AGRICULTRAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1967, 5 November 1891, Page 7

AGRICULTRAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

At the -annual^ meeting of the Oamaru Farmers' and Employers' Clnb, Mr Gemmell (the chairman) said " the horse fly was becoming » terrible nuisance to stook in the summer time, and he thought the common swallow, which was insectivorous, and would do no harm to crops, might by some means be introduced from Tasmania, or New South Wales or Victoria. He • thought the club might help the Acclimatisation Society to introduce the swallow. He had seen the swallows in Tasmania and Victoria nip off the horse flies properly, and no doubt it was due to their presence that the horse fly did not become a nuisance there." After disoussion, it was decided to write to the Minister of Agriculture and ask him to communicate with the Tasmanian Government with a view to the introduction ot the common swallow into New Zealand. Speaking at the Ashburton show luncheon, fcord Onslow said he had again visited the Longbeach estate, and he would aever be tired of visiting it. He had visited many landed estates in England, and had inspected some large properties in America, and was in some degree capable of forming an estimate, but be mver had seen an estate so conspicuous for good management as Longbfaoh. Ifc was a fertile spot now worked to advantage, and had been won from the wilderness, a portion of which could still be seen at one side of the property. The employes themselves were enabled to acquire portions of land from the estate and settle down on them after having saved their earnings. If New Zealand were managed on the principle followed by the proprietor of LongDeach there would be no need for immigration, and all difficulty over the land question would be at an end. The Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association's show was held on the 28th under themost favourable circumstanoes. The weather mi delightfully fine, ana several thousand perjwi from various parts of the district were

present. The number and quality of the exhibits eclipse anything before held in the district. M'Rae's Administrator took the champion prize for thoroughbreds, and Watson's Nil Desperandum the championship in draught entires. In cattle, A. W. Cave's shorthorn bull Tuki was awarded the championship. John Raynor, of Taratahi, took the championship for a Lincoln ram seven years old. Farquhar Gray was awarded the championship for Romney sheep, and P. M'Lennan the championship for pigs. In merinos, fine-combing, Henry Hoare carried off the most points— 33 against Mr A. B. Smith's 17 and Mr Elworthy's 11. The Land Company's Levels station only took a second prize. In strong-combing the competition was between Mr A. M. Clark, who secured 37 points, and Mr C. J. Tripp, who had 13 points. In English Leicester Mr P. C. Threlkeld took 31 points, Mr A. M. Clark 8 points, Mnwson Bros. 7 points, and B. Kelland 4 point*. In Border Leieesters Mr Murdoch with 23 shepp, took 23 points and the champion for ram. He took all the firsts and four seconds, and this with sheep none of which were over four-tooth, but which were pitted against sheep of all ages, his opponent being the Land Company (Levels station), who with nine sheep carried off two seconds and thres "highly commendeds. In Lincolcs Mr A. M. Clark secured 28 points, ai against Mr Witheli's 10 poiats, and Messrs Bruce and M'Laren's 6 points. The champion ram jn this class is the property of Mr J. Murray. The Land Company had the field to themselves in Romney Marsh, making eight entries, and securing four firsts and three aeconds Downs were represented by a few entries only. There was a very good show of fat sheep, the Land Company, Mr A. M. Clark, and Mr A. Perry carrying off the prizes. The draught horse clbbs was a good one. Rhodes' Bonny Breast Knot, wat* the champion entire, beating Austin's Craigievar, What's Wanted, Vanquisher, Ben Lomo.'d, and Break o' Day. He also took the Association's special of £5 5s for a progeny class of three, beating Craigievar. As a thoroughbred stallion Rothweli's Albury, by Ravenscraig, was placed first, Berlin first as coaching stallion, and W. G. Smith's Poker, by Guy Fawkes— Mable, was the best back up to 11 stone, Mr Rhodes' Selim taking first up to 13 stone, and his Zead for up to 15 stone. In alt three of these classes there was good competition. Mr James King's Mischief was the best; lady's hack. Tests are being made by an analyst to ascertain to what extent flaxmill refuse can be used tot artificial manure. Rock salt has been proved by several sheep owners in the Palmerston North district to be a very effective remedy for the mysterious diseases prevalent among the sheep. Farmers are using potatoes, which are very

plentiful in Marlborough, mixed with hay for fattening beef. A cow killed in Blenheim recently, which was fattened in thiß way, turned the scale at 9501b.

