AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 10 July 1890, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Mr Reynolds, of the well-known firm of Keynolds and Co., butter and cheese factory owners, Waikato, loaves by the lonic for London to open up a market in the Home country for the sale of butter and other dairy produce. His intention is to visit the chief towns in England, and if an opening is obtainable, to open a depot in London for the receiving and distributing of their productions from the coJony. He considers that colonial butter can be sent Home quite fit for the English market, and quite as good as Danish or Norman ; in fact it has been done, but the quantity sent was small. He is taking some samples of butter made up in different ways, to try which is the best for the purpose. One of the difficulties is getting cool storage here, as when the butter is not kept at a proper temperature while awaiting shioment it goes stale. To prevent this the butter will be kept in cool chambers in the Waikato factories till ready for immediate shipment. Mr Reynolds is not su r e that when the butter is landed iv London it is kppt at the proper temperature, or on the way Home. In this respect Sir F. Whitaker baa promised him a letter from the Government to Sir Dillon Bell (Agent-general), so that he may obtain every facility for a tour in Denmark to examine thoroughly into the dairy systems of that country and its latest improvements. At a meeting of the Welliueton|Chamber of Commerce the president read an extract from a letter received by his firm (Levin and Co.) From a London correspondent on New Zealand hemp, as follows :—" One of the United Kingdom rope makers has been telling us that he baa recently, and for the first time, used pome fully fair New Zealand hemp to make twine for an order previously filled with sisal and manila. He is very pleased with the result, and indeed tells us— and he is probably the best rope maker in the United Kingdom — that he finds New Zealand hemp has been better than sisal or manila. Ha urges the miller to improve the quality of the fibre, so that the industry might become a permanent one." Mr M. Murphy, F.L.S., secretary of thß Canterbury A. and P. Association, baa issued in pamphlet form a paper which be recently read before the members of the Temuka Caledonian Society on "The general aspect of agriculture throughout the world, but chiefly with reference to New Zealand." Tbe papir deals with many matters of a more or less interesticg nature at prosent engaging tbe attention of farmers. The formation of farmers' clubs and unions i 3 advanced, mention being made of Otago's move in this direction. The dairy industry comes in for some attention, the opinion being expressed that "there

' is no reason why, with our magnificent climate and soil, the butter export from New Zealand should not soon be raised to £1,000,000 per . annum, which means 100,000 cows, yielding 2001b of butter eaoh, Belling at Is per lb; while we have in the colony 272,144 breeding cows, according to the agricultural statistics. With reference to whether we can compete with America and India in wheat growing, Mr Murphy is of opinion that we oan if our wheat crops are confined to the very beat soils, yielding an average of 35 or 40 bushels per acre. Attention to agricultural eduoation in the sohool curriculum is advocated, and a word is also said in favour of the imposition of a tax on entires, it being asserted that more than one stallion owner has expressed the determination to import the best blood procurable should such a tax be imposed. In concluding the paper the writer urgeß the advisability of the establishment of an agricultural bureau for the colony in order that our best interests may receive tbe attention to which they are entitled. The Victorian Dopavtment of Agrioulure, through its dairy expert, Mr Wilson, has initiated a test of the different boxes offering for packing butter to ba exported to the London market, haying filled six boxes of butter from one churning, as follows :— Two of Findlay and Co.'s boxes, made from New Zealand white pine, treated by a patent prooess, by which it is claimed that all vegetable matter that would give taste or taint to butter is extracted from the timber ; two of Williamson's enamelled boxes from the Paragon factory, Burnley ; and two of Robertson's boxes, made of Australian mountain aah, seasoned by a patent proceßß. Of the six boxes filled, three have been shipped by steamer to London —viz., one of each kind of box, and the other three kept in Melbourne to be opened when a cable report is received from London, so that results may be compared. It «h mid be mentioned that at the rrqno«r, of M-^.rs Franois Forrest and Co,, ae r »il4 for Findlay's boxeß, who are also agents for the Preservitas Oompany, " preservitas " was put into the butter packed in Findlay's boxes. From the successful trials wbioh fclr Wilson lately made with butter treated with " preservitas," it is fair to assume that given a good package, butter so treated can be successfully placed on the London market.

Some time since a consignment of South Australian reared sheep was shipped to South Africa, The sheep were imported into the colony by Mr M'Neave, and an acoouut has just oome to hand of their sale by publio auotion at Johannesberg, Fifty-five rams and 37 ewes were sold after spirited competition. The highest price paid was £110, for the monaroh of the nook— a noble animal. Some other fine rams fetched from £70 to £75 each. The rams realised altogether £1685, averaging about £30 each. The ewes were not so eagerly competed for. They sold at an average of £9, bringing together £324 ; so that the total realised was £2009. Appended are the prioss fetched : —Rams : Pure merino stud, £8 to £30 ; halfbred Tasmanians, £23 to £110; high-olass stud, £20 to £30 ; selected stud, £21 to £70 ; pure Vermont, £15 to £62 ; halfbrsd Vermont, £26 to £54; extra high olass, £26 to £42; Holected stock, £L 7to £30; high, class stud (grass fed), £19 to £74 ; high class stud (stall fed), £7 to £57. Ewes : Speoial stud, from £5 to £14 10s.

