AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2055, 13 July 1893, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

It is surprising with what assurance some people talk about what they do Practical Ex- not understand, especially of perlence practical matters about which Wanted, they have not had any experience nor opportunities of acquiring knowledge. It is equally astonishing, and rather more contemptible, to see what obstinate and mistaken assumptions are put forward as a substitute for practical experience and knowledge. Agricultural meetings often afford

shearing of the present year there may result a prodnoe of from 340,000 to 343,000 bales, as compared with 375,000 bales for 1891 and 1892. The wools, especially those that arrived first in this season, which had began earlier than usual, were in general deficient m length, but fine and delicate, and not greasy. For the last season the results were, with some exceptions, almost equal to, or at anyrate not much inferior to, the proportionally very favourable results obtained by the wools of the previous year. In what proportion these two causes contributed to the diminished result of the last shearing is shown by the following figures referring to the last four yean, giving the quantities of wool and sheepskins exported :— Millions of Kilogrammes. Wool. Sheepskins. 188990 ... 118 ... 3tf-38 1890-91 ... 131 ... 2715 1891-92 ... 152 ... 2417 1892-93 ... 135-140 ... 32-07 The increase in the exports' of sheepskins for 1892 amount* to 8,000,000 kilogrammes as compared with the previous year, and represents a loss of about 3,000,000 sheep, the wool produced by which would have amounted to about 4,000,000 kilogrammes, the quantity by which this year's shearing has fallen. Of the diminished result of 12,000,000 to 15^000.000 kilogrammes, 8,000,000 to 11,000,000 kilogrammes must be put to the account of the smaller weight of the shearing per animal, or about 7 per cent, of the total result ; that is to ! say, whereas in the previous year the average prodmction of a sheep amounted to 1& kilogrammes of wool, in the present year it amounts to only li kilogrammes. The use of wool in the country itself is very small, but that of skins, especially of shorn skins, is on the increase. What height it has attained cannot be ' even approximately estimated, but in any case it has not been so great as to absorb the skins of the large number of sheep which remained over from the growth of the previous year's lambing after deducting the losses in consequence of slaughtering and natural mortality. In other words, the present stock of sheep in the Argentine Republic is in no way smaller thanthat at the beginning^ the previous year, which was reckoned at 114 million head. In the meantime the quantity of sheep in Australia has regularly increased, so that in respect of the number of animals Hie Argentine Republic takes only the second place, whereas during previous years it had taken the first place. As to production, the average yield of wool per sheep in Australia is double that realised in the Argentine Republic, and therefore the total production in the former country bat now for a long series of yean exceeded that of the Utter. The result of Wae shearing of

at £10 103 '; oa account Messrs Palmer Bros. (Otakia),2o dairy cowy at £6 10s; on account Mr W. S. Mosley (Inch Clutha), 14 bullocks at £6 10s ; on account Mr D. Murray (Pukerau), .50 bullocks at £5 17s 6d. Tne'Edendale bullocks are a magnificent draft, and are consigned to the Taieri, their ultimate destination no doubt being the Burnside abattoirs. Another -important transaction which has come under our notice this week/is the sale of 4000 sacks -grain from the ' Enapdale estate (Mr John M 'Queen, manager) to the J. G. Ward Farmers' Association, at a, satisfactory figure. Mr I. S. Simson negotiated the sale. There is a good demand for farms, and in this connection we may mention that . the well-known 240-acre farm at Waikaka^ the property of Mr John Harvey, has been sold to Mr Thomas Wright, through the agency of the N.Z. Loan and M.A. Company, at a satisfactory figure. .Lastly, from Mataura comes word that Mr T. A. Connor's rabbit and meat-preserving works have been bought, and will in future be worked by a company." - Mr C. W. Reid of Elderslie advises me (" Straggler ") that, he has compiled the Elderslie sheep records for the past 13 yean. Since 1879 at Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, and Donedin the flocks have been shown at 41 different shows and have taken 54 champion prizes/236 first, 200 seoond, and 83 third prizes, also 30 commended tickets and several cups for largest prizetakers in sheep. A good record The Ensign says :— ° The croakers that predicted that the supply of sheep would give out and that the freezing works at Mataura would be a white elephant need croak no longer ; for already it has been found that the present appliances are not sufficient for requirements, and that if the company is to cope with the various' lots almost daily put under offer to it they will have to ' lengthen out theU* cords and strengthen their stakes.' This course they are adopting. - They' are putting in a new engine, which will be in position and completely fitted up in about three weeks' time, and the capacity of the works will then be 800 a day. At present 500 sheep are being put through by Mr Kingdon daily, and we understand no cessation, in the supply is likely ; indeed, for the next two months all will be kept going on lots that have already been arranged for, to say nothing of the supplies that pour in from unexpected quarters. Messrs M'Ritchie and M'Leod are again to the fore, this time with 2000 prime four-tooth wethers, heavyweights, and ' still there's more to follow.' The succulent pastures of the Tapanui district apparently cannot* be* overstocked, and the energy of the firm named is like an unquenchable flre. EverytbWf points to the prosperous

