AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Seven defendants had to interview Mr H. A. Stratford at Lawrence on Monday last to answer charges of failure to take sufficient steps to destroy rabbits on their properties. Two informations against Daniel M'Cluskey were withdrawn, a mistake having been made in taking off the numbers of the sections. Fines were inflicted in all the other cases as follows: — R. Cotton, who has 30,000 acres, £40, and costs; William Kelly, 5700 acres, £25, and costu (75),; Daniel Keenan. 2200 acres, £10, and costs (19s) ; Hugh Cameron, 1100 acres, £6, and costs ; John Thomson. £2, and costs ; Henry Revell, £1 10s, and costs (17s).

Two convictions were recorded at Lumsden on Monday before Major Keddell. S.M., for failure to keep down rabbits, and a fine of £5. and costs, in each case were inflicted.

Eight thousand sheep (says the Pelorus Guardian) are to be shipped from the Pelorus Sound for Canterbury. The steamers Te Kapu and Kiripaka have been engaged for some days in bringing sheep to Havelock. A Clark's Flat settler recently found on his land a plant that bears p very close resemblance to the Bathursl burr, whicli has long been such a cause of injury and annoyance to the flockowners of Australia. In order to make sure of the class to which the plant belongs, lie has sent it for examination to the secretary of the Chrislchurch A. and P. As social ion. who is an expert in such matters.

The Timaru Post's correspondent states that those pests, catrpillars, are ravaging the crops on Mr M. C. Orbell's Raukapuka estate, Geraldine. One crop of barley has suffered severely through these. The Waimate Times reports: — There was a very severe frost on Saturday night. On Sunday morning the grass was covered with rime, w Inch remained in the shade in the hollows for a considerable time after the sun was up. The.-,e sharj) frosts at this season of the year ai'e quite unusual. A very heavy hailstorm was experienced at St. Andrew's on Friday afternoon, at the time a moderate one occurred at Timaru. The hailstones wore very large, and threshed the crops and other vegetation destructively. As far as they had been able to ascertain, the fall as a heavy one was not extensive. — Timaru Herald. As Fridaj's express. S[ftS losing ihroygji

Makikihi on the way to Christchurch (says the Press), a heavy fall of hail was experienced. The stones are reported to have been as large as marbles, coypring the ground in a few minutes, and driving the people on the station to seek shelter from them. A visitor from the south states that the crops in the Southland district are fairly well forward, and with fine weather from now, harvesting will be started within the next fortnight. Several ciop-, show evidence of the small bird nuisance. Eveiythiug points to the belief that harvesters' wrges vuTl be higher in the Mataura district than for some ye:ir-j past. ]t is expected that they will be at the rate of lid to Is per hour, as against 9d of late years. — Bruce Heiald. The Wyndham Farmer of the 13th inst. says: — Sheen and cattle breeders have no reason to complain of the remuneration they are receiving these days for their trouble. From every pait of Southland we hear of very satisfactoi'y rates ruling for all classes of live stock. We have frequently cited local instances to bear this out, and we have to hand the market quotations ruling at two of the Western district centres last week : At Wairio, on Wednesday, there were close on 800 sheep of all classes entered. Competition was bri&'k, especially for lambs, which sold at up to 10s for a line of 200 which were only medium. Another lot of 200 made 8s 9d, while others sold at up to 9s 6d. Only a few small lots of two and four tooths were forward, and were sold at from 11s 6d to 12s sd. Breeding ewes realised from 9s 9d to 10s 3d. About 40 cattle were entered, and changed hands at up to £4 10s for best 'bullocks, and from £2 to £3 for heifers and younger bullocks. — At Otautau sale on Fri"Jtray there were over 2000 sheep offered, most of which changed hands at satisfactory prices to sellers. Breeding ewes sold from 10s 4d to 14s 7d. The latter figure was obtained by Mr N. A. M'Larea for a line of 180 fourtooths. The same seller also obtained 11s 6d for 90 store wether lambs, which is top price for Southland this season as yet for thip class of sheep. Other lambs sold at 8s 3d, 9s 9d, 10s 4d, and 10s 6d. Wethers, of which there were several good lines, sold at from 12s 6d to 14s sd. There were only a few cattle offered, principally culls from dealers' mobs, top price being £5 17s 6d for a small lot of steers of uneven quality. Others sold at from £2 15s to £4 ss. All over the Western district stock are meeting with ready sale. One line of 700 store two-tooths changed hands last week at 13a 9d. The Gazette contains full particulars of ceitain small grazing runs to be offered at auction. The runs are situated in Waimate, Hakataramea, and Elephant Hill districts. A public reserve at Moeraki will also be offered for lease, as will the license for a pastoral run on the Waianakarua. Cereal crops in the district, says the Bruce Herald, are beginning to .«how the effect of the long spell of broken weather which has been experienced lately. All over the plain patches of heavy wheat are to be seen beaten to the ground. Oats, however, have not, so far, been much affected. As a week or two of fine weather would ripen the grain, and the harvest would be with us, fanners are anxiously looking forward to a change. We notice that barley crops are well forward, and the binder should be at work, particularly in the Milburn district, in a few clays. In Heriot and the surrounding districts, writes the correspondent of the Southern Standard, there has been excellent growing weather lately, and the crops in general have done immensely, so 'that in many cases they will compare favovti'ably with the years gone by, although the harvest will be later than last year. It will, be the middle of March before the harvest will be in full swing in our district. Turifip thinning is being attended to on a number of farms, and those sown early, especially those sown in drills, have don© reall.v well. Grass seed harvesting is in lull swing, and now the farmers are busy threshing' out of the stook, but the broken weather considerably retards operations. Farmers are busy cartingoats and wheat, and the railway station at heriot has quite a busy appearance ; and, what with grain, wool, coal, timber, etc., matters are a bit lively. The correspondent of the Timaru Post states that caterpillars are ravaging the crops on Mr M. C. Orbell's Raukapuka estate, Geraldine. One crop of barley has suffered severely through these. The potato crop of America of 1899 is one of the largest ever raised, a matter of a good cieal of importance as affecting the question of food supply. The yield is estimated at 242,C03,000 bushels, o- about 40,000,003 bushels larger than in ]898 and 68,000,000 bushels larger than in 1897. Matter? agricultural and pastoral continue to flourish at JKyeburn, crops promising well and feed plentiful. The grass harvest is almost finished, though retarded at times by the showery and windy weather. Mr Harris expects to be out with the mill to begin threshing next at Mr Murdoch's. Turnip crops are looking well, which bespeak? plenty of winter feed. — C'oi respondent Mount Ida Chronicle. The Wsimale Times f-ays : About a score ' of reapers and binders commenced last week to cut clown the splendid grain crops growing on Waihao Downs. It is expected, should the weather hold fine, that 1000 acres will be cut and stooked in about 10 days. We hear that a dairy factory is likely to be established at Waihao Downs. The country round there is specially adapted for growingfeed which will givo the best results in milk production, a tjegt haying been, already, made