The Ashburton A. and P. Association's show, held on Friday last, was the most successful ever held. The attendance was large, and the exhibits all ronnd of excellent quality. The Governor, Premier, and Minister of Lands were present. The Governor responded to the toast of his health at the luncheon, but the Ministers were not given a chance to speak. The Brnoe Herald says that Mr T. Rilgariff, of Caudletown, the other day lost one of his best cows in a peculiar and, we believe, unprecedented manner. He had been sewing bags, and stuck the needle in the lappel of his coat when he had finished that work. He then went and fed the cows. One of the animals was taken bad shortly afterwards and soon died. The carcsße was inspected to asoertain the cause of death, and the needle was found embedded in its heart. The needle must have fallen from Mr Kilgariff *s coat while giving the cows their feed— he missed it immediately afterwards, — and droppad into the fodder. Mr Thomas Brown's dairy factory at Owake will be opeced on Wednesday first. Mr Brown owns 220 cows, only about 70 of which have yet calved. He payß 3d per gallon for milk, and expects his factory will receive the support of a large number of settlers of the district during the season. We (Olutba Leader) Baw the other day a capital field of 6,0 aorea of wheat on Mr Wm. Griffith's farm, down the river side. Twenty aores of it is red straw, and was Bown in May, after lea ; the other 40 acres is after turnips, and is in Tuscan wheat, sown in August and beginning of September. Both lots are in about the Bame state of advancement, and, as already indioated, the crop is looking splendidly ; in fact, one of the most promising crops we have seen. Mr Shaw also has a finelooking crop of wheat after turnips. Considerable discussion took place at the last meeting of the Warepa Farmers' Club about the subjects to be disoußsed at the conference. Mr Christie explained that it would be absolutely necessary for the club to know what was to be done in order to instruct its delegates, and hence his previous motion requesting a copy of programme. Mr Farquhar considered it also highly necessary to be in possession of some ench information, otherwise what would be the use of sanding delegates.— Messrs Sheddan and Wright concurred with these views.— The President stated that the Waitahuna Farmers' Club would be glad to receive and discuss anything brought forward by this club ; and if their views were in agreement, they would heartily support them,— Eventually the eecre-

tary was instructed to forward the following memoranda to the different clubs for their opinions :— (1) Poiaoning of rabbits within the neighbourhood of rabbit factories; (2) executive committee for Otago, one for north and one for south, both to meet once a year in Dunedin ; (3) system adopted by present Government re unemployed is unwarrantably interfering with the labour market by giving a higher wage than the farmers could possibly rive; (4) the new electorates; (5) clause in Auctioneers' Bill re trust aooount objeotionable in not compelling all agents as well as auctioneers to keep trust accounts; (6) present voting powerproperty qualification. Thd Olutha Free Press says that considerable discussion took place on these different subjects, most of the members agreeing in the necessity of bringing them forward, especially Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 6.— No. 1 : Mr Christie thought if the rabbit faotories were doing any good at all they should be encouraged and poisoning prohibited. If poisoning went on the people at Home would refuse to buy the rabbits, and thus a thriving industry would be put an end to.— Mr Farquhar thought if poisoning were stopped the faotorieß would reduce the price of the rabbits to a mere nothing. Legislation would be necessary to compel them to give a fair price commensurate with the value of the skins at the different seasons. — No. 2 : It was thought that by having two executives more interest would be taken, as they would entail considerably less expense, and all delegates oould meet, transact business, and get home the same day.— With regard to No. 3, indignation was expressed by the president and others at the action of the Government in the matter. They considered it unfair to employers of labour, and the Government were only constituting a system which would be like a millstone round their neck, and which they would soon be glad to get rid of. — No. 6 : It was considered that there should be some change in the voting powers, as at present the labourer had just as much to Bay in the government of the country as the propertyholders, while he had not any interest or stake in the country, but could leave it at any time with all his belongings on his back. Such should not be the case. Property Bhould qualify the owner to another vote, as it was property that not only paid the taxes, but made the country what it is. If it were not for property where would these labour parties have been who now shout 'Down with the landowners and let the State own all the property?'" ■- " Shepherd," writing in the North Otago Times on the Minister of Lands' statement re rent fcr sheep, whic 1 ; he characterises as moat absurd, says:— "l: >j Otago WitneßS puts it very plainly, and » y unprejudiced perßon with ordinary intellig' ue ought to see the differ-

