CURRENT TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1751, 13 June 1885, Page 19

CURRENT TOPICS.

Our Waikaka correspondent mentions that a farmer in that district secured 100 bushels oats per acre for 40 acres of land this season. The land had heen in turnips, eaten off by sheep, for two seasons previously, however.

Our Palmerston correspondent writes :— If com all appearances the area under crop this year will not be nearly so large as usual. The acreage of wheat will be extraordinarily small, The low prices ruling for grain are evidently having the effect of causing agriculturists to extend their operations in other directions than continual cropping. Nearly all farms now have a small flock of sheep as well as a dairy. In faot these are tbe only two sources from which farmers can draw any profit. Tbe breeding of hones or cattle will not pay. I notioe several farms have fallowing in hand ; that will give yon an idea of tbe drynesa of our winter. So dry is the ground that tbe heaps of " couch " grasß can be set fire to as they are gathered and will bum away at once.

Oar Wakatlpa correspondent writes:— The weather is about as mixed as the oldest resident can remember it ever to have been in this district. From bright beautiful shine, it changes to stormy and cloudy skies — best suited to tbe prevailing depression — and beat, cold, wet and sleet ; in faot every kind of weather seema to be striving for mastery. Taking it altogether, however, it is unfavourable to the farmer, though it gladdens tha heart of the miner. The gronnd is so wet that very little ploughing can be done, and in some instances harvesting has not yet been finished. The state of the weather may be guessed when it ia mentioned that harvesting operations have now been going on for six months, and are not finished, and that tbe fall-sown wheat is well advanced by the sjde of fields of uncut oats.

Our Winton correspondent writes:— l do not for many years remember the weather daring April acd to have been so tod as it bas be?n this year, and it has now been discovered that large quantities of grata have been very much damaged; and this, coupled with the low prices, bas proved disastrous to many farmers in this neighbourhood.

Our Lovell's Flat correspondent writes:- Farm era are now busily engaged ploughing and manuring the land for eiarly spring sawing. The land 1b in capital cond tlon for ploughing.

Our Australian neighbours have not only ro contend against the ravages of bunny and tbe small birds, but they bave also larger game in tbe shape of kangaroos, dingoes, &c, to deal with. As if this were not enough another pest has made its appearance in the Western district.' The Oamperdown Chronicle states that Mr William Matthews, grazier, of Kolora, ifeports the discovery in bis district of ifrbat be thirika will prove a greater curse to agriculturlats'than rabbits. The new pest is an animal fcaembling & rat bat somewhat smaller, though larger than a mtraaa, It burrow tbe same as

the rabbit, making a passage resembling tho hole mad^ by a snake. Those little animals have tackled a splendid hedge of whitethorn that Mr Alatthews has on his property, and which they bid fair to totally destroy. They have Buccesded in killing several trres. Their method of destruction is to burrow to the root, and to guaw it ju3t below the cuov/n. They do not leave off until the treos are completely severed, and they fall to tho ground as if cufc with an axe. He reports the peita to bo numerous in bis district and to bo increasing. — Nor is this all, for the Leader, in a re cint numbor, says: — "Dog->, both wild and tauis, are continuing tho r depredations in various parts of the country. Tha dingoes are very numerous in t.be mallee country, whore they aro making havoc among tbo sheep. It is roported that 500 dog ecalps aro now in the hands of tbe parties who have killed thsae animals in the malleo country on tho offer of the Vermin Board to pay £1 per head. Large numbers of eagles have put ia an appearance at Warra nooke, and are supposed to hive come from Riverina. Over 100 were shot at Warranooke station, and some bave been seen at Carr's Plains. Thoy are destructive to rabbits, but equally so to lamb 3. A white grub is causing great destruction in the pasture lands in the parishes of Wamon,OnditandTurkeith. Some hundreds of a'cre3 of grass have bean destroyed, and in many placaa tha ground presents the appearance of a ploughed fiald." These, together with the wretchedly Btnall yields and the prolonged droughts, are certainly a most substantial set off to tho slight uncertainty as to harvest weather which occasionally prevails in portions of Otago and Southland.

