AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1974, 19 September 1889, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Considerable regret is felt (writes our Auckland correspondent on the sth) that the almost continuous run of ill luck which has befallen the New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company has at last culminated in its being necessary, through its accumulated losses, to consider the question of whether or not its operations should be further carried on. The original promoters have themselves borne the penalty of the disasters which have befallen the institution, in their contribution of £5C,000; so that the shareholders can scarcely recriminate that they were reckless with other people's money, inasmuch as they sink or swim with their fellow sufferers. No Auckland industry started with brighter hopes of success, Eome seven years ago, and perhaps none has been so persistently dogged by misfortunes, some within and some beyond the control of the management. It was hoped that the price of stock, in the Waikato more especially, would be permanently .raised and the values of country lands generally hardened. When the palatial freezing works were ready for operations, it was discovered that Anckland had not the necessary quantity of sheep for freezing, and the anticipated supply from Hawke's Bay was cut off by the establishment of rival works in that province. Many of the Waikato settlers have been compelled to sell the stock off their farms to pay their calls in the company, so that instead of its proving an aid to them, as all concerned fondly hoped, it has helped in ' that way to drag them down. The original scheme was a good one could it have been successfully carried out, and would have proved of great benefit to the pastoral and agricultural interests, which have languished through the low prices of mutton and beef. In addition to the mistake of erecting, expensive works, the company also committed the further blunder of making costly harbour reclamations without securing the legal right of sub-letting; the consequence is a steady drain for interest on comparatively idle and unprofitable lands.

A friend (writes "Bruni"'in the Austral" asian)' has been at the trouble to make some calculations relative to the number and value of the Tasmanian merino sheep sold in Sydney during the last [seven yearß. From this it appears that during the time named 15,216 stud merinos from the island colony have been sold in Sydney at the gross sum of £181,622. The averages have varied considerably, tbetendenoy being decidedly downwardn. In 1883 the average was £19 16s sd, in 1884 it was £14 17s lOd, in 1885 it was £13 Os sd. In 1886 there was a very serious drop, the average being £7 16s 3-i. In 1887 the average was £9 0s 6d, and in 1888 it rose to £10 13s 7d. This year the number of rams was larger than on any previous occasion, there being 3016 rams sold at an average of £7 16s lOd, wnioh iB just a trifle higher than 1886, the year of greatest depression. The reduction in price may be not altogether owing to any slackness in the demand for good sheep. Anyone going through Tasmanian rams sold in Melbourne last week must have noticed, if he had any knowledge of merino sheep, the inferior character of many of the animals offered for sale as stud sheep. In no way could they be called studs, and many careful breeders would not use them as flock rams. Such sheep are out of place at our great ram fairs, and their presence does injury to good sheep. Steam horse-cleaners are now in übo in America. At the Palmer House livery stables, Chicago, there may be seen any day (aays the Leader) two employes on either side of a horse undergoing his toilet— in stable parlance, "gettin* cleaned and curried." In exactly 40 seconds the animal is turned over to his keeper as bright as a new pin — not a speck of dirt nor a turned hair to be seen on bis sleek, shiny coaN In two hours' time no less than 150 horses, big and little, reoeive their daily cleanup, and are made ready to prance out into society. The cause of this revolution in the art of horse- cleaning, rubbing down and currying, all in one, iB a simple contrivance, a movable shaft at one end of which is a circular brush composed of fairly stiff bristles. The brush, which is run by steam, revolves many hundred times a minute, and is guided by the cleaner. Two of these cleaners operating with the brushes on one animal can accomplish more in a minute than can four men with the old brush and currycomb in 20 minutes. As soon as the brash touches the body of the horse the dirt and dead hair fly in all directions, and jt only needs a second " going-over " to have the animal in such a condition that a glove would not be soiled in rubbing over the hide. At first the horse appears frightened at the noise of the revolving shafts, but as soon as he feels the touch of the brush he edges up closer to the cleaner, and gives every indication of pleasure. The harder fcha pressure on the brush the harder will be the rubbing, of course, and when the sensation becomes uncomfortable the horee3 move away. In this way the cleaners are easily informed bow hard a rubbing the animal will stand.

