AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Replies to a circular sent out by the Agricultural department suggesting that dairy inspection should be undertaken by Government officers are favourable in nearly every case. If adopted, the six recentlyappointed veterinary surgeons will cany out the duties. The department docs not believe there will "be any extra cost, but rather the contrary, and the results will be much more satisfactory than the present arrangement, by which the work is entrusted to dairy regulation committees.

During tho last week (Bays the Christchurch Press) there has beon a great dearth of sacks, the farmers, it is reported, having found more difficulty in getting sacks for their grain than thoy have experisneed for about 15 years. At last week's meeting of the Otago Dock Trust, Mr J. Smaill, ongmeci of tho trust freezing works, repented thai tho works had been in full swing during tlie month. The new boiler lioupo had beon erected, and the various contracts finished. Tho now boilers were under steam. Two tramlines for service through tho works had been laid down. An additional freezing and storago hpace had been let, and the new machinery was giving satisfaction. — The report wa, received. Mr A. Thomson, manager of the freezing works, reported that he had done his best to obtain a share of tho rabbit freezing from the merchants now working at Burnsicfe, but without success, and hod to bo content with the support obtained from Tonkin and Co. and several smaller dealers. At tho same lime lie had offered every inducement to larger firms to enter on the business. Tho well-known firm of While and Co., of Melbourne, had been induced to enter tho field, and had now commenced freezing with the trust. Their operations wore oxpected to bo of considerable magnitude. Ske butter sea-

son was all but closed, and, as the grading room was not likely to bo required for some time, he had rented it and the adjoining 1 room to Mr Tonkin for £120 per month for a period of three months, with permission to freeze 100 boxes per day. Tho Burnside Company had reduced the price for freezing, and the rate for rabbits was now 4s 3d per case. He had quoted the same price to White and Co., and presumed that it would meet with the trust's approval. — The report wa3 approved. Between 40,000 and 50,000 people attended tho show at Sydney on March 31, establishing a record for attendance.

A Moutere resident brought into Nelson a day or two ago, a ton of honey, a load which he claims to be unique so far as that town is concerned.

The Exporters' Sectional Committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce met on Thursday afternoon to grade the samples of wheat sent in by merchants for tho purpose of arriving at a standard 6ample of fair averagG quality of Canterbury wheat for the harvest of 1899. The sample was decided upon, the weights being as follows : — Pearl, 621b per bushel; Hunter's, 621b per bushel; Tuscan, 631b per bushel. Samples of the fixed standard were supplied to merchants, so thafc advices could be sent by tho outgoing San Fiancisco mail.

A numbor of sheep belonging to different settlers in the Carterlon district (according to the Observer) died through some at present unexplained ailment. All of them were apparently perfectly healthy until seized with, a kind of giddiness and an inclination to kcop turning their heads round in ono particular direction — to the right hand side, — also apparently losing the power of their hindquarters. Death ensues in about 24 hours from the first seizure. All of them were in the very highest condition. One noticeable indication was as if Iho animal were in a kind of fit, there being also considerable frothing at the mouth. The Observer's informant says ho opened the carcase* of ono or two which had died, and carefully examined the internal organa and the brain, but could not detect any trace of disease. He surmises that possibly the symptoms may bo attributed to the exislenco of ergot of rye ir the pastures, or perhaps rust in tho grass. One of the Government stock experts sSould be asked to investigato the cause of death.

Tho Pahncrstou Times states that there wa3 something like a strike among Iho rahbitera at Dunback. Thero were two firms buying; and one of these promised equivalent to 2d per pair moro than tho other, but when pay day came round would only give tho same, price. Tho rabbiters held a meeting and ib wa3 resolved to invite a third buyer. This lias been done, and tlio price has gone up from, 3d to 5d per puir.

A correspondent of the Southern Standard writes: The crops on Cattle Flat appear to have beon very heavy this season. When travelling through tho district last week I was struck with the large^ tracts of country under cultivation and tho splendid appearance of the crops, most of which were in stook, and tho turnips' that could bo seen from tho main road. A specially good cron of tho lat-t-jr is to be seen on Mr N. Swoctrnan's farm. A noteworthy sight was tho well-kept farma »nd homesteads in that district, which, I tliink, can hold its own with any other in Southland in this respect. Everything points to the fact that all, or, at any rate, most, of tho farmers aro prospering.