A large yield of potatoes (says the Laader) is reported as having been obtained from a farm of 24 acres rented from M'wrs Manifold, near Camperdown. A total of 350 tons of the tubors were harvested, and th^ae boing disposed of at £2 per ton delivered at the railwaystation, gave the grower some £700 for his season's labour,

There is every probability that the price of whoat in this Colony will improve before very long, and through causes not in any way con nected with the state hi the Loudon market. While it must be admitted that there in always some difficulty in obtaining 1 accurate information as to tha exact quantity of grain held in any particular country, a very fair idea can be formed from statistics that are carefully gleaned, and judging from tbe statistical returns ot South Australia ib is evident that the exportable surplus of that Colony has been, or" will very shortly be, exceeded, and in consequence of this prices have hardened in Melbourne, at which latter place there is cot a very largo (if any) surplus. Melbourne calculates oa being called npoa to supply Adelaide with wheat, and this fact has bardenend prices there. Even although the exportable surplus in both Colonies ba3 been reached, they cannot desist from shipping, as orders in band must b ■ fulfilled. It is plain, therefore, that if Bupplies run short in both Melbourne and Adelaide, wheat must rise in Sydney also, and New Zealand will be called on to, make up tbe deficiency. It is yet a long time till next harvest comes round, and the price of wheat in Now Zealand, which at the present time is anything but reassuring to growers, may take a turn thaS will comuderably brighten the prospects of holders. — North Otago Times.

The Otakarama Estate, which adjoins this township, and tho property of the late Mr Hugh M'lntyrp, has lately changed bands — the price being, I believe, 25? per acre. The new proprietors (Messrs Rutherford Bros., from Amuri, Canterbury) have already received an offer of £1500 on their bargain, which they are now considering, but in the meantime men are busily engaged repairing the old homestead and building a woohhed and outhouses. I learn that all tbe land fronting the railway between Pukerau and Oi L akaram» is to be put under cultivation, thus giving a cb^oce to Borne of our contract ploughmen. — Pukerau correspondent Southland Times.

While graziers are congratulating tbemselvoa on experiencing such fine weather for stock, thoae who have seed to put in the ground are grumbling because there is no rain. The soil, and more especially that of a rioh tarry description, bas been baked so hard that it is ploughed with the greatest difficulty, aud in some instances cannot be ploughed at all. Unless we have rain soon, extra home power will have to be put on, or the land left in its present state. — North Otago Times.

Tho report of the medical officer of health for tha port of London shows (says the Globe) that during 18S4 tho imports of frozen meat amounted to the enormous quantity of 619,321 sheep aud 115,377 quarters of beef. Most of these supplies arrived in "magnificent condition," but in some instances great deterioration had taken place during the voyage, involving heavy loss to the importern, One ship, which arrived in August, bad 2279 quarters of beef destroyed out of a total freight of 2289 quarters ; but thia proportion spßmß to have been altogether exceptional. When meat is ordered to be destroyed it is sold for boiling-down purpoßeß, the process being carried out under official supervision, to prevent any finding its way into the market. The prices obtained genorally leave»a small balance for tbe consignees after all expenses are paid, but this goes only a vary nnall way towards covering the loss. On tha .vb>>!e, however, this important trade has now reached a reasonably safe condition, thanks to the knowledge gained through repeated failures of the best way of maintaining the requisite degree of temperature in tbe storage chambers on board ship. It is noticeable that while the imports from Russia and the United States show a tendency to fall off, those from Australia, New Zealand, and the River Plate are increasing prodigiously. During the firßt quarter of last year only 99,537 carcasses of Bheep entered the port of London from these countries, but in tbe last quarter the number was 168,104,

Although the Land Act only permits 100,000 acres to be set apart for special settlement purposes, tbe applications for such settlements already received would require 250,000 acro9 to meet them. The Minister of Lands, in tbe Consolidated Lands Bill which he intends to introduce (Bays the Post), will ask Parliament to s anction a large extension of the special settlement area.

With reference to the telegram announcing the proposed winding up of the New Zealand Grain Agency Company, the Lyttelton Times has been informed that at the general meeting, which was held in London last we?]-. the directors recommended that the busiiu'n? should bo gradually liquidated, and the assets divided among the shareholders. After three yoars' experience the directors have arrived ac the conclusion th»t New Zealand doss not offer a profitable fiald for the carrying on oi a grain business by a joint-stock company, althouph they can v/ell understand that such a business can be successfully conducted by a private firm.

