AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Mr S. S. Cameron, M.R.0.V.8., the Danedin inspector of abattoirs, has a word to flay on dehornbg. "Whether the operation of dehorning," ha writes, "involves pain, •ucn. as to amount to cruelty depends entirely on the age or period at which it is performed and the method adopted. Unquestionably, the dehorning of mature cattle is grossly and indefensibly cruel, much more so than the forcible cutting of- a man's healthy finger or toe nail, on account of the greater amount of tissue and nerves involved, the greater force that has to be used, and the larger surface exposed until the healing process is complete; It matters not whether the horns are s&wn off or clipped off, the tearing of the saw teeth ia the one case and the pressure and cutting of the clippers in the other causes extreme irritatiou of tbe nerves -ramifying in the horn core amounting to cruelty — scientific illy demonstrable and practically and ocularly revolting. All the defences of the operation on mature cattle have failed in tbe Eoglish and Scottish courts, and it seems a pity that, perhaps on account of the greater laxity of the law on these matters in the colonies, this old, abandoned, and cruel method should ba revived here, especially so when the end may be gained by hamune means. The growth of the horn may be permanently prevented by the destruction of tbe Keratogenous or horn-forming membrane during calfhood, at from three weeks to three months, according to the breed, but just at the time when the small horn butts have appeared through the ekin and are about the eiza of a sixpenny piece, projecting about a quarter of an inch. This may be done by an operation with a strong sharp knife or special instrument for the purpose, or by tbe application of caustics — caustic potash or chromic acid being about the best. The amount of pain inflicted by the adoption of either of these methods is infinitesimal and transient, and is quite warranted by the benefits which the oper&t'on confers, and the extra comfort which the animal enjoya during after life."

The North Otago Times says : — *• Some months ago Mr Meek and Dr de Ltutoor arranged to obtain some new varieties of potatoes from one of the best growers in Great Britain. Six varieties were ordered out of some 200 or 300 kinds — these six being judged to be the moat Suitable for the district. These were distributed in various directions between about 20 growers. The potatoes arrived in the beginning of February, and, this was' rather late for plautibg. But they wera planted, and we have scan the fir*t sample, which was groWn by Mr Halford, of Kukanui. The variety is that known as 'Early Wonder.' These potatoes are quite fib for the table, and are, ready to dig in eight weeks from planting. This importation will probably be of great service to the growers in this district, and we shall be. pleased to learn that they are. It was not expected that the results would be great this Benson owing to the lateness of the planting, but next year better results are anticipated."

Of the progress of the gorse blight in Canterbury the Lyttellon Times say» : — " Complaints have frequently come to Ivind from farmers and others to the effect that tbeir gorce fences are dying oat from some mysterious canse.- Mr S. Garfortb, of Spreydcn, has just left at the office of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association a branch of gorse having a grub embedded in the pith, after the manner of the borers which affect the currant trees. The grub or larva referred to resembles the larva of Thoramus Wakcfieldi, a native beetle. This notice may have the effeeb of stimulating further inquiry regarding the decadence of our gorse hedges." -

The export of frozen rabbits promises to assume con-idflrable dimensions thia season. The North Otago Times mentions that Mr W. J. Tor.fcin, of Timarn, has made satisfactory arr-vnijerreuts wiih the loc*l freezing works For lue ircziug of rabbits during the sessoD. Mr Tonkin has returned from Southland, and made similar arrangements with the Southland Freezing Company at Mataura, and expects to put through from 150,000 to 200,000 rabbits during the season. — On the same subject the Wyndham Farmer »ay« :— •• This morning we draw attention to a couple of business notices appearing ia these columns — those of Mesars John Taylor and F. J. Sullivan respectively. These gentleman to jpsemiKg tk attract fee Uftdjng in mi

manipulating rabbit carcase*. Mr Taylor, ofc the Mataura Rabbit-packinj Depot, is now ia his third year of business at the City of the Falls. In 1894 he purchased 5000 rabbits front his clients, which he had frczen in the local freezing works, and subsequently exported to the Home market. Last jear he quintupled his turn-over, no lees than 25,000 rabbits beiug treated. This year Mr Taylor expects to go considerably better— he reckons 50,000 or 60.00 X rabbits will not be beyond his requirements-* and already ha hat despatched 3000 by th« Aorangi, and by the next homeward steam cc (the Banffrhire) he will consign 10,0f0 or 12,000) more. Mr Taylor, .who ii fortunate iv having established a London connection which ia pre* pared to receive an unlimited quantity of bnnny* meat, has just completed the erection of a private residence, also a commodious, well* ventilated building for storing and cooling th<j rabbits preparatory to their being passed into) the freezer. These buildings adjoin the freezing works.— Mr F. J. Sullivan, of Dunedin, tha well-known agent of the Bluff Oyster Company 4, has just commenced business in a similar line to Mr Taylor. A feature of his operations ia a patent! crate with two wooden perches ia it, by means of which 30 pairs of rabbits can be hang ia & box no larger than an ordinary orange case* These new industries should open a profitable field for all settlers who are overrun with? rabbits. We understand that Mr Lambert, ofi Redan, proposes to make 'a start on shniUttT lines very shortly. He will purchase rabbits from settlers in his district and out them him*" self to the freezing works." ,

