AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 11

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

(Continued frontpage 7.)

People who read the cable messages regarding the prices which' New Zealand frozen meat realises in the English markets are sometimes (says the Auckland Herald) under the impression that the trade is a very profitable one for the New Zealand farmers, but they little consider the amount of expense incurred in placing the meat before the English consumer. As a case in point we may mention the following: — Mr A. S. Thompson, of Pakuranga, shipped to London, per s.s. Ruapehu, the carcases of two fine heifers, which weighed in the aggregate when dressed 11801b. They were shipped through the Freezing Company, and he has received the account sales and charges. The latter are as follow :— Freight, L 4 18s 4tl ; primage, 9s lOd ; bags and branding, 8s ; slaughtering, freezing, and shipping at <ld per lb, L 2 9s 2d ; commission on sale of hides, 9<l ; bill of lading, ss ; insurance, 13s ; making the total of L 9 4s. Then come the Home costs :—: — Refrigerating, cartage, and market dues of LI 2s 4d ; provincial charges (whatever that may mean), 15s ; factorage, 4s 9d ; commission at 1 per cent, on Lls 19s 8d (the actual sale value), 3s 2d. The result is that Mr Thompson receives on the current account L 6 2s lid for the 11801b of beef, and he informs ub that he could have sold the two heifers to local butchers for LlO 106. Export of frozen meat

is not all profit for the growers and stockraisers.

Mr Stuckey, of Wairarapa, moved at a meeting of the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association last week that no prize should be offered for sheep weighing over 721b ; that sheep be weighed alive, and that a committee be appointed to frame a table of weights. After some discussion the committee agreed "that the weight should be between 551b and 651b when frozen, and Messrs Stuckey and Millward were directed to draw up a scale of live weights from which dead weights may be ascertained.

The Wellington Meat Export Company's balance sheet recommends a dividend of 8 per ceut., absorbing L 3122 14s Bd, write off 10 per cent, depreciation on plant (L 2172), carry to reserve 1-264-5, leaving L 962 to carry forward. During the 3'ea.r new works were completed to deal with 2000 sheep and 70 cattle per day. The output for the same period was 121,694 sheep, 5225 lambs, 3560 cattle. The report remarks that in common with most, if not all, freezing companies this shows a falling off in the quantity of stock offered for freezing, but the diroctors look forward confidently to an increase this year.

On June 23 (says the European Mail) there was a meeting at the Westminster Palace Hotel in connection with the United Empire Trade League, and a paper or statement of the production of New Zealand, compiled by Mr Westby B. Fercevalj the Agent-general for

New Zealand, w?. 1 * before the meeting. This statistical statement, prepared in response to the Invitation of the league, is very comprehensive, and has been most carefully compiled. The table of imports is specially interesting, and shows that out of an aggregate of L 6,260.525, 260. 525 value for 1890, no loss than L 4,221,270 came from the United Kingdom. The section given to dairy produce is very interesting, for it shows that whereas in 1881 the quantity of butter exported from New Zealand was 8,453,8151b, in 1891 this had increased to 16,310,0121b. The whole compilation reflects much credit on the Agent-general ; and it is, in fact, a statistical eulogy of the productiveness of New Zealand far more convincing than any mere address on tho subject coul 1 bo. The figures nnd facts gathered in this modest pamphlet are indeed of great value and extreme interest.

Last summer Messrs A. R. Falconer and Co., of Mosgiel, despatched a shipment of apples to Fngland, and has forwarded to this office specimens of tho same. The samples comprised three varieties : J, Cox's orange pippin; 2, Pearmain pippin ; 3, French crab. They were packed in specially designed cases, and Nos. 1 and 2 were wrapped in tissue paper, but these were a failure. No. 3, however — a splendid cooking sort, of a bright green colourwere quite a success. We (Taieri Advocate) may add that being unable to obtain room in the' freezing chamber, Mr Falconer despatched the cases as ordinary cargo.

There was on exhibition in Gore last Saturday a splendid sample of turnips from Mornington farm, the property of Mr James Young, Tuturau. They were grown from Yates' seed. The crop was estimated to realise from 20 to 25 tons per acre, 12 acres having been sown. The land got a close of farmyard manure and l^cwt of superphosphate of lime. We (Ensign) saw the bulk, and think it better all round than individual samples, but *it is interesting to quote weight?, and here they are : a swede, 224.1b ; purple top, 14^1b ; Waite's eclipse, 121b ; green top yellow, 101b

A Milton resident who lately visited the Clutha district was surprised at the beneficial change in the appearance of Mr Pillans' Manuka Island estate since it was subdivided into farms. The estate consisted of 9000 acres, and now it comprises 3.2 farms. A great portion of the land is already ploughed ; three houses are up and othi-rs ore about to be erected. This goes to prove that there are plenty of people in the colony ready to settle on good agricultural land wherever obtainable. What a rush there would be for the holdings if the grand land known as the Clydevale estate were subdivided into farms of between 300 and 400 acres and placed on the market. — Clutha Leader.