Tho butchers of Hull have pasKttl a resolution binding themselves not to buy cattle^ shco-> or pigs ovor a certain price from any auctioneer who will not accept a condition of sale guarantying to the butcher refundmont of the full price of any animal whose enrcase is condemned by tho meat inspector. Tho farmers naturally protest against the whole of this loss being put on to their shoulders, and a suggestion that an insurance fund should bo formed by the butchers is looked upon .'is a more equilabla solution of the difficulty.

The writer of " Along the Track," in the Molbourne Loader, has tho following: — ■ " Halves " on the share system means one bag of wheat to tho farmer and one to tho squatter, and v Rirorina squatter has found that there aru two kinds of bags ot wheat, the ojio weighing on the average four and a-half bushels and tho other a little over three and. three-quarter bushels. The former variety is retained by tho farmer and tho latler is for tho squatter. In one of the border towns recently a share farmer, delivering a load of wheat, was complimented by the storekeeper on tho weight of his bags, tho scale being turned every timo in the vicinity of four and a-half bushels. '' My word, that wheat weighs well," remarked tho buyer. "Are you a halves mai\?" "Yes," was the reply, and there was an exchango of mutual smiles.

Tho Chrirtchurch Press says: — The .Kairfield Freezing Works sent for shipment i y the Maori and Fifeshire equal to 31C0 60J'> sheep for each ve.s?ol. Most of tho carcases were thoso of lambs. The output is about 1300 sheep per djiy, a figure, however, which is steadily increaping, as the workmen become more familiar with their duties and the works. As tho men become proficient themselves they will be all tho more qualified to teach and become object lessons to others who will soon be added to tho staff nnd the works run to (heir full capacity. Tin's was at firsfc set down at about 2000 a day, but this, it is seen, will be exceeded. The fellmongery is now in full swing, so are tho 0100 works and those for the curing of "gut." Last week tho manure works began, and made a satisfactory opening. There are abundance of sheep on offer ; more than can well be dealt with at piesent.

There has been a discussion in the Farmer* Gazette upon tho subject of chemical preservatives in butter and milk. Mr "W. X Bear, whoso experience as a trustworthy observer in all agricultural questions is unquestioned, and who lias had unusual opportunities of seeing tho best in the dairy department of bevcral countries, insists that drugs such as borax, boracie acid, and similar materials are deleterious to the consumer, and he says that; it is intolerable that he should be compelled againbt his will. to consume eithei the one or tho other in tho various forms of dairy produce which may foe purchased for his table. Mr Gibson, of Limerick, a very capable and still more doughty champion of the Irish butter trade, on the other hand insist: that thera is no danger attendant upon the employment of preservatives ; indeed, ho claims that, if they have any deleterious action, it is far less to be feared than that of common salt. Both disputants have cited authorities, although authorities might be still further cited ad infinitum, if such they can really bo called.

As a matter of fact, however, there are many medical men who give opinions (sometimes in courts of justice) which are entirely unwarranted by their experience or their J knowledge. It is possible that a few grains j of^ boracic acid occasionally consumed may • have no marked effect upon a person of un- j impaired constitution and of regular habits. : It is possible, too, on the other hand, that j a similar quantity would have a disagreeable ; effect upon a person with delicate ; constitution, and especially upon young I children. But this is not the point at issue; it is whether the system of adding drugs to butter and milk should be permitted, inasmuch as, if permitted by law, there is no reason why every pint of milk consumed ; in summer should not be fortified by preser- • vatives to the very hilt. What is to prevent . a man who commences with a few grains to ( the gallon increasing the dose so far as he j ifinds it necessary for his purpose? It has i not been shown that in certain cases new i chemical compounds are not formed, and it | must bo admitted, even by those [ who favour preservatives, that the j man who obtains 4d a quart _ for ; new milk is not a conscientious man if he j Bupplies milk which is absolutely stale, but < which is enabled to maintain a certdfin amount , of sweetness by the addition of boracic acid or one of its first cousins. We should asBuredly not draw the line too tightly, but < there ii reason in all things, and immediately authority steps in and permits sophistication of this character, the entire Continent may Bend, as the French are now sending in small quantities, preserved milk for sale in the streets of our great cities. I do not pretend to say — for no man can say without absolute _ knowledge of the facts — that small quantities of preservatives are dangerous to health ; but we are, nevertheless, allowed to object to their presence in the foods we consume, and it is to be hoped, therefore, before long, that an amended law will lay down some-

