AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1900, 3 July 1890, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The Western Distriot Grain and Boot Show, held last week, proved fairly successful, The looal Star says :— " The entries were not very numerous, but the quality was first class. The weight of the first prize short oats (561b per bushel) has seldom been reaohed, and sparrowbills were 'close up at 541b. Turnips were also a first- class exhibit— probably a finer lot were never shown at one show in the colonies. There was also a first-class sample of onions. Almost every exhibit was good of its kind, and the judges must have had same difficulty in plaoing some of them in their relative positions." "Freehold," in the Australasian, says:— "There has been a remarkable increaaein the number of cream separators used in Victoria during the last two or three years. Not only have many butter factories come into existence, but the separator is being adopted in a large number o! private dairies. Some of tha factories have been astonishing the farmers by producing extra large quantities of butter from givon quantities of cream, while another^ gain of the separator is the increased quantity of cream which it obtains from the milk. All the discussion about the different systems of setting is direoted to obtaining the largeot quantity of cream from the milk. The separator obtains all the cream, and thus settles the question. 'I am going to get a separator,' said a dairyman to me recently, ' for I lose too much cream by the old setting process,' He went on to explain that in the warm weather the whole of the cream Beldom, rises, while when the nights are hot very little cream is obtained, In addition to the oream which is lost, that which is obtained is frequently in bad condition before it is skimmed. In any climate the separator is an improvement, but in Australia, where the weather is so hot and changeable, such a system of quickly securing the whole of the cream iB specially valuable. 7 ' This is how the Philadelphia Ledger deals with the eight-hours movement :■— " Some city man has discovered that in Turkey in the summer time men wotk from Bunrise to sunset. If be should go out on a farm in this country and Btay there for a while he might add the information that the farmers of this country do jußt the same as tho farmers of Turkey in the matter of working hours, and for the same reason, because they have limited time in which to plant, cultivate, and reap their orops. Eight-hour laws have no charms for the farmer here or elsewhere," Another attempt is about to be made to establish a milk condensing business m The live stook returns of the United States for the last year are (says an exchange) highlysuggestive, especially when taken in connection with the statistics of grain and other farm pro* ducts. That the country is passing through ft. time of serious agricultural depression cannot, ba doubted, but the present dull times differ from fcrmer occasions of the kind in an important particular. On former oooaßxons ham times resulted from over-prodaotion in oertain branches of agrioulture, and relief was found in devoting more attention to other branobes, but the present depression seems to extend to all tbeiraportant departments of the agricultural interest. Some time ago I pointed out that all the leading farm produots had reaohed a low value, and that there appeared to be no indications of a permanent improvement. Under ordinary oircumstanoes the advice would have been tendered, "Keep more live stock,", but, unfortunately, |there has been a falling off ia value in the case of oattle, horses, and pigs. Sheep are the only live stock wbioh do not Bhow a reduction in value. The fact that sheep continue to increase in value is probably owing to the unfavourableneßs of the climate of the country for this claBS of stook, The only hope of relief offered by the advisers of the American farmers is in the direotion of cultivating more of the special produots which are at present imported into the country. The fact that sheephave resisted the depression is specially important to A aatralia. A series of diagrams showing the results of different artificial manures, published in the Mark Lane Express, have shown, among othecthinga:—That contrary to the notions of many people, phosphate only for any orop is inadequate, and that farmers should abandon the use of superphosphate by itself. That nitrogen only should not be relied on for any crop. That phosphates and nitrogen together are more efficient for oorn crops than is generally imagined, and that artificial fertilisers used 'should furnish these two ingredients. For some Boils potash should also be added, Tbat for root orops fertilisers containing phosphates, nitrogen, and potash give muoh best repults. It iB shown that Scotland, sidering disadvantages of climate, gives the highest averages, and this is attributed to the proverbial heavy manuring there. With reference to the enhanced cost of wire netting, the Australasian saya:--"A widespread impression seem 3to prevail amongst tho farmers and fihiro councillors who have lately purchased wire netting, for the purpose of erecting rabbifc-proof fences, that the rise in tho prico of that article whioh has recently taken place is due to the existenca of a ring among the importers in Melbourne. This, however, in not the case, a«» the inorease is due to the rise which has takon place in the price of iron in Europe, and to the strike which occurred among tbo men omployed at the factories in Great Britain where the netting ia manufactured. The advance has also been contributed to ia ft measure by tha action oi

