REPORT BY ASSISTANT CHIEF INSPECTOR OF STOCK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2436, 21 November 1900, Page 7

REPORT BY ASSISTANT CHIEF INSPECTOR OF STOCK.

RABBITS. The following report by Mr T. A. Fraser, assistant chief inspector of stock, for the year I ended 31st March, 1900, should be read with j interest : — | Maryborough.— l made a brief inspection ! of the Marlboroiigh District, and was pleased ito find it in such good order. The only ! place where rabbits were aj all noticeable i was on portions of the ' Upper Awatere ; and ' this was owing to the winter poisoning not having been done in an effectual manner. Precautions will be taken to see that it is properly attended to in the future. Pollard i poison and the natural enemy appear to keep the pest down easily in this district. For- - merly it was badly overrun. The quantity of wire netting erected shows the effort made to eradicate the evil. * ' South Canterbury. — Rabbits continue to be well kept under. Wherever an increase is reported, steps are at once taken to put them down. I am of opinion that the natural enemy is of great assistance here as an aid in suppression. Pollard poison, dogging, and shooting ac the methods of destruction. Close inspection continues necessary, as unless continuous work is don© rabbits increase. But the expense of keeping them down in South Canterbury is not nearly so great as it is in the country farthei south. Tne South Canterbury rabbit-fence has been well maintained. 1 may here remark that in many portions of this district hares are num erous. They do not take poison, and are only kept under by shooting. Otago and Southland. — A great deal of work has been done during the year, and, on the whole, more energy has been displayed in coping with the pest. It costs money to keep ral>bits down properly, and owing to the improved financial position of farmers and pastoralists better work has been done than is usually the case. In past years land- ■ owners have been ' so impoverished by low prices and successive droughts that they really bad not the money to employ labour to keep ! the^rabbits from increasing during the summer months ; but good prices and good seasons have altered this state of affairs. I Gan fairly report that there has been no increase, and in many parts theer has been a decrease. ! Still, I must admit that a further reduction is desirable. The process of reduction is a slow one, and can only be achieved graduj ally. Take the state of the country six years ago and compare it with the present time, and the contrast is very marked ; at I present there are not nearly the number of | rabbits that there were. This is generally \ admitted. I Export Trapping.— li> many instances, through the medium of the local press, it i has been averred that the department wait until the eve of the trapping season and then ' press owners to poison. This is not so. j "What the department aims at is to make I people keep their rabbits down during the . breeding season, and instructions are to ask | for work during the spring and early summer months chiefly. Still, when by chance rabbits are found to be numerous on any holding during the months of January, February, or March, the owner is required to reduce them, and is left to take his own methods of destruction. He may trap or poison, whichever he pleases. There are some owners who would like to do nothing until the trapping season starts, and then by the use of traps scattei their rabbits over their neighbours' lands that have been kept in good order by careful poisoning. The people who cry ovit against the enforcement of the Rabbit Act are those who do hardly any work except during tho trapping sea-son. The result from export trapping is varied. In districts where there is a closely-settled population, when spring comes round I find rabbits are trapped down to a low point. In districts where the population is sparse far too many rab- ' "bits are left when spring comes round, with the consequence that unless very careful poisoning is done they get numerous by the

New Year. Where a careful and effectual poisoning is done in autumn, followed by trapping, good results are given in the way of reduction ; but if export trapping were solely relied on as a means of suppression, without poisoning or summer work, rabbits would become altogether too numerous by the beginning of March, and pastures would get eaten out by winter, before the rabbits could be trapped down. Methods of poisoning are numerous, but pollard is now almost the universal poison. Some lay it once a year only, using a scrape, talcing eithei autumn, winter, or spring for the period. Others lay it twice a year, either during autumn <and spring, or during winter and summer. Others again, besides their general poisoning, lay small baits at the burrows for the young rabbits during the bi'eeding season. Trapping before or after poisoning is • olmosfc universal, but I find in rabbity districts trapping after poisoning gives best results. The most important thing in laying poison is to see that it is properly mixed, and then .carefully laid. Where this work often partially fails is that not sufficient supervision i-s given. Sometimes it is left entirely in the. hands of men who are going to trap for export later on. This is a mistake, as it is not to their interest that the j:>oisonmg should be effectual. There are large holdings where the rabbits arc kept down entirely by poisoning, ferreting, and shooting. It sometimes happens that even when the pollard is well mixed and carefully laid it is only partially successful — that is, on the same country, poison will be effectual sometimes and not so effectual at other times. This applies more to the warm country of Central Otago. On some of the coastal districts toxa is the only poison used, principally because it is less dangerous to stock; but this poison is not so effectual as phosphorised pollard. Besides poison, ferreting, digging out, drowning out, and suffocating with bisulphide of carbon are carried on, also shooting and dogging. Natural Enemy. — The natural enemy is now numerous in many parts of the island, and is of great assistance in keeping rabbits in check, so much so that many owners object to trapping as an interference with the natural enemy. I find that where the stoat and weasel do best work is on the high back country. Ferrets and cats are also to be found, giving valuable aid. Wire netting is perhaps the best means of dealing with rabbits — unfortunately it is expensive, or far more would be used. Still, every year sees an increasing quantity erected in the Otago District. CROPS. Wheat. — A good yield in Canterbury and Northern Otago, and got into stack or threshed out of stook in good condition, the harvest weather being very favourable. Further south prospects are not }uite so good. The season being backward, a good deal of the crop is still out, and there are reports that in some parts the grain has been injured by frosts. Prices foi this staple product keep very low, and a rise is much needed. There is no encouragement to grow for 2s 3d at coimtry siding, and this has been about the average price. Oats. — A heavy yield, and the crop got in in good order in Canterbury and in Northern and Central Otago ; and there is also the promise of a good crop In Southern Otago and Southland, but the harvest is very backward in these latter parts. At the end of the year a great deal of the crop was still out in stook, a good deal not being 1 even cut. Some anxiety is felt, but it is most probable the bulk of the crop will be yet secured in fair condition. Owing to the continuous export to the Cape prices have been exceptionally good for this cereal, and are likely to be maintained, as last year's stocks have been completely cleared out. Barley promises to be a good average yield, biit prices' are lower than were ruling for the previoiis year. Potatoes. — The yield will not be equal to that of the previous year. _ Some injury was done by late frosts. Prices have been low throughout the year, being ruled by the state of the Sydney market, which is the only outlet at present. It is hoped that an export trade may yet arise with the Cape. Grass Seed. — A fair crop, but low prices. Turnips. — A very good crop in Otago and Southland, but some blight is reported farther north owing to an insufficiency of rain towards the end of summer. The turnip crop is now a great factor in connection with stockraising, providing the main winter feed. Fertilisers are essential to the growing of this crop, and are largely used. Insect Pests. — A good deal of injury was done to some of the crops in the vicinity of Geraldine, South Canterbury, by jhe Hessian i flyCalifornian Thistle.— This is an ever-recur-ring weed. It continues to increase in very many parts. I now find it to be spreading on the pastoral country. At one time I thought it would keep confined to the arable lands, but a good deal is '.o be found on the Kawarau Falls and Kawarau stations near Queenstown. There is also some on Earnscleugh, in the vicinity of Clyde.

" Surface-sowing. — The experiment of surface sowing grass on Earnscleugh has turned out quite successful. The grass has taken freely. Small birds continue to be as troublesome as ever. A good deal of poison is kiid, but not as generally as might be.