by Mr Kirk, of the Agricultural department. Perhaps "Waimate's creamery building will become of some use after all by being worked in connection with the proposed new factor as Waihao Downs. More will, no doubt, be heard of the matter at an early date. A large new grain shed (100 ft by 45ft) is shortly to be erected at Waihao Downs railway station, to meet the requirements of farmers round about. The Duntroon correspondent of the North Otago Times reports: — Harvest is in full swing, and everyone is as lively as a swarm of bees, especially after a shower of rain, and we are having showers pretty frequently just now. Most of the grain is in stook, and record crops are looked for. Grass is plentiful, and the sheep and cattle are in perfect order ; in fact, thh is a year of plenty all over the district. The root crops promise to be large, although the late heavy fronts cut down whole crop» of potatoes. Wheat from the BJverina is coming into Victoria across the Murray into Yarrawonga at an average of 1000 bags per day, and up to the end of Jauuaiy the quantity entered was 23.737 bag? — 1588 bags in December and 19,149 in January. The harvest on the New South Wales fide the previous year was practically a failure, and the total quantity o£ wheat crossed at Yarrawonga for the whole of 1898 was 29.500 bags. This year's harvest, however, suffers greatly in comparison with that of 1897, when the wheat crossings to 23rd January amounted to 51,477 bags. The yield of potatoes should be heavier tin? year than for many years, the Warrnambool (Victoria) Standard reports, one reason for this being that the crops have scarcely been touched yet in this district, alul the tubers have been allowed to grow, to full size. The tops are remarkably green for this period of the year, but that is due, no doubt, to the fact that rain has refreshened the crops at regular intervals. And yet there seem? to be little clanger of second growth. The market is dishearleningly low, and, owing to the poor prices on offer, there is no disposition to hurry the digging of the crops. In Warrnambool nothing higher than JBI per ton can b_e obtained, and in Melbourne prime fresh Tots sell at from £1 to £1 5s per ton. It was hoped that the Sydney market would open well; but in that city from £2 to £2 10s per ton are the ruling quotations. The barque Charlotte Failed from the Bluff last week for London, with 6782 bales wool and 46 casks tallow. The Park Hill correspondent of the Southland News writes : — Crops are looking much better in general than they did some time back. Wheat shows to be an earlier harvest in many places than oats, and more prolific. Oats are now fully shot, and promise to give a satisfactory return. Very little harvesting will be done till well into March, which is much later than in years gone by. Sheep, cattle, etc., look very well, and gra*s is abundant. In a number of place? the tops of the lambs look in the pink of condition. Tur-nip-thinning, grass-seed cutting, threshing, fencing, and trimming gorse fences are receiving attention, so that all who are inclined to be employed are having plenty to do, and wages are improving. Prices of all farm product? show an upward tendency, which is gratifying to all concerned. lam told that freezing chambers are to be put up at Heriot for the' rabbit trade, and, really, this is a want that has been much folt ; and no doubt the works will be extended to freeze sheep a» well, with a slaughtering establishment attached. At a meeting of the Canterbury Saleyards Company, held in Christchurch last week, Mr Henderson (chairman of directors) reported that, notwithstanding adverse circumstances, the directors had reason to congratulate shareholders upon the result of the year's operation?. The quantity of stock ra-«ed through the yards during the year waf — 537,248 sheep, 20,074 cattle, and 18,454- pigs. A dividend of 8 per cent, wag declared. 11 was resolved to vote £25 to the Canterbury war fund. Writing on January 25, the Sydney "special" of the Melbourne Age says: After the usual course of private growling, the question of ths price of wool has got into the newspapers, and is being discussed in the leading column*. But none of them throw any more light upon it than it enjoyed when it was confined to the street. For all that, thoie are a few points in connection with the matter worth mentioning. The first is suggested by the report in one of the journals that during last week, not more than one quarter of the offerings found purchasers. Now, this dons not represent the case fully, for T have soon catalogues in when the sales did not represent a tenth of the offerings. Men in the trade do not refei to t?ic sudden change in the measured terms usual in ordinary changes of the market. They talk of the Him»" as a "panic," i "slump," "a collapse."' a ''total eclipse." The brokers and commercial men . talk learnedly about the ■* arious causes of the state of catastrophe, but their explanations, clothed in the smooth language of the counting house, are more remarkable for the number of the alternatives suggested than for the certainty of explanation they contain. They all unite in JDoinling out the discrepancy between the supposed cause, a fall of from 5 to 10 per cent, at the London January sales, and the effect, by the fall of the local biddings to the extent of many pence in the pound. But though the}' speak with the tongues of the men of Bradford and of the angels of Roubaix, they are puzzled to account for the discrepancy. Neither can they explain the continued absence of the American, buyer, whose slocks were jxot last year

