AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL HEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 12

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL HEWS.

A trial of Stnith'B patent pulveriser, for which Meters Booth, Mncdonold, and Co., of Chribtchurcb, are agents, took place on the New Zealand and Australian Land Company's . Hoenki estate, near Hampden, on Monday. Owing to the wretched weather the attendance was not large, but those present were enthuitKBtic in their approval, the trial showing that the pulveriser thoioaghly pulverises the furrow without bringing the grass or rubbish to the surface, and leaving a perfect seed raving one stroke of the harrows and adding but slightly to the draught of double-furrow plough. In twitcby patches, among rushes or tut socks, where the plough will not pack its work, the pulverising attachment, it iB claimed, is invaluable, as the furrows cannot fall back after the pulveriser has pasted over them. For brioging lea, turnip, and stubbles speedily into cultivation, and especially for reducing rough country, it is said to be the most effectual implement yet introduced. As ib will be on exhibition at the Dunedin Ehow farmers will no doubt carefully inspect it. It is intended to hold trials in various parts of Otsgo and Southland. A rather singular developmnn 1 ; him t.xkfii place in the wool market in Ame.ricA. At the beginning of October 500,0001b Montana wool vu sold at Boston for shipment to Bradford,-" rod a week later 117,0001b wa3 eo'.d for shipment to Liverpool. The guessing competition at the Otago Central show was won by Mr M'Whirter, of Tarras ttation, whoge guess was 3141b, the correct freight being 3171b. •• The Laddie" writes in the Nelson Evening Star ;— " k ln passing through the eld cemetery I

observed a fine patch of i.a'ive grass called Hydrochloa redolens. It is very rare abont Nelson. In Mr John Buchanan's b jok on native gfapses it is very highly spokeu of as one of tbe be?.t grilses for fattening sheep and cattle. When euce they get a tante of it they will eat it to the very'roots, and discarding all other?, will wauder about in Eea<eh of more. It grows iv tufts similar to that of cockbfoot, but the leaves stand erect, and are about half an inch broad. It is highly scented, and when chewud is of a nutty flavour. It is reported that if cows feed on it the nutty flavour is imparted to the butter. Sir George Grey saw the importance of this grass, and asked Mr Buchanan for it. He applied to me to procure him some seeds from Otago, which I did, for cultivation in his island home at Auckland. It chit-fly grows on moist land, where it attains a height of 2£ r t On dry hillsides it only grows l^ffc high. Farmer*, acd especially dairymen, ought to get it mixed among the grasses in their grsziDg paddocks." A dairy expert is to be despatched to Clyde to lecture to the farmers in that district. VITICULTURE IN NEW ZEALA KD. SIGNOR BRAGATO'S REPORT. The Department of Agriculture have issued in paDipbl«t form the report received from Sigtior Bragato, the Victorian G rvernment viticulLural expert, on the prospects of viticulture in New Zealand, togethc-r with instructions for planting and pruning. The report so far as it rclatf- to Ottgo is suh«»tftntia'ly on the same I lim— -a tt 1 t..rnv«'ii<n which we [mMi-hed in (•i\i t o • tiiii a' ! <r oue of our rt prei-entatives bai interviewed Sig-ior Br> gt> In concluding his report, the expi-rt brirfly summarises hia opinions as to the capabilities of vine culture in New Zealand as follows :—: — "The Hawke'B Bay and Wairarapa provinces are pre-t-minently suite-d to the viue, and I look forward to the time wheD these provinces will be studded with vineyards. " The Central Ot^go district bas in part a bright future before it in the matter of vine growing and fruit culture. In portions ot

Otago great care should be observed in the selection of varieties to be planted. These remarks apply to a number of other districts ! already referred to. ' " In the first pace, in order that the vitioultural industry may be established iv New Zciland, it Hppear-> tj nsio nece^sarj thiit State aid in some fi.rm should be given to those embarking in the industry. What form such aid should take it iB for your Legislature to determine. You are conversant with what has been done in this direction in the Australian colonies. " In order that the indus'ry bo pursued after the most scientific meMiods, I would recommend the establishment of a technical college of viticulture, presided over by a ger.tleman who is thoroughly educated in every feature of the industry, and under the strict supervision of the Department of Agriculture. This college would setvc as a medium of education to those desiring to embark in the vine growing and fruit industries, and to the rising generation of agri'ulturisbs in your colony. Following upon thia there should be esfablisßed io the midsb of the large centres of population experimental farms, where experiments would be m&de in connection wilh every branch of agriculture. These experimental farms should be under the supervision of gentlemen having a, thorough knowledge of the subjects which they are called upon to teach and experiment. These farms would prove to the agriculturists th"c capabilities of tbo'r district", and disst initiate amongal them knowledge regarding the various agricultural industries. " The question of the formation of associations in the various districts throughout your island is, I am aware, a matter quite out-ide the province of a Government, but I strongly urge that some tfforts in that direction be made. The advantage* which would accrue are manifold. A competent body in each district would determine the most suitable varieties for planting, collect and Epread lucal data, and thus in great measure secure the industry against failure. Each district would subsequently gain notoriety for the wine produced, as in the varium famed wine districts of the Continent Diseases incidental to the vine could be combated more succt s>S nlly under the direction of an association than by the individual. Markets could be opened up for the wine, and table grapes produced with more advantage to the grower than if each were left to find a market for himself. " I respectfully recommend that a thorough inspection of all the vineyards and vineries ia your colony be made, in » rder to ascertain if they are free from phylloxera. A knowledge of the extent to which this scourge has infected your vineyards would prove of immense advantage to the intending grower, by preventing him from planting vines from pbylloxera-iuf<-cted districts. I also desire to recommend the importht'oa from Europe (by the Department of Agriculture only) of cuttings of American resi^tf-nt viue3. " The advantages which the vili 'ultural industry give to a country are many. With the creation of vineyards (here comes a large increase in the population, by reason of the areas utilised being small, and the numb r of hands required in the fiold work and the making of «vine being greatly in excess of those required iv the carrying out of other agricultural pursuits. The value of the land is greatly increased by the planting of vines owing to the rich return. In all parts of the world a vineyard of small extent is assessi-d at a value equal to that of a farm of considerable size. The wine making industry is an immense source of wealth to a nation, as is showu by the records of the countries where it is largely pursued. As a matter of fact, it occupies the first place amongst the nations' sources of wealth. I have no hesitation in saying that, were the industry ttken up with spirit and pursued to only a small proportion of the av*ilhb'e land, the natural advantages are such as to warrant a handsome reward to the grower and the country at la r g<i. " Fear may be felt in some quarters Ihit if the vine growing indutry were established to a large extent in New Zealand mark«-t< may not ba foand for the wine produced. Misgivings on this t oint are quickly dispelled. The wine consumption in the large ceutres of the world is enormous and the demand ever increasing. The climatic conditions of New Zealand not only favour the production but also tho consumption of wine; hence the local marktt will inoew- ui"h flu < u'put '• Ii ji.ur i- loj^y I met ma'iy ge lilemen who are keenly alive to th 1^ advantaged which v t ; - | culture, frotn a national* as well as from | an individual standpoint, sffurds, an'l I should | like to see the spirit that posses'e* these gei't'.e- ] men communicate itself to agriculturists ia I every district iv the colony. The industry once | taken up there will be no causa for regreb if iDen will work intelligently and industriously. I firmly believe tbat growers will year by year find it vastly to their advantage to SBcreaee their area under vines."