AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2253, 6 May 1897, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Three year* ago the Royal Agricultural Society of England circulated a leaflet on the prevention of epizootic abortion among cows, and a new edition, revised to date, has recently been prepared. Stock-owners in whose herds abortion occurs from time to time in the epizootic form are urged to deal with the disorder as they would with foot-and-mouth disease or any other contagious malady — that is, by isolation of the cows that have suffered, by burning or burying in quicklime all suspected matters, and by regular and thorough cleansing and disinfection of the premises and also the cows, both healthy and diseased, which are kept in the sheds or are in contact. A thorough washing with water is an essential part of any system of disinfection, and afterwards a strong

solution of blue vitriol (sulphate of copper) or carbolic acid (one part to 50 of water) should be used. cirbolic acid and sulphate of copper, corrosive sublimate (mercuric chloride) is in common usa and high repute as a disinfectant. It is bsllered that the regular external use of the following solution will eventually eradicate abortion from a herd .- — Corrosive sublimßte, 2£dr ; hydrochloric acid. 2£oz ; rain water" or distilled water, two gallons.

Twenty years have elapsed since Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod first gave practical form to the excellent idea of publishing year by year for the benefit of agriculturists a report of observations of injurious iuFects and common farm pesfcs. Tne report has steadily grown in extent and importance, and the recently-issued volume for 1896, occupying 170 pages, and copiously illustrated throughout, contains more information on the sourcea of losa from which the farmer chronically suffers than reaches ub in any other form. For example, attention is cslled to the capacity of the "beet carrion beetle" to extend it? ravages from beet; and mangel (upon which crops tanners have grown well accustomed to its presence) to the potato. The tuber crop is, as a rule, singularly free from insect depredations, but the circumstance that it has now found favour with ths carrion beetle is of practical infcereit, becauae potatoes can no longer be included among the crops that can be grown on land infested with the pesb. In the notes on the currant-shoot moth and on the codlin moth of the apple, for the latter it is advised to destroy all infested apples, to trap the caterpillars and obliterate their shelters, and by sprayiDg tbe trees at the time of blossoming check at the cutset.

Mr J. A. Gilruth. the Government veterinary surgeoD, left for Olydevale on Thursday morning, where he will carry out experiments in the destruction of rabbits by means of chicken cholera.' Mr Gilruth gave the subject considerable study in Paris and Queensland, and has been making preparations for some time pasb. Mr Brydone left in the afternoon and will join Mr Gilruth at Clydevale, and the result of the experiment will be awaited with much interest -

The New Zealand Times states that a letter has been received from London from an authority on the meat trade alleging that a shipment of meat by one of the big steamers was prejudiced through the ehipDing company having purchased at Auckland 13,000 carcases of inferior mutton, which were marketed in London and sold at very low rates, and in small numbers to quit. The 13,000 carcases were poor in quality and • condition to begin with ; they lay stored for some months in the colony, and whea placed on the Home market had lost all flavour and looked stale and uninviting. The gentleman who write? is of opinion that there is only one cure for all this, and that is combination among the freezng cpmpanies and an inspector and grader in New Zealand.

Mr Henry Grey, chief dairy expert for the Government in London, has resigned, and returns to the colony. 16 is understood Mr J. B. MacEwan, formerly chief expert, acts temporarily. The Tuapeka' Times' states that during the past four weeks 15.628 dead rabbits have been brought from Beaumont and Rae's Junction, an average of 650 per day. A youth at Evans's Flat for three days' trapping caught 117, 172, and 270 respectively. At Moa Flat the rabbitera are sending their rabbits to Mataura by way of Heriot.

Mr John Edie, of Springfield, Edievale, from 13 acres thresksd 211 bags of four and a-half bushels each, or a return of 73 bußhels to the sere. From a 10- acre paddock the return was 140 bags of four and a-half bushels, or 63 bushels to the acre. The wheat is of the velvet variety, and harvested in excellent condition. — Tapanui Courier.

Some ic?ea of the extent of tbe decimation that has lately taken place among the rabbits at the Beaumont and Rae's Junction may, says the Tuapeka Times, bs gained from the f &cb that no less than 15,623 rabbits have been brought down by Mr G. O. Partridge during the last four weeks — an average of 650 a. day — which, at 4^d per pair, mounts up to a pretty tidy sum. Besides this output others have a'so been bringing in rabbits from that portion of the district, so the slaughter can well bs imagined. No wonder,' then, that Mr C. C Empson could take a holiday whea so many rabbiters were so keenly engaged. As an instance of what havoc a single trapper can effect among the rabbits, a youth at Evans's Flat, for three days' trapping, caught 117, 172, and 270 respectively. At Moa Flat the rabbiters are sending their rabbits to Mataura, by way of Heriot, a Mr Russell, of Glenkenicb, having started carting on Saturday last, taking 800 — a full load — on his first trip. For his next trip there were 1200 rabbits waiting, 400 of which he waß compelled to leave behind.

The Mataura Ensign says that the late harvest having "panned out" so well so far as Mr Wilson Hall, of The Camp, is concerned, he has decided to put "down a large block of 600 acres in wheat. Ploughing operations are already begun, 12 teams being engaged in the work.

We (North Otago Times) have - received a sample of Canadian thistle seed head. The head was taken out of a patch of red clover cut for seed, and the seed of the thistle would in all probability be distributed round as the clover was sold, in time being scattered all over the district. The Canadian thistle is bad enough now without allowing it to be disseminated in this manner.

The Americans have copied the plan adopted by the residents on the large pastoral properties in Riverina, and are utilising the wire

fences for telephone purposes. This plan, it is said, is being adopted in Texas.

The Chriscchurch Press of the 29th says :— "Mr H. J. Hall, of Birdling'a Brook farm, Leestou, is vow harvesfciug a go »d crompf Che7»lier barley. The seed was down the second week in December last. The land is heavy drained swamp land, and the barley was sown when the paddock was cleared from timber and rubbish in the summer.

According to the Taieri Advocate it is rumoured that 'efforts are being made to induce the Government to purchase the Coombo Hay estate, at the mouth of the Tokoroairiro River. Au extensively signed requisition in that direction ba3 been forwarded to Wellington.

MrW.T. Kendall, of Victoria, recommends daijymen to try a cross between the shorthorn and the Ayrshire. He also strongly supports the use of cocoatiut oil cake.

Onion growing in the Western district of Victoria i 3 promising to become a profitable industry. About 12 -months ago. F.he Warrnambool Standard raportn, four young rneD, who had bsen growing onions near Colao and Drysdale, obtained a lease of 34 acres of Koronga land, about three miles from Port Fairy. They put in a crop of onions, and the yield will give them capital returns for tbeir labour. They state that the average vicld would be bofcween five and six t>o;ia per acre, and the price something like £4 10a per ton, thus making a gross return from the 34 acres of nearly £1000. Saying the rent of the land is £2 103 per acre, and making other deductions for seed, freight, &c, still a substantial sum remains to recoup the growers.

The Department of Agriculture intends offering a bonus of £200 for the "discovery of s. deposit of marketable mineral manure.

Those interested in the dairy industry will be interested to kuow (says the Post) that three shipments of butter — 1116 boxes in all — sent to England by Mr F. W. Greville realised from 95s to 1033 per cw. L .. and the account sale 3 show a clear profit of £374.

The Waipawa Mail says : — " The rust in the grass this year is greater than it has ever been. It is likely to cause considerable trouble to pastoralists in the near future, for it is gradually spreading over a large tract of country."