the Government in advanoing by way of loans over £100,000 in the course of a few weeks to the shire councils of the colony with whioh to purchaee wire nettiug for distribution among tho farmers and selectors. As a natural result, oounoils being eager to obtain the wire netting as Boon as possible, entered into spirited competition for the comparatively limited supply of that article in the local market, and owing ' to that great demand tho selling price was increased by the holders. It was tbe intention of the Government to advance this year to the Bbire counoils only about £50,000 out of the £150,000 voted by Parliament for the purchase of wire netting, but there have been bo many requests for loans out of that vote that it will be absorbed during this year. Prof esßor Wallace in his lengthy address at Edinburgh on Australian agriculture deals somewhat trenchantly with the primitive agricultural praotice pursued in the Australasian colonieß, where vhe cultivators have been drawing upon tho " native temporary fertility which has been accumulated in the sou m a state of nature, and paying little or no attention to rotation of crops, or to the renovation of land by the addition of manure," but adds that these practices were excusable, because the pioneers who went into the bush had to sacrifice many personal comforts. He remarks, that " for a time virgin land will endure this treatment without serious results, but the gradual diminution of the orop indicates in an unmistakeable manner that Booner or later a different system of management must be adopted. This is pretty muoh in the rough what has taken place in the ooloniea; some diatriota have been subjected to greater exhaustion than others ; and some, in virtue of greater natural fertility, are yet very far from being exhausted in the ordinary acceptation of the term. Yet the time is fast approaohing when the cultivated land which has beea longest under the plough will require to ba worked under systems which might be termed " modified British systems,' " acoording to the differing local conditions of soil, climate, and markete. Such a Bystem will only be brought about by education— not by intuition or inspiration. — Queenalander, The Amerioan Agriculturist ia greatly concerned about the agricultural depression now being experienced all through the Statea, and in a series of artioles from leading agricultural correspondents in a recent issue we gather that the price of all agricultural produce is below tho cost of production. In Missouri, maize "is being burnt for fuel," only selling for 7£dper bshel; oats, sdj beet, |d to fd per Ib: hay, 8s per ton. Speaking of the sparrow nuiaar ca, a oorreBpondent of the Field says :— "ln consequence of a note in your columns, I have lately tried one of Wyattfa (of Bristol) Bparrow traps, which in shape is like a large spittoon made of wicker work, and fin A itmosfsuooeßsful. It is placed where the poultry are feed, and six to eight sparrows are caught daily. I generally leave one hen sparrow in the trap as a decoy. When one considers that a single pair of sparrows will rear from eight to ten young one 3 during the next three months, these trapaseem to deserve a trial wherever sparrows are numetOUß." The Leader saya :— " An important consignxnent of American merino sheep has been brought out from England by the Bhip Port Caroline, but the importers have been very unfortunate in losing a number in transit. Out of a total of 213, no less than 84 were washed overboard during a violent gale in the Bay of Biscay. Five others aucoumbed from injuries received at the same time, but the remainder have been brought on in excellent order. Although originally intended for Victoria, the Bhipperß, on learning the stringent quarantine regulations existing here, altered the destination, and made arrangements with the abip to take them on to Sydney." Wigmore's rabbit exterminator, a recent invention, is attracting some attention in Victoria. In Bi'za and shape it is something like a garden watering pot, and does not weigh more than 171b. In the front of the chest, tubing of various lengths, and curved so as to Buit different kindß of rabbit warrens, can be attached, and on the opposite Bide provision is made for the insertion of the nozzle of a small pair of bellows, whereby the fumes of a preparation of sulphur and arsenic can be forced into the burrow which is being operated upon. The fumes are produced in the chest by the burning of the ohemicals named on a small fire of wood or coal. The fumigation kills all rabbits reached by it in three minutes. One of the Government inspectors under the Vermin Act, who witnessed a recent trial, considers that the combination of Bulpbur and arsenic is far more effective than carbon or other mixtures of the kind.

