AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

16 was fally expected by many who supportsd the erection of a City Abattoir that there would be a small loss for the first yaar or two of its working, but already thesa are ind : .c&Eions that the receipts from fees will about meet the interest on cost of construction. It is understood that some three or four of the bu trims who signed the guarantee to the Roslyn Borough Council have now taken out liceaaes, and are killing at the City Abattoir. As public opinion is brought fco bear upon thei others, it is probable thsy wiii find it to bheie advantage to fall into line. The report of Me Snowball (the inspector) shows that; from tha 7th to the 21st May 2939 large and small cattle have been killed and thoroughly examined, the fees amouabiag to £53 7s 9d. Daring tho stme period the carcases of three cows, one bulloclr, one calf, and 15 sheep were rejected. The cattle were condemned on account of being afflicted with tuberculosis, the calf was immature, one sheep was excessively bruised, and the others old, emaciated ewes — the carcwea being wet and soapy to the touch. The Agricultural department has received a report from Mr Cameron, inspector of New Zealand produce in London, stating- that he ia convinced that it ia only from the. improvement of retail distribution that any satisfactory of permanent advantage is to be secured. Givea a good retail outlet the wholesale price can be regulated. Given an increasing wholesale supply without a good retail outlet prices must; suffer. Ab present there are no outlets worthy of mention excp.pt in London and the South ot Kngland for New Zealand njatfcon apart from those channels through whioh River Plate and Australian mutton goes into consumption, and

Cocoanut Oil Cake, sold by Nimmo and Blair, DunediD, ia the finest fleeh-producing food knowu for dairy cows and stock a* *U soefca*

there are good outlets ready to be opened up •if only the means were provided to do so. Mr .CameFon, isjof opinion that New -Zealand producers should not open shops' throughout the country ie order to carry on retail business with the object of making * direct profit therefrom. He merely recommends judicious advertising of New Zealand produce amongst the belter class cf customers. He is perfectly satisfied of four things — viz. : (1) 16 is possible by opening attractive stores situated in prominent positions and supplying the finest quality of New Zealand produce to entice a better class of consumers to tise that produce entirely ; (2) the profit derived from the business done in stores will after the first" year pay working expenses and leave a surplus for interest on the capital invested ; (3) as an advertisement for New Zealand product) the establishment of these stores is undoubted, and is certainly the best means that cm be devised for doing this without cos*-, as they pay ; (4) it is against the interest of a private individual to make a retail specialty of New Zealand produce solely, as he is furthering retail competition in that line, with the consequent increase of business of wholesale houses and importers, at his own expense. In Cardiff he found that there was no New Zealand rnutron on sale. Some mutton was labelled "New Zealand," but all of it was grown ia the Elver Plate district. He maintains that all cur mutton should be distributed from London, as it is much simpler and more economical, besides being altogether more satisfactory to «end consignments direcb from steamer in London by rail to various districts throughout the country of sheep suitable for the requirements of those districts. New Zealand pro-

ducera should not be satisfied to run in corn-

petition with, mutton realising the retail prices ruling for River -P-late, and .which would not pay them. 'They 'should -rather, by advertising acd hy demonstration, build up a demand that would consume all. the meat they could send at remunerative .prices. .V At the present 'time » ; Russian gen6l«man, the representative of an influential syndicate, r-13 in Auckland making "inquiries as-to whether silkworms and the ,cccbin»al insect would thrive in the colony, and whether there is inducement for the establishment of euch an

in this province. So far his investigations have reanlted most satisfactorily. The climate, he has discovered, is suitable for both silkworms and the cochineal insect, and should other investigations result as satisfactorily, there is every probability of the industries mentioned beicg permanently established in

this provincs. Spasmodic efforts have been m»de on previous occasions to cultivate the silkworm and cochineal insect, but though the insects throve there was nothing permanent about the affair, and those making the experiment d'd not persevere after having satisfied themselves that the climate was favourable.

