SPECIAL SALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 7

SPECIAL SALES.

February 13.— Farmers' Agency Jompany at Gore, freehold farm ; 200 acres at Ohatton. For Private Sale.— Wright, Stephenson, aud Co., Greenvale estate, 22,600 acres, and Popotunoa 10,740 acres. Farm at Highcliff. Stronach Bros, and Morris, 5500 acres of good sheep country run 50 nriles from Dunedin. Mutual Agency Company, store and stud sheep., Carswell and Company, luvercargill, properties in Southland. It. Witeon and Company, Romarua estate, Iy.UUU acres, near Outrani. 7600 acres at Middleruarcb ; 622 acres at Hmdon. Bates, Sise, and Co. have for sale farm at Moeraki, of 1526 acres ; and also daijsy farm in the same district of 22(5 acres. Donald Reid and C 0. —7600 acres at Middlemarcu ; 622 acres at Hindon. The manager of the N.Z. Agricultural Company invites offers for town, aurburban, and rural lands on the company's estate. Stronach Bros, and Morris hold their first sale of the season at Wedderburn last week in February. The executors of the late Mr Angus M Donald offer Pakihi Homestead, 1659 acres, within seven miles of Temuka. Sales of store sheep for this season are arranged by Wright, Stephenson, and Co. to take place as follows :— At Leask's Yards, Blacks— Tuesday, March 6. At Caldwell's Yards, Wedderburn— Wednesday, March 7 At Cox's (late Maisey'B) Yards, Kyeburn—Thursday, February 8, and Thursday, March 8 At Mr C. B. Hay's Deepdell Yards, Macraes, on Friday, March 9.

[Communications or interest to stockbreeder? nnd dealijr? arc cordially Imited. All communications to reach Witness office Sot later than Monday night,]

Last week's sales at Burnside showed a marked increase in the number of cattle entered, and also a much higher range of quality than usual. There were 163 head yarded, as against 87 the week previous ; but notwithstanding the large supply, prices were well maintained, best bullocks realising up to £11 10 a. The entry of sheep was also large, there being 1190 forwarded, nearly all crossbreds, and chiefly ewes. Lambs continue plentiful, there being 767 penned, and lls topped the market. The pig market at Burnside is a poor affair now. Although the report states there were 54 "entered, they were all suckers but one or two. The single bacon submitted would go fully 3501b, and realised £3 Bs, which looks well as a quotation, but is slightly unreliable as a guide to prices.

At Addington on the same day 5753 sheep, 2000 lambs, 145 head fat cattle, 163 store and dairy cattle, and 157 pigs were entered. There was a good demand for useful young sheep ; but other sorts were hard to quit. Freezing wethers have a good demand. Fat lambs were in good supply, but the bulk of those forward were inferior. Late rates for cattle were about maintained, and pigs showed a slight advance. Prices : Good two-tooth crossbred store sheep, lla to lls 6d ; best crossbred fat sheep to 16s j best lambs, 9s -to lls 4d ; beef, about 25s per 1001b ; pigs, up to 4-|d per lb.

It appears probable that cattle-raisers will cow turn their attention more to pigs, owing to the interest evoked 'by the establishment of the Intramarine Supply Company locally. I observe also that the bacon industry is reviving in Tasmania, and in connection therewith there are several hints available that may be of value. Many persons have experienced annoyance and loss from hams and cheese having been " struck" by the maggot fly. A simple remedy is to dip the article to be preserved in a solution of the new antiseptic " preservitas," in the proportion of one or two handfuls to a gallon of water. The flies frequent the aiticles after dipping, but their larvte do not live.

The continual presence of the Government veterinary surgeons brings into unplqpsant prominence the fact that disease among stock is more common than was supposed, and it is evident that not only has the flesh of diseased animals been put into consumption, but the milk from diseased cows as well. Cancer and tuberculosis are by no means uncommon, and it is beyond doubt that these diseases are communicable to mankind. I shall relate an incident that occurred locally some time ago. A settler near Dunedin had a cow which he was fattening. In process of time the owner perceived that the cow developed something that caused great difficulty in breathing. As this increased he decided to dispose of her, and accordingly offered her to a neighbouring slaughterman for 10s for feeding pigs. But the new owner shrewdly determined to sell her at Burnside, and, no doubt with great cruelty, drove her there. The animal would have been sold had not the inspector luckily intervened. There is no doubt the animal was suffering from " woolly tongue," and the consequences might have been disastrous. It would have been dangerous even to have given the flesh to the pigs. The subjoined table shows the prices ob»

