AGRICULTURAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1731, 24 January 1885, Page 19

AGRICULTURAL.

[Continued from Page 7.)

Our Cbatton correspondent writes: — The crops here this season are in excellent condition. In every quarter of the district there ia plenty of grass, and stock are in fine order. The turnip fly, or beetle, has been very troublesome here this season, and many of the farmers have been compelled to re-sow a> good deal of their turnip land on that account. Several methods of destroying or keeping the insect in check bave beeu tried, but none tbat I have heard of has, so far, been successful in finding out an agent potent enough for the purpose. One farmer well known to me prepared his land and made everything ready for sowing turnips, an i allowed it to lie in that state for a few days, and then* went over tbe ground with a smooth roller, after which operation he gowed the turnips, which seemed to do much better than those aown on the land immediately after being harrowed. He thinks, and I believe rightly, tbat this short spell and exposure of the soil to the sun helps to destroy tbe insects.

Our Waikaka correspondent writes :— Tho crops are looking exceedingly well in this district. Everywhere they are strong and of a deep-green colour. ' In nearly every field the oats are fully " shot," and present appear ances promise an earlier harvest than the one of last year. Not long since it was feared that this harvest would be late. rConsideriag that the oats weie sown late, they came into ear early this year, but as the weathsr was very favourable since they reached that stage they have made great progress in growth. The little wheat there is in the district is looking well also. Potatoes look- unusually well this ybar, but they are late. Should frost cot come early there is likely to be a heavy crop. However, there will not be enough in the district to affect prices. The turnips are also very good. Everywhere they seem to have vegetated well. Walking over a small paddock the other day, on which about one bag per acre of Peruvian guano was sown, I observed with wonder the difference between tbe turnips there and those in the same paddock where no guano waa sown. Many of the turnip blades on tbe part which received guano, although only five weeks Bown, were about five inches long, while the turnips in the other part had only about an inch of leaf. The pasture is plentiful here this year, and stock is in good condition.

Our Wakatipu correspondent writes :— The weather has so far been all that could be deBired for the field and garden, and crops generaUy must be pronounced as looking exceedingly well throughout the district. On the heavier and least worked portions, tbe plentyful supply of rain which has fallen this season has led to a rather rauk growtb of otraw in the wheat crop, but as it is yet early in the year, there is still ample time for the ears to swell and fill, and aB we are just entering the driest and warmest portion of autumn, tho heat necessary for this desired end may be expected to follow almost immediately. Barley and oats, which are more profitable for the local farmers to grow than wheat, on account of tho near and ready aale they command, are somewhat backward, but, for all that, promise an abundant though perhaps a late harvest There are also indications that potatoes will be plentiful and of superior quality— qualities which generally go together with this crop— which is more than can be said for the turn-out of the last two years. The attention of farmers in Otago generally, and in this district particularly, may with advantage thus early be directed to the forthcoming Colonial Exhibition at Wellington at the end of the current year, and to the Colonial Exhibition arranged for in London for 1886, m order to have tbe natural produce of this district efficiently, and properly represented. Our wool lords also might do worse than to prepare exhibits, as the present season's clip as one of more than average quantity and quality. I hear privately that local mechanical and .chemical genius is busy in more than one instance with tbe invention and construction of rabbit and kea exterminator*, intended for exhibition at Wellington as well as at London. May success reward their labours. Our Palmerston correspondent writes :— Irrespective of the paroquets, the ordinary email birds are threatening to be very heavy on the cropa thiß Beacon. They were blamed for destroying tbe braird of turnipn, but I tbink the unfavourable state of tbe season had as rnuoh to do with it as the birds. Whatever the cause, I have seldom seen the green crops of the district presenting so bad an appearance. Ihe potato crop is decidedly bad— almost a ftalf lailure ; and turnips and mangel wurzel are very "blanky" and backward in growth. White cropß are fair on the average, but are slow in ripening.

Our Waiwera correspondent writes :-r-Tbe weather, although rather changeable, is on tbe whole favourable to agricultural pm-suita, occasional showera, accompanied .by warm

being good. Grass and other vegetation are in abundance, far above the ordinary run at this season of the year. Our Portobello correspondent writes on the 19th :— The weather during the past few weeka has bO9n very changeable, and not at all suitable for haymukiug, which is iv full swiijg here. We had a heavy thunderstorm la=st evening, heavy rain falling fo? some little time, wbieb will be very detrimental to the bay. Indeed, so far as I can see, this crop will be got in in almost aa bad a condition as it was last year. The crop on the whole is a fair one. Oata for hay aro heavy, and are being cut already. The small birds are a perfect pest, and so numerous that thoy begin at tbe oatn and batley as soon as these crops show the ear. Birds of all kinds are proving a source of trouble and anxiety this year in this and the Surrounding localities, Paroquets and blackbirds are destroying the small fruit wholesale, and sparrows and linnets doing the same to turnips and grain. Our Kaibiku correspondent writes j — Duri»g the past week cutting ryegrass for seed has been the occupation of a number of the settlers. The crop in some oases has been fair, but generally only mediocre, and not ao good as was anticipated considering tbe damp season wo have experienced. I note that tbe seed is well filled and ripened, and ib likely to produce a marketable sample. There has not been such a large area kept for seed this season as has formerly been the caso. The price is so fluctuating that people are not Haviner any more than they require for laying down thoir own land.