At last week's meeting of the Duaedin City Council the Mayor, Mr E. B. CargiU, thus referred to the abattoirs : — The abattoirs had been opened and were satisfactory so far. There had been 5293 head of cattle slaughtered, with fees amounting to £96 7s 6d, so that the revenue was going to be quite what was eeti mated and beyond it. The abattoirs were doing" their work for the protection of the public in a satisfactory manner, as was to be concluded from what had been reported. Six head of cattle had been-condemned for tuberculosis; one calf was found to be immature, one pig had tuberculosis, and 22 .sheep had been condemned, one being excessively bruised and - the' btherß'old and 'emaciated.' ' On'the whole it - appeared to him that the start of the abattoirs •was very satisfactory and they promised to,' do what was expected of them. Councillor Salomon paid that ,it musjb be perfectly clear ' , from iVand what the inspector said how much ' abattoirs were needed. These catrls that had been condemned would in their absence have become food for the public.

The committee which wa« appointed to go into the question of a site for the Wellington show ground report that after examining the claims and eight other suggested localities they find that the .present site at Pebone is the best. They would, however, be much improved by running a 'siding into the ground, which could be done for £2000 or £3000. The Bail way department also promised to provide better carriage accommodation and slightly reduce the fares. A meeting of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association decided to retain tbe Petona site at present, though they recognised that a site in town would be more advantageous to those who found the greater portion of ths priza money. The association decided to endeavour to increase the membership. Our Pfllmerston correspondent writes : — " At the Poiic« Court here, before Messrs R. EwiDg and A. H. Gill, d.P-.'e., a case in which, damages were claimed* for sheep-worrying was beard. The case was that of Douglas v. Wallace, claim £5, damage sustained by reason of defendant's collie having on 12th May worried eight sheep, and disturbed and scared tbe plaintiff's flick depasturing on the Mount Royal estate;- The evidence showed that on the date in question plaintiff^ shepherd was aroused by dogs barking among the sheep. On going to tire paddock,' and waiting some time, a sheep followed by a dog passed close to him. .Be shot the dog, which was identified as belonging to defendant. On examining tha sheep it was found that' eight were bo badly injured that they had to be kilted. The Bench gave judgment for £3 with costs Bs, solicitor* fee £1 6s,' and one witness 10a 6d." ,

In She N«hon district the other day a settler found seven sheep heaped on top of one another, the whole having evidently been killed by lightning. A yard or two lower down the spue ,'f.s the camnigij ground. o£ fcka sheep* oq *Q

outcrop of rock, and iv the solid rook a hole had been made about 2ft 6 n in diameter and 2ft in depth. The hole had the appearance of" having b^en caused by a blast, the rock at the bottom being deeply cracked in all directions.

. Oa Saturday nighv the emoloyeas o° Messrs Nimmo and Blair entertained Mr John Wilson, the chief machinist; in the seed- cleaning department of the fi-m, at a social gathering ab the Pier Hotel. Tae gathering was held in honour of the firm's success at the recent agricultural show, they having taken the first, second, and third prizes for ryegrass and cocksfoot;. The seed was colonial grown, and it was entirely due to the c&reful manner in which ib had been dressed by Mr Wilson that the prizes were obtained. Host of Messrs Nimmo and Blair's employees were present at the gathering on Saturday night, as well as a large number of employees of other firms. After the company had partaken of an excellent dinner a number of toasbs were proposed aad duly responded fco, Mr Wilson's health, and also that of the firm, being drunk with musical honours. Several song* and recitations were likewise contributed during the evening by gentlemen present, and so enjoyable did the gathering prove that Messrs Nimmo- and Blair's employees entertain the idea of holding a somewhat similar one annually.

Sheep from New Zealand are now admitted into Tasmania on condition that they are accompanied by a declaration of health by the owner or agent, and by a certificate from the inspector of sheep at the port of shipment that they are free from disease, and have not bean infected with disease during the preceding 12 months.

