CURRENT TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1762, 29 August 1885, Page 14

CURRENT TOPICS.

Our Glenkeaich correspondent writes: — Owing'to the genial weather which we have experienced all through the winter, farm work generally is well forward, and ploughing nearly finished. Sowing has already been commenced by a few of the farmers, and should the present dry weather continue it will very soon become general. Notwithstanding the extremely low prices which are offered for grain, the cropping rage does not appear to abate, but rather the reverse, for lam of opinion that the area which will be sown in. grain this season will exceed the acreage under crop last year. Here, as in other parts' of the district, the cropping system is in vogue, find a large portion of the Greenvale Station itf taken up under this system. The rent amounts to one-fourth of the produce. Some say that it is a pity the runholders do not leave grain-growing to the farmers, but the land thus let is principally taken up by farmers, who find that it does not pay to take the substance out of their own land, when prices for grain are so miserably low, and therefore a means of employment and, perhaps, a profit, should prices improve, is opened up by means of the cropping system.

Our Tapanui correspondent writes; — "A good area has been seeded in dry situations. There is every indication of an early spring, as vegetation of all kinds is showing life, and fruit bushes art j« .putting forth tbeir leaves already.

It is'-to'Beved the Woodlands Dairy Factory Company' villbe in a position to begin operations on the lV* ot 9^k*' At a meeting of the promoters, held a {e \^/ A 8 S 0 ' was decided, after discussion, to g» Ye 4<i Ye*V c * gaN° n for milk, and to pay monthly.

To show that there is effect,'" 6 ?, 68 ? j» «<>p c kinds of poisoned grain, it is menti.'* 11 ?'* r** j farmer in Canterbury scattered 121b ot t **««©»e d wheat in one of his paddocks. Next day . picked up 500 dead sparrows, and this would probably not account for all that were poisoned, as many would fiy some distance before dropping.

Mr Robert Charters has sold his well-known Ayrshire bull, King of the Ring, to Messrs Fleming and Hedley, of Oamaru, who have purchased him for stud-farm in South Canterbury. King of the Ring is by the Laird, out of Jeannie. As a two-year-old, he took first prize at the Rivcrton Show and at the Invercargill Show, and was champion of the ring at the Taieri Show. We are not aware of the actual price at which King of the Ring exchanged owners, but we were told that it was the highest price yet given in New Zealand for a bull of the same age. Messrs Fleming and Hedley also purchased five picked Ayrshire heifers by the King out of prize-takers from Mr Charter's herd. The buyers are noted for the superiority .of their stock, and it speaks well fer this district that it should be able to supply stock suitable for Fleming and Hedley's stud-farm. — ■STaieri Advocate.

This is what the Sydney Mail says of some Otago horses :— There are at present in Fennelly's Bazaar three horses and two mares of the Clydesdale breed, which have been sent from New Zealand by the well-known breeder, the Hon. M. Holmes, of Otago. They will be exhibited and sold at the Metropolitan exhibition next month. The "leader" of the five is a two-year-old, named Sir William Jervois, a mas•sive dark bay, by Young Banker, a horse bred by Mr David Riddell, of Kilbowie, Scotland, which was imported to New Zealand by Mr Holmes. iSir WUliam's dam is the Victorian mare, Lass sOf (Sc-w»e, a well-known prizetaker. His sire also has a good show-record, and his pedigree, shape, and performances fully corroborate the statement that he has already won two second prizes at first-class shows'. There is a wellgrown yearling chestnut colt also by Young Banker ; and in the next stall there is shown Nugget, a two-year-old bay, bred by the Hon. H. Miller. The mares are Young Bell 1., by .young Banker, and Garnet, a black two-year-

old filly, also by Young Banker. The latter is of excellent quality, and has an unbeaten record as a prize-taker, five first prizes being to her credit.

There are many in this Colony who will regret to hear of the death of Mr Alexander Bowie, Mains of Kelly, whose name has for many years ranked next to that of Mr M'Combie, of Tillyfour, as a breeder of Aberdeen- Angus cattle. The Mains of Kelly herd of black polls was sold about a year ago in consequence of Mr Bowie's sons having emigrated to America. As a judge of cattle Mr Bowie had few equals in Great Britain.

Mr W. C. T. M'Master, of Wellington, New Zealand, has purchased from the Hon. Win. M'Culloch, Glenroy, two highly-bred young Bates bulls for use in his herd. The Australasian says : — All three are handsome bulls, and if they only arrive safe at Wellington, will do credit to the judgment of Mr M'Master, as well as to the breed and the breeders.