supprssd capable of lasting another 12 months. All that the public knows about the matter i° that the American buyer has not done what was expected of him, but what he will do presently no one pretends to say. Shroud observers declaie thr.t this means that at any moment there mt y be a suddea rise, equally ui>accountable. "While the buyers are probably holding their haods in obadience to home instructions, those sellers to whom belonged the 750,000 bales sold locally during the ssason are triumphant. The demand for farm produce for South Afncp has brought about several shipments of fodder and oats From lnvercargill and the South Island, but farmers in the noith, especially in the Wellington and Wa'rarapa districts, find a great deal of difficulty in getting rid of their grain. In the Masterton district a large ciuantity of last year's oats has not yet been threshed. New Zealand Times. The Southland Frozen Meat. Company, says the Western Star, have opened the season with a splendid line of 800 shee,i. purchased from Mr Peter Teviotdale. The line aieiaged over 661b, and the quality was all that could be wished. Still more rabbit prosecutions. At Lumsden, last week, before Major Keddell. S.M., W. J. Paul, manager of Greenvale and Lome Peak runs. Eyre district, was charged at the instance of T. Gilmour, rabbit inspector, with failing to destroy the rabbits on the estates mentioned, and that, having commenced to take steps for their destruction, he did not continue to do so until the rabbits were destroyed. Evidence having been given by W. M'Beath Munro, rabbit agent, and the inspector, defendant, who did not give evidence, was fined £5, costs 7s. — D. A. Cameron, owner of Runs 398 and 447, Nokomai, was similarly charged, pleaded guilty, and was fined £5. cost 7s. A Fortrose correspondent of the Southland News supplies the following items: — The season has been good for grass, and the turnips have had a fine start. All that the crops now require is more sun to ripen them off. The steamer to Dunedin is a thing of the past, the wool and grain all going by rail. As showing that there is enterprise among the settlers, I need only state that there are no less than three dairy factories within a radius of six or seven miles ; also two flaxmills, while another of the latter is about to start. Harvesting has commenced in Central Otago. The weather in this part, of lato has not been favourable for ripening the grain, and the prospects of an early start with the reaper are not promising. The small birds are changing the colour of the grain in many paddocks. — Tapanui Courier. The weather at Winchester during the past fortnight has caused the farmers a great deal of anxiety. Scarcely a day passes, without some rain, and the changes of temperature ore so sudden and violent that harvest operation? are attended with the greatest difficulty. A good deal of grain has been t cut on the lighter lands. Some beautiful crops of barley have suffered considerable damage from the rain. As barley is the moot delicate of all the grain crops, the slighter' discolouration means serious loss. — Correspondent Timaru Herald. Three trucks of sheep — ,irime Otago — passed through Timaru one day last week, consigned to Seaclown from Cafclins. Evidently, remarks the Post, sheep are cheaper in Otago than in South Canterbury, when it pays to lail them such a distance. Tho New Zealand Loan ?nd Mercantile Company has e'ecided to erect a creamery at a point near the Hcaton Park estate, about four miles from Marton. Sheep are goinir ahead in New Mexico. In two counties, Kddv and Charez, there are 400,000. mostly in flocks of 15,000 and under. The clip in New Mexico this year has been a good o?ie. and most of the profits are being invested in improving the flocks by the importation of better class sheep. The serious condition of the labour supply is awakening constanilv increasing concern in the ruial districts of England. Far from improving, thp state of things grows yearly more disquieting. The flow of young" men from the land continues unabated, and farmers complain that as the older generation, which ha? for some time been their chief mainstar, fall from the ranks, thpir difficulties multiply, recruits to take the vacated places beinir scarcely obtainable. It is quite evident that things are rapidly approaching au intolerable pa.ss. Some means will have to be devised to abate the seriousness of the .situation. If farming pursuits are to continuo to engage attention and to employ capital, there must of necessity be a certain number of hands willing to remain at farm work, and since it cannot be to the nation's advantage to permit agriculture to drop to the inactive state which threatens it, the supply of labour may have to be made a question for Parliamentary consideration. Landowners and farmers are, to all appearances, doing their best to solve the perplexing problem, but as yet their effoits have met with little availing reward. The general opinion se3ins to be that higher wages .would hay« more remedial effect than any other inducement that could be suggested, but then farmers are agreed that to pay the wages required for this purpose is quite beyond theii power while prices of farm produce remain