mean rival to manila, which is perhaps the best of all cordage fibres for ordinary rope-making. So tnuoh does flax fibre resemble manila that it is freely used to mix with the dearer fibre. To so great an extent is this done that it is not now easy to get a sample of real manila rope; At first sight it is not easy to detect the difference, which speaks well for our fibre ; but on exposure to the weather the flax portion darkens more rapidly than the manila, and from the different arrangement of cells in the fibre the flax rots quioker than manila. The advantage of keeping flax rope dry as far as possible is therefore evident. If kept fairly dry flax rope is a very serviceable cordage, but in the water or constantly wet and dry it is not so good as manila. The failure of the flax industry, so far as outside markets stand, depends upon the price of manila. Within the colony its future , depends on the variety of uses to which it is put. Aa binder twine ifcgiveß ample satisfaction, and it; is questionable how much of our flax fibre goes aloDg with the manila twine in the market. Our fibre makes the very best of matting, and wears far better than cocoanut matting. And it should prove a valuable material for comsacks. Enterprise is all we want, and it is a wonder that some enterprising firm does not illustrate the possibilities of the flax fibre by making experimental samples of matting and sacking. In these two lines alone Itelieve there is a great future for New Zealand flax. No particularly complicated machinery is required, as I have seen excellent matting made by a sailor who erected the necessary plant himself in a rough-and-ready way, and the matting was dyed with New Zealand barks. I Since supplies are giving out, not only through the clearing of flax lands, but The also through the destruction by I Cultivation stock, the question of cultivating of Flax, flax arises. And will it pay ? Well, I am not quite prepared to ! answer this question. My own efforts in this direction were Hot particularly successful, although others have had a fair measure of success. When grown from seed the process is rather slow, and some 10 or 12 years would were one time familiar with. Perhaps the best way of cultivating flax would be by dividing the roots' and setting -these out at sufficient intervals. As there will certainly arise a good; demand for the fibre some day, and that at a good paying price, what I would recommend would be the growing'of experimental plots by all who take sufficient interest in the industry. Select a small* plot of rich, land, for the flax plant likes good soil, and set the roots in spring time at intervals of 2ft. In good time there will be a decent crop of flax ; and if for no other purpose the flax will be useful on the

an exhibition of these absurdities, for the simple reason that rljally practical and competent men are so slow and diffident of speech that very little can be got out of them, while those who have the gift of the gab cannot refrain from talking so much that they usually make ridiouldus statements, and thereby pro-, claim their Want of any practical knowledge of the subject that they have been discussing. It has been truly said that there is no department, of life in whioh the hoarded wisdom of practical men is more needed than in agriculture. And yet how hard it is to extract this wisdom' If farmers could only be induced to raise their voice in public meetings, or make known their opinions in the farming columns of the papers, very great benefit would be derived from the interchange of ideas, and there would be less time and spue for the speeches and writings of those who wish to air opinions and ideas which will not stand the test of practice. A solidly practical farmer—especially one who has made farming prosper with him, and thereby proved the value of his practice—is always listened to with attention and patience, no matter how pdor a speaker he may be, simply because 'people know that heis worth hearing and that, he has some special knowledge, some telling fact, some valuable suggestion which he will contrive to get out if he is allowed to take his own time and way. Writing for the press, on the other hand, requires no! elaborate style, and no matter how, plainly clothed the ideas may be, they will be understood and appreciated by those for whom they are intended. A farmer sees something in his paper with whioh he does not agree, and upon a subject that he thinks he is competent to deal with, having given it special attention. Well, he makes up his mind that he will write and correct that statement, and put quite another face upon the matter. But if he does not sit down and do it right off the reel while he is warm upon it, the chances are 100 to 1 that he will let it slide altogether, and his brother farmers will lose the benefit of what he had to say. And so at a nceeting of agriculturists. The faddist makes a long-winded speech which ignores the practical aspect of the matter altogether, and the diffident farmer thinks he will get up and pulverise the previous speaker. But his nervousness and lack of suitable words hold him back, and though he clears his throat and half rises, his heart fails him and the opportunity passes. Aaßicor-A.

