AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1897, 12 June 1890, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Mr G. G. Morton, the president of the Ballarar, Agricultural and Pastoral Society, has received a communication from Mr o\ Marlborough, New Zealand, in which he stages that he has prepared and patented a composition paste, which ban been found thoroughly effective in suppressing the rabbit pesfc in districts where it has been tried. Hf° is willing to send a man over to Viotoria at his own expense on condition that the land owner or council or society employing him for the trial pay him 30s per week and t»oard tim for a period s-uffiuient to test the efficiency of his method. If the employing parties were then satisfied, they were to pay £20 per annum to have their land kept clear of rabbits. Mr Morton intends bringing the offer under the notice of the Minister of Agri-

culture and the chief rabbit inspector, with the view of a trial beiug arranged by the department, but failing in the endeavour Mr Morton will probably act in the matter himself. It seems' rather singular that Mr Stavely should have to go to Victoria to try his composition. There is no lack of rabbits in Now Zealand.

The Gear Meat Co., Wellington, have declared an interim dividend for the half year at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum.

A Fairlie Creek correspondent writes: — " All the wheat has been sown hereabouts, and the first sown is up and green. We make a point of getting ours in by the end of tho first week in May. We have been getting most phenomenal weather this week — as mild as November — aud the ground is aa hard and dry as in midsummer."

Many parts of Ofcago are unexcelled for the growth of lint, and trials of this crop have shown that the only desideratum lacking was a steady market Mr Singer's mill partially providad this, and the taking over of the manufacture by the New Zealand Drug Company has materially enhanced tha demand. For the coming Beason the company aro offering such liberal terms as will in all probability induce a j'bod stretoh to be put down in this crop. Not only do the company offer to take any quantity of seed at 5s per bushel of 561b, but they further offer a bonus of 3d per bu3bel for 200 bushel lots, 4d for 400, 5d for 800, and 6J for 1000 bushels and over. They further offer three silver trophies for the best and largest lots delivered before June 30, 1891.

It is very probable that in the future England will draw large supplies of bacon from Russia. The first consignment arrived in Lindon in Maroh last, having been Hent from the Imperial Government factory at Griaza. The bacon is mild cured, and it is said to be of a quality about midway between tho American and Canadian on the one hand and the best English sorts on tho other,

At a recent meeting of the Irish Industrial League, Canon Hegarty, of Cork, made the following interesting statement :— On threequarters of a statute acre flax was grown which made £9 10s. This was immediately suocoeded by a crop of jturnips, which sold for £7 10s. Thus, from March to December of one year the produce of three-quarters of an aore yielded £17, or nearly £23 per statute acre. A Waitahuna settler is said to have succeeded in producing a new variety of tuber, pinkish white in colour, thin in the skin, and upon trial proved to be excellent in flavour.

The Port Augusta ostrich farm is in a very flourishing condition. The Melbourne Leader says that there are now 700 ostriches on the farm, and they are remarkably healthy, their value being set down at £14,000. It ia anticipated that the yield of feathers this season will be worth £2 par head. The rabbit question coma up for discussion at the last meeting of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club, From the Tuapeha Times' report we learn that Mr Livingston brought under the notice of the club the desirability and feasibility of profitably utilising the vast number of rabbits that were being destroyed annually for their skins only, leaving their caroasses to rot and foul the atmosphere, when they could be made a source of profit and the means of employing a larger amount of labour than at present. He thought it was desirable that the Waitahuna district should co-operate with Lawrence and Tuapeka West with the objeot of forming a rabbit and mutton preserving faotory. Such a faotory would be of great benefit to the various districts, and would be one of the most effective means of destroying the rabbit pest. The rabbits were making bo many holes in the ground that it waa useless to try and destroy them with dogs. He might state that he noticed from a price list forwarded to him from London that tinned rabbits were fetching more per pound than either tinned or frozen mutton, and he felt assured that a faotory would prove a profitable investment. He would therefore move — " That the seoretary be instructed to write to the Tuapeka West Farmers' Union asking if they would co operate with the Waitahuna Farmers' Club in convening a public meeting to be held in Lawrenoe for the purpose of forming a company to establish a rabbit and mutton preserving factory." Mr Craig seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Sydney Mail says that the Wagga board of sheep directors has deoided to ask the members of the Assembly for the district to request the Government to take steps quickly to have the vacoine for anthrax introduced before the season is too far advanced.

The Melbourne Leader advooates the passing of a stock tax to shut out New South Wales and Queensland cattle and an increase on the duty on butter to shut out the New South Wales and New Zealand article. Poor Victoria, it is very hard to have to bo always kicking against the prioke. Far better to face the inevitable, induce the farmers to turn their attention to fruit-growing and wine-making, and allow colonies adapted to dairying to supply cheap butter to her long suffering people. This is our contemporary's despairing cry:— "A stock tax in particular Bhould be urged, and there is another matter in reference to tho dairying industry demanding attenti n — viz., the duty on buttor. If some member will only oall for a return of the quantity of butter imported into this colony during the past Hummer, we vanture to think that tho information would cause no little sensation in the country. The quantity of butter that hag lately booa corning into Melbourne from Sydney and N^w Zoaland is simply enormous. There aro few who have t>ny idea of the magnitude) of thicj trade in imported butter. Our dairy farmor3 have certainly no conception of the way they are being treated, and it is very desirable that thoy ehguld 1)3 enlighranc-d on the matter. Tho bonuses which are offered for the encouragement of agricultural industries are oertainly liberal, but our farmers will be blind to thair own interests if they accept these in preference to an unjust tariff, In a protected colony like Victoria the farming industry can never be fostered permanently by any such devices, and the sooner we acknowledge the fact the better. But our farmers may rest assured that unless they hold meetings and agitate for the reforms required the present anomalous state of affairs will remain."