at anything near their present level. Other useful remedies, it is suggested, would be the provision of £ood cottages and the guarantee of constant employment. These are two most important considerations which capable, trustworthy men have a right to expect, and which no one can justly blame them for endeavouring to obtain. Whatever the effectual remeciies may be, one thing is tolerably certain, and that is that the thorough investigation of the question cannot be very much longer deferred. Mr H. Layton Blunt, the reader of the paper at the December meeting of the Farmers' Club, has no specific remedy for the agricultural labour difficulty. On the contrary, ho foresees further trouble and a worse state than the present, as may be judged by the prophecy he advances at the close of his remarks, as follows: — "I imagine that 50 years heuce-^the gentleiaan farmer will be a thing of the past, the small holders' will have increased a hundredfold, large farms run by syndicates and companies will be frequent, and much more land than ever will be devoted to pleasures, such as racing, shooting, hunting, polo, golf, and the many amusements which are the growing tendency of the day." —Field.

"iTrom America, that home of champions and records, comes a 'challenge that should be of interest to some of our Australian and New Zealand ringers. The champion shearer of Montana County, Mr R. M. Marquis, it appears, wishes to meet some rival worthy of his steel, or, rather, of his machine. Last year he simply annihilated all his former records. In seven days he shore 1493 hea\ytvoolled sheep, working less than 10 hours per day. Thirty sheep an hour is not reckoned an at all out-of-the-way pace for this "flyer," and it is said by capable judges that •his work is beautifully clean and even. At one place he averaged right through the shed 250 sheep a day. Last yoar his total tally amounted to exactly 17,000. Unfortunately, the account does not inform us what machine the gentleman from Montana uses. Probably it is one specially manufactured for him by Edison at Menlow Park. We here have a few men who fancy they can shear, but The Glen Oroua faotory (Manawatu), which ' has only been started during th past coup!"* of months, has 16 suppliers, and deals with lOOOgal daily. The weather, says the Field of December 9, has been of the worst description possible for trade in fat stock, and has certainly had an adverse influence upon business in the Royal Agricultural Hall. At the same time the demand for cattle has been more active than for some time back, while prices, if still moderate, were somewhat better than last year. This was more particularly the ca"e Dn the opening days of the show, but towards the end of the week, when the animals remaining unsold were, of course, not the most

attractive sorts, and when the weather was even more disagreeable, trade dragged and low prices ruled. The Queen's champion Hereford steer was one of the first to find a buyer, Mr E. Jones, of Lampeter, Wales, claiming this famous animal at, we believe, the net £150. For sheep the demand was slow, only the best quality sorts exciting any spirited competition.

