AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 14

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

The date for the opening of the Agricultural Hall was originally fixed for Tuesday, the 22nd mat., and for the firsb day of the show the following d»y (Wednesday, the 23rd) w&s chosen. These dates were altered to Tuesday and Thursday respectively, but for a variety of reasons—one of the chief being that the illuminations -en Tuesday night promise to be of a Tery extensive character —a meeting waß held on Monday to consider the advisability ot reverting to the dates originally fixed. It was generally agreed that it would be inadvisable to open the hall on the night when the streets would be throDged by sightseers, and that the concert Bhould therefore be held on Monday, June 21. It has also been decided to open the show on j Wednesday night, and that it shall be continued during the remaining four days of the week. The Hall Committee have decided to add their quota to the illuminations on Tuesday night by suspending in front of their handsome buildings three powerful arc lamps. To show what is being done in the way of cutting up estates privately, the Press learns from Mr A. E. Gr. Rhodes that since October 1, 1895, say 19 months, 9267 acres 25 perches of the Waimate estate have been disposed of for the sum of £89,362 8s lid, or at the rate of nearly £9 13s per acre. This large block of land has nearly all been sold in small blocks, of from 50 acres to 300 acres, to settlers who have acquired the land with the determination to tnake homes for themselves and their families. There appears to be as great a rush for this land as for the Government settlements, £11,000 worth of the land having been disposed of within the last 10 days, and the demand still continues. There are still over 20,000 acres for Bale, and no doubt before long further substantial sales will be reported. The Lyttelton Times says :—" Judging by an application made to the Bllesmere Road Board by Mr John Rennie, of Doyleston, it appears as though the Ellesmere district were to be the experimental ground for the introduction of .motor cars into the South Island. The reads of the district are eminently suited for locomotion of the 'horseless carriage 9 description. Sir Rennie'a intention is to utilise his motor Car for the purposo of Bending meat from his bntohery throughout the district in which his buginess lies. He has estimated that the coat of maintaining such a vehicle will be less than that of the preseat system of horses and carts. The experiment is sura to be watched with Interest." Mr William Thomson, of Green Island, an ex-member of the Taieri County Council, left on Wednesday last by the Tarawera for Melbourne en route for England. He expects to be away for about six months. During his trip he intends Tisiting the principal dairy factories in

Denmark, so that he will doubtless briDg back with him a lot of valuable information concerning the dairy industry. — Taieri Advocate. The New Zealand Mail says : — " It was j mentioned in the New Zealand Times a week or two ago that an experiment was being made on the stony plains on the late Mr P. Cotter's j estate, between Greytown and Tauherenikau, j which would greatly interest farmers — viz-, i the ploughing up of the soil by the aid of a traction engine. We are glad to say that the trial has proved successful beyond all expectations, for while the ploughs propelled by horses merely scratched the Eurface, those propelled with the steam motor work at a good depth, and while turning over and thoroughly pulverisiug the soil bury thestonet, which, it appears, are merely on the surface. The ploughs were specially made for the work, aad are so strong and weighty that neither stones nor tree stumps will turn them from their course. It was intended at first that six ploughs should be used, but the engine used for the experiment was not strong enough to propel more than three. A stronger engine is, we understand, to be secured. The face of the country, as seen from the train, presents a wild | and barren appsarance owing to the stones and t&whini with which it is covered, but we learn that the soil underneath is of surprising richness, consisting chiefly of loamy river deposit. When the 4000 acres of which the estate consists has been, as is intended, brought under cultivation, the whole face of the country will be altered, and it is estimated that it will carry four times more stock than it does at present. The traction engine will be used in the off season to tear out the manuka and roll and crush the smaller scrub preparatory to burning. Ib was thought by some fchst the traction engine would not be able to negotia'e the surface stones, and that the wheels would refuse to revolve upon them ; the experience is that the stones are ground into the surface, thus facilitating the operation of burying them by the plough* which follow. The practice in parts of Great Britain and in Australia is to plough in sections with two stationary engines and steel ropes, the implements being drawn alternately from one end of the field to the other. In the iastance we have mentioned the motor just goes straight ahead and drags the ploughs astern. As may be imagined, the cost of cultivating country of the character described with horses is almost prohibitive ; with traction engines the work can not only be done to the best advantage, but at very much le<s cost." The Lyttelton Times tells the following bot tale :— " A four-year-old draught horae belonging to Mr Hugh M'Lenaghen, of Killincby, died very suddenly recently. On being opened it was discovered that the stomach was perforated through and through, while the main intestine was literally crammed with the parasites in various stages of development. It is without doubt thft very worst case that has ever been known in the district. The intestine and contents have been forwarded to Mr J. D. Ritchie, of the Department of Agriculture." j A correspondent in the Daily Time 3 writing I on poultry s&ye : — "I will here make any • farmer who doas not know it a present of the secret of the only way of making fowls on » farm pay. It is very simple.

Get two or three sittings of eggs from a good laying strain of a good general-purpose fowl. Arrange so aa to hatch these eggsiirit week in July. By (his means the farmer will have eggs at or before Easter, when they are worth 2s a dozen. The pullets will sit early, give another e&ily batch of chickens, and the routine of the thiog is established. The initial trouble of rearing chickens in July is, of course, recurrent. Need I say fowls must be fed if they are to lay and do themselves justice. The Lyttelton Times has no small opinion of the Cnristchuuch spring show, which ifc contends has established a world-wide (?) reputa"tion, while the Obago show is merely a local display. Aud yeb ( >tago exhibits always more than hold their owu in Canterbury.