Queensland is about to push her interests in the IJome froKsn meat market, Messrs B. D, Morehead and Co., of Brisbane, have just received a cable message from their agents intimating that a scheme is now mooted for the establishment of a large freezing company to export beef and mutton to Eurepa. Preliminary arrangements of a very satisfactory nature have be°n made in regard to placing the frcz9n carcasee? on the nvrket, and a first-class shipping service has been promised in connection with them.

N -(thing Omya the Melbourne Weakly Times) opins up a country so quickly as well-made roa'fs, Thore are many reasons why the people, particularly in newly sattlad distriots, should not only be in favour of good roads, but should aa well bo lock into andupon the matter as to thoroughly advise themselves of the'r economic advautages. In those days of keen competition time is money ; and time wasted in going to town with a load, or going anywhere for that matter, where one wastes it both for himself and team is loss of money. In the effort to make both enda meet, in attempt'

ing to make a living and a profit, everything must be husbanded, and time is one of the items most apt to be wasted. Good roads is one of the desideratums of the day; the diffi culty is to get the farmowners to see it. Good roads in and around every town would prove the most valuable investment ever made. An important shipment of stud merinos ia (writes " Bruni " in the Australasian) expected to arrive in Melbourne within a few weeks. The shipment consists of 12 rams and six ewes, sent by that well-known breeder of merinos, Herr Allo Steiger. of Leutewitz, and six rams Bent by Herr R. Gadgast, of Thai. The last importation from the world-renowned flock of Herr Steigor was to the order of the Hon. F. W. Grubb, Benyeo, and his brother, Mr Charles B. Grubb, of Strathroy, Tasmania. These gentlemen saw the splendid fleeces exhibited by Herr Steiger at the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition, and were so much taken with them that they telegraphed to the owner and purchased them at his price, without having seen the animals. I have since heard from Messrs Grubb that they are well pleased with their bargain. The she.ip to arrive shortly will be entrusted to tho Cire of Mr L. Broymann. They will probably bo sont to Sydney to p.\ss through quarantine in that oity. Particulars, practically important tn growera and shippers of new potatoes to England, are given in a letter to the Taarnanian, by Mr J. 0. Harris, of Hobart. A small trial shipment of five cased of the old ashleaf kidney was sent from Scottpdale to London this year. They were dug during the last week in December, just a little over-ripo, as it proved. For packing, apple oases with close joins were provided, and these were Jived with paper. The layers of potatoes were separated from one another by sheets of paper, and the lids closely fastened down. Shipped from Launceaton tha first week in January, they wera transferred direct to R.M S. Victoria, at Williamstown, and placed in the cool room, in which the ship's stores are carrisd. They reached London the second we?k in March From letters received by last mail it appears that the potatoes arrived in a sound condition, but would have been too late by several weeks to catch the best market, as Jersey and the Canary Islands are able to begin supplying Covent Garden in March. The potatoes are said to have had a " sweety taste " when cooked, arising possibly from their being a little over-ripo. Three of the cases were sonfc to Oovent Garden, in order that their market value might be settled, and these were sold at 10s per case. That potatoes can, therefore, be successfully sent from here is clear, but those who embark in the enterprise will observe— l. That the favourite sorts are kidneys. 2 That in size the potatoes sent should be quite small, say about the sizo of a pigeon's egg. 3. That the shipments should arrive early in February. Mr Harris adds that the success of the shipment was largely due to the intervention of Messrs Ghas. Smith and Co., who carried out the arrangements with great interest. The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society have made a new departure in drawing up the prize list for this year's sheep show. A new prize has been added to the list which should result in a very interesting competition. The prize is for the scoured fleece of the highest value from merino rams that have been shorn at the society's show in 1890, and again shorn in 1891, when the real contest will take place. The rams must be under one year and a-half at the time of entry. After being shorn and branded the society will take charge of the competing animals for the ensuing 12 months. Before the competitors are shorn at the Bhow of 1890 they will be inspected by not less than three of the judges, who will be instructed to disqualify any ram not considered suitable for stud purposes. At the show of 1891 the sheep will be shorn during the sheep show, and the fleeces will be forwarded to Messrs Goldsbrougb, Mort, and Co., for the purpose of being weighed, scoured, and valued. The prize (£25) will be awarded to the fleece of the highest value. An entry fee of £5 5a will be charged, and if there are not five entries there will be no competition. If there are more than five entries the prize will be increased in proportion. The competing rams must be purely grass fed, The Queensland Govarnment working dairy, with its Btaff of teachers, has been racently doing good service atS.tanthorpe, and other parts close to the northern border of New South Wales. Farmers Eent in milk to the dairy, and assembled to see the demonstrators make it into oheese or butter. The mail steamer Viotoria, which left Sydney a fortnight ago for London, has on board 7000 carcasses of frozen meat, which, when added to former shipments, make the export for this year about 100,000 carcasses of frozen mutton. The Sydney Mail says It ia evident from this and other developments that the Australasian trade in the export of meat is likely to soon reaj& large dimensions. THE DIGGER PLOUGH. There was an exhibition trial of a Reid and Gray digging plough on the 4th inst at the farm of Mr H. M'Lean, near Gore, The Mataura Ensign states thai: there was a fair qttendanpe of farmers, and the trial was a srecessful one. The plough worked on stubble only, and completely pulverised the soil, covering all growths, and leaving the ground ready for the drill. So satisfied was the owner of the land with results aohiovetl that he bought the plough. No lea land was available to test the plough, but most sati factory reports are to hand from others who navo used it; and found that it could do excellent work when there wa? a thick matting which had to be placed " linger the sod. 1 ' Tog ordinary double-furrow ploughs enn be converted iuto diggers at a small cost and used in either capacity. A DIGGER PLOUGH TRIAL IN SOUTHLAND. The Southland Times gives tho followipg particulars of a trial of Messrs Reid and Gray's and the Howard digger plough, held at Mr John Russell's farm, West Plains, on Tnursday last : — " At a distance of a few yards as they worked across the paddock there was nothing to distinguish them from the ordinary doublefurrow except tho absence of the revolving coulters. When they were unearthed for inspection it was seen that the places of these coulters were taken by miniature ploughs similar to those in use on subsoilers, and those of the long narrow colonial mould boards by the short deep boards affected by Amerioan makers and fitted with a wing which assists in giving the land ploughed a ' dug ' appearance. The ploughs are exaotly alike except in point of detail, and_ their work wa? equally good with the exception that the Reid and Gray imploraont here and there left a little tuft of stubble uncovered ; thie, however, was not the fault of the plough, being dug to the fact that it had just come out of the workshop, and the soil clung to it, while the shares and mould boards of the _ Howard were burnished by ropeated exhibitions. The modus operandi is as follows : — The small share, working at a depth of about 2in, skims off the sole and throws it into the previous furrow, where the plough proper, following, covers it with a mass of finely pulverised soil to a depth that should be effectual in killing all undesirable vegetation and leaves the land in grand tilth, The soil in the pa,ddGok. ploughed