tamed for fat stock at Burnside for the years 18*85-1894 inclusive. The figures are taken from the market reports published in the Otago Daily Times and Otago Witness, and record actual transactions. The prices given are for that class of stock denominated " best," denoting the h/ghest range and not exceptional values. In sheep the prices represent prime wethers. It is not possible to compile a record of prices for store stock, as of the reports for the 10 years embraced only three mention the price of store cattle, transactions in these being mostly private. There are also such omissions in the quotations for store sheep as would render a table of little value. It should be mentioned that the figures in the table refer to the last pale held in January of each year, and that the

actions being almost entirely confined to the Dunedin supply. The average number of entries for the ten years embraced is as follows :— Cattle (all kinds) 201, fat sheep 1975, lambs 745, pigs 126.

The various frozen meat works have resumed operations. The Burnside works are pegging away steadily, and the Southland Frozen Meat and Produce Export Company are putting through something like 5000 sheep a day. At the two works at Wallacetown and Mataura the following are the net quotations at the works : — Crossbred wethers and maiden ewes, 451b to 491b, ljjd ; 501b to 651b, 2d ; 661b to 701b, l£d ; 711b to 801b, 1 Jd ; crossbred lambs, 301b to 351b, 2|d ; 361b to 421b, 3d ; 431b to 481b, 2%A ; and ewes up to 701b, l^d per lb. Messrs Nelson Bros., who have taken over Mr Ward's works at Ocean Beach, have not issued any circular giving prices, but have buyers actively engaged in the field. The operations of these rival concerns are being watched wil h much interest.

The interim report by Mr Gilruth issued in the shape of Leaflet No. 10, and printed elsewhere, will have the effect of routing many fanciful theories as to the causes of mortality among lambs at marking time. But it does more than this. It conveys a much-needed lesson on the disposal of animals that have died from disease. Many do not scruple to kill animals that are evidently about to die, and feed them to pigs. Bacteriology has opened the public eye to the danger of such courses. The Stock Act rigidly forbids placing dead stock near any water ; and a boggy place is the natural habitat of disease germs. Even burying is sometimes unsafe unless lime be applied to the carcase.

"Bruni" in the Australasian laments the depreciation in the quality of colonial wool since cross-breeding has become the practice. Manufacturers are neglecting the beautifully fine wools, and using for dress material common wool that will last only as long as a fashion remains. "Bruni" had received four samples of merino wool from a reader, and thus comments upon them : — "With the depreciation in merino wool and the objection on the part of the British, consumer to merino mutton, it is difficult to advise what shall be done with sheep that grow such wool. It seems to me almost a

farmer at too low a figure. The price hitherto has been 2|d and 3d, but; the rate is at present in course of reduction to from 2£d to 2jjd. Telegrams from- London just received . state that the butter ex-Coptic brought : For dairy, 88s ; factory, 100s to 102s. Prospects of butter shipped now are rather discouraging. Cheese : Good, 54s to 565.

The Mutual Agency Company have shipped per Orawaiti to the order of a Napier client 60 two-tooth Border-Leicester flock rams from the Clydevale estate.

A correspondent asks me some questions re arsenic poisoning, and in reply I may say that in mixing arsenic with grain, first bring the water to the boil, then add as much arsenic as it will take up— a little over does not matter, as it is cheap. Boil for half an hour, and add a little brown sugar ; then dip the grain into the vessel in a bag, and let it remain covered up until cool. Strychnine is costly and dangerous. It is better to use wheat, as tho poison does not seem to penetrate beyond the husk of the oats, and hence disappointment is the result. One of the beat mixtures for rabbit poisoning was given by my fellow scribe "Agricola" a few weeks back. I allude to phosphorus and pollard. As some readers may have mislaid the recipe, I may explain that it is made as follows : — Weigh out 4£lb sugar, and place it in a clean kerosene tin, when add two quarts of boiling water, and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Next get an earthenware jug that will hold a quart of boiling water, and place in it a stick of phosphorus 4in long, and keep stirring until it is melted. Then mix the melted phosphorus with the sugar water in the tin, and add pollard by the handful until you have stirred in 91b. The consistency of the mixture will then be about similar to stiff dough. Care must be taken to keep stirring until the whole of the pollard is put in, as any stoppage will allow the phosphorus to come together again, making it liable to catch fire when laid out in the paddock. The quantity indicated will serve for about 320 acres if judiciously distributed.