California does not like present low prices of wheat. •\A year ago 600,000 quarters were on passage therefrom, two years ago 1,450,000 quarters. On the other hand, the Atlantic and Argentine ports are ready sellers, and Australasia's energies have been exceptional. The failure of India and Russia to send us wheat will put backbone into tho trade wfienever a spell of cold weather or other cause arrives to give the holder a chance. — Field.

Good business was done recently in "butter" by an old lady of Bristol, England. She bought a big lot of margarine, took it to her homo in the slums of that ancient city, and there made it into neat and tempting-looking "pats," with an acorn or a corn, or something of the kind, neatly stamped on each. Then, after arranging them nicely in a basket with a white cloth and cabbage leaves, all according to precedent, she arrayed herself as a farmer's wife in a clean, white cap and apron, and proceeded to exploit the guileless and gullible public. It would have been a hard-hearted person indeed who could have resisted the petition to buy from a poor, but honest, farmer's wife, reduced by tho agricultural depression to hawk the produce of her dairy about the streets. Doubtless, the old lady had a very good time, too, iinlil Nemesis, in the shape of £20 or six months, overtook her, and put an end to the little game. During his stay as the guesT of the Queen at "Windsor recently, the German Emperor manifested his keen interest in farming matters by visiting the Shaw and Flemish Farms on which her Majesty keeps her famous herds of cattle. His Imperial Majesty, who has a lively appreciation of the merits of farm live stock — a gilt probably inherited through his mother — fortunately was able to inspect the admirable selection of fat stock which was to represent the Royal herds at the Birmingham Show before they started on their singularly successful mission, and expressed high admiration of their merits. Tho breeding stock, which are all at present in a healthy and prosperous condition, were also systematically inspected by the Imperial vis-itor in the company of the Prince of Wales and other members of the royal family.

The annual fat stock show promoted by the Royal Dublin Society was hold at Ball's Bridge in the beginning of December. The enlried were v,c\\ maintained, and the quality of the exhibit.; was in the main satisfactory. When the first fat show was held, at Ball's

Bridge some years ago it was a question of whether the iufed or outfed cattle were the better class, and there was so little difference in fact, to outward appearance, they might have been all stalled together. Now, however, the higher finish of housefed animals is asserting itself as it should do, and the infed cattle will form the stay of future exhibition*. The stilty, strong-boned, muscular ranger is giving place to an animal of different type, of square build, nearer the ground, and with less daylight about him. Weight is giving place to qualit)-, with smaller bone and less waste.

On Wednesday, December 6, Messrs Buckland and Sons, of Windsor, held the annual sale of her Majesty the Queen's Christmas fat stcch pt the Flemish Farm. The morning, was the Aery reverse of being a pleasant one, and the Kiiighto of the Cleaver had a rather danrp drive BCIOSS a portion of Windsor Great Park, but aft,er partaking of the excellent luncheon provided they looked upon the animals to be offered with verj- favourable eyes. Mr Tait usually prowde* something good, but this year he excelled himself, e->pecially with the Devons, whilst there were some truly grand Blue Greys. In addition to the Hampshire Down and Southdown sheep a few pans of Highland wethers were aho introduced, and the*e met with a spirited competition. The pigs, as usual, were exceptionally hea\y, and made correspondingly high prices. As usual, Birmingham buyers eagerly competed to become the coveted possessors of specimens of tho Small White Windsor braed. The sheep were first offered by Mr Buckland. sail., who disposed of 117 pens in 62 minute.-. The highest price for Hampshire Down v ethers was 125= per head, 205 of these making £630 10s, 01an aveiage of £3 7s 3d. The Hampshire Down tegs were mo=t evou, the best price being 72s per head, 202 tegs fetching £613 6s, or an average of £3 0s Sd. Thus it will be Feen that early maturity mutton made the be°t price-!, taking into consideration the extra cost of keeping older sheep. Tl.e topping figure amongst the Southdowns wa= 57b, 108 of Ihe&o resulting iv the -urn of £297 3s, or an average of £2 15s. There wos only a variation of 5s behveeii the highest price, 56a. and the lowest paid for the Highland wethers ; 72 of these made a total of £187 17s, or an average of £2 12s 2d. Beef made excellent prices, a show Hereford steer being knocked down at £37. The top figure of Devons was £36, 18 Devons realising the sum of £553 10s, cr an aveiage of £31 Is. The topper amongst the Blue Greys changed ownership at 40gs, 22 of these Blue Greys making a total of £577, an average of £30 15s ; the 41 head of fat cattle making a total of £1282 10s, or a general average of £32 Is 3d. The top figure amongst the Berkshire fat hogs was £12, 77 Berk&hires totalling £489 ss, or an average of £6 7s, the highest price earned by the Small Whites being £9 10a, 17 of these made £95 ss, or an average cf £5 12s. The sum total of the day's sale amounted to £3554 16s. Buyers were present from all parts of the kingdom.