yesterday was a fine friable loam which scattered before the high mould boards like Band from a shovel, and walking over it was as tiresome as climbing a sandhill. That the soil was thoroughly disintegrated to a full depth was apparent, while the surface was exactly similar to tho work of a gang of spademan, The 'rig an' fur' of the ordinary plough has no place with the digger, and if these implements come into competition at future ploughing matches fresh standards of excellence will have to be set up. Both ploughs were drawn by teams of four good horses, and, although the draught did make them ' turn a hair,' they were not distressed, and as a matter of faot the cattle were soft after a Bpnll sir.oa harvest, whilo the day was very warm and calm. To summarise the opinions of those competent to pass judgment on the work — and there wore plenty of these present —it appeared that all were satisfied that the plough is a distinct gain. Some spoke with satis "action of the prospoots its uao hold out of er \licatinpr conch and sorrol (the former rapidly becoming a peat iv the district) by burying it in a style that tho ordinary plough conl.'l never Mtain ; others sp^ke approvingly of tho (i",a seed bad left ftud tho smooth surface, whica was equal to ona harrowing at least ; still more saw a pro^pact of drilling instead of sowing white crops bro doast after a course of digger plough with greater security for the Beed from small bird 1 ! and more equal growth and ripening of tho crop. All wore unanimous in the belief that for potato or turnip Had it was ' jist gran. Some tfould have liked to see how tho plough actud in stiff clay soil — certainly Mr Ruisoll's paddock was 'a very soft thing ' for a trial — but there swevned to be no reason to doubt that they would do as well comparatively iv any soil and that they would tuck away obnoxious weeds so that they would give no more troub'e. A f3w turns were taken by both implements in a lea paddock adjoining, the work done being equally satisfactory. Farraors havo bson solicitad ami badgered by makers and vendors of no many impro red tools that they are beginning to fight shy of every new thing, but the digger plough saem-i to ba an exception, as large numbers of both makes have been sold between Chriatchurch and Dunedin. Mr Gray, who with 'ha local manager of tho firm, Mr Affleck, waa on the ground yesterday, doeß not claim that there ia much originality in tha digger plough— indeed the action is like that of tho old single furrow with a skimmer — but it meets a demand that has arisen for an implement of the kind. Messrs Reid and Gray will convert any ordinary double-furrow plough into a digger for a few pounds, thus giving practically two implements in one. Messrs Howard also claim that their plough can be altered in a few minutes."