The Waimea Plains Review reports that the clover crops are looking well so far as luxuriant blooming is concerned. It, however, confirms tho statement which appeared in last week's Witness, that humble bees, which fertilise the

week of December, the North British Agriculturist reports that " the beautiful Dexter Kerry heifer which won for her breeder, the Prince of Wales, the first prize in the class for Dexter or Kerry heifers under three years, was sold at the remarkable price of £55 to Messrs Maylon and Sons, provision merchants, London. The age of the animal was two years eight months three weeks and five days, and her gross weight Bcwt. Assuming her to dress 62£ per cent, of dead meat (the percentage estimated by a number of expert gentlemen who examined the animal), the price of £55 live works out at the rate of no less than £11 per dead cwt. This is a record which we should think has never before been excelled or equalled by such a small animal in the history of fat Btock shows."

In a description of a recent visit to Cheviot a correspondent in the Oamnru Mail says: — " Tho bot flies are a perfect pest here, and the horsemen have rather a novel way of protecting their horses. A pocket handkerchief or something similar iB all that is required. A corner is made fast to each ring of the bit, and the other corners are drawn up tight and made fast to the bridle under the ears. Without this the quietest of horses become perfectly unmanageable when a fly is about, as under the throat is the favourite spot for the fly. There the horses seem determined they shall not settle. I saw a horse the other day, after several attempts had been made to catch him, walk up to a handkerchief as be would to a dish of oats because a fly was after him."

The Mark Lane Express of December 4 says : — " Six Leicester gimmers have been shipped to Mr J. Little, of North Canterbury, New Zealand, by Mr E. Jordan, of Eastburn, Drilfield. At the Chester show the sheep were second and reserve, and have won other prizes at various shows. Tbe ram that gained the reserve number at the Royal show has been disposed of by Mr Jordan to go, with another from the same flock, to Buenos Ayres."

In the course of the evidence which was taken in an action at the instance of George Stewart against the Dunfermline Co-opt rative Society, the "manufacture" of sweet milk was described as follows: — "The evening's milk was allowed to stand in coolers all night. It was oreamed in the morning, and a preparation of a brownish colour was put into this milk to take off the bluish tinge and give it a rich colouring." This information seemed to surprise the co-operators present in court, and they were evidently relieved when the witness who made the statement added that the process described was also gono through at Urquhart when the Messrs Craig were the tenants of the farm.

Of a strange experience in wheat-growing in South Canterbury this year the Timaru. Herald

says :— " We hear of a good deal of the wheat crop being 'blighted,' or dyiDg away without any apparent cause, after looking well up to a certain point. In one quarter it is the wheat on sunny facings and well drained slopes that has died away, where the young plant grew unusually well in the moist spring, yet where the complete drainage prevents the death of the plant being attributed to • drowning,' the more so as on the wetter flats and southerly faces in the same fields the blight has not appeared. In another district the reverse is the case, the crop on the flats being valueless, or nearly so, while that on the spurs is all right. Elsewhere the blight has been partial, picking out a small percentage of the plants in all positions. It ought to be every farmer's business to find out if possible what the cause of this so-called blight is. Possibly there could be no preventive or cure found for it if the cause were known, but certainly the cure or preventive cannot be thought of until the cause is known. The plants thrive very well until the ear is formed, and then they turn white and die away, forming no grain. These facts, meagre as they are, point to some affection of the reproductive powers of the flower, whioh may be of the nature either of a disease or of some external influence. If it is a 'disease there may bo at least a partial preventive for it, as there is for smut. If it is due to an ex-ernal cause there is probably no preventive, on a large and practicable 83ale t at all events. There are two or threo imaginable external influences which seem likely to cause such a blight in wheat. Orchardists know too .well how easily their crops are endangered by unsuitable weather occurring when the trees are blooming. A frost- at such a time is their worst enemy ; but probably an untoward heavy rain, or a parching gale, would also be destructive. The reproductive machinery of fruit trees and that of grain are sufficiently alike to justify the belief that a frost which would spoil that machinery in fruit trees would have the same effect upon that of grain. Farmers, then, should observe the effects of frosts upon their crops, or even the effeots of sudden falls of temperature not amounting to frosts, occurring when the plants are in bloom. It is possible that a hot nor'-wester occurring at or otherwise injuring either the anthers or the stigmata of the grain flowers, and to this cause may be attributed the blighting of grain crops in certain exposed situations a couple or three years ago. This year there have been no nor'westera, but it may be that a heavy rain has an equally injurious effect upon the dlooh, and thero hr.7e been so many heavy showers all through the season that many fields of grain must have been caught when they were in a critical condition— for the period of blooming is a critical one. The apparently erratic, yet withal regular, manner in which paddocks in different places have been affected by blight— the flats here, tho spurs there— may be evidence that the cause was an external one, and not a disease. A disease would be apt to attack a whole paddock, or if particular conditions of growth were necessary to its development or propagation then it should appear under^the same circumstances of aspect, drainage, &c. If the cause was external, it must be looked for in some climatic influence, which affects the plants, not according to their position, but according to their oondition, as in bloom or otherwise, and this condition varies in different localities on any given day. Supposing that rains may destroy the organs of fructification, then in one place the crops on flats would be in a condition to be exposed to danger, and in another place those on drier lands, at the same time or at different times. If it is asked what practical good is to be gained by making observations on this sort of thing, it may be answered that if a farmer satisfied himself that any portion of his crop of wheat could of a certainty yield nothing, from having been • blighted ' in blooming, he could make better use of the plants than to let them die away into useless dead straw, and better use of his land than to let it lie a month or two longer under a crop of weeds."