Commenting on Mr Brydone's recent letter on the results of his experiments iv the use of lime at Edendale, Mi Frederick Barkas, late lecturer on chemistry at the Lincoln Sohool of Agriculture, says:— "Lime of itself should hardly be called a manure, because in ordinary cases it adds very little to the fertile elements required in soil for plant growth. It merely aota as a chemical and mechanioal cultivator, and is useful only in sticky clay, sour swamp, and heavy bog land, to improve their oondition and bring into quick activity their dormant fertility. The natural fertility of any soil ia a limited quantity ; » every crop taken off and every head of stock grazed and sold oamos away some of this limited store of fertility. Unless these fertilising elements are restored \ to the soil by proper manuring, the larger the crops grown and the more head of stock fed on the land the quicker will the natural fertility of the soil be ueed up ; till tho final result is that both farmer and farm become too poor to carry on their business. Lime only beJpß to quicken this impoverishment. I f\m not surprised that Mr Brydone got so little satisfaction out of bone dust, for' this form of manure on wet, heavy land would have no perceptible effect on turvps sown with it. Bono duat, even when very fine, and applied under most favourable conditions on light open land, takes a Rood while to become availablo for supplying plants with nourishment, whereas if coarse, or applied to heavy clay land, it will remain unaltered and useless for years. By treating bones and guanos chemically they are converted into compounds known as superphosphates, which become, when applied to the land, immediately available to the plants whose growth it is wished to nourish. In conclusion, 1 would point out th«vt Hmo when put on the land either as slaked or quick lime noon becomes changed into carbonate of lime. Limestone, chalk marl, &c, are also chief! v composed of carbonate of lime. In North Otago and throughout tbe greater part of Canterbury limestone, in some form, is found iv the rock formations. These rocks ground down by tho wrather bavo formed our soils, and &3 a result the soils from Waiau to Waikouaiti are, with few exceptions, rich in carbonates of lira©. On the other hand, those soils are poor iv phoppbata of Hrae ana hydratod sulphate of lime, both of v/hicb are a great deal mnvo noce^sary tbtin carbonado of lime for the vigorous growth of turnips, &c. ; and therefore it is phospbato of lime and bydrated sulphato of lime which the pruaen* farmer should apply in manuring his land. Of all the manures at present obtainable, superphosphates and dissolved bonea contain m an

immediately available form the largest proportion of these most valuable compounds. Two or three hundredweights per acre of a suitable ohemioal manure, sown with turnips, will not only largely help to the growth of heavy crops, but will also enrich the soil." „.._-, Sir W. J. Clarke has recently had 44 Wolßeley sheep-shearing machines fitted up in the Boiinda ehedc The complete agricultural returns of Victoria, just issuod, show that the number of cultivated holdings has increased during the past year by 770, while the extent of land under tillage showa an increase of 62,520 acres. The area under wheat has decreased during the samo period by 38,458 aores, while oats and barley have increased respectively 38,978 and 7575 acres. Maize also shows an increased area of 2658 acres, Eye has decreased 20 acres, and peas and beans show the large decrease of 8438 aores. Potatoes Bhow an increase of 4065 -acres, while turnipß, mangelwurzel, beet, carrots, and onions have each slightly increased in area. The area under hay has increased by 40,214 acres, and green forage by 1904 aores. Artificial grasses Bhow the large decrease of 38,823 acres, while grasß and clover seedß appear to have increased to the extent of 1849 aores. Chicory has increased 81 aoreß ; hops 53 acres, while tobacco has decreased by 929 acres. The ares, under vines has increased during the year by 2527 aores, and gardens and orchards by 1710 acres. Land under fallow ahowß an increase of 47,594 aores. Turning now to the gross produce of each deßoriptkm of crop, it will ba observed that the yield of wheat shows an increase of 2,848,011 bimhelß, which is somewhat significant considering the reduced area under tillage oompared with the previous year. The gr >as produce *f oate also Bhows an increased yield of 2,841 067 bushels ; while the barley yield shows a total increase of 709,705 bushels. Ail ihe other crops appear to have yielded satisfactorily, while the hay crop shows the enormous increase of 358,268 tonß. The outlook for potato growers this season is not a good one. Raaent advices from Sydney state that there are now fully three months Bupply on hand, and that thousands of bagß were lying on the wharves in various stages of decay. The circular states that the quality of Tasmanian potatoes this year is worae than has ever been known before, and preference ib given to the New Zealand tubers, though complaint is made of their small size. The firm reporting says that if large cargoes continue to be sent there will be an utter collapse of the market, and "a repetition of some three seasons ago, when thousands of tons were lightered out into the sea." At the tune of writine it was estimated that there were 30,000 tons afloat, including what were known to be on the way from New Zealand. Prices range

