AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2051, 15 June 1893, Page 12

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL

HEWS. (Conlinuel from page 7.)

The first anniversary of the establishment of the Tucker Village Settlement near Horsham, Victoria, was celebrated on May 25. Of the total area of 640 acres, 320 acres have been cleared, 42 bullocks are now working at ploughing in readiness, for sowing, and there will be 280 acres of crop this year— l2o of wheat, the remainder of oats and tares,— which it is intended to put into ensilage, so as to start a creamery. It is intended to plant 60 acres with vines and fruit trees this year. Only three houses so far have been erected, the Bottlers having been employed in revenue-pro-ducing work. They appear to be more than satisfied with their lot, particularly the women, who are grateful for their rescue from the hard destitution of which the cities are full. The settlement 6tock roughly comprised 100 sheep, 20 pigs, 12 head of cattle, and 9 horses. There are 23 families, representing about 110 souls. The strength of the settlement will be increased shortly by 100 men, women, and children. .At the branch settlement at Moura Moura, where tnere is a profit-making saw mill, are 11 families. The mill has already cub £10C0 worth of sleepers, of which £500 worth have bean disposed of, whilst a contract for the supply of £2000 worth of sleepers for the Goroko railway has been entered into with_ the Railway department. , Half the price obtained for the sleepers is set down as revenue. Perfect unity does not prevail just now in the mountain settlement, distant 33 miles from Wonwondah. Major M'Callum is visiting it, and hopes that he may be able to restore good One of the features in the wool trade of New Zealand during the last few years (says the Hawke's Bay Herald) has been the progress made in the local sales. Last year 74,9d5 bales were sold out of 91,805 offered. The sale 9in 1892 were 60,192 bales, and in 1891 57,344 bales. The distribution of the sales was curiously unequal. As might be expected, Otago and Southland head the list with 27,548 bales, Christchurch coming next with 19,518 bales. Timaru is third, with 7323 bales, and Napier fourth with 6374. More bales were offered in Napier than in Timaru, but the sales were less. In AuckUnd, which has the smallest number of sheep, 7135 bales .were offered, of which 6526 were sold, while in Wellington, with more than three times Auckland's flocks, but 3720 bales were offered and only 1753 were sold. At a little local centre like Ashburton nearly twice as many bales were sold as at Wellington. Rangiori, with 923 bales, almost doubled Gisborne's 500, yet more bales were offered at Gißborne than at Rangiora. At Oamaru only 58 bales were offered, but all were sold. It is difficult to account for these marked differences in the appreciation of the local sales. DuriDg last year the Selwyn County Council paid £252 19s 3d for 506,944 heads and eggs of small birds. The sum paid for poisoned grain amounted to £147 lls Bd, and assuming (3ays the Lyttelton Times) this winter treatment to have been as destructive as the summer gathering of heads and eggs, we have a total thinning out of upwards of 10,000 birds in the course of one year within the indicated district; and still they seem plentiful as ever. The fame of the Collingwood Dairy Factory has reached that very remote portion of the world, the South Sea Islands, the late secretary having last week (says the Golden Bay Argus) received an order from an influential merchant at Samoa for the monthly supply of "about two kegs of butter and two cases of butter in lib prints ; also two cases of small cheeses." The writer goes on to say that the presence in that locality of so many ships of war causes a great demand for butter, cheese, potatoes, onions, bacon, hams, &c, and states that if any of "our neighbours" have these latter lines for sale he will be glad to have regular shipments from them. Very ugly news comes to us (says the Mark Lane Express) from the Times correspondent at St. Petersburg, stating that the cattle plague appears to be very bad all over the steppes of Russia, and stretching to the Caucasus. The disease appears to be spreading very much, while the people are putting every difficulty in the way of the authorities, even to rioting, bo prevent the slaughter of infected animals, while the regulations for the movements of cattle in the infected parts are evaded. It has been well-known for many years that the steppes have '.been at times hotbeds of rinderpest, and on each occasion, when ihe plague has made its way into Western Europe, it has come from the East — in fact, so much so is the disease of Russian origin, that its first name in this country was the "steppes murrain." In 1865, when it caused such disaster in Great Britain, it followed an extension similar to that reported on the present occasion, which extended to Turkey, Austria, Bavaria, and the Netherlands, and finally arrived in England in a cargo of cattle from Revel. That retailing colonial mutton at Home is not all profit is evidenced by the following paragraph from the North British Agriculturist :— " Farmers will derive some satisfaction from a perusal of the proceedings at the annual general meeting of the shareholders in Eastman's Limited. From this they will learn that there is, at least, a point below which the frozen meat trade cannot force down prices, and that the minimum was reached during the last six months of last year. The prices then ceased to he profitable. The company did an enormous business, importing meat from New Zealand, Australia, the Falkland Islands, the River Plate, and America ; and yet, in spite of the fact that they had 587 retail shops in the United Kingdom, and therefore obtained the great advantage of selling large quantities of meat at retail prices, their business during the last six months of the year showed no balance of profit." A correspondent of the American Field, writing from San Antonio, Texas, gives the following curious illustration of the feelings entertained by pigs towards the wolf:— "I have just returned from a three weeks' visit to a ranch on the Nueces river, Texas. On the ranch are thousands of pecan and oak trees, and taking advantage of the opportunity to fat hogs on the mast of these trees, the ranchowners have a great many hogs that live on the river-bottom, in the pecan and oak groves, foraging for themselves the year around. Many of them are 10 miles from the ranch house. The coyotes and wolves catch most of the little pigs, so that a sow rarely raises more than two or three of her litter ; for this many she can watch and fight the wolves away from. A few sows come regularly to the ranch house every day for the few handfuls of corn that is given them. While I was at the ranch I set a large steel trap and caught a wolf that had been a noisy visitor near the house for a number of nights. I shot him and dragged the carcase up near the yard, meaning to skin ib. Two sows that had >st about half their litters of pigs— and were sharing the balance— slept in a shed a short distance from where I had left the carcase of the wolf. One of the sows seemed to scent his wolf ship, and, leaving her nest, went out to reconnoitre. She Boon discovered her ancient enemy, and without waiting to see whether he was alive or dead, she pounced