' While at work on the dairy test at the World's Fair, Professor Farrington discovered what he believes is the reason of the dark spots often seen in the oil when making the Babcock test. Some have claimed that it is caused by the undue strength of acid, bat the professor says it is due to the way the acid is run into the milk. When it is turned direct into .the milk, black spots appear ; when it is turned gently in and allowed to run slowly down the side of the test bottle, the oil is free from spots. He claims also that it is well to run the test machine at a considerable higher rate of speed than is usually done.

Mr W. H, Root, of Laramie, Wyoming, who took over to England the herd of Wapiti for Sir Peter Walker, has what he conceives to be the largest pair of Texas steer horns in the world. The measurement is 6ft Bin in a straight line from tip to tip, and some few inches more if measured along the curve. Mr W. B. Tegetmeier, the well-known naturalist, says that the £size is so extreme that it is worthy of being put on record.

London now draws an important and increasing supply of sweet milk from Scotland. One company receives 400 gal daily from the districts of Lockerbie and Carstairs. The milk is drawn from the cows at 6 p.m., and arrives in London at 3 a.m., in time for the first delivery, at a cost for carriage of 2d per imperial gallon. It is conveyed by rail in specially constructed six- wheeled spring vans, to prevent injury from agitation of the milk. The quality is said to be superior to the London standard.

Australian papers mention that cattle and horses on the Upper Goulburn are suffering from an affection of the eyes, supposed to be the result of a sting by an insect. The animals appear to suffer great pain from the affection, and several are said to have died from it. The Adelaide Observer of the 27th ult. says • — " Mr Kither brought to this office last week a tin of tallow fresh and sweet, which was made by Mr Kennedy, the manager for Mr Ellis's Btnares estate, Mount Gambier, 21 years ago. Mr Kennedy boiled the sheep down in water in open vats, and the product, of which that in tbe tin was a sample, realised the highest price for any tallow sent into tho English market With the fall in quotations by 50 per cent, during that period it no longer pays to use the open vats, the carcases now being reduced by steam. The sample in question was kept in an ordinary tin with a lid, and beyond standing it on the floor no effort was made to preserve the tallow. It looks as good in every respecb as when the tin was filled."

The Mildura Cultivator mentions that a sadder m that settlement has grown saffron for his own use. Saffron consists of the stigma and anthers from the flowers of a bulbous plant known as Crocus satiris, which are gathered tram day to day, dried, and pressed. Saffron is sold at about 4s 6d per oz there, and is used for dyeing leather and other articles ; in medical practice to a small extent, and largely by confectioners and pastrycooks. False saffron ia largely used also. It is made from the stigmas and anthers ot a thistle-like flower known as Carthamus tinctorius, which is cultivated in gardens for ornament.

(Continued on page 11,)

figures in parentheses indicate the number entered for sale. rnicEs of Fat Stock at Burnside in January ISSS-1894 Inclusive.

