NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1582, 18 March 1882, Page 7

NOTE S AND COMMENTS.

We have received the first number of "The Farmers' Circular and Weekly Report/ a ,trade circular issued by Messrs Donald Reid and Co. in connection with their business of stock and station agents.

The Southland Times has been shown samples of lintseed, grown on the farm of Mr A. T. Anderson, Strathmore. It states that , the crop has attained a length of two feet, and • looks remarkably healthy.

The articles of the Southland Farmers' Association (Limited) wore registered undor " The Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1877," on Saturday, and the permanent com mitteeof management elected, Mrßateman

has undertaken to aot aa secretary for a time, and place the association in working order. The co-operative' movement among the farmers is now looked upon as an established fact, and business operations are fairly commenced. The Lake County Forest Nursery at Lake Wanaka is showing highly satisfactory results. The rabbits last year destroyed no less than 20,000 plants, but wire netting, &c. will in future prevent depredations on the part or these pests. In spite of this loss there will be ready for sale and distribution this season 25,000 plants of various species, whilst ra the seed-beds there are 26,000 plants. It is intended to ask the assistance of Mr Fergus, M H.R., in securing a grant-in-aid from Government of £200 or £300 towards the perfecting of the work being carried on.

There are one or two companies, according to the London correspondent of the Argus, in course of formation which have aB their object the extension of the frozen meat trade. It is the intention of one of these to charter a couple of steamers to call at the various ports in New South Wales, Queensland, and perhaps New Zealand, getting carcasses just killed delivered on board unfrozen. These carcasses are to be frozen on board, and thus the expense of extensive freezing-works on shore wil be saved; whilst by chartering steamers of small draught, capable of calling at the smaller ports, the Company believe they will be enabled to purchase much cheaper than where stock has to be brought, either dead or alive, some hundreds of miles perhaps, to Melbourne or Sydney. , As yet, however, the prospectus of tho Company is not before the general public, so that it is hardly fair to treat more fully of their intentions.