upon him. She first caught him by the neck | with her powerful teeth, and shook him as a j terrier would a rat; then, without letting go her hold, she stamped him with her front feet and tried to tear him into pieces. All the time she was snorting in the most savage style, and every bristle stood out like the ' quills on the fretful porcupine.' When exhausted with her exertions, she trotted back to her nest and took charge of the pigs, while the other sow flew out in a rage and mauled Mr Wolf for a time. Then both sows and little pigs took a turn at him. It was amusing to see the little pigs, hardly larger than one's fist, with their front feet on the wolf, their bristles erect, and snorting as loudly as they could. About every half hour, all day, the sows and pigs went through this performance, and every pig that came to the ranch house that day had a shake at his old-time enemy. Needless to say, I did not skin the wolf." ' The Oxford (England) magistrates were last week called upon to deal with a somewhat unusual case of alleged cruelty to animals. Mr Greening, a farmer, was summoned for having inflicted an illegal and unnecessary operation on six p : g3. Mr Greening, who evidently holds old traditions in respect, had endeavoured to ward off swine fever by slitting the animals' ears and inserting in the apertures pieces of a poisonous herb, which, a zealous officer of the S.P.C.A. urged was no remedy and only provocative of suffering. That the pigs did suffer was obvious from the swollen condition of their ears; but the bench, holding that this antiquated surgical operation had been performed with good intent, and with no idea of inflicting unnecessary pain, dismissed the summons.

As showing the effects of the depression in agriculture at Home the following is of more than ordinary interest :—" For over five centuries there have been Foxes at the Calow farm, near Hathersage, on the Duke of Devonshire's estate, thp Cavendishes, indeed, being quite new comers in the district compared with these tenants. The latter claim to have come over with Norman William, but it is quite certain they were settled on the holding in 1391. The long-continued depression in agriculture is, however, likely to bring this long and honourable connection to an end, Mr George. Fox, the present representative of the family, haviDgjust terminated his tenure of the farm."