The Southland News thus relates an expert* ment in dishorning calves with c&nstia potash: — "Mr H. M'Lean, of Bay roaoV having had a good deal of trouble with his boraed bulls getting entangled with wire fences or becoming unmanageable, resolved to try. upon a young one the preventive effect of causti*' potash. Taking the calf at the age of three osfour day«, when the horns were mere buttonlika excrescences, he applied, with the paint of & knife, a small quantity of the substance td each — moistening it at the same (hue with a drop of warm water. The caustic operated front the moment, and to-day the calf, now sis months old, shows no signs of horns, and might bo taken for a born 'poley.' The solvent is inexpensive— a sixpence worth would suffice for a hundred or two— but anessential condition is that it must be kept in a perfectly dry state until the time of using." A Roslyn Bush correspondent writes 89 follows in the Southland Times :— -" A meeting* was held in Mr Saxelby's factory at Roslyu Plains on Friday night. The attendance, although email, was fairly representative. -Me gaxelby explained he had called the meeting to ascertain what support would be given to the factory next season. With the exception of tha first and second years, th« supply had decreased year by year until now, and the time had arrived when either he must receive more milk from the Rosljn people or remove the factory to some other plsce where that support could be given. He had always given a good price for -milk, and was willing to guarantee 3£d pee gallon. Considering that other factories were only paying 2£d and 3d, ho thought this price, was very good. He would be sorry to remove' the factory, because it meant expense to himself, but he must either have more milk or the factory must go. After a conversational dig* cussion additional support was promised, and canvassers were appointed to canvass the district and to report to Mr Saxelby at the end of the present month. It is to be hoped that the farmers will be fully alive to their interests, and not allow an industry which adds so mncbr to the value of land, and which has not cost them one penny of outlay, to Ufcve the, district." The Christchurch papers tell a tale of vandalism as follows :— " The scene on the Springfield estate on the Papanui road, the property of the trustees, of Mrs Maiion Mation, has foe the last week or two been a busy one. Under the lupervision of Mr R. W. England, Jan., the well-known avenue of trees which has formed such an ornament to the locality has been felled on quite a novel plan, whilst a perfect army of men has been engaged in cutting the trees up fos firewood. The method adopted his been to attach a line to each -tree about 40ft above the ground, and by means of a traction engine the gigantic gums and firs have been pulled up by the roots as if they h*d been shrubs. The property has been surveyed into snit&b]r : sized building sections." A report of the field experiments on hay, pasture, potatoes, and rcob crops carried out in Berkshire, Hampshire, and Oxfordshire last year in connection with the agricultural depart" ment of thu University Extension College, Reading, was published in The Times (London) Ftbfuary 24-. So far phosph&tic manures h*ve given tbe best results in improving the quality of pastures, basic slag being apparently more effective and lasting than superphosphates. Ia connection with experiments on potato disease,' it is stated that exceptionally good results were obtained at Fareham. and at Lymiugton by spraying the crop at suitable times with a mixture of sulphate of copper and lime, " applied inthe liquid state." Artificial manures (containing nitrogen, phosphates, and potash) produced an increase of the potato crop at a much less cost thau farmyard manure. In experiments at Htadington, Oxford, it was noticed that swedes were much injured by finger-*nd-tot, and that farmyard manure had considerably increased the attack. On the other hanff, turnips on adjoining land were almost free from tbe disease. The soil in which the roots suffered yielded on analyiis oaly 045 per cent, of lime, whilst that in which they were almost free from attack oontuned as much as 5 94 pee cent, of lime. These facts support the contention of Dr Voslcker «.nd others that absence o£ lime encourages flnjer-and-toe. The field experiments are to be continued this year, and a fourth county — Dortet — is now included iv the schema. At Tinaa.ru on the 15th inst. the Canterbury School Commissioners sued Henry Matthews, farmer, Pleasant Point, for £85 for breaches of his lease of 262 acres in the Fareora, district by not trimming fences, &0., by taking three grain crops in succession off about 120 acr«s, and by not laying down at least three-fourths of the land with permanent grasses and clovers. An arrangement was made by which plaintiffs' accepted £40 as damages and cost! (£lO 8s 4d). It was stated ia court that the aotion wal brought to obtain publicity to the fact that the plaintiffs would insist upon the conditions of their leases, which they found were oocaeionaUjp neglected by the tenants; Some time ago a circular was issued by thft Agricultural departmentstatingthat the Govern* ment would pay tbe steamer and train fares o| one delegate from each association to attend the forthcoming Intercolonial Fruit Conferences, The Government have bow decided to allow every other accredited delegate after the flrtft, one a refund of one-half of railway fare and 10 per cent, on the steamer fare, and a circular to that effect is being issued. It is alleged that over 100,000 bushel* ofc grain are lying on the ground in Southland tbi*. season — the result of the high winds. At a meeting of the guarantors of the Gore, Dairy Factory CompanVß banking account it ua decided that) aa thft ßank of New Zuiaad

bad called up the overdraft the bank be t requested to realise on the property and plant I over which it' has a mortgage, and that a new I company be formed to purchase the property. I

■ Mr John Spratb, of Mataara Island, threshed lus oats the other day, and obtained £n one paddock 100 bushels per acre. The average yield • per acre was 93 bushels. Bdeodttle Dairy Factory despatched 300 ca?e3 of cheese Home last Thursday, by the Kuapehu.

At the Mataura Freezing Works at present 600 sheep and over 2000 rabbits are being frozen daily.

The quantity of £rain carried during th« past six weeks on the Southland section was 89,721 sacks, being 43,804 sacks loss than foe the as. me period l&ati year. The falling-off is accounted for by the late harvest and farmers storing largely for a rise.