AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2375, 7 September 1899, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Breeders of Clydesdale horses ip this colony, and in Otago and Southland in particular, will bo pleased to hear that the mission to Scotland of their fellow-colonists, Messr^ James Patrick (of West Taieri), Samuel Young (of Allanton), and Walter Blackie (of Glasgow Farm, East Taieri), in search of high-class Clydesdale sires has not been a fruitless one, as we learn from the Scottish Farmer, of Bth July last, that they have purchased six Clydesdale stallions of great merit, including the celebrated borso Agitator, a Highland Society's prize-winner. The same paper also intimates that this syndicate has bought from Mr William Hood a magnificent mare, first prize winner at Newton-Stewart. It is understood that this mare has been purchased for Mr John Nimmo, of The Grange, East Taieri, who gave his friends carlo blanche to purchase the best Clydesdale mare they could find in Scotland for him. Otago has always held the j> r °ud position of being the home of the Clydesdale in the Australasian colonies, but of late years there has been a noticeable falling off in the standard, as northern breeders now vie with the southerners, and it is an open question as to which holds premier place. This importation of fresh blood by our Taieri friends, which is coming out in the Huahine, due in a few days at Wellington, should go a long way to restore Otago's reputation, and we can only express the hope that we may be able shortly to announce the safe arrival of the plucky syndicate and the horses at the Taieri. The Clutha Free Press reports that after visiting the Greenfield estate Measrs Mailland, Duncan, and M'Kerrow, accompanied by Mr Hay, chief surveyor, drove over the Barnego property, also under offer to the Government. This estate, which is owned by Mr Robert Paterson, comprises some 7000 acres, extending from the homestead block, on the north side of the river, in the immediate vicinity of Balclutha, to Upper Hillend, a distance of 12 miles. The price placed upon the land by Mr Paterson is £4- per acre. In discussing federation, the Australasian Paatorajists' Review, in reference to the position of New Zealand, says:— ."Their first

idea will be to get a. reciprocity treaty for , their produce. That this is an idle dream ' becomes evident when it is considered that practically all they can offer the Common-. wealth is a small market for wine and sugar i two interests which are politically weak — ' whilst what they require is admission to a> large market for produce, which affects very important Australian interests. It is all ' Lombard street to a China orange,' in the old phrase, against reciprocity being given to a colony which stands out of the responsibilities and wants the lion's "share of the practical benefits of federation. The New Zealanders may at once dismiss the idea of reciprocity from their minds." As a result of last year's operation's the Taranaki Freezing Works Company is able to show a credit to the profit and loss account of £3560. "Tussock," in the Canterbury Times, says: "Mr G. T. Robertson, of Courtenay, writes of an instance of extraordinary fertility in a merino ewe. One of his merino ewes showed signs of being affected in the way which has been somewhat common during the last few years just before lambing. After treating her for a few days, without effect, she was killed, and found to be with four" fully-de-veloped lambs, dead, no doubt, through the ewe having been lying about for some time. It may be mentioned also that this small flock of merino ewes dropped 150 per cent, of crossbred lambs." Within the past week, reports the Wyndham Farmer, several hundred head of dairycattle have had their horns cut off. The dairy herds of William Hall, R. Craig", J. Eades, J. Morris, -J. Forsyth, A. Mitchell,and J. Stinson, all on the western side of the river, are now included in the lopped ones, and these herds of themselves represent over 300 milkers. We may say that in the Island, Seaward Downs, Edendale, and Wyndham. dairying districts, there will be more horn- . less than horned cows in evidence during the ensuing factory esason. The Toko. Farmers' Club has been in existence since • 1864-, but even prior to that period resident farmers used to meet for the purpose of discussing agricultural subjects and otherwise helping each other. The original promoters included Messrs Geo. Lindsay, James Inglis, Robert Murray, John Porter, William Tweedie, James Drinnan, David Paton, the late James Goodall and the late John M'Farlane. The first president was Mr John Davie, some time resident magistrate at Milton and afterwards a minister of the Anglican Church. He died in harness some years ago. The office of secretary has been filled by Messrs Thomas Muir, Henderson, J. C. Gordon, James Inglis, Alex. Campbell, and David Tweedie. — Bifuce Herald.