In tho Argentine Republic in 1888 the percentage of crossbred sheep was 17.7, and that of the merino 82.3. To-day the merinos havo decreased to 55.4 per cent., and the crossbreds have increased to 44.6. In 1888 the production of crossbred wool in the Argentine was 70,000,0001b, and last year 248,000,0001b.

Efforts are now being mads by those interested to improve the quality of the beef herds in Canada by the introduction of pedigreed shorthorn and other cattle from Great Britain. It is a remarkable fact that shorthorn cattle not only thrive in Canada, but that they actually improve in constitution and quality. A huge specimen of the Canadian crossbred oxen, named Royal Canadian Duke, will be shown at Paris. This animal has been bred and reared at Bow Arrow, near Brandon, Manitoba, and is probably one of the most remarkable fat oxen ever exhibited. The following were his dimensions, taken on November 16 last year: Length from, tip of nose to butt of tail, 10ft lOin ; girth round the heart, 9ft 7in ; height at shoulders, sft Sin. It hai not been thought advisable to finish fattening him in view of his projected Atlantic passage ; but at the dale when tho above measurements were taken his weight was close upon 35001b, • and it is anticipated that he will tip the scale at two tons by the time he is exhibited at Paris, besides being a marvel of symmetry and good qualitj'. Royal Canadian Duke bears testimony to the breeding value of the shorthorn, and to the great feeding value of the natural grasses and the healthful climate of Western Canada. Another factory has been started on the East Coast (North Island), at a place called Makauri. The Christchurch Meat Company announce that a dividend of H P er cent - for the half year ending October 31. 1899 (which makes 9 per cent for the year), has been declared. The Nevis country, from a pastoral point of view, is looking splendid. The grass was seldom better, although the crops are light and a bit backward. — Cromwell Argus. We have had a spell of fir.c growing weather at Waikaka, and the crops are looking well, but in most instances will be very late. There is abundance of grass, and stock are in the pink of condition. There 'is a good demand for stock, but farmers do noi care to touch sheep at present prices. The high prices are largely due to stock getting into the hand" of dealers. Sheep are much too high , for graziers to buy with a chance of making anything. Store stock are selling at a higher price than fats, and when things get to that pitch we may look for a fall. Fancy 13s to 14s 6d for wethers in store condition . When the death rate is considered, and the feed and management of a mob for three or four months are taken into account, one gets a good idea of the price one mu=;t obtain to make even one's own money out of sheep bought at such figures. Farmers will havo to be very careful this season in buying if they do not want to burn their finger?. Better let youv feed go to waste than lose by purchasing stock too dear. The sea&on is not very suitable for grass seed, and to all appearances there will be a much better demand for seed than last year. — Correspondent Southland Times. It is many 3-ears since the farmers had such a good time for harvesting in the Waikato (remarks the Auckland Star's Cambridge correspondent), and most of the hay and grain has been stacked without having a drop of rain on it since it was cut, and even that which did drop in for the one day's rain was not damaged in the slightest, for a good breeze sprang up next morning, and the crops wore dry in about an hour. I have not the slightest hesitation in snjius the grain from Waikato will, this year, be buch as it has :iol turned out for a long time, and the same will equally apply to the chaff, for very few oaierpillar» have been seen this season, and the majority of the farmers have c-caped altogether. I hail a talk to a "canny Scot" who hails from the Pukerimu district, and he thinks his crop will yield very much above the average this year, and for quality, he states they cannot be excelled. All the settlers want now is a rise in the market, but they agree with me that there does not appear much likelihood of its coming to pass.

The praotico of dishorning being legal in Ire.laj.id, a.ud polled cattle* naturally or arti-

ficially so, greatly in request by Scotch and English buyerp, dishorning, according to "Avena," in Farm and Home, is steadily gaining ground in Ireland. Most of those who purchase store cattle largely in the inland markets (to hold over a few months, to again sell as stores at the great metropolitan sales now so popular) dishorn the beasts fo bought as soon as they get them nome. Breeding and condition being- equal, dishorned young cattle make easily 10s a head, and often considerably more, over homed stook. No doubt the process, even when properly done, is not without a suspicion of cruelly ; yet, although many of the animals bleed a good deal, and show by their drooping "heads as well as slow and reluctant gait evident signs of considerable pain, the shock to the system seems to pass off in a. few hours, and next day they are feeding' as usual. Although there are several types of implements employed for the purpose, there is none better than the ordinary saw in the hands of a man accustomed to its use. To obtain the appoarance of a naturally polled animal the cut must be mr.de absolutely at the base of the horn, and as even as possible, so that one side may not bo higher than tho other. If done timidly, with a continual dread of injuring the animal, and a, slight portion of the ba=e of the Lorn is left, there arises a round knob, which gives the head an unsightly appeaiance, and robs the operation — on the day of sale — of a considerable part of its value.