During the half-year extending from October 1,1892, to March 31, 1893, we learn from the Textile Mercury that there were exported, via Buenos Ayres, Bahia Blanoa, La Plata, and the rivers, 310,000 bales of wool. From, the

1891-92 in Australia amounted to 1,683,000 bales, that of 1892-93 is estimated at 1,750,000 bales, each bale weighing 180 kilogrammes, whilst an Argentine bale weighs on the average 410 kilogrammes. The number of sheep for Australia is given for 1891-92 at 124- million.'

' The Minister for Lands has received a cablegram from the AgemVgeneral in Condon stating that 75 English farmers are passengers on board the Ruahine (shortly expected here), and are coming'out under the new arrangements which have been made by the Agent-general and the New Zealand-Government with the New Zealand 'Shipping Company, to assist farmers from Home with small capital. The penalty for making an incorrect return of sheep, although there may be no intention of evading, the law, is Very severe, and under the act the inspector is bound to prosecute. At Waikaia last week Mr D. Gillanders was fined £10, the lowest penalty provided, because of an inaccurate return due to an error of one of his employes.- ' The Post states that by the Talune the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company received a consignment of purebred Ayrshire cattle—eight cows and one bull-"-from the herd of Mr K. B. Ferguson, the well-known Ofcago breeder of Ayrabires. The animals have been sold at a high figure, to a prominent settler near Palmerston North. By, the Hauroto about 40 Border Leicester and Shropshire Down ewes and rams from Mr John Grigg's Longbeach estate were sent to Sydney.The Southern Standard of Friday last says: —"We are pleased to observe that a decidedly healthy tons, is being experienced in local business circles. Particularly does this welcome announcement presently apply to the live-stock market. To-day, for instance, will see the departure per rail from Gore of a special train with 40 trucks of sheep, numbering 3400 head, consigned to Oamaru for breeding purposes. The sheep are mostly females, the ewes having been mated with Leicester rams. The sales were negotiated by the Farmers' Agency Company (Limited), on behalf of .the following clients t On account New Zealand and Australian Land Company (Edendale estate), 1000 eweß at 10s 6d, and 400 lambs'at 8s; on account Mr P. F. Monaghan (Gore), 300 ewes at 11s, and 400 wethers at 13s; on account Mr John Turnbull (Waikaka), 100Q lambs >at 10s, and 300 ewes at 10s. The same firm, also conducted the negotiations in the following transactions in cattle t On account New Zealand and Australian Land Company (Edendale estate), 100 prime bullooks