Our lala Bank (Southland) correspondent writes : — We bave exporionced all kinds of weather gince the first of the month — heat, cold, r-ain, wind, and hailstones alternating up to the 14th. Sinco then we have had five, warm, glowing weather. Crops of all kinds ore looking well, givinp promise that the labours of the husbandman will be rewarded with an abundant harvest. There has nob bp.en much wheat sown this year, but fully the average area of past years is under oats, which give promise of a splendid crop. A good crop of ryegrass generally is now being harvested, and will be all cut in a few days if the weather keeps dry. Some fields of turnips aro looking wall, but many, baring been fiown lato, are coming up rather blanky. Shearing operations were commenced about tho beginning of December, but were greatly interrupted by the changeable weather, and all have not even yet got finished. The Tuapeka Flat correspondent of the local Times writes : — The crops, generally speaking, in this neighbourhood are well advanced, and give promise of an abundant harvert if the weather continues good. Grass is very plentiful this season, and, in consequence, ail kiuds of stock are in capital order. The farmers aro likely to be put to a great deal of trouble and expense with the rabbits, unless vigorous measures are taken to keep tbo animals in check. Now that feed is so abundant, tbe rabbits aro becoming more plentiful than they were two or three months ago. 'J he new Swiss dairy factory erected by the Messrs Fischer, uncle and nephew, on Mr Gane's farm at Pukerimu, Waikato, is getting a full supply of milk, for which it paya 4d_ per gallon, and fetching it from tho farmers' < milk yards, paying Id cash per gallon per month, over four months, instead of, as in tho case of other factories, paying every throe months and nothing meantime. The Oamaru Mail states that harvesting hag commenced at Otiake, on the farm of Mr John Orr, now in tbe occupation of Mr Millniine, Oats and barley are "now being cut, and it ib expected that a commencement will be made with wheat during this week. Tbe crops in this district are in prime condition, and pro mise, with good luck, a good return.

The Dairy Industry in America. IOWA CREAMERIES.

A New Zealand correspondent makes inquiry of me as to the effect of the creamery Hystem of producing butter and cheese in our Western States. Some of his questions I cannot answer for lack of statistics ; but; I will say in general terms that the creamery system has revolutionised the business of butter making in this country. There are— GSO creameries in the State of lowa, 470 „ „ Illinois, 430 „ „ Wiscon-in, 139 „ „ Minnesota. There is no market now for poor butter at any price.- When the creameries first started in the Western States, and' the product was sent to New York, enterprising dealers would brand the tubs "Goshen butter" or "Dutcbisß County butter " — the names of tho dairy counties which supplied the great city with fancy brands. Now Western creamery butter goes into Now York upon its own merit, branded as " lowa Creamery," against everything elae, and commands from threo to four cents a pound more than the best brand of New York hand- made butter. Tho success is complete. The dairy farmers not only gat a fair price for cream and milk but they nave awakened a apirit and an interest in the farm, in the improvement of their cattle, in providing bettor shelter, richer food, and improved pasture. Another result is seen in the better homes, good fences, and tasteful surroundings. Lands are improved and increased in value. The uncertainty of the small grain crop turned the attention of our farmers to stock-raising, and ultimately to the machine dairy, and the result is most gratifying. It haa brought the farmers of communities together to plan for the common weal, and we have "Grange Societies," where the farmers, their wives, eons, and daughters meet together to discuss questions relative to common business and common prosperity. Libraries are founded, schools fostered, and more general intelligence is seen and felt. Another result of this is seen jn our State agricultural societies, State horticultural associations, State butter and cheese societies, and State egg societies; and these again into national associations. The people are happier and more prosperous, and publio spirit is fostered. A further result is that more general attention is given to WINTER BUTTER MAKIN&.

Winter butter-making is one of the legitimate outgrowths of a higher civilisation. As wealth ana refinement increase there is a corresponding demand for tho finer table luxuries. There is in this country an increasing demand for fruits grown under glass, and for vegetables grown out of season by means of artificial heat, science has revealed new methods of preserving fruits in their f resb state. The olden time dried fruits are now discarded, and we have cucumbers in Marcb, green peas and new potatoes in April, and we must have fresh butter the year round. Butter packed in June is not relished in December. Oboice butter made in winter brings from 50 to 100 per cent, more than that ma'do in summer. To meet this demand requires different facilities and special Bkill. Farmers and dairymen, to make their business profitable or even pleasurable, must keep abreast of the times. The laggards eooa drop out of sight and are forgotten in the hurry