thing for our guidance. I heard a good story the other day in regard to the introduction of rabbits into this district (writes a correspondent of the Alexandra Herald). According to the narrator, ■Mr Anderson, of Cargill and Anderson, who formerly owned Teviot station, in the early days had a number of rabbits brought up to his run by waggon, in order, I supoose. to get some shooting when they became a little snore numerous. The waggoner who brought them was a big Irishman, and as he took Buch care of them on the way up, Mr Anderson gave him a handsome bonus. Some years later, when the rabbits were over-run-ning the country, the waggoner met Mr Anderson and said, "How much will you give me, Mr Anderson, to cart the rabbits back Rgain?" The latter, rubbing his hands together, after his usual habit, grimly replied, ••"Half my station." An item on ticks is taken from the Glad fetone Observer, Queensland : — " Mr G. Welch, drover for Messrs M. Bergl and Co., was coming to the Gladstone Meat Works with 69 bullocks. He spelled the mob on what is known as the Ten-chain, between the Rockhampton and Banana roads. After an hour's Spell he made a fresh start with the bullocks, and, to his astonishment, found the most, of them badly infested with fully-matured ticks that clung to the hides in bunches. Only those cattle that did not lie down were freo from the ticks. The whole mob wore perfectly clean before coining to the spelling place. This disproves the idea that a fullgrown lick will not attach itself to a beast." The following items are from the Western Star : — The Winton disease is due to a weed called tansy. Sheep are, very fond of it, and, up to a certain age, they thrive upon it, but afterwards it affects the liver, the fat turns yellow, and butchers fight shy of such carcases. — That lime benefits oata on terrace land is patent to anyone who has seen Mr Henderson's crop near Otautau. Last«ear he limed a small strip for potatoes, and this year had oats on the same patch. The contrast between the oats on the limed strip and those on the unlimed portion was very marked, the former showing more straw and a better yield. Writing upon the Californian 2-bushel bag system of handling grain, a Port Augusta (South Australia) correspondent says : — TTho average weight of a number of truck loads taken on the •wharf a few days ago was 2701b per bag. This weight is simply killing to the majority of men, and breaks them down prematurely. It only requires a person with an unbiassed mind to see a man toiling tip a stack of wheat on a hot day to come to the conclusion that it ie cruel work for a man to do, and only fit for horses. Not only does the carrying of such loads break men down, but it gives a monopoly of the work to a few very strong men, who practically rule the roost. When wheat has to be stacked they claim tho very highest rate of pay, whilst their fellows, who are unable to carry such loads, are idle and unable to get a share of the work. The system is bad for employer and employee. •At present the employer pays the best price to a* few who monopolise th« work, whereas if the bagp were lighter all tha men could get n share of the work, and do it at ordinary arates. The average weight of bags slacked iiere each season is about 2601b. — Leader.

The Minister for Agriculture for France has obtained a vote of £95,000 for shows tc be Jield ir connection with the Universal Exhibition in Paris next year. A Fr.rn ot about ;£34,600 will be set apait for =!iu-,v= of horses, While £32,000 will be devoted to shows of Cattle, sheep, and pis;- 1 . A little-thought-of oatki, for colonial butter m mentioned by the Londcu cone^uondenfc of

the Sydney Mail, who writes : — For some two or three years Dutch buyers have come across to London and bought some of the cheaper kinds of Australian butter, but latterly there has grown up a demand for some of the best "fancy" brands, and the purpose to whioli these be3t butters are put is that of being blended with margarine to make mixtures. It is known by all makers of mixtures that when 25 or 30 per cent, of buttei is used of the high quality of Australian, it gives quite as good texture to the margarine mixture as if 50 or 70 per cent, of inferior butter was employed. There is no doubt at ail that for some time the makers of margarine mixtures in England have used the choicest brands of Australian aa the most suitable butter they can buy. Danish and Swedish, besides being several shillings per hundredweight dearer, have not the " body " that is so characteristic of the choicest brands of both Australian and New Zealand.