nature of present operations, and -it is to be devoutly hoped that farmers, _ grazlSrs, and stock owners in the district will. support a company that has provided such a good' market for the surplus stock of the district. An appeal is being made that more shares 'should be taken up, and we expect to see a liberal response. The investment is a proved one, and the company have done all they can do td merit the financial support (hey are now in quest of." .. . In his speech to the Tarariaki farmers Mr Yecht, the pork buyer, said that the! process of bis firm, roughly outlined, was to get a large oven heated to a white heat, the- carcase 'was then put in for a very brief space of. time— just sufficient to melt the fat under the .skin and break the pores, . The carcase was then taken out, and then, by the application of a sodden cold process , the carcase became hermetically sealed. It would, therefore, be seen; that > they , required a pig that had a coating ol > solid fat, whleh would seal better than the' baoon fat pig. , ."/.,, Messrs Reid and Gray have on view at.Gore a working model of a new paterit-ra manure distributor for a grain drill; Superiority is claimed for the invention on several points. The distributor consists of a cylinder/ working over an eccentric - The cylinder is pierced in hi dozen places or more, and aa- it revolves steel slot bars rise and take the nianu^e.. through, . withdrawing as soon ,as the surcharge! is qpmpleted.' There ' is also a spring .on, the gate ' which prevents .choking, and. We were, shown the impossibility of blocking th^e machine, a number of pieces of iron of the dimensions of a fair sized marble being negotiated- without difficulty. No doubt there will be a distributor with the improvement fitted up before longt - The invention is worth the ■ inspection of farmers, and Mr Nichol, the firm's manager, will be glad to point out the improvements and show the modus operandi. At a well-attended meeting of representatives! of local bodies in Ashley County, Canterbury, held at Rangiora last week, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr G. Wallace, seconded by Mr. Wright—-" That the meeting recommend to the - Minister for Agriculture that he take steps to ~ compel the local bodies to pay 4d per dozen for old birds in the winter months from' the middle of May to the middle of August/and that in the summer months not less than Id per dosen be paid for eggs and heads." ',■ - „ a . The Lumsden correspondent of the Southland: News writes :—" The rabbit-poisoning opera* tions are now being carried on with .vigour in all neighbouring portions of this district. At Five Rivers almost a complete clearance has been made by means of traps. Throughout the winter the trappers have worked unremittingly, and the result is a considerable clearance^ of the pest, the satisfaction of the manager at the good results, and a well-earned cheque' for ' the trappers. The poisoning ' has ■ now been begun by a gang of practical men. under the charge of a very experienced hand. Onthia estate for some years the owners .trusted greatly . to ferrets, but although these > pests No. 2 have ■ propagated in large quantities, yet they do not seem to have achieved the results for which they were liberated on the land and which were anticipated from them, Perhapaj in view ■ of the number of unemployed seeking" work, it' may be as well that results have nptheen moresuccessful. The Five Rivers manager, anyhow,' is determined to keep down the, rabbits now that he has been so successful jn bid tnewde«\ parture, and he will spare no trouble to -keep the estates clear." ' ' ': .>-,,", A meeting of the committee of the' North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association ' was held last week. The consideration of the Stock Bill was resumed, .and the president having pointed out that the bill bad been oon«siderably remodelled by the. Minister, it. was generally 'agreed that it would be [useless to continue the discussion of; clauses that did. not exist in the new bill. Th« commi Jtee, however, continued the discussion* on the bill, thetone of the meeting being decidedly- hostile to' the bulk of the clauses dealt with. ■• -V; - ' ' > The following is a summary of the .business < transacted at the Aldington live stock market*, last week :— The miserable weather, as well as making things unpleasant :,and'. detract-; ing from' the appearance of the entry," had. »'. depressing effect upon business in most depart- v ments. The entries for the. day f comprised about 2000 store sheep, 7000 fat sheep, 137 head of fat cattle, about 15Ohead of stores, and 200 pigs. In consequence of the scareity'of feed store sheep are neglected, only the more useful' sorts being saleable. Fat sheep -were well represented, there being some' really bicelyfinished heavy crossbreds yarded, and these J brought fully up to late rates.- Freezers and lighter weights were not eagerly, competed' for, buyers for export not being, satisfied' with," the price of mutton in the English market^ and some of this class were withdrawn. A : number of merino wethers wete included in* the entry, and the better sorts sold fairly well, ' but inferior were neglected. The entry of fat cattle consisted mostly of heifer and secondclass steer beef, with one or two peas of prime bullocks; The trade was well represented, and - all lots were sold at iip to full market rates. 1 If anything the tone of the market Was' firmer 1 than that ol last week's sale. The store. cattle' pens were occupied chiefly by young stores and 1 cows. Buyers were operating freely, -and "in' all cases where vendors had not put on extreme values satisfactory busine; s, was done. Dairycows were well represented, and a fair amount of business was done, one line from Ashburton '' averaging £7 10s 6d per head.' Prime baconpigs were scarce, and sold exceedingly well;-; if anything, at slightly higher .rates than 1 ' those ruling last week. The demand for' porkers had slighty improved, but 'stores and * small pigs are a -drug. A large of buyers were present, but the sale dragged con-* siderably owing to their disinclination to frame - values.— Lyttelton Times. . > Notwithstanding numerous warnings by way ■ of advertisements and notices we (Christohnrch ; Press) regret to learn that sheep worrying is, still very prevalent in some quarters. This is . especially so on properties adjacent'to the oity. - Within the last few days serious damage has been done to breeding ewes on the Cashmere estate, which at this particular season is much to be deplored. Owners of dogs' who enjoy strolling on the Port Hills might at least show" sufficient regard for other people's property to -'• induce them to take effective measures against ' doing such injury. A few days ago we (News) mentioned- that a couple of weasels had been captured in a yard- ■ in Invercargill. An instance of three hens and a duck falling victims to the little animals, • which were imported at considerable expense to ' work havoc among the rabbits; is 'repotted this ■ time in the very centre of the town. That they ' are scattering themselves over a wide area is . very evident, one having been captured in the rough country at Wilson River. N '-. l ''■ *X The Akaroa Mail says :— " There seems every ,- • prospect of an early spring. The almond is a. mass of blossom; camellias and many descriptions of veronica are in bloom, whilst miowflake, several kinds of narcissus,' and 'croons are ' in flower. In one' secluded nook atOnuku on' Wednesday we noticed a sptay' of the; white blooms of the native convolvulus^ a very rare , ' sight in June." (Continued on page 31) ''Jjf ■. '