse the wheat and allow it to soak till the fluid is absorbed. This is suffi. cient for 501b of poisoned wheat.

The Royal Agricultural Society of South Australia lately discussed the question, " Is Australian wheat deteriorating in chemical constituents?" The question arose from an expression of opinion to that effect offered by an agricultural chemist. The meeting considered that such a statement was premature, and quite unfounded.

The North Otago Times says :— A quantity of wheat sent Home by Messrs Conuell and Clowes, and grown by Messrs Millington Bros., of Papakaio, realised on June 17th last as high as 51s 6i per quarter for Tuscan, ex store, and from 46s 3d to 47s for velvet, ex ship. New Zaaland wheat has been in good demand in ihe Home markets for some time back, and at the present time is quoted higher than whoat from any other part of the world. Were farmers to consider more the olas? of wheat that suits the English markets, it might prove to their advantage, for allowing for the difference in yields as between one variety and another, there can be no doubt that the cultivation of some varieties would be more profitable to the grower than would the cultivation of others.

A sensible letter from Mr J. C. Buokland reoently appeared in our oolumns, calling attention to the necessity of employing tbe natural enemies of tho rabbit— ferrets, wease'o, aud stoats— lor their extermination in high country. Id the KaiVora district, it appears from evidence taken before tho Parliamentary Committee, exoellent work has 'boon douo by ferrets, and we have no doubt as an adjunct «o other means they would prove most usefully destructive in

pnrts of Otago. The Rabbit Bill introduced by Mr Rolleston provides for the protection of these animals, and for penalties to be enf >roed on their destroyers. The danger to the young lambs from auimalß that will attack rabbits has to be taken into account ; but from the experi ence of Messrs Bullen, of Kaikora, it does not seem to be great.

We sincerely hope that tho Rabbit Bill will not be sacrificed in the general massaore of innocents which is sure to take place at the closo of the session. It seems, so far as we can judge, to provide for oombined aotion on the part of the Government and the Crown tenants. Inspectors are to be appointed, and tbe expsases are to be paid by a tax of a farthing per acre. The Treasurer may compound for the rate on Crown and Native lands. Penalties are imposed on private owners who neglect to destroy rabbits on their land, and the inspectors are authorised to enter lands and destroy the rabbits at the cost of tho landowner where the duty is neglected. A penalty of £50, or six months' imprisonment with hard labour, is imposed on any person who liberates live rabbits— though in most parts of the country we Bhould think this quite a work of supererogation, as there are plenty of rabbits to be found nearly everywhere. It seems evident, however, that it is intended to make the Bill both scringent and effective, and we heartily trust that this comprehensive effort at dealing with a most expensive plague will be Buocessf ul. The Government are bound to push this bill through the House, whatever other bills they drop ; the interests at stake are too important to permit of the postponement of the matter for another year, since each year multiplies by millions the number to be destroyed, and lessens by hundreds of thousands of pounds the prodaeiug power of the country.

Lord Kimberley, presiding at tbe Norfolk Agricultural Association at Wymondham, pointed out that fo? farmers to cheer the ory for Protection was absurd, because, if it was absolutely certain the food of tbe conotry would never again be taxed, if Protection were introduced in manufactures agriculturists would buy and consume* taxed goods, while they would sell untaxed produce. But no protective tariff that could be framed for our enormous trade would hold water. In order that capital might be attracted to tbe sou, he would give the tenant security for his capital, and would also repeal the laws of entail and primogeniture.

The Oamaru papers state that the New Zealand and Australian Land Company intend cutting ap and selling a portion of their Ardgowan Estate. The land is now being surveyed and laid off in blocks of five aores and upwards.

Mr E Menlove, of Windsor Park, Oamaru, haa resold to Mr P. C. Threlkeld the bull Prince, Imperial, sire of the grand calves exhibited last year by Mr Menlove.

Samples of wool and of yara prepared at the Kaiapoi factory, it is stated, are being forwarded to Japan, where it is considered there ia a good opening for New Zaaland wools.

The movement in North Canterbury for the formation of a Farmers' Co-operative Associa. tion appears to be meeting with every en« couragement. At a meeting of the promoters on Saturday, it was resolved to adopt the title of " New Zealand " instead of " North Canterbury Asaociation," and to increase the capital to L 250.000.