From the foregoing table it will be seen that from the year 1886 prices have steadily advanced, while the numbers of stock submitted have not materially varied. Burnside is peculiar in this respect, that it is simply a fat-stock market, and it is also noticeable that very little is bought there for export, trans-

sin to cross them with longwools, and yet the inexorable logic of facts shows that in the present condition of the market for both wool and mutton the crossbred is the more profitable animal for all purposes. But then the question arises, how long will it last ? " The samples of wool sent were from the produce of a seveneighths Vermont ram.

I am favoured with some notes of Mr Vecht's recent visit to Otago and Southland in search of pigs. He is highly pleased with the suitability of the district for pig-raising, but is rather disappointed at the apathy of farmers* At some of the factories pigs are dealt with properly, but at others very much the reverse. There is a great demand for store pigs. He thinks Government should appoint an expert to teach farmers how to grow and rear pigs, for it is evident that the want of success is largely due to want of knowledge. Fig-breeding has greatly benefited the dairy industry in Victoria, and it is admittedly connected with it very intimately. Mr Vecht has never seen any country so well adapted to the dairy and pork industry as Otago and Southland. He says that Ireland puts 100,000 fat pigs in the market every week, and that Otago and Southland ought to do the same easily. He advises the Berkshire pig as the moat suitable for Otago and Southland, the Yorkshire being rather more delicate and not so capable of "roughing it " as the Berkshire. Since Mr Vecht came to New Zealand the pigs have doubled in number, and yet they were never so dear and scarce, and he claims to have added in this way £100,000 to the wealth of the colony. The pork he has already sent home has given great satisfaction. He deprecates the large present waste of whey and skim milk, and points to the necessity for utilising everything in the competition with Australia that must be reckoned with. Victorian farmers get only 2d to 2£d for their milk, and with the aid of the pigs they get better returns per cow than our farmers, who are receiving 3d to 3£d per gallon. In the Otago Witness of October 26 full instructions are given by Mr Vecht on the feeding of pigs. The substance of the foregoing is contained in a report of an interview between Mr Vecht and a Southland Times reporter. Mr Vecht has, however, put the price of milk received by the Victorian

blossoms, are scarce, but adds that the diminution in their numbers iB due to starlings destroying them. I should be glad to have some iuformation on the subject, as we have not hitherto laid any serious offence at the door of the starling, which stands almost alone in favour of all the acclimatised birds. Perhaps some correspondent will send me his experience.

OSS 0 01 I U t.l L 0 S I (OSS) 0 8 1 (oos) 0 9 3 (281) 0 SI S 0 01 I (06) 0 01 I 0 91 I oi 0 8 I (ZH) 0 0 £ 1 sSij as) (IS) (on) (101) o ii o 9 6 0 (Z9Z) 0 51 0 0 01 0 (f64) 6 01 0 0 6 0 (ere) 8 6 0 0 9 0 9 8 0 9 2 0 (SOOT) 0 S 0 6 Z 0 (IIS) 6 9 0 0 S 0 (Ql9) 0 S 0 o; 9 f 0 (6S01) 6 Z 0 oi 0 S 0 (069) 0 8 0 0 9 0 (238) o no 01 9 SI 0 (0511) 0 SI 0 o no (isos) 8 * I 0 8 51 0 (J'OH) 6 81 0 9 SI 0 (SSOS) g SI 0 0 01 0 (f6I8) 9 IT 0 0 01 0 (fSSI) 0 6 0 9 S 0 (1903) 8 Z 0 oi 9 9 0 (0683) 9 01 0 oi 6 S 0 (ifSI) 0 019 oi OOS 0 910 (5905) 9 31 6 oi 9 51 Z 9 ZI 9 9 3 Z 0 01 S 0 01 S 0 SI S 0 01 S 0 01 f 0 0 Z oq. 0 0 8 0 01 9 oi OOS 9 LI 8 0 SI? ' 1 smoo 0 01 II oi 0 01 6 (891) •psp -s y 9 Z 6 0 0 8 (881) 'P - s ? 9 Zt 8 0 0 2 (fSo) 9 31 S 0 0 Z •PsP -s gr j 0 SI Z 0 0 9 0 0 6 oi 0 0 Z (SOS) •P "8 7 0 S Z OS 9 (ZIS) •psp -s g? , 0 0 6 oi 0 0 Z (883) 0 0 6 oi 9 ZIS (113) •P "s 3P 9 ZI 01 0 0 8 (981) T6BT '8681 "5681 "1681 , "0681 •68ST '8881 •zssi •9881 •SBBT