At last week's meeting of the Waitahuua Farmers' Club a l n ng conversational discussion took place as fea the mo3t euitabla method of destroying the small birds. Ifc is being recognised that they are as destructive - as, if not more so than, rabbits. It was the general opinion tlut more effective measures were necassary, both by local bodies and settlers, other wiss thsro -would be another department set up by the Government to compel them to do what they should voluntarily do in their own interests. It was stated that pollard poison scattered finely strncnj? eoms clean oats was found to be very effective, birds taking it readily. Mr Livingston stated that the county council had procured a, quantity of poisoned grain for destroying small birds. The portion for Waitahuna riding was, he thought, now at the railway station.

The reporter of a Home paper in an article on fraud in the retailing of food products folly bears oub the assertion that large quantities of New Zealand mutton are soldi-as "prime Scotch " He says : " Huge quantities of New Zealand mutton are sold as Scotch. There is a leading shop in the West End of London which doesn't harbour a single j^int of English meat. Ob, don'fc get alarmed. Take a chair. Heaps of cooks are in league with unscrupulous butchers. The other day a friend of mine opened a letter which was addressed to him, and found' that it contained a cheque for £12, made out to his cook. Further inquiries revealed the fact that it had been put into the wrong envelope, and that the cook had been accepting New Zealand mutton in place of Scotch, and paying the full price for it."

Mr John Farquliar has handed us (Tapatmi Courier) some "Edievale mill tallies. Mr John Bdie threshed 74£ bushels per acre of choice wheat from 30 "acres, and Mr Edward EHe 100 bushels of Danish oits per acre. These phenomenal yields for this season are due in a measure to the fact that Edievale is sheltered from the south-west by a range of hills, and the coldfeutnmer experienced on the plains did not affect the sheltered vale. — On the same subject the Southern Standard says : — "Although complaiats have' been numerous as to the shortness of the yield of oats'" as compared with previous years, it is gratifying to find thit there are exceptions. Two farms in the north end of the Waikaka Valley district yielded 55 bushels per acre, and an adjoining one yielded as much as 60 bushels."

We (Wyndham Farmer) learn that owing to every inch of its freezing space being utilised, the Southland Frczan Meat Company has baen obliged to intimate to its clients that it will not be abla to execute any farther orders in the meantime — probably for three weeks. This ualooked-for result has been entirely brought about by the extraordinarily large numbers off rabbits that are being received at the works. As it is understood that the other freezing works in Oirago and ' Southland are also being rushed with orders, it seems inevitable that a serious trade dislocation must ensue until tha next Home steamer arrives to relieve the pressure. The s.s. Star of New Zealand, due at Bluff on June 21, will be the firat vessels to call, to be followed by s.s. Duke of Portland, about a fortnight later. It is rumoured that extensive additions to the freezing capacity at Mataura are- contemplated .

One co-oparative butter company in Taranaki—the lucky possessor of an up-to-date and disinterested chairman — occasionally, gays a northern contemporary, informs its patrons how much dirt they put into their mills. A number of cloihs — corresponding to the number of suppliers— are kept in a convenient place, and at odd times the maker fixes one to the end of the spout »,s each supplier's milk is being conveyed from the weighing-can to the vats. It musirba surprising to some of those suppliers ba be shown the amount of filth they have put into the milk, and it a practical lesson bearing excellent fruit. A few more of our co-operative concerns, sajs the New Zealand Dairyman, might take the hint. We (Wyndham Herald) are always pleased to publish information libAx fco benefit aax section

of our readers, and therefore we pass on fco those ,who jro in for pig-raising a few hints by Me3«B T. Qjin and Co., of the Belfast B&coa Factory, Invercargill. Prime' biconers should run from 1401b to 2001b in weight. These a>e directions to be observed in killing and scalding :— Care must be observed to avoid sticking in the shoulder. Tbe neck must be thoroughly cleaned out. Hams must not be opened. In soaldiDg, the water must not be too hot, especially for light-weights. When scalded, cold water should be at ones thrown on both aides of the carcase. Inattention to these details means a loss in price paid, so those interested would do well to cut this out and preserve it for reference.