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Mr Robert Wllkin send! the Lyttelton Times account sales of a small iot of cheep font by tho Aorang-i, showing 1 t'i3 net /etnrn to be 18a 6}l. The'o aheop, ho wye, would not have brought morn ia the open market horo at the time they were frozen than 17s; no thifi by sending them lo Kngland (he owner will make a gain of nearly 18 6d pur ahosp. Memorandum o! Messra Wilkin and Davison's sheep (403), por Aorangi : - Net proceeds, p,er accnunt sa'es . . £539 10 2 LBB3 advance tot freight, freezing, &c. .. 308 010 Ket on shipment .. .. ..£231 9 4 Or, Per head on 403 sheep shipped . . £0 11 6} Value of pkin per bead .. .. O5 9? Value of fat per head .. „ 0l «£ Net per bead on eheop in wool in Now Zealand .. .. .. £0 18 5} Loaa in weight, barely 1 Jib ; coat per lb, 3£d. A corrosDoniient signing himself " Waitakl " writeß to the Lyttolton Times in ropJy to Mr {R. Wilkin. Ho gives the other side of the picture. He writes :—: — "Mr W-lkfn is to bo congratulated as tho on'y shipper of some 200,000 sheep from Canterbu-y who, so far, has Ueen satisfied with the result ; but it is unfortunate that more details of his account sales wore not given, ao as to enable cempiuisons to ba made with other*, and the ealc of his shipment must have been an oxo pt'.onal one. " I have before v c the account sales of seven ahlpl ments tuado during the year 188 J. Oho realised less than the cost of freizingr, freight, and insurance, and 0! the other six, I ton>l you particulars of the liucnejt and the lowc3t, a^ a fair a vet acre of tho whole. The factor's report on both shipments is— 'Go id quality ; useful mnlton ; in excellent condition,' and (he factor referred to is a well-known SinUhfleld butcher. Tho London tolegrxmsof October last quote') iVew Zealand mutton as selli^r at, GJd to 7d per b No explanation is givon a* to why out of this lot (per Tong.rin) only J 3 ao ld at 7d, and 1 6 under 6d, some 45 bdng as low as 4d por lb.

"In the face of Buch ecouuns ga'cs, jou find tho exporters, (r representatives of the a, onto in London, taunting the stoclco.vneia b:cw-e they decline to nviko further Bhipmetite. Between the Fieozing Cimpmy and tho merchants thoy man 1 so to approbate toe whole of tno poor sheep. Have they no »ba(ne, t ha'ftboy still cry tor more ? Per Victor* , August 18S4— 145sheop-27at4id, 118 at 4d per lb .. .6113 9 10 Charges -- Comml&ion (2J per cent.), factorage (a p s r cult ), £5 3* Id ; dock charges, carfcago, &c., £14 12a id .. .. . .. 19 14 6 £95 15 S Freezing,, freight, and inouraccs .. 92 17 6 Net proceeds .. - £0 18 0 Or average of l£d (one penny halfpenny) each sh'ep. Per Tonerariro, October WBi - 285 aheeo— l3 at 7d,18 a 5 6£d, 53 at 6Jd, 37 at 6d, 7 at 6Jd, 29 at &£d, 36 at od, 46;tt4d .. .. .. £'32 6 8 Ohargoi Commission (?J per cent.), factorage (2 per cent.), £10 9a ; Q^ck uhargoo, cartage, &c, £23 Is 4d .. .. .. .. 83 10 4 £198 17 4 Freezing, freight, and insurance . . 131 15 11 Not proceada . . . . £17 1 5 Or average of Ss B|J (five shillings and etghtpenco halfpenny) each sheep. " I need only romark that th« result of theso seven 1 thipment 1 * h anything but satisfactory to the shipper, ftnd \ot they more fairly represent the actual proems of the fhlpinenta lr im Canterbury, taken a* a whole, than the bingle account ailes quoted by Mr Wilklu."

Babbit Poisoning . TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— Mftv I beg the favour of your space to refer to ray latp claim bofore Pariiim' I nt an the di'covo-or and introducer of tbe cai phosphorus rabbifc poison. When said claim »ai invo^ti^ted by a Parliamentary Committee in October la«t, a money awaid of £5 0 and an appointment were lecoramondo^, and at the 'ame time the Government of Victoria, plved the sum of £300 on the Batimates^nrecgnitton cf my Fetvice« in that Colony. These particulars woro notified in the papers, but, owing I presume to tho rodundsney ot Press matter at tho closi of last session, when said recommenda i)ng were voted by the respective Legislature 1 , th« matter escaped notice in the paper?, and out6ide of Parliament but few would know the final result of my appra'. feir I bavo Bpocial reason' for de iring that said results shouli be made public through tne Pre«s, that, has en inva-lably stood l\y me, otherwi-o my status in this matter might be questioned, aud 1 think a ]ars;o propc-rtlnn of the rabbit-ridden communUy (tha*; has heen) will bo pleased to note that I have at last obtained some return for my labour and outlay.

H is now nearly five years sinco I Drat wrote you on tho subject Of my rabbit specific. It has done good work since then, and might, I think, have done more. However, I can assure you that the results of my cminpr before tbe public in conferring a great Colonial benefit have proved anything but a source for self-congratulation.— I am, &c.,

J. W. Ratmond.

Invorcargill, January 17.