Last week we (Mark Lane Express) gave an account of the favourable results of the experiments made by the Irish Land Commission again&t the potato disease. We now add some detailed figures relating to the money gain on the crops. It is satisfactory to note that throughout nearly all the experiments the d r essed plots not only paid for the dressings by increased production and larger yields of

Mr John Roddan, the pursuer ia this action, had a clause ia his lease decreeing that, if the damage done to his crop by rabbits in any one year was ia excess of £10, the amount of the damage bo done was to be referred to arbitration. Last autumn Mr Roddan claimed that the damage done to his crop in this way was in excess of £10, and he accordingly lodged in the Sheriff Oourb at Dumfries a petition craving the court to ordain that the proprietrix of the farm should be required to concur with him in the appointment of arbiters to assess the amount due to him for the damage done to his crop. The proprietrix resisted this claim and produced as her leading witness the Rev. John Gillespie, of Housewald Manse, who testified in court that, after a most careful examination of the whole farm, and after giving the tenant the benefit of the doubt on every doubtful point, he found that the damage done only amounted to £2 19a in all. Sheriff-substitute Campion, however, found it clearly proved that the damage done was in excess of £10, and-'lje accordingly decreed, in terms of the lease, that the matter must ba referred to arbitration. The proprietrix thereupou| appealed to Sheriff- principal Vary Campbell. The Sheriff-principal found the evidence equally conclusive as to the fact that the damage done was in excess of £10, and he therefore confirmed his substitute's interlocutor, ordering the appointment of arbiters to assess the damage. Mr Roddan also obtained decree against the proprietrix for a sum of £95 13s 9d as his expenses in this litigation, and the expenses incurred by the proprietrix in thus trying to beat down an honest claim for damages done to her tenant's crops must have amounted to an equal, if not a greater, sum. But now comes the most significant part of the whole business. The proprietrix has now coma forward and tendered to Mr Roddan an offer of £100 as fair and reasonable compensation for the damage, which, according to the sworn tastimony of Mr Gillespie, only amounted to £2 19d ! Mr Roddan, who had claimed £120, has accepted the offer of £100 instead, so that the case does not now require to go to arbitration. The moral of this tale is not far to seek, and it is sufficiently striking." An instance of serious mortality among farm horses is reported by the Eaglehawk correspondent of the Bendigo Advertiser. The animals were the property of Mr John Nievendt, a farmer and wood carter, Shelbourne. About 10 days ago two horses sickened and died very suddenly, one having been ill only a few hours. Soon after other horses were taken ill in the same way, and before a week he lost four valuable animals. A veterinary surgeon was called in, but beyond stating that the cause of death was due to some disorder of the stomach, he was unable to trace the cause. The matter

with the shears. That the sheep have a far more attractive appearance when shorn by the roachines[than when hand-shorn no one can deny. The work is got through much quicker, as the men can make very much higher tallies, and, what is a great recommendation, bad cuts are seldom made with the machines when worked by careful men. That the machines show to advantage over the shears I have lately had an illustration furnished me by Mr Robert Clarke, of Bolinda Vale. Until 1889 the sheep on the Bolinda Vale estate were shorn with shears, and the highest number of sheep to the pound of locks, up to that time, was 27.41. In 1890, shearing with the Wolseley machines was begun, and that year there were 32 learners and two experienced machinemen on the board. The proportion of sheep to the pound of locks was 26-54. The next year about half the shearers were learners, and the proportion was 30 "04 sheep to the pound of locks. Last year there were 10 learners employed, and the proportion was 5087 sheep to the pound of locks. This shows a distinct gain in favour of the machines, for the loss in the weight of locks is gained by the pieces, which sell at a very much higher price per pound. Thi3 clip is held in high estimation by the London buyers. In looking over the account sales of last season's clip I find that over 350 bales sold at prices raioging from Is to Is 2£d per lb, while the bulk of the lambs' wool sold at from Is Id to Is 2d per lb. These returns show what can be done by the careful breeding and management of crossbred sheep. Referring to the heavy weight of fat stock from the Pullaming station exhibited at the recent Gunnedah show, the Sydney Mail mentions that a six-year-old Durham bullock was shown, the dressed weight of which, according to weighbridge records of live weight, would probably be 1643!b ; and a polled Angus bullock, 15121b. The five fat wetherß were of enormous sizes— lß6lb, 1841b, 1731b, 1701b, aDd 1701b ;— total, 8831b live weight. We are not clearly informed as to what was the breeding of these sheep, but all visitors agreed regarding the admirable qualities displayed in the pen.