Messrs George Kautmann and Co. have sent the following to the Argus on boring for water : — " Some months ago we entered into a contract with the South Australian Government for boring by means of the Canadian Pole system, which haß been so successful in these and adjacent oolonies. The contraot is for several wells, eaoh down to 2000 ft if need be, at Ccoydon, within two miles of Adelaide, and on the West Coast, to open up the country in that distriot. Boring operations have been commenced at Adelaide, and there is some interest attached to this work, inasmuch as this is the first attempt that has been made in South Australia with tbe Canadian Pole system, whereas formerly the Pennsylvanian oable system only has been applied. Tbe non-success of this system, and the enormous expense of working it, evoked a great deal of dissatisfaction in South Australia, so much so that the Government decided to appoint a oomraipsion to inquire into the oause < of the failure, with the result that a trial is now being made with the Canadian system as above stated. The oost of the latter will not be more than 30a per foot, including F tubas, whereas by the cable system we understand that the cost was something like £3 10d per foot."

Messrs R. D. Clarke and E. D. Morrison, of Vermont, had (says the Australasian) very bad luok with the fine lot of American merinos they imported lately in tbe b.s. Caroline. No less than 84 sheep were killed during a gale encountered in tho Bay of Bißcay, and four sheep died afterwards from the injuries they received. On arrival in Hobson'a Bay the remaining sheep were quite healthy, though the condition of their wool showed plainly enough the hardships they had gone through. Messrs Clarke and Morrison seleoted this lot of sheep to suite the taste of Bheopbreeders in Australia, whioh is generally against coarse wool and kemps on the wrinkles in the skin. The rams have all handsome, high bred heads, splendid necks, are mostly free from wrinkles on tbe body, and are — as far as one oan judge from the condition of their wool— very heavily clad. Many of the ewes, might pass for high-class Australian sheep of a robust type of wool. Sorao of tbe rams are short in staple, but their density and covering will render them very valuable sires. A portion of the shipment, it is* anticipated, will bo sold in quarantine in Sydney during the annual sheep Bales, Those flooktnasters whose object is weight of fleece will do well to inapjot this fine lot of Vermont merinos.

The San Francisco Bulletin says that it is estimated that at least 50,000 horses now in uaa will be thrown upon tho market presently owing to tbe rapid development of eieotrioity as a motive power. The exactness of this estimate does not matter, but it is a fact from which there is no getting away that Boon tho horse-breeding industry will bo seriously disturbed by the encroachment of the electric motor, the use of which will eventually beome universal. The carriage of the future, both public and private, will be moved by the electric motor, tbe power to operate which will bo furnished by a light and efficient storage battery. Electricity will be tbe motive power of t.hfl firure because it will be cheaper than hornofl-eh. An elootric motor baa on'y to be fed when working ; a horse's digestive organs hava to ba kept in food at all times, whether working or not. " Bruni " writes as follows iv a late issue of tbe Australasian :— " I learn from a private source that the Gavernm9nt of Naw South Wales will not come to any arrangement with M Loir with respect to the establishment in the colony of a laboratory for preparing the attenuated virus of anthrax, the only known cure for this fatal disease in sheep. Indeed, it would appear that there is a deßire to prevent the cure for anthrax being undertaken, »b an act was lately passed makiug it a serious offence to have any infeotion or contagious disease germs in one's possession without having first obtained a license. Such a license, lam informed. M, Loir has been refused, and (be