enoe between the profits to be derived from, say, 1000 sheep grazed at win altitude of 5000 ft or 6000 ft and an equal number of sheep grazed at 500 ft or 600 ft above sea level. But f ancy the Minister of Lands ! What kind of a shepherd must he have been if he believes that every run ought to pay the same rent per sheep carried? Either he must have been a very incapable and thoughtless shepherd, or as a Minister he takes advantage of the ignorance of bis political supporters. 'As a practical and honourable man ' does he not know that some back country runs cannot breed sufficient lambs to make up for the mortality in the older sheep, while other runs have a large surplus of Bheep for sale annually. When all the country fit for oarrying breeding ewes is taken off a run does he expect the remainder is worth as much per sheep as the good blocks ? Or does he expeot wethers to give the same increase as ewes?" The Obristohuroh Preßs says :— " Mr Jabez Greenhiilß haß lately taken over the oheese making industry for whioh Mr E. Muloook had made quite a name, and intends to carry it out on a plan whioh he has adopted after 30 years' experience in Somersetshire as well as in this colony. At present Mr Greenhilla dairy is a private oottage dairy, yet, nevertheless, he has been able to get a demand for his cheese whioh conveys the undoubted opinion that the article ib Bound and good. The vat in whioh he obtains the curd contains 290 gal of milk, and the temperature is raised as required through a steam jacket. The steam for this purpose, as well as scalding the vats and pans, is obtained by a neat engine made at J Anderson and Sonß, Canterbury Foundry. The old system of heating the milk in a copper is entirely got rid of, and whereas in the old style the milk had to be heated to 104deg, in the new way it is only brought up to 94deg, thus obviating any ohanoe of the milk being scalded bo high as to render it aoid and cause the oheese to bear a sour flavour. In this making vat the curd is kept constantly cut by the use of a patent agitator, and the milk ia regularly tested by the usnal instruments. The milk of from 50 to 60 cows is taken daily, and the dairy oould easily be extended to utilise that from 100 cows. Among the usual presses for making oheeee we were ahoffu some shipments in the cheese vats including a new wooden vat made by Mr Carmiohael's I Rangiora Woodware Factory. lv this oheese lof 801b to 901b were being made. The average I cheese of this dairy is 501b to 601b, but the retail trade hers made a request for some of the larger size. About 13 tons a year can be made by Mr Greenhilla with this present plant, all of which produce has been sold by him locally, and the 'Cheddar Dairy' brand is