The Chiistchurch Press says: — "Messrs P. and D. Duncan have just completed a water race digger. This implement, which is intended to be worked by a traction engine, is something like a plough on an extended soale. It has a coulter ana a. share, and on to the mould boards, which are larger of course than on an ordinary plough, is affixed a wing on each side. These wings are intended to slope the sides of the cutting, which is done by the coulter and share. The implement levels out 3ft on the bottom, and the sides are sloped 9in by means of the extended mould referred to. 'J ho oorth is thrown up to the top of the ground on either side after being cut out by the coulter and share. All the parts are very solidly made, and the implement looks well fitted for the work.

Mr Cuddie, who recently paid the North Island a visit iv the interests of the Middle Island Dairy Association in company with Mr Scott, was interviewed on his return to Mosgiel by an Advocate reporter. In the course of the interview Mr Cuddie mentioned that a great drawback — a disadvantage which had an unfavourable effect upon the Home markets — was that packed or blended butter was sent away as factory-made butter, and was branded as such. This imposition could be indulged in with impunity, but he was pleased to note that a bill was now being prepared which would prevent such unfair practices being indulged in. The bill would have the effect of compelling each producer to brand his butter aud cheese with his registered brand, and if his produce was not what it was represented to be the shipper was guilty of a misdemeanour. It would be compulsory for factories to register their respective brands, and packed butter would be branded as such, instead of being palmed off as factory-made butter. "You can imaeiue," said Mr Cuddie, " what a prejudicial effect such tactics must have had on the colonial factory-made produce in the Home market — in plain language, the custom of representing packed butter to be factory-made was ' playing old Harry ' with the prospects of New Zealand butter manufacturers." Mr Cuddie thinks that the factory system will become even more firmly established than at present, and intimated that it would only be the factory system that would prove successful. " What aro your opinions ,-n the proposals, to grade butter at the variou, ports of shipment?"' was asked.— "Well, the association has a feeling antagonistic to the proposal, and if the bill I have mentioned be-

comes law, then the producer's brand will be a guarantee of the quality of the butter, and will at once reveal the name of the producer of the mediocre article. I might also point out that if the grading system were put into practice there is always the chance that butter which was of first-class quality when graded might deteriorate in quality during the voyage, and be far from first-class when it reaches the market." In conclusion, Mr Cuddie considered that good results would follow tho delegates' visit to the North Island, and stated that ns the association had no axe to grind, and in this matter were actuated merely by a desire to see tho dairying industry improved and properly established upon a firm basis, he had no doubt but that in the near future the dairy industry would be one of the leading industries in New Zealandi

The following is from the Wellington Times ; — "Judging from a letter received by a resi- 1 dent of the city from one of the New Zealand shearers, who, tempted by the glowing inducements held out by the squatters of New South Wales, recently proceeded there iv hope of making a big cheque, their lot is not a happy one, and the ' big cheque ' business appears to be a fiction. The accommodation provided for the men also proves to be of the most primitive kind, and points to the necessity of a local Buick bringing about a remedy in that respect. The letter is dated July 9, and for the peace of mind of those to whom a Unionist is a bogey, it is well to say that the writer is not one of that persuasion, neither is he a blatant agitator. After a trip of 600 miles inland he reached his destination. He says: — 'I was greatly disappointed at the shearing here. There will be no shearing until September on account of the weather. Instead of getting three sheds I will have to put up with one. ff I had known, I would not have comn over hero. Howrvor, I will make tho bos-t of it. ... The house that the hands live in is something frightful. There is an oil can that they make the fire in, and no chimney, and when the (ire is lightt-d and the door shut there is no escape for the smoke whatever. New Zealand is bad enough in some places, but it is nothing to this. No wonder there are so many strikes here. Thi-y have good cause for tho strikes. . . . The wages over hero are very low, lower than in New Zealand.'"