At the last meeting of the Royal Botanic Society of London, a lecture on seed testing (with demonstrations) was given by Mr D. Finlayson, in which he deplored the Tact that while all over the Continent and in America need testing stations under Government control had been established where farmers and agriculturists could have their Heeds tested and obtain statistics and information, in England, where the need was greatest, these questions were left to a few private persons, or one or two societies, whose researches were limited to their own members. Considering (he said) how great was the annual loss to agriculture in this country on account of seed adulteration, the selling of seed which, owing to age or other causes, has lost its vitality, and the mischief done by noxious weeds sown with it, and how inefficient were the means for detection possessed by farmers and others, it was a matter of surprise that the question of public testing stations hart not been taken up

The Wyndham Farmer says: — Messrs D. Doull and S. Clark having purchased the cabbages on the Government Kxperimenlal Plot, Wyndham, a portion of them were weighed on Thursday. The cabbages, " Sutton's early drumhead," were down in drills 30in wide, tho Fame as turnips, on October 25, and were thinned out to about 20in apart on. December 15. One portion of the land had 20 small loads o£ farmyard manure to the acre, also 2jc\vt Coral Queen guano and 2^cwt Anglo and Continental superphosphate per acre. The weight of cabbages on this plot was 50 tons lewt 3qr 41b per acre. Another portion of the land had not any farmyard manure, but had 4cwt Coral Queen guano, lewt Thomas's phosphate powder, lewt kainit and bonedust per acre. Weight of cabbage on that plot, 40 tons 6cwt 161b per acre. The cabbages are to be fed to dairy cows, and careful tests made of any difference in the yield of milk and butter fat. Tho weighing was supervised by Mr J. C. Robinson, local agent for the Stock department, in the prepence of Messrs D. Doull and Samuel Clark, two well-known farmers.

The question of the danger to England that might arise in time of war from our depondenco upon imported food has been considered at the Admiralty, at the Board of Trade, and the Board of Agriculture, but the Government does not believe that there would be any serious scarcity of corn unless it should be declared contraband of war. " But," says Air Ritchie, "an enemy would be unlikely to make that declaration for fear of incurring the hostility of the United States, and possibly that 1 of other countries." "Protection." Mr Ritchie declares, is " not within the range of practical polities " ; " a national marine insurance would impose so gigantic a burden upon the Government that no Ministers in their senses would ever undertake it," and the establishment of public granaries is open to the same objection. The Mount Ida Chronicle says : — The sheepworrier has reappeared, this time at Waipiata and Eweburn, whore sheep from several flocks have fallen victims. So fai as we have heard, Messrs John Law, jun., Howell Bros., and B. Docherty have been the greatest loser?, the estimated losses ranging from six to 20 sheep. Fortunately two at least of the three dogs were, at the beginning of last week, shot by a party of young men who went for the purpose from Ranfurly. Owners of dogs should watch the habits of their dogs with the lynx eye of a detective. Once a dog engages in the entrancing sport there seems but one cure — sudden death.

On Giiigan ami Monduran stations (writes the Queenslander) several thousands — 10,000 or 12,000 head — of cattle were inoculated for tick fever some lime ago. The other day the muslerers returned from an examination of the run, their special purpose being to see the effect of the inoculation on the bulls. They reported that not one dead beast was seen, nor were any sick. And this in tick-infested country. One northern cattle-owner at least has reason to be thankful for the discovery of inoculation, and does not hesitato to acknowledge it. He bought 30 bulls in the south, had them inoculated, and sent them up to his station in the north. The bulls are now grossly infested with ticks, but show no signs of sickness, and arc still 30 in number. At the valedictory social tendered to Mr D. B. Esther in Gore on Monday evening, 10th inbl., on the eve of his taking a trip Home, several of the speakers bore testimony to the flourishing nature of the district Mr R. Dewai mentioned that when the (iore Meat Company had control of the Croydon -works it distributed upwards of £20,000 every year in wages to rabbiters and operatives alone. Even the old Gore Dairy Factory Company, with all' its trials and tribulations, circulated

from £2000 to £4000 a year among the milk suppliers. Mr Alexander Henderson (Fleming, Gilkison and Co.), replyiug to a remark made that the Gore Four Mills were about the most complete and extensive in Southland, said his firm hoped in the courFe of a few years to co far extend it 3 premises that it would occupy the entire block in Mersey street. — Ensign.

Since July 1, 1898, the following sales of wool have taken place in the markets of Australasia: — Sydney, 413,095 bales; Melbourne, 210,286 bales; Gcelong, 63,162 bales; Adelaide. 60,531 bales; Brisbane, 8838 bales, and New Zealand (March 1, 38G8, lo February 28, 1599). 80,278 bales. Total, 844,237 bales. The offerings were 899,880 bales.— Sydney Mail.

