AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2087, 22 February 1894, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The careful inspection that is at present being made of cattle publioly sold for slaughtering purposes resulted in the seizure at the Burnside yards last week of an animal suffering from the disease commonly called "lumpy jaw," the representative of the Stock department ordering the beast to be withdrawn from the sale and destroyed. The scientific term of the disease is actinomycosis, but it is loosely spoken of also as tuberculosis or cancer. Mr Gilruth, the Government veterinary surgeon, informs us that it is not an infectious disease, in the strictly scientific sense of the term although it is highly contagious ; but it is infective — that is to say, the disease spreads from one organ to another. Unt'ec the Stock Act the destruction is necessary of an animal found to be suffering from actinomycosi?, but the disease is curable if discovered in the early stages. A report comes from Taranaki of what is alleged to be a determined attempt by a bullock to commit suicide. The animal, with other bullocks, entered ths water to drink, but this particular bullock persisted in placing its head under water and keeping it there so long that the driver hitched on the shatter and dragged the suicidal one out of the water. The animal was fsund to be quite dead.

The Christchurch Press reports a dastardly outrage at Mr Garforth's property at Spreydon. On Tuesday morning two of the Btnd rams were found dead, another with its legs broken and otherwise seriously injured, which necessitated its being destroyed, while two more had been chased into a creek, but were recovered. The sheep had evidently been chased about a great deal, but the animals killed and injured showed no signs of having been touched by dogs.

We have more than once discussed in our columns the probable cause of the frequently recurring fires in frozen meat steamers, and the confident belief of Mr J. C. Firth, a well-known Auckland citizen, that that cause is the charcoal insulation used in the steamers. In this opinion Mr Firth is strongly supported by Professor Lawes in a lecture on spontaneous combuition before the British Association at Nottingham. Whether it can be demonstrated with sufficient clearness to shipowners that charcoal insulation is really responsible for these fires may be matter for discussion. One thing, however, is certain, that since charcoal has been used as an insulator, fires on steamers are very much more common than formerly ; and the strong tendency of charcoal to spontaneous combustion was well known to chemists of the highest repute, and was embodied in " The Imperial Explosives Act 1873." Mr Firth has not pointed out the danger of charcoal insulation without being ready with a remedy. He has for some time been busy perfecting works for utilising the pumice deposits of the North Island as a safe and perfect insulating material, and he draws attention to the industry he is establishing by advertisement in our last issue. We learn from Mr Firth that the Hon. J. G. Ward is insulating his new freezing works at the Bluff with pumice insulator. The yellow star thistle (Centaurta solstitialis), a very objectionable weed, is said to be spreading at Tuapeka West. The harvest yields generally in the Wairarapa district are not so good as in previous years. Mr Robert Thompson, farmer, near Maheno, is just cutting a small paddock of Danish oats about six acres of which is estimated by subenumerators and grain brokers to yield 110 bushels to the acre. The straw measures 9f b 4in. The grain is stout and particularly well filled and in first-class condition. It is without doubt one of the heaviest crops of Danish oats ever grown in the North Otago or South Canterbury district. The Palmerston Times states that harvest hasnow become general. The crops are very light, especially the wheat, and where heavy have been laid. The small birds, too, have played havoc, so that the prospect for farmers is not hopeful. A correspondent at Waikoikoi informs us that there was a sharp frost, with ice, in the Waikoikoi district on Thursday morning. The crops are spoken of as good, and harvesting will be pretty general next week. Mr Lowe, the Government dairy expert in London, reports that the London Butter Committee is practically broken up through the members underselling one another. He suggests that the factories should set up London branches for themselves, and store the butter, fo as to keep it on the market nearly all the year round. He has tasted butter kept for nine months without depreciation, and he thinks cheese and fruit and other things might be included.

The Hessian fly is reported to be very troublesome in the Matau and Hillend districts. It has done some damage in the Puerua district. In the Ballymonty Sessions Court, County Antrim, Ireland, a case of very great importance to agriculturists and seed merchants has arisen, and of peculiar significance, because the charge against the defendant was brought under criminal law, and not as usually in a court for damages. The case arose out of a bargain relating to seeds, and was brought in the form of obtaining money under false pretences. The allegation is that the defendant offered to sell a lot of fine Italian grass seed. This was bought by the plaintiff by sample, and the bags containing it was pointed out by the defendant. It was stated that when the bags were emptied the top consisted of fine seed, and the bottom of inferior seed. It was contended that this made a difference of over £20 in the value of the seed. Evidence was given on behalf of the defendant, stating that there was no doctoring of the seed in any way, and alleging that it had been sold subsequently for -more money than plaintiff agreed to give. The defendant was committed for trial, and it is scarcely necessary to remark that the hearing in the criminal court will have a peculiar interest for farmers and seedsellers. (Continued on page 11.)