from £2 15a to S3 12* 6d, but holders axe anxiouß to sell at almost any price. Under the heading " Duped Englishmen a Home paper says :— " A Daiziol telegram from Minneapolis, Minnesota, says : * The ci<y ia full of young Englishmen who have been lured to America to loam farming. After a few months of manual labour and coarse fare in the interior they flock to tfio city, glad to obtain employment of any kind, however menial. Theae youths are said to have paid premiums varying from £60 to £100 to London agents.'" The refusal to allow lumpy-jaw cattle to go into consumption aB human food ib oauaing gome stir in Illinoiß. The Illinois Board of Live Stock Commissioners and the inspectors of the Health department are at issue as to the disporal of such cattle. Tho oity authoritiea insist that all cattle thus affected shall be immediately shot in the pens into which they are unloaded, and their carcauses thoroughly impregnated with kerosene, thus destroying their value even for tanking purposes, while the commissioners wish to have them driven to the rendering tanks, where a certain value can be realised for them. The scare there has bad the deßired effect, as since action has been taken by the authorities not one lumpy bullock or oow comes to tho saleyards now where 50 üßed to be exposed for Tbe Mark Lane Express saya that an extraordinary case of cattle poisoning haß ocourred at Bourn. Mr BeDJamin Agre, farmer, was recommended to try a ohemioal solution to be used as a wash for bia stock. The ingredient was procured through an agent, about Jgal baing sent. Last week Mr Agre dressed the coats of four beasts, valued at about £70, diluting about a wincglassf ul of the solution with a couple of gallons of water. The solution was applied with a brush, the animals being rubbed down tbe centre of the back and on the Baddies. A day or two afterwards the beastß became very ill, and refußed to eat. Suspicions were then aroused, and oil waß used with a view, as it waa thought, of cheoking the aotian of the solution. The animate, however, died on Saturday, apparently in great agony. Mr Holmes, veterinary surgeon, waa called in, when it was found the beasts bad boon poisoned, Mr Agre, who dressed tho animals, haa, too, been seriously affected by the poi'-'on. By dipping tho brush in and rubbing, hiH hands naturally csuno in contad; with the Eolufcion The doctors pronounce Mr Agre out of danger, yet the effect has been most serous. His bauds and arms are swollen, and apparently paralysed. Parts of tho carcasses of tho animals were on Monday forwarded to I the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, London, for analytical examination. That the deplor?=bl3 occurrence is due to a very Btrong mineral poison Ihere is no doubt whatever.

Despite the enormous destruction of rats in the Lincolnshire Fens during the past few months the plague Btill continues. One farmer, near Boston, haa adopted a very effective way of ridding himßelf of the nuisance. He scatters poisoned barley about his yard at night, and gathers a huge orop of dead rats on the following morning. One day recently no fewer, it is said, than 1300 were counted, 300 another day , and smaller numbero sinoe, Many farmers in the district ate now adopting the same method, In Billingboro' Fen 300 rats were killed from one stack during threshing operations. A competition for the Highland Society's prize of £100 for the best method or apparatus by wbiob the amount of acidity in milk, whey, or curd while in the process of;cheese-making can be quickly, easily, and accurately estimated, took place last week (says the North British Agriculturist of April 16) in the Scottish Dairy Sohool, Kilmarnock. As milk contains both carbonio and lactic acid, it was the first to be tested by the three different syßtemH. By Mr Gray's patent aoidometer, the results indicated the pressure of the combined acids to the extent of lOdeg. Mr Gebbie's apparatus, while Bhowing a similar result, waß scarcely so rapid or simple. Two tests were afterwards made of the whey, whioh contains lactic acid only. The reßult was given by Mr Gray as 7sdeg. It was further explained that the 2^deg of carbonic acid whioh the milk contained had evaporated in the prooess of cheese-making. Between Mr Gabbie's and Mr Gray's systems there is not muoh to choose. Both are good and acourate, though the latter is the moßt simple in oonstruotion, and can be worked with greater rapidity. The original coßt is 30a, and half ■a ■ orown's worth of ohemicals would last a year. Dr Bond'B aoidometer, which is used by the Gloucester Dairy Association, appeared to the farmer present to be too complicated for ordinary dairy work on farms. It was, however, very reliable, each drop of the neutraliser representing ldeg of acidity. The judges intend taking some time to make their award, and during the interval it is proposed to have the different systems thoroughly tested by Mr Wallace and other farmers in Ayrshire and Wigtownshire. . , Ab a result of the experiments undertaken laßt year by the Agricultural department to test the possibility of establishing a trade in butter between this colony and London (writeß the Melbourne Leader), itwasßhown that one of the chief faofcors to be considered is the manner in whioh the butter ib packed. In several instancoa.the form of boxes used proved unsuitable, the butter being landed in an inferior condition. In other instances the article

was landed as freßb as the day it was die patched from the colony, these # being consignments in which apeoial attention was paid to packing in strongly made boxes. Several dairy farmers are of opinion that a muoh less costly description of box than these used by the department could be made to answer all purpoHOs, and various designs have been submitted for approval. In order to prove whether or not they are suitable it has been deoided by the department to have a number of them made, packed with butter, and forwarded to London under conditions similar to thoae attendant on last year'B experiments.