Flockowners in this district are, says the Palmerston and Waikouaiti Times, warned that the periodical pests, sheep-worrying dogs, are again in evidence around Palmerston. Last week Mi James Bruce, of Ashhill, and other sheepowners, lost a number of sheep by the ravages of these dogs. The dogs seem to make their visits to flocks in the early morning hours. Two of these sheep-worriers have been seen at their mischievous work.

Three remarkable fleeces Lnve been shorn by Messrs Bsveridge Bros., Miranala, "Victoria Valley. They were taken from three ewes, xged three and a-half yearn, which had never been shorn until this year. The thrae fleeces weighed 961b, the staple was llin long, and the wool wae without a break. — Australasian.

The Clutha Leader of the 14th says: — With some exceptions chiefly on the lower lands the crops in this district have now been safely gathered in, and threshing is the order of the day. Many of the farms are indeed threshed out, and the grain sent to market. The yields as a, rule will compare favourably with the average of former years. Prices are, however, not encouraging, and a considerable quatity of the grain will find its way into store. Notwithstanding the high prices ruling last year, we hear of some considerable parcels of last year's grain still lying in store, amongst them being a line of between 500 and 600 sacks of wheat for which 4s 6d was procurable. The present value will be about half that price.

Professor Ewart, at a recent lecture, given before the Royal Society of Edinburgh, on the " Theory of Heredity Reversion," stated that as to the evil effects of in-breeding, he had made experiments as to whether or not the good that came from in - breeding might be retained and the evil eliminated. He thought it was a possibility, and worth striving for. A change of environment often had a rejuvenating effect.

A conviction under the Rabbit Act was recently secured against the manager of the Morven Hills Station, Clutha. When tho manager stated that he had spent £3600 last year in rabbiting, and employod on an average 40 men, the inspector asked how much he had got for the skins, which question the manager declined to answer. The inspector stated that with the price for winter skins, and the profit on selling provisions to tho rabbiters, the station had been put to very little expense to make a song about. Mr M'Carthy tersely summed up : 40 men on 300,000 acres would only be one man to 7500 acres, which is not enough. Fined £20 and costs. — Clutha Free Press.

The National Provisioner gives the following parlicu l ars of the laigcFt hog ever raised, and recently slaughtered in Now York. It whs two and a-half years old, of the Jersey red boar breed, weighed alive 16091b and dressed 13361b. This- huge swino measured over 9ft from tip of its nose to end of its tail. It measured 2^ft across the loin, 2ift across the hams, and 6ft in girth. This makes the hog 3ft through. From hip bone to toe it measures 3^ft and about the same from the crest of the shoulder blade to the bottom of the foot. The great fat jowls extend nearly 2ft across. From between the ears to the tail is o* f er 7ft.

A pamphlet on fruit pulping has, cay 3 the Australasian, been prepared by Mr J Knight, the fruit expert of the Victorian Agricultural Department, and is now available on application. Tt shows how easily raspberries can bo pulped and prepared for export if care is taken to boil the berries thoroughly, so as to destroy all germ life. No elaborate appliances are required, a large-bizcd copper boiler, built in bricks, such as is usually found at farmhouses, being sufficient for tho purpose. The raspberries are boiled in their own juice for about one hour, the contents of tho boiler being constantly stirred to prevent the fruit adhering to the bottom or the sides and burning. Having boiled the fruit for the time stated the fire is withdrawn, and the pulp ladled into four-gallon tins, similar to the ordinary kerosene tin, but it is advisable to have a somewhat heavier gauge of tin to prevent leakage during transit to London. Each tin, when filled, must be at once soldered down. Tn no co*e should the contents fall below 180 dog Fahr. before being hermetically sealed. If the pulp has been properly preserved the tins, when filled and soldered down, should show a compression in the sides. Owing to the shrinkage of the pulp as it cools and the absence of air to fill the vacuum the atmospheric pressure causes these indentations, but if there be any defects in the tins or imperfect fcterili&ation, fermentation takes place, and causes the sides to bulge outwards. The method of making apricot pulp is also described and the necessity of putting it up in 101b tins is emphasised. The fruit is halved, and the stones removed, after which the apricots are firmly packed in the tins, and Fcalded in a bath of boiling water. This causes the fruit tc settle down considerably, and the tins must be filled ud

again with scalded fruits. The " stud," or opening, in tho top of the tin is then soldered down, but a small vent-hole is left open. The this are again let down into the bath, and when up to boiling point the vent is stopped, and the •tins removed.