The official returns of the late harvest in South Australia do'n'ot tell a very encouraging tale. Thoy are far short of the general estimate. The aoreage reaped is set down at 1,942,453 acres— -a much larger area than has ever been previously reaped—and tbe average

yield per acre at only 7 bushels 32!b, or 24b per acre less than the season 1883 4. Tbe total yield ia given at 14,621,755 bushels, against 14,149,230 bushels for the previous season. So, notwithstanding iacreased aoreage and a better season, the production shows a failing-off of 27,475 bushels. There are grave doubts, howevur, as to the accuracy of the official returns. The Colony has already exported more than 9 000,000 bushels, and in another week's time the amount will h-we reached 700,000 bushsls more. Adding to thia a reserve of 2.000,000 bushels for seed and 1,700,000 bushels fur food, the total produce already dealt with will amount to 13,400,000 buabels, or within a million and a' quarter buohelo of the großß yield a3 represented by the' Govemmont returns. So much doubt bas been throw upon tho accuracy of tha returns that the question ia very naturally being a3ked : Should £500 a year continue to be spent in tho collection of Btatsßticii which cannol be relied on, and which come out too late to serve any useful purpose.

There ia now no doubt (writes our Australian correspondent) that the dreaded phylloxera has broken oat at Camden, New South Wales, and that tho disease has existed there for some time. The Victorian Government have prohibited the introduction of grapes, vines, and cuttings from New South Wales. It has been noted that both in "Victoria and in New South Wales the scourge made its appearance in tbe oldest vineyai ds of each Colony. This, it has been pointed out, may support a theory which has been broached in France— that the vines attacked by the disease are those whose constitutional vigour has been greatly impaired by incessant reproduotion from an old stock. Mr C. Moore, curator of the Sydney Botanio Gardens, has been appointed to represent New South Wales on the board to inquire "into the propriety of allowing vines to be planted ia the Geelong district. Mr Thomas Hardy, of Bankaide, represents South Australia, and the Victoriau membsrs are Messrs J. Bosisto, J. Harris, L. L. Smith, John Davieu, and C. Craiko When the phylloxera was discovered in the Geelong district, the eneigetic efforts to stamp out the pest were successful, for none of the nsigh bouring districts have been affected. The sister States offered to share the expense ; their contributions were accepted, and consequently Victoria is now in tha poaition of being able in her turn to press New South Wales to be thorough in the work of eradication, offering at the same time to bear a portion of the cost. ' It has been shown at the Barrabool Hills that phylloxera can be stamped out. New South Wale 3 may therefore enter on the work with confidence.

Mr Herman Schmidt writes to the Economist as follows: — "I maintain that it ia the depreciation of silver by 20 per cent that principally enabled India to compete during the last four years in the London wheat market. This may ba a mistaken opinion, but as far as I have been able to ascertain it is shared by many Indian merchants. It is just because inversely it is thought that a serious rise in the Indian exchange would stop the wheat exports that such a contingency would be looked upon with disfavour in some quarters. The fact of India's exports of wheat having fallen off during the laat year rather confirms my theory than otherwise. Cceteris paribus, these exports would have continued to expand ; bub what do we find to be th 9 case ? viz. — Prioa of CalcuUo, wheat, March 1884, 35}' to 35a 63; do. do., 1885 32s fco 335 ; fall, 8 per ceit. Price of silver, 1884, 51d; do. do,, 1885, 49 J ; LJI, 4 per cent. From these figures it is evident that wheat has fallen more than silver, and hanpe thn diminution of tho wheat exports of India. I think there is littilo doubt that theae would increase again shou'd silver fall below 47d, so as to more than utu traliße the fall in wheat. . . , The farmers of America know tha impr»rtanc3 of the silver question ever since, a few years ago, Indian wheat broke the Chicago oornor.