Professor Wailey, addressing a meeting held under the auspices of the AntiVivisection Society in Edinburgh the other day, condemned the dishorning of- 1 young cattle and overstocking of the uddera of cows. He said it had been

argued that animals throve better after dishorning. In answer to that, he claimed to have the best means of knowing that for every tittle of advantage obtained an equal amount of loss was suffered by the wasting of the animal as the result of the operation. Other arguments usually Bet up in defence of dishorning were that it was the means of saving animals much pain from fractures, and that when dishorned they could be more readily and Bafely conveyed by rail or sea. Observations had show him that the proportion of;fraotured horns in animals — both home and foreign — by road, by rail, or by sea was not lin 1000. As to injuries being done to animals by their own kind, he held that a little care and watching might obviate this, and that at the ntmoßt limit the removing of a small portion at the tip of the horn would cure the animal of its pugnacious proclivities. The loss of a valuable merino ram is (says a Melbourne contemporary) reported from Willandra. The animal had been exhibited at the Hilston Pastoral Show and was being taken home when it got away and rushed into the river and was drowned. The animal has cost 500gs, and had taken the champion prize at the show.

What is to be the type of the Australian merino of the future? This is a question which is now agitating the minds of a large number of sheep-breeders, but unfortunately no reliable guide is offered by the decisions which have been arrived at any time during the last dozen years by judges at sheep shows. Time was when a sort of ffine wool oyclone set in, and only Bheep carrying wool aa fine as silk could be depended on to secure a prize in a high olasß competition. The black tipped Tasmanians had their day, and now the tide of fashion seems flowing strangely towards the wrinkled strong woolled Vermont- Australians. Such changing of opinions as to what particular qualities and characteristics should constitute a typical merino is to be deplored, and it is saying very little for the educational value of shows when it is patent to all observers that there is no standard of excellence toindicatewhat should be the aim of the breeders. Progress and im provements have undoubtedly taken place in our flookß during the last 10 or 20 years ; but there is a far greater variety of types than is deeirable or necessary. It may bo, however, that show judges are at length on the right track, and the Vermont Australian will be the sheep of the future. Recent experience at sheep bljowb seems to indicate a good time in store for this particular type of merino. The grand championships at Deliniquin, Corowa, and Melbourne have in quick Bucoes sion been secured by rams possessing a very large percentage of imported American blood. The Messrs M'Farland Bros., of Barooga, New South Wales, have certainly reason to feel proud of having secured the leading awards at such important Bhows as those mentioned with sheep of their own breeding. One ram has proved the dual winner at Deliniquin and Melbourne, a record very difficult to equal. — Leader.

Mr G, W, Griffin, American Consul at Sydney, briefly reports on the subject of mule breeding. He states that the almost total absence of the mule in the Australasian colonies has been the subject of much remark on the part of Amerioans visiting there, and Beveral attempts have recently been made to popularise thiß useful animal in various parts of the great island continent. Its good qualities for packing purposes are said to have just been discovered in the Northern Territory. A mule-breeding establishment has been! started by Messrs Tooker Bros,, at Leura station, near Rockhampton, Queensland. These gentlemen have secured the services of a purebred Spanish jack at a coßt of £157 103, and mules 17£ hands bigb have been produced. The value of the mule has long been fully appreciated by those accustomed to its übb. The Spanish colonies in North and South America employed it almost exclusively for climbing among the mountains in Chile, Peru, and Mexico, for which it is so well adapted. The Spanish colonists never travel with much fodder, and the mule and its father, the jack, suited them in being able to pick up a living on the plants in the mountainous countries. The use of the mule has given much satisfaction in California, where it is not only used as a pack animal, but for ploughing and reaping in the wheat fields. It is net claimed that the mule can do more work than the horse, but it can live on less and go longer without water, and stand more abuse, hence its suitability to mountainous districts ; but in a country like Australia it is probable that the horse and ox will always be preferred, and especially when large, strong Clydesdales and Clevelands can be purchased at the present low rates prevailing. The Secretary for Agriculture in Viotoria has (according to the Leader) received from Mr W. Derrick, of Romsey, a sample of condensed milk prepared by a new process. Mr Derrick simply condenses the milk by removing the water, leaving a residue of rich cream, which can be kept perfectly fresh for a fortnight in an ordinary vessel exposed to pure air. When required for use the consumer adds three partß water for one part of the condensed milk, and he at once obtains a rich and sweet milk, as fresh to the taste aB though it had ju»t been taken from the cow. By the treatment of milk in thiß manner a saving ia effected in freight, as the bulk is reduced, and the consumer is made independent of the retailer, and moreover will occupy the advantageous position of being able to do his own watering.