Nowadays cakes of various sox-ts are very largely employed in the feeding of all descriptions of stock in various parts of the kingdom. When and how the value of linseed and cotton cake* for feeding purposes was discovered is not exactly known, but tradition has it tha* "oil cake" first came into prominence in this connection through 6eing used not as a food stuff, but as a maina-e. Early in the centra it is said, an E<"sc:: farmer manured &e»eial of his fields with the "refusa" of an oil mill, and not dreaming that the animals would e»t it, he turned iii a number of sh?.on upon it. boon finding that both the graos and the iranure disappeared, the 'farmer in question began to look into the matter, and in due coiuse ho found that the 1 sheep which had consumed the cake had done very much bolter than those on the adjoining lands which had no such extra feeding. It is said that this incident is responsible for the introduction of linseed cake as a food for farm stock.

As a general rule it may be laid down that the daily increase in the live weight of cnttle decreases gradually as the age of tho animpl increases. This was very strikingly illustrated, says the Farmers' Gazette, at the recent fat stock shows in the United Kingdom, where the greatest daily increases in weight were invariably made by the younger animals. Quito a number of the animals exhibited at these shows, ranging from 17 and 18 to 20 and 22 months old, showed daily increase in weight of over 2lb per head, but very fewbeasts which were over two years of age showed an increase of 21b par day. Tine- only instance, indeed, in which many of the older animals showed this increase was in the ea°o of tho croßsbreds, the average daily srain of which, as far as the older animals were concerned, was .vj^veeiabl-f better than that standing to' the credit of any of the pure breeds.

At the Magistrate's Court, Balclutha, on the 14th inst. before Mr Stratford. S.M., William Murdoch was charged with failing to continue to destroy rabbits en his proper tj* (300 acres at Puerua). Fined £6, and costs 7s. — Richard J. Smith, similarly charged (400 acres at Romahapa). Fined 54, with costs 7s ; execution to be stayed for three months. — George Ord, Katea, pleaded guilty as to the rabbits, but defendant's counsel raised the defence that his client had forfeited the land nearly three months before the proceedings commenced. This information was dismissed, his Worship ruling that defendant occupied the land on sufferance, and was liable to be treated as a trespasser by the Land Board. "Rabbit Trapper" ventilates his grievances as follows in ths North Otago Times: — I and a mate invested our savings in 200 traps, a horpe and uack-saddle, tent and a^eav, and wishing to be ready to start work on March 1, spoke to several Jrndowners for permission to trap. We were told that they would only be too glad to 'kill every rabbit on their ground, but they dare not do it. The inspectors would be down on them at once. Why. Sir. is the Rabbit Act so harshly administered in this country? If rabbits are trapped they must be left to rot on the ground. They must not be sent to ths railway for export. The inspectors prefer seeing the rabbits running about than that they should be killed and exported. Such is the fact, and there is no denying it. The average prices of British corn per quarter for the week ending December 2 were as follows:— Wheat. 25s Id; barley, 25s lOd ; oats. 16s 6d. For the corresponding week last year the prices were : Wh°at, 27s 7d : barleV. 28s 6d : oats, 17s Id. For the week ending December 9 the prices were as follows : Wheat, 25s 7d ; barley, 25s lOd : oats, 16s sd. For the corresponding week last year the prices were: Wheat, 27s 6d ; barley, 28s 6d ; oats, 17s 3d. For the week ending December 16 the price? wore as f ollov--;s : — "Wheat, 25s 4d; bar lev. 25 7d ; oats, 16s 3d. For the correspondirg week last year the prices were: Wheat, 27f, 2d ; barley-. 28s sd : oats, 17s. — The London "Flour Millers' Association's official prjees of flour per sack of 2801b for the week ending December 4 were : London whilts, 26f ; town households, 23e. For the week ending December 11 the prices wore : London whites, 25s 6d ; town households, 22s 6d. For the week ending December 18 tho prices were : London whites, 265 ; town households. 235. Eight thousand sheep (says the Pcloru? Guardian) are to be shipped from the Pelorus Sound for Canterbury. Tha steamers Te Kapu and Kiripaka, have been engaged for somo days hi bribing sheep to Havelock. Mv E. Clifton, rabbit inspector, in his annual report of the Agricultural deoartment, pays that there is an increase of the rabbitsin tho tipper Waikato. It is an increase that is probably only temporary, and it is attributable chiefly to the succession of Feasons that have been favourable t^o the increase of the nuisance. In the King Country, where rabbitskins are purchased from the Maoris at 3d eachj as poisoning cannot well be carried out there. 196.215 skins were received for tho year ending March 31 last, as against 139,493 purchased for the preceding year. To this increase three causes have contributed : firstly, although the rabbit is not more numerous in any one place, it is found in more places ; secondly, fairly dry seasons, or, rather, the absence of floods 5 thirdly, the Maoris arc working better, as their potato crops havo failed, and they have not been receiving much money for land sale". It can therefore be readily recognised that the receipt of £2452 13s 9cl has been a very great inducement to effort among these people.