" Thistledown," in the Australasian, wr.tes : — " In regard to the dairying industry of this colony, it is easy to see that we have arrived at the stage when the business must 'sink or swim' on its own merits. It will neither be kept afloat by Mr Wilson's cablegrams and reports from England, nor yet by Mr Bourke's glowing account of the interest taken in the butter and cheese-making lessons at the late Industrial Exhibition held in Melbourne. These things are all very well in their way, and even necessary ; but the men already seriously engaged in the practical work of dairying are studying out matters which the experts quite overlook.

healthy potatoes, but let also a substantial profit. The following table shows the aefcua' money gain or loss on each acre in the plots dressed as compared with the undressed plots, after the cost of the dressing had been deducted from the value of the yields : —

* Loss. All other figures show the gain. It will be seen that in 29 cases the dressing left a profit, and in only seven cases a loss. An ingenious plan for poisoning rats is given by a coirespondent in the Australasian, who writes: — "I found the following method very simple and efficacious in ridding our stable and outhouses of these pests, as well aB destructive to mice :— Take a small box (a candle box doeB) ; on one side or end cut a hole, say 2^in square. Into the box throw loosely a handful or so of straw or hay, then melt some fat (dripping will do in cold weather) not smaller than a cricket bal', and when the fat is sufficiently melted mix in it with a stick some arsenic or other poison. When cool enough, roll into a lump, and place it among the straw in the box, nail down the lid, and place the box anywhere that the rats can get at it. Care should be taken to burn the stick used in mixing, and also not to touch the fat with the hands. I found this plan soon thinned, and ultimately cleared us of rats, and it has the great advantage of being safe from domestic animals or fowls, and, therefore, can be left lying about anywhere, though I took the precaution of labelling each box • poison ' for fear of accidents. The larger and harder the lump of fat the better, as it prevents the rats carrying it away or breaking off pieces for carrying." Under the heading "A Remarkable Game Case and its Result " the North British Agriculturist publishes the following editorial no t e ._» The Steilston rabbit caße, which, after dragging its slow, length along through the Sheriff Court at Dumfries, has now been settled by private agreement, may well serve to ' point a moral,' though it mayaot « adorn a tale.'

_wag reported to the chief inspector of stock in Melbourne, and an inspector was sent up to Mr Nievendt's farm. In answer to inquiries the farmer stated that he had fed his horses in the same way for years, therefore he felt certain that the deaths sould not have been caused !by the food the animals had consumed. It happened that a horse (the fifth) was then sinking fast, and it was agreed that it should be killed and examined. The result showed that the internal organs of digestion were completely destroyed by strong inflammation. The boy who had been in the habit of feeding the horses was then questioned, when it was found (hat for a fortnight before he had been in the habit of feeding them on bad feed known as " seconds." Some idea of the nature of the "seconds" feed may be gathered from the serious fatality that resulted from its use. Mr Nievendt was quite unaware that this food had been used, and was consequently unable to account for the deaths of his horses. The adoption of the system of payment by results by the Babcook tester, as elaborated by the secretary of the Euroa Butter and Ice Company (Mr C. C. Lance), has, says the Australasian, attracted a great deal of attention recently at the hands of those interested in the butter industry. The system has been in active operation at the Euroa factory for three months, and has given general satisfaction to the suppliers. During the last three or four weeks managers of butter factories have visited the factory from various parts of the colony, with a view of ascertaining the details of the system as well as inspecting the apparatus, books, &c. All who have done so express themselves highly satisfied with the system, and the accurate results obtained by Mr Lance. The returns from the dairy industry in New South Wales for the year 1892 show that the manufacture of butter has considerably extended ; that of cheese exhibits a slight decrease ; but the manufacture of bacon and hams seems to have been affected in an inverse ratio by the impetus given to the butter-making under the factory system. The general returns for the year 1892, compared with those of the preceding year, disclose the following differences :—: — Year 1892. Year 1891. lb. lb. Butter ... 21,298,300 18,362,897 Cheese ... 6,018,296 5,506,071 Bacon, &c. ... 5,108,077 6,009,(i00 showing an increase of 2,935,4031b of butter, and a decrease of 487,7751b of cheese, and of 901,5231b of bacon and hams. There is a doubt in the minds of many flockmasters (writes "Bruni" in the Australasian) about the shearing machines being more profitable ta the sheepowner than shearing