An importation of valuable horses for Melbourne are spoken of in the following terms liy a contemporary : — They are four in number,' comprising two carriage stallions, a Clydesdale, and one of the celebrated breed kown as "shire horses." The lattsr is a magnificent animal rising six years old, and waa a successful piizataker in the Old Country, carrying off the champion cup of England in his class two years in succession. As a proof of this particular animaJ'a value in the market, it may bo meu tioned that an offer of 1200 guineas waa refused for him about twelve months back. His hairylegged companion, who occupies tha next apartment, is another grand specimen of tha Olydpsdalo draught breed. He ia riaiug two years old, and bns grown in bulk considerably on his passage. The carriage stallions are purebred, and splendid animals of their class. Tho whole have a fine pedigree, which is fully sot forth in the English stud books. The horaes were shipped to tho order of Mr Charles Burton, of Bourke street, Melbourne, who intends using them for stud purposes, and they should prove a valuablo addition to the equine stock of the sister Colony. Tho ruiim *la are in the pink of condition, considering tho rough nature of the trip. This is duo in a groat measure to the attention and caro devoted to them on the voyage by Mr F. A. Rickerby, in whose charge the borsea were entrusted, and Captain Dulling cannot speak in too high terms of the valuable assistance l-*«' 'urn by this gentleman in preserving them f i- im injury. Tbe horßeß are comfortably boused on deck in larpe, roomy, watertight boxf>B. Mr Riokerby having adopted the idea of allowing the animals to have their heads loose after they had acquired their sea legs, a plan which has answered admirably. They are well worthy of a visit from equine fanciers,

The business of fruit drying is likely fco receive an impulse from the introduction into South Australia of a new fruit evaporator imported by Mr A. O. Chambers. At the invitation of Mr Leonard Browne, of Buckland Park, a party recently assembled tbare to see it at work, and the Register thus describes it :— " The machine, briefly described, consists of a fire-box of furnaces to generate hot air, and a long box fitted with wire traya to hold the fruit. The furnace is made of sheet-iron, about 2ft, Gin x 2in, 3fl G : n b gh, fittqd with a pipci t.o carrj 1 off the smoke. The fire is covered over in a (suitable manner, so that the hot air only (without smoke) is radiated from the upper parts, and carried up to the long box that contains the fruit. The box is about 10ft long, 2ft Sin wide, and 18in deep, and is fitted with runners inside, upon which travel the

• •■r,' trays. Qao end nf the box projects over thti iiro-box, so that the heated air ascends and travels up the long box, thus evaporating the moisture in the fruit on' tho wire trays. At tho trial apples, poa.rs, quinces, raisins, and figs v/ero dried with great success. About two hours ir, sufficient to prepare them for packing away in a mirketablo condition. It waa stated that the evaporator had boon tried with success upon all sorts of vegotablos—potatoes, bsans, pease, &o, These when dried, after being Roaked in water for a short time, recovered their ordinary proportions, and suffered no loss of flavour. The fruit dried at the'trial has been submitted to tbe inspection '6f some of our leading provision merchants, and has been pronounced by them to be a good marketable

article. The strong points of this evaporator are that it is comparatively small and portable and simple. Mr Chambers ia manufacturing them."

A working dairy is becoming a regular institution at the principal agricultural shown in Great Britain. A1; the Brighton show of the Bath aud West of England Society, one of the3o will ba exhibited, and the following processes will be illustrated :— l, testing of milk ; 2, separation of cream from milk ; 3, bultermaking, with explanations of the several points of the work 5 4, manufacture of soft chessec as practised oa the Continent j 5, making of Devonshire cream, and of butter made from it. In connection with dairying we note that action has been taken by the Cheshire Dairy Farmers' Association to give effect to a proposal to establish a dairy school and farm of instruction for Cheshire. The AsMooiatioa's secretary, Mr WilHa, proposed that the institution should consist of a farm containing from 100 to 200 acres, and that the instruction to be given should comprise indoor dairy practice and outdoor dairy farming. The indoor department was to include praotioal instruction in the management of milk and crsam, and the manufacture of cheese and butter according to the beat methods practised. A suitable library waa to be provided for tho students, aho lectures ; and awards were to be granted to successful pupils who passed an examination in the principles and practice of dairy work. In the outdoor department, whose object would be the training of young men in the principles and practice of dairy farming, special instruction was to be given in keeping farm accounts, selecting dairy stock, and the manufacturing of choose, butter, &o. The scheme mot with warm approval, and stepa will doubtless be taken to give it effect.