Tho following Western District notes are couUib.u.ted by, tUa CQrresuon4qn,t of the

Wyndham Herald: — The turnips, which wers late in being sown, are looking remarkably well, and promise to be a good crop ; giving feed to a large number of stock during the winter. A great amount of ryegrass has been, cut for threshing. It is to bo hoped that the prices will improve shortly. The oats are looking well, and harvest will commence in, about a fortnight. Some splendid wheat crops are to be seen. I have it on good authority that there are better crops here than in Canterbury. Many of the farmers are disposing of their lambs at a good figure. Tho late wool sale, which showed a heavy decline on the previous one, has resulted in heavy losses to many of the farmers, especially in. the outlying districts. It seems a great pity that the dairying industry could not be introduced into our district, which would be mucli more prontablo to our small farmers than keeping sheep. Rabbits are again very numerous, and with all the trapping they got last year, they seem, to be in greater numbers than, ever.

The Waimate correspondent of the Oamaru Mail writes a& follows : — The weather to-day (15th inst.) is more favourabla lor harvesting work than has been the case for 10 or 12 previous days. During the late heavy damp wecther grain crops have been maturing slowly. A good many of tho crops are cut in pares of the district surrounding Waimate, but little or none of what has been cut has been secured by (-lacking or passing through the threshing mill, and harvest work has been, much retarded. If the weather now takes up and continues, fine, the bulk of the crops will bo cut by the close of next week, and much will be blacked or threshed. jLittle if any damage has been done to the crops by the late long-continued showery and he?vy weather. Tureipi and grass have "benefited by the change. The crops of grain at Waihap Down*, Willow Bridge, Waikakahi, Mokikihi, Hook, and other parts of Waimate County, are generally good, and in some places reaping i , forward, though not much has been stacked. In Rfikataramea Valley, where harvest work is more forward than in tho less elevated districts, the crops are very good, and waiting some dry v, either to be safely put together. Along Wsitaki North, from Sandhurst down ths river, tho crops are fair and f>ra<=s and turnips are looking well. It is ■•aid that on the Takatu, Clarkesfield, lately acquired for Government small runs, there are a number of men employed rabbiting, the pe^t having increased tho-re considerably during the last year or two. It is paid thai in tho same locality a formidable weed resembling, if not actually being, the Californian thistle is spreading riini'-'lv.

It ib sometime* a matter of wonder, , writes " Ru^fcieus," in the Bruce Herald, how wheat growing in Australia can be made to pay, more especially when t,ho price of wheat hag come dowzi to the low level reached last year. According to Mr Walter Suitor, a large wheat grower in New South Wales, it is a matter of tho greatest ease to get out of the difficulty — wheat growing in Australia at present simply do<?s not pay. Mr Suitor, who farms about 8000 acres, finds his average for -the last three years to be six bushels per acre : but, making evei.y allowance and calling the general average 10 bushels per acre, he still calculates that the balance is on the wrong side of the ledger. He gives the following as the cost of production in New South Wples at present: — Ploughing, sowing, harrowing twice, and lolling, 7s per acre ; seed wheat, one bushel per acre, 3=: stripping, cleaning-, and bagcing, 6s : bags, Is 9d ; carting to railway (four miles), Is 3d ; railway freight and selling commission, 4s 2d — making a total of £1 3s 2d. The present price cf prime milling wheat in Sydney, say 10 bushels at 2s 6d, amounts to £1 ss, less expanses, £1 3s 2d : net return. Is lOd per acre. Mr Suttor assumes the land to be valued on a freehold basis of £2 10s per acre, and inte. csb on the ttame at 5 per cent, would be 2s Cl «p f -r acre, which leaves the wheat grower with a los:< of 8d per acre. According to these fiarures, then, the wheat crop in New South Wales is, at the present time and prices, being actually produced at a loss.

The crops in the Heddon Bush district are looking extremely well. The recent hard frosts, however, did some damage to wheat and potatoes. Grass is abundant, and stock in prime condition. Winton Record.

The Albury correspondent of the Timaru Post reports that most unsatisfactory weather for harvesting is being experienced in that district. This is deplorable, as with medium crops and wheat prices at bedrock, it is of moment that ths grain should be secured in the best of condition.