The farmers, 80 far as I can learn, are not much concerned as to the price of butter in England, for they know that so long as they produce a good article they will have no difficulty in finding a buyer for it, and neither are they much interested to hear from Mr Bourke that they are likely to have numerous competitors in the trade. What most disturbs their peace of mind meanwhile is the sudden withdrawal of the Government bonuses. They are apprehensive that a collapse of the whole industry is about to happen, and, like timid sheep, they are ready to jump in any direction after a foolhardy leader. Rumours are abroad that many of the butter factories and creameries which have been closed for the winter season will never be reopened. Ib is to be hoped, however, that the farmers concerned in these young and hitherto flourishing institutions will strive to avert any such reproach being accredited to their district. The dairying industry is one of the soundest and best investments the farmers of this country ever knew of. It offers them a ready-money return for their produce, and enables them to vary their system of farming so as to escape the ruinous course of continuous wheat-growing. There is no need to rely on the Government bonus. It can be done without if only the dairy farmers will put their shoulders to the wheel and work without that help, which tends to demoralise instead of strengthening their position. Just let each farmer resolve to send to the factory as much milk or more than he did last year, and never mind what price he is paid for a short period, and he will Foon discover that his patronage is actually required, and cannot be done without. He will ultimately come to realise that he is being paid a good price for his milk, when he will, perhaps, begin to rejoice in the knowledge that he has helped to save the factory from utter dissolution." An American horseowner, who has for some time past used shoes made of aluminium, speaks of it in terms of great praise. He Bays ._« i get the bars |in square, or round, the former preferred. Hammer it out cold, turn, and punch nail holes. I use two sizes of punches, starting with the large and punching from both sides of the Bhoe. Do not crease for nails, but countersink nail heads. A common Bize shoe forward, thick, ijin or |in wide, will weigh close to 3oz. The more the aluminium is hammered the harder it seems to get. Use a round-faced hi mmep, as a flat face will, if not careful, cut m hd the edge. I have reset after three weeks, and find the shoes after five weeks' wear as good as could bo, and am sure they will stand resetting the second time if not more often. I believe it to be the greatest mefcal known for

light shoes, and will be surprised if all the fast ones that need light shoes do not wear them before the season closes." The strength and lightness of aluminium render it an admirable metal for many purposes on the farm besides being made into horseshoes. Its price has hitherto prevented it being brought into general use. The bars, it is stated, are sold in New York at 1.15d0l per lb.

Experiment and District. Plot 1. Plot 2. Plot 3. Plot 4. £ s. d. 4 2 11J* I 16 7£* 7 0 6} I 1. Co. Kerry 2. Co. Kerry 3. Co. Cork 4. Co. Cork 5. Co. Waterford 6. Co. Waterford ... 7. Co. Fermanagh... 8. Co. Fer. managh... 9. Co. Fermanagh... in ru Moon, £s. d. 1 8 4h 1 8 5* 8 19 10* 014 94 £ s. d. 0 0 Bi* 1 13 4£* 7 15 10 2 17 3i £ b. A. 1 9 2 1 10 10 J 8 0 7 0 10 10' 5 9 9 3 4 91 0 7 3i 0 19 6i* 0 19 10 5 1 0£ 2 19 3i 2 7 6£ 0 17 7 1 15 10J 0 8 10^ 19 1 I 18 PA 4 13 4£ 2 16 2 1 71 5 8 10 2 18 4 5 18 1