The Park Hiil correspondent of the Tapanui Courier gives some particulars of an improved rabbit trap in use in that district. He writes :— I notice an improved rabbit trap has been introduced into this district. The new trap is Cilkd the " Featherweight," patented by H. L. Mainland, of Burkes, Dunedin, and now being sold by Mr 3 Adams, Heriot. They sre a piece of neat ingenuity, and made of first-class material and surprisingly strong, being quite up to the strength required. The rabbis it catches it hold*, and it i« rare to find one let go— ho i am told by those that are using them. Tha new make trill be brought; into great uae next season, a 9 a trapper can carry 100 qaite easily. They are simple to set, and when any part wears ouS or goes wrong duplicates can be procured and quickly adjusted.

Mr Dickinseo, United States Consul at Nottingham, has (says a Home p*psr) forwarded figures to his Government which show that whereas in 1893 Canada sent us 504- per cent, of our imported cheese and the Uniced States 29-7 per cent, of the, total, in 1897 Canada's contribution had risen to 58*6 per cent., 'while that of fche United States had fallen to 24 3 per cent. Practically, therefore,, "what" "I;he United States has lost Canada has gamed — which must be a source of satisfaction to dairymen in the Dominion. The decrease in the American imports appears to be accounted for by the prejudice which Ues grown up in this country againsb the American article, in consequence of the too free importation from the States of what is known as "filled" cheese. Two or three yearß ago the evil of unidentified filled cheese became so great that the CoDgreFS of the United States enacted a law in June, 1896, regulating the manufacture and sale of the article. This act is now go well enforced that the output of filled cheese has been greatly reduced. Nevertheless, the fact remains that the filled cheese frauds still continue, if even on a smaller scale. Unless they can be absolutely stamped out the American product is likely, to remain under a ban in England — a ban which, of course, operates to the advantage of Canada, which sect ns 1.526,664cwt last year, to tbe United States' 631,616cwb.

The Christchurch Press says :— " The four red polled cattle purchased by Mr R. Heaton Rhodes, of Greycliffs, during his late visit to England, were released from quarantine on Friday, Messrs Holdernets and Cunningham, stock inspectors, being present, and Mr J. J. Isbister, of ths Farmers' Co-operative Association, superintending the landing and trucking of the cattle. They consist of Daisy Girl, a six-year-old cow, which recently gave birth on the Quarantine Island to a heifer calf ; Winsome 11, a three-year-old heifer ; Nellie 11, a three-and-a half-year-old heifer, both cf which are in calf ; and Causeway, a bull, two years old. They are a rery nice lot of cattle, the bull especially being a handsome animal. The cattle ware in excellent condition, having- been well looked after by tho caretaker on the isl&nd.— A very handsome young Highland bull, which armed by the s.s. Wakatipu from Melbourne on Friday for Mr G. H. Rhode?, of 1 Claremont, Timaru, was sent over to the 1 Quarantine Wacd.

There was a good deal of talk ab the Tinwald Yards on Tuesday (guys the Ashburton Mail) on the subject of freezing works for Ashburton, andifris quite on the card 3 that the Belfast Freezing Company will be asked to open works near the town. However, ib has been decided to call a meeting of farmers and those interested at an early date to discuss the matter, and fix upon a site for the necessary buildings. Speaking of the rabbit vesb in the Mount Ida district the local Chronicls says:— The rabbit trapping, which has proved so remunerative to many a dozen trappers in this district, has now reduced the number of rabbits so very greatly that large tallies are difficult to make, and the keea frost has virtually brought an end to trapping in some places, so that the numbers purchased havevery materially decreased. Inthe Clutha district we learn that 7d per pair is being paid to rabbit trappers at present. The supply of rabbits is keeping up well, and the industry is proving profitable to all those engaged in it, from the small boy upwards. It is currently reported that last week a wellknown Waikaka Valley settler purchased a farm, and a day or two later resold the property, clearing £250 on his bargain.— Matamra Ensign.