j likely, from the enoouraging reports made, to r prove in favour with the public. Operations • in cheese-making go on from September to ; May. In the store— a 000 l building for 3 ripening the produce of this dairy— t were shown cheeses in all Btages, each i bearing the date of making, but all i equally tempting, sound and merchantable. ? At a meeting of the New York Farmers' i Association, January 8, 1891, following a paper i read by Mr F. A. Havemeyer on the cost of feeding and how to feed " butter cows," Mr ■ I. D. Appleton explained how he developed i the Jersey cow Eurotisaima until she made ■ 27ib of butter in a week, and 9451b in a year. I In one case he said she gave lib of butter from i little more than 4&lb milk. Mr Appleton's i great aeoret seemed to be to find cows with a 1 hereditary capacity for eating as much maize : meal as possible without making themselves i sick. Eurotisßima's single break in her year's 1 test was on an occasion when she ate too many ; sour apples. It appears that all kinds of i dainties are prescribed in small doses to these \ cows undergoing tests, to keep up the appetite and digestive powers, so that they may swallow and assimilate the requisite quantity of maize meal. As illustrating the feoundity of Dorset horn sheep, the Live Stock Journal of July 31 gives the following instance of two crops of lambs in one year :— " Mr T. Ensor, the well-known auofcieneer of Dorchester, sold on October 25 last 140 Dorset horn ewes, then lambing down. The gentleman who purchased them fattened their lambs, whioh very early in the year were sold at from 38s to 40a each. He then put in the ram and bred a second crop of lambs, and Mr Ensor has during the laßt three weeks been selling them at from 30a to 34a per head in the Dorchester market." The Viotorian Secretary of Agriculture has (Bays thd Australasian) received a letter from the London firm who act a3 agents for the sale of the Victorian butter which is forwarded to England under the auspices of the department, expressing the opinion that this season's shipments will realise very satisfactory priceß. In August Danish butter was selling at 120s per owt, as against 110s during the corresponding month of last year, and last month there was no accumulation of any olaBS of butter in London. The Agricultural department made the second shipment of butter this season by the Lusitania on Saturday. The shipment consisted of 4700 cases of butter, representing 117 tons, tha great bulk of it being of prime quality. The Leader says that a peouliar species of grass plant has been brought under the notice of the Minister of Agriculture by Mr Foster, M.L A. It was obtained in Croajingolong, where it is said to grow luxuriantly in various localities. It possesses a pleasant perfume,

. not unlike that of boronia, with a faint indication of lemon. It is the intention of the Minister to obtain a number of samples and submit them to an expert in the art of extracting perfume from plants, with a view of ascertaining whether the perfume can be extraoted. The Narandera Meat Chilling Company, which proposes to establish branches through out liiverina, and intends trading to Sydney and Melbourne, was to begin operations about the end of last month. The secretary has received inquiries /from two large sheepowners as to whether the company would undertake to kill 30,000 sheep for them during November. The works are capable of turning out 50,000 mutton oarcftßea within a month, and the only difficulty in the way of increasing the output would be as regards obtaining the requisite expert labour. At, Darling Harbour extensive preparations have'been made fcr receiving oarcases and storing them in freezing rooms either for export or local consumption. In a recent address at one of the New York institutes Mr J. Horatio Earll, seoretary of the State Merino Breeders' Association, thus acoounted for the demand from Australia for American-bred merino Bheep:— "The Australian breeders have fcund out that our American sheep, raised in a cold climate, have the densest fleece. Nature assists, us in this climate to raiae more fibres to the square inoh than any other country, and density is what they want. Their flocks are turned to pasture all the year round, and necessarily they must take the storms. Our rams crossed on their home-bred eweß not only increase the weight of fleece, but the density given to tha flaece, especially over the baok and hips, helps to keep out the storm and rays of the sun from penetrating the fleece." The prevalence of foot rot owing to the drooping season has caused the various stook branches of New South Wales to issue instructions as to the beat means of curing it. Mr Dowling, the sheep inspector of Forbes, who is considered a good authority on the subject, Buggests the following as standard specifics :— (1) Arsenic and potash in the proportion of $oz of the former to 4oz of the latter, dissolved by boiling in a gallon of water ; (2) the same ingredients with 2 oz of bluestone added ; (3) bluestone only, in the proportion of 803 to a gallon of water ; (4) carbolic aoid and water in parts of Ito 20 ; and (5} the same as lor 2, with a gallon of decoction of wattle bark added. Fresh slaked lime is also recommended. A farmer in the Wimmera district writeß to the Australasian in glowing terms of the prospeots of rye in that locality. He says ; — " I am satisfied that very few people in the dry districts know the value of rye. I was much struck to day when ( coming through the rye/ Bown on May SO, with the wonderful growth