' result is that the niiorobes he imported from France have been sent on to New Caledonia, It is difficult- to understand the action of the New South Wales Government in this matter, and it gives a colour to the rumour made with respeot to M. Pasteur's mode of destroying rabbits, that some persons antagonistic tv the great French savant have the ear of the Government. M. Pasteur's mode of treating sheep and oattle for anthrax has been in operation in Europe for some years, and has proved very successful. The experiments carried on by Dr Germont and M, Loir at Junee about 18 months ago thoroughly demonstrated the efficacy of this mode of treatment in the olimate of Australia. This matter is a serious one for the stockholders over a wide area of New South Wales. Many thousands of sheep die annually of the disease, and the area in whioh it exists is gradually extending." A Manawatu farmer who has been cropping his groand for years with profitable results, produced tbis year 200 tons of potatoes from seven acres, and Bold them for £400 ; another farmer produced 100 tons from five acres and disposed of them for £200 ; while a third raised from one aore a crop of onions whioh realised £156. The owner of a farm of 90 aores publishes a detailed statement in the Manawatu Times Bbowing his earnings to have been £385 Is 9d for the period mentioned, and total expenses £195 19a 4d, or £2 2s per aore net, showing that if his land is valued by its productiveness it would be worth £30 per aore. A circular has been issued by the Stock department to the inspectors of stook throughout New South Wale 3 relative to the turpentine and salt " lick " for worms in sheep. The " lick " has been used with good_ effect in South Australia and Eome parts of this oolony where sheep are affeoted !=y stomach and intestinal worms, and tho board appointed to test various specifics and drenches for these ailments consider the turpentine and salt treatment a safe one, and likely to prove at least an effective preventive. _ The proportions of the mixture are one point of turpentine to from 381b to 561b of Liverpool salt, according to the condition and age of the sheep. The turpentine must be thoroughly mixed with the salt, and the mixturo should be spread thin in troughs, and it should be given, say, once every five or six weeks while the sheep are likely to be affeofced. Eaoh shepp Bhould get at least £oz to 2oz of the mixture at a salting. Providing shelter for stork in winter is (says the Leader) the first step to profitable management. So long as the animals, whether sheep, cattle, or horses, are compelled to spend the whole of their time out of doors, perhaps in a bleak paddock, surrounded by a wire fence, it makes little difference how much food may be supplied to them, they cannot possibly turn it to Rood acoount. The way milch cows are sometimes treated in this respect in winter is cruel as well as wasteful. They are driven out to shelterless fields to fill their atomaohß on dry, withered grass, and foroed to sleep on the cold, damp ground, while the rain frequently comes down in torrents, filling to the brim their cup of misery. The man who expaota hifi oWB to do well on such treatment is likely to be disappointed, as he well deserves to be. One cow that is weil fed and comfortably housed— at least during night— will give more milk than half a dozen maintained on the starvation system. It is eaßy to see, therefore, that it will pay to provide shelter for cows in winter. We are not proposing extremes, because in this, as in everything elae, the middle oourse is the beßt ; and there can be no doubt that tbe animalß are kept in better health if allowed outside during the day, so long as the. weather is not very bad. Pampering them too much is sure to have disastrous results in the long run, but it ib rather surprising that Borne farmers at this time of day require to be advised of the benefits of housing their milk animals in wintertime. Dry cows of course, are muoh better outside, or at most only in an open shed. But with those in milk the case is quite different, and owners who treat them well will not fail to reap a peouniary reward. The fall in grain prioea in England during Maroh was in some degree due to the reduced purchases by France, for in the liveliness of Frenoh competition, or the reverse, is to be found An influence largely as well as quiokly felt by Mark Line. In March 1890 France bought only 3 134,000cwt of foreign wheat, ag;uuHt 6,666 OOOowt in March 1889 of flour, 111 OOOcwt, against 185,0000wt were bought; of barloy, 746 952jwt., a.?.*iaßt 775,0000wt ; and of oats 568,0420wt, against 1,171,604cwt. On the other hand, tbe French have come forward freely in tho maize market, taking 5,073,444 c *t, against 2,045,9640wt, and Bince this competition manifested itself maize in the British exchanges has recovered la per quarter. A Frenchman claims— or did some time ago — that if a cow is inoculated against anthrax during gestation the calf obbaina immunity from the disease. Tho Wrey's Bush correspondent of a Southern paper says :— '• Winter milch cows are always in request, but their butter has a disagreeable tendency to taste of turnipß. To obviate this, all that is necessary is to adopt the custom, which prevails in many parts of England, of putting a little nitrate of potasaa at the bottom of the milk bucket ; or, better still, to dissolve a small quantity in warm water, and mix it with the cream. The nitrate is cheap and perfectly harmless (in moderation of oourse), as any chemist will tell, and it certainly prevents the obnoxious taste of the turnip. When sheep are on turnips, as they now ought to be, and other feed is apt to be soarce, it ia a good thing to make the most of small mercieß. Oaten chaff ib tip-top material, and tolls well on the growth and streDgth of the lamb in embryo; but when threahed grass hay can be had, sweet and cloan, I find it not a bad thing to cut it up into chaff, and put it into the feed-box with a bag or two of second or third oats. A pannikin or two of table Bait dußted through it all makes a savoury supply, whioh helps materially to keep the ewes in good heart. I find it better to turn breeding ewes on the turnips about mid- Jay, or after all frost is away, for about three hours, and then out again, where they should have free use of the feed- box. They certainly keep healthier than when confined solely in the turnip paddock, and I have always found the lambing more satisfactory." In tbe recent experiments of the Michigan Agricultural College in sheep-feeding, the average half-blood Lincoln consumed 1541b of food in fight weeks, and gave 341b, or a gain of lib to 4 'slb of food consumed; an average balfblood Shropshire consumed 1331b oi food in tbe same time, and gained 211b ; ratio, Uh to 6 31b ; a full-blooded merino consumed 1251b of food in the same time, gained 221b ; ratio, lib to 5 741b.