"Thistledown" writes in the Australasian: — " Ploughing matchi-8 are once more engaging attention, but -it has to be nolf d that the number of competitions held annually, as well as the interest taken in the trials, are gradually decreasing. This decay of an erstwhile popular form of rivalry among ploughmen and ploughmakers is not greatly to be wondered at. Farmers have come to realise that "prize" ploughing is not by any means the besu for pulverising the soil. So far as appearance goes, the work accomplished at ploughing matches leaves nothing to be desired. The furrows are dtawn as straight :is an arrow, all uniform in width and depth, and laid together with a nicety and "cut" which is altogether exceedingly skilful and attractive to the eye. More than that, the competitors vie with each other, not only iv handling their ploughs in a dexterous fashion, but iv decorating iheir horses and harness. Say what we may, if ploughing matches served no other purpose than to encourage men to study out' the various parts of a plough, which are not so simple n>> they appear, and to trim up their tc:--ms they aro worthy of support and commend j.tion. Moreover, it has often been observed thifc first-prize ploughmen .> ry frequently become lirst-cluss farmers. Now. I am a firm believer in the practice of holding local ploughing matches but at the same time 1 respectfully contend that the sybtem of conducting such competitions stand greatly in need of reform. No argument is required to prove that the style of ploughing which presently meets with greatest favour at the matches is the very worst way 1 possible of turning over the ground for growing heavy crops. The furrows arc cut so clean and 1 perfect that before any kind of crop can be i grown to advantage the soil has afterwards to be disintegrated 'with other implements, such as harrows and grubbers. What, then, is the use of- ploughing matches when the work they - accomplish is worthless ? Is there any sense in farmers and plough-makers exercising their skill and ingenuity over a thing which may look ■ pretty, but is sondemned iv practice?" The Leader says that news received by the secretary of the Victorian, aud Southern Riverina Pastoralists' Association shows that there is likely to be no trouble during the ' coming shearing season, as ; plenty of men are ! offering both as shearers and woolshed hands. ! Applications are made to the secretary every I day for places in sheds in all parts of Riverina \ from Wilcannia to Wentworth, but he is at 1 present suffering from a surfeit of labour, and i-> unable to give every applicant a place. Some ti;no ugo :i new rate of wages was issued by the (••<(.'futive of tho General Laliouicrs' Union, i-liowiug an iucrease of b pr c-tml. on last year'd rates, but the uiembeis ol' the Paatoralistb' Association are simply ignoring the ' circular and offering the. same rates a 6 were

paid last year. These wages vary from 30s per week and "tucker" in the back blocks down to about 20s on stations in Victoria, aud no difficulty is being experienced in obtaining men at these wages, Butter made on the show ground will be one of the attractions of the Villiers and Heytesbury (Vie.) Agricultural Show. Five prizes, amounting altogether to L3O, will be offered for the cows giving the best butter teats. Each cow entered for the prizes will have to be milked in the presence of the stewards on the night previous to the show, and on the morning and evening of the show. The milk obtained from each will be put through f-he separator, and those giving the best butter will be awarded tho honours.

Potato diggers have been in uso both in America and England for years, but as the machines destroy a considerable number of tho tubers, the inventions are far from being perfect. A short time ago (says the Leader), as the result of a substantial bonus offered by Mr Dpw, M.L.A., when Minister for Agriculture in Victoria, for si potato digger that complied with certain conditions laid down by the Agricultural department, a trinl took plaeo at Romsoy, near Lancefield. A large number of machines were entered, but whilst the work performed was deemed good, the. judges did nob consider the machines fulfilled all the conditions, and consequently only a portiou of the bonus was awarded to the most successful inventions. It was demonstrated by the trial that with certain modifications aud alterations the machines might be made to serve all requirements, and in order to encourage the inventors to persevere in their work, the Minister for Agriculture has decided to offer another substantial bonus for the best potato digife.r at a trial to be carried out towards the end of the your.

The Australian plough manufacturers have invariably copied English patterns. With the exception of tin 1 stump- jump plough, tho ploughs in iliia country (writis " ThisMudown," in tho Australasian) are exactly similar to those I havt; seen used in Great Britain. Had I never been acquainted with any other design than the "short" and "long" mouldboarrls, very probably I would now have declared that they were the best in the world. Several yeais' expeiience of farming in the United States uf America, however, convinced mo that the British plough was not the best in all soils or tho most suitable for all couutries. In America I found a very different sort of plough in use, having a short beam and a very short chilled mouldboprd . In Scotland I could hold the plough sufficiently well to take a prize at almost any competition, but when I tried my hand with the American implement my previous skill was unavailing. It was an entirely different kiud of plough I had to deal with, but after a few lessons I soon came to the conclusion that the American " chilled plough," as it is callad, was a vast improvement on the long-handled iron plough to which I had been accustomed in my youth, and similar to those iv guuexal use in Victoria, The fault of the English plough , js that iv dry soil it turns the furrow without pulverising it.while in damp ground the mouldboard never clean"-. In either case the land is spoiled for cropping purposes, whereas with the American "chilled" mould board, although the furrows may not be so straight and "high cut," the soil is thoroughly disintegrated, and no " clogging" takes place. The American ploughs have been introduced into this country, but they are still, comparatively speaking, untried. The agents give their own manufactured wares tho preference, but I have no hesitation in saying that once the value of the; Ainesie m < hilled inould'icnrdfi, which can be fiilucl on to any plough, become known, no other ivili be used. Tho shares, which arf made of the. same stuff, require no sharpening, the draught is much lighter, and it has been proved that the crops produced after tho chilled plouj;Li an: about ft third heavier. Another importiut sidvant.-go they possess is that the 3' are cl.c.p. hncl those ■who have trit-d them alfirm tint tiny, aro <lnrable. My advice is to give the Americau chilled plough a trial.