OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

Otago Witness, Issue 1885, 6 January 1888, Page 7

OUR CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL BUDGET.

(From Our Special Agricultural Correspondent.)

Christchurch, December 31. The Weather anil the Crops.

Up to three weeks ago it seemed as if the winter were never going to end. Cold, wet weather prevailed, only broken by an occasional seasonable day. This is our fourth week of continuous fine weather, and the growth that crops of all kinds have made during that time is marvellous. They are still somewhat backward, but if progress is equally rapid for another fortnight there will bo little visible trace of the ungenial spring. Wheat will bo a good crop on light land, and where it was sown early ; and as these qualifications apply to by far the larger part of the Canterbury farming area, our farmers generally have a good harvest prospect before them. Oats are nearly everywhere looking well, and some that are being cut for hay are exceptionally heavy. Barley is only being grown in small patches, but promises well. On low, heavy land tho crops are not looking so well, and in some patches havo failed altogether. Turnips wpuld be the better for a shower or two, and complaints have already been heard of blight showing itself. Potato planting is finished, a much smaller area being planted than was the case last year. The old crop is nearly disposed of, but at such prices as havo barely paid for lifting and delivering. Those growers were best off who were able to get store pigs at reasonable prices to feed them off. A splendid crop of hay has been secured in prime conditionduring the fine weather, which sot in just as farmers had almost made up their minds to resort to ensilage. Consequently the now system will not have so many patrons as was expected.

Tlic Wool Season.

The fine weather has enabled good progress to be made with shearing. Farm sheep are nearly all shorn, and several of the early stations are " cut out." There has been no trouble with tho union. A few employers would not engage unionists, but as a rule shearers were engaged on their merits, and the union entirely ignored. Canvassers are travelling the country beating up members and subscriptions, and claim to bo securing almost unanimous adherence, though it is hard to see what advantages are gained by members of the union. One of the canvassers got into trouble at Amberley lately. In the course of his travels he called at a station, and went through the usual form of asking' for " a place on, the board." The board being full the traveller asked leave to stop for the night, wnioft was granted, though.

the town is not far distant. Subsequently it came to the owner's knowledge that the man was a union canvasser, and he was ordered off the station, and, refusing to go, the constable was sent for. When the constable came the traveller had thought better of it, and was on the high road, but he was proceeded against and fined £1 and costs for trespass. The recovery in the wool market came very opportunely for the farmers, and they are getting £1 to £2 a bale more than most of them expected for their wool. The clip is very light this year. Most of the,cros. cbreds are well grown and of good colour, but a great deal of the merino that has reached town is tender, and the colour has been affected by the wet winter, which is also responsible for the average weight of the fleeces being 5 to 10 per cent, less than usual. The sales on December 19 and 20 passed off very successfully, nearly every lob being sold. Crossbreds still form the principal part of the catalogues. Prices were as under :— Grensy merino, superior, 9d to 9}d per lb. Greasy merino, medium to good, 7jA to Bjd per lb. Greasy halfbred, superior, 9£d to lojd per lb. Greasy halfbred, medium to good, 8d to 9d per lb. Greasy crossbred, superior, 9a to 9|d per lb. Greasy crossbred, medium to good, 7d to B§d per lb. Greasy longwool, superior, 7Jd to 8d per lb. Greasy longwool, medium to good, 6§d to 7d per lb.

Grain.

Very few transactions in wheat are taking place locally, and the current quotation of 3s to 3s 2d for best qualities is almost nominal. The stock is being shipped to London, as it is seen there is a surplus after providing for our requirements until harvest. Oats are being largely shipped to Sydney ; the best lots are worth Is Sd to Is lOd f.o.b.

Dairy Produce,

Prices continue extremely low, butter (export quality) being quoted at 4d to 6d per lb, cheese 3d to 4d. A few lots of butter and cheese are being made up for shipment to London, but very little is of sufficiently good quality for that purpose.

Live Stock.

There was never a time when live stock were in better condition than they are at present. The Christmas beof and mutton were simply wonderful, especially when it is considered that all of it was purely grassfed. Crossbred sheep weighing, dressed, 1201b to 1301b, and merino wethers up to 1001b, were to be seen in several of the shops. At the Christmas markets at Addington, steers and heifers sold up to £10 10s ; Hampshire cross wethers up to 18s Gd ; crossbred wethers (two-tooths), 17s ; merino wethers, 13s 6d— all high figures, but which, viewed by the light of the cutting up, were certainly not dear. A heifer bought for £8 15s, for instance, weighed, dressed, over 12001b. Cattle and sheep are both dull just now, and the former will be still lower before long. Present quotations are : Good to extra beef, 16s to 18s ; middling, 14s to 15* per 1001b ; inferior, auy price. Prime crossbred and merino mutton, l#d per 1b ; middling to good, Id to l£d per lb. Good to prime lambs, 6s to 8s fid. Pigs of all sorts are very dear — weaners, 8s to 12s ; stores, 14s to 20s ; and porkers, 17s to 30s. The high prices brought down a large shipment from Napier to last Wednesday week's market.

Rabbits.

It has transpired that a rabbit fence on the southern boundary of Canterbury has been authorised, and the material will shortly be on the spot. The report and recommendations of the Joint Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association and Chamber of Commerce place the matter clearly before the public, and the speakers at the public meeting on December 14 were generally in accord with the views expressed by the committee. The Parliamentary Committee.; recommendations are very similar to those of the Christchurch Joint Committee, and it is to be hoped that the Government will take active stops to cope with the post, especially on the Crown lands, which, appear to bo everywhere strongholds of tho rabbits.

The California!! Thistle.

This worst of weeds seems to have gained a footing in a great many places. The Agricultural and Pastoral Association collected a quantity, and advertised that farmers could have samples upon application for the purpose of identification. The result was that many thistles which had been regarded with suspicion were found to bo the Califomian variety. It is to be regretted that Mr T. Mackenzie's bill dealing with the weed did not pass. As matters stand at present it is evidently often allowed to become established from ignorance of its nature.

Very little anxiety is caused by the outbreaks of scab in the North. The infected flocks are completely isolated, and the disease has evidently boon preserved by sheep ift some of the rough, inaccessible country. These wild sheep arc being hunted for, 'as they are a source of danger to the adjacent runs.

Horse's.

The sale of Mr George King's horses on the 15th inst. showed to what a low ebb the horse market bus fallen. Ont of about GO lots only about a dozen were sold. A pair of brood mares by Sir Colin Campbell brought 72£gs ; two others at 30gs each ; unbroken geldings, two and three years old, lOgs to 20gs ; ponies, 8-£gs to lOgs. The weekly sales have been poorly supplied for some time, and prices hiiva been low and. irregular.

11 r John Grigg's shipment per Bucephalus to Calcutta has been partly sold at satisfactory prices, but at latest advices some were still on hand. ♦

The Old Year.

The end of the year finds everything ia a very quiet state. Very few farm or station properties have changed hands during the year, and the domand is so slight that very few are in the market, though a good many are known to be for sale — sometimes, unfortunately, by order of the mortgagees. Very few farmers or runholders have materially increased their capital by the year's operations, while a large proportion'' have gone backwards. There have been some great changes in the position of some of the stock, station, and produce ag«ocy houses, but they, end the year in a generally sound position/ Tho prospects of, the New Year are not ove^

bright. Wheat promises a very heavy yield, but prices are low, and there is a prospect of high rates of freight. Dairy produce is unsaleable except at nominal prices, and there eeems little chance of the favourable Home market being taken advantage of except by the factories. The position, therefore, is one of hope rather than confidence, and the general wish for " A Good New Year" is uttered very earnestly.