whioh it had made under unfavourable circumstances, as it was sown late, it missed the May rains, and yet the crop is a good one. The wheat sown at the same time is not half as high as the wheat sown a fortnight earlier before the rain, and yet the rye is muoh higher than the earlier wheat. I know of nothing better for either cutting or grazing. It oomea away quickly and grows fast, giving green feed when there is very little growth in anything else, I was supplying milk to the creamery, and had to buy bran, but if I had sown more rye this money would have been saved. We had a long drought from the iriddle of July to the beginning of October, but the rye kept on growing, and, although sown late, it got ahead of the self-BOwn wheat and wild oats. I would not only sow it for a orop, but also barrow rye seed in on the stubble when paddocks are to be left out for pasture. It looks like being also good stuff for ensilage." Mr Donald Reid, in proposing the toast of " The Agricultural and Pastoral Interests " at the Mackenzie banquet, made some remarks whioh farmers would do well to think over. He said :— " I have no hesitation in predicting that you will find that as soon as the change has beeu securely fixed on you, the attempt will be to throw the whole burden of taxation on the land. That accords with the views of the chief ruler Baal and his high priest, although it may not suit to make that intention apparent at present. I invite the farmers of the colony to consider what the change in name implies — a 'land tax.' Has it not been promulgated that land iB not property, and that it cannot be taken away ? When the necessity for increasing taxation arises, as I fear that it will soon do, the cry will be to resort to the ' further instalment' wbioh has already been threatened. The party who now aot nndir direotion of the chief ruler will have no option ; even ii they do not wish to add to the burden on land, they must do as their masters at the street corners direct. If there were no intention of throwing the whole burden on the land I bannot conceive why the property tax was interfered with. It waß admittedly bringing enough revenue, and very few, if any, of those who paid it made any objeotion to it as a means of taxation, True, I have been at meetings where agitators were holding forth, the abolition of the property tax being their theme ; but, strangely enough, those who made* the greatest outcry against it were those who paid nothing under it. I have always been at a loss to find out their objeotion ; but it can be explained when we bear in mind that it had been condemned by the chief rnler Baal, his high priests, and their satelites The interests included in the toast which I have submitted to you having bo large and extensive responsibilities, and their deepest interests being at Btake, they should have better organisation than they now have. They should form aooietiea to discuss these matters* and assist to form a sound public opinion regarding him. Thus, and thus only, can they bring their legitimate influence to bear with effect. You have the nucleus of eood organisations already at hand in the various farmers' clubs and agricultural societies throughout the country, and I hope that you will take advantage of theße agencies in order to educate public opinion on these important questions, and to see, when the proper time arrives, that no candidates are returned unless they be men of sound judgment, holding true Liberal views, and who can be depended on to maintain the. honour and restore the reputation of our Parliament." It is worthy of remark (says the Melbourne Leader) that all the best farmers— those who grow the heaviest crops of wheat, and generally speaking make the most money— keep a flock of sheep regularly on their farms. The influence of the Bheep in keeping the land dear of weeds is not sufficiently appreciated. There are varieties of weed which horseß and cattle will eat and hold in oheok, but as a rule they are altogether too dainty and seleot in their diet to take the plaoe of sheep, wbioh are the universal scavengers of vegetation, A sheep farm can be picked out at a distance by Ihe freedom from brush and rank weeds. Not only are the pastures free from weeds, but ths cultivated fields of a sheep farm are usually full of fertility and profitably productive. These „ animals, whiob consume everythingthat growa, leave their droppings scattered over' the fields in such form as to be in the very beat condition for plant food. The lover of a tidy and thrifty farm will reckon sheep as no small item in the count. Moreover, except in rare cases, grain cannot for any considerable periods be profitably grown without combining with its produotion some sort of stook feeding. The law of Nature, which, like that of ethics, imperiously insists that no man shall with impunity take aomething where nothing is given in return gather where he has not sown—is attested by exhausted fields and a decaying agriculture wherever the decree has long been unheeded. But while the importance of raising and feeding domestic animals in the absence of any but the most exceptional environments is generally recognised, there are what may be called seoondary considerations in support of live stook husbandry which are too frequently lost Bight of or ignored by the casual student of the situation. In the Warrnambool district the potato season may now be said to have almost closed. Scarcely any business has been done at the looal produce stores for some weeka. At Koroit and Illowa small transactions are still taking place, aB a number of growers had pitted the greater quantity of their crops. Many of these were offered double the prices now obtainable for potatoes, but at that time refused to sell. Anticipations of a rise were not realised, and consequently ~a^ loss in this respect has been suffered. The young orops are now well above ground and promise well. About the same area is under crop as last year. — Leader. (Continued on page 11).