AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL

Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 16

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL

The Dorset liorn sheep just imported by Mr Hay, of Pigeon Bay, are not (says the {Pr«» 3) the first of the breed imported into khe colony. There have been at least three other importations of the same breed. Mr JR. D. I>. M'Lean, of Hawke's Bay, and Mr Hibbs, of Methven, have been breeding from Dorset horns for a few years, ami Ifchis season Mr W. Lowrie, director of »ho (Cauterbury Agricultural College, procured ttwo rams from South Australia. It would pc interesting and instructive to tshecpfarmers if the Dorset horn rams at the College ftirm, and a pen of lambs by them, {together with their dams, were shown at tiic {November show, and no doubt the association could arrange with the college authorities for the exhibit to he made.

Referring to the experiments of Drjßabcock and Russell, of Wisconsin, in U-.e curing of cheese in cold storage, it is stated Hhat, though the expense of the system ipomewhat greater than under the old method, the higher returns will more than comp-'-i-eate. The editor of Hoard's Dairyman has tested tome Cheddar chee=p, 10 mon'iis old, cured in cold storage at Wisconsin College, and he reports that " m texture luid condition, showing an even and wellbalanced curing, it is unsurpassed by any cheese we ever saw. The flavour is clean itnd wonderfully mild.'"

Mr E. P. Strawbridge, of Makino (Xorth Island), has taken from Mr W. W. Corpc, of the Makino Factory, the sum of £278 Sot 12 months, or £8 per cow from 35 cows .This is without calves or pig.=. Air Strawbridge lias 102 acres of laud. It is reported that some rabbit tiappers Jn the Gundagai district (New South Wale-) are making from £4- to £5 per week. One squatter says that he has been senoui-ly considering whether it would not bo more profitable now to breed rabbits than sheep. Re drought-resisting grasses, the Queensland Government Botanist (Mr F. M. Bailey) urges the superiority of the indigenous grasses, which have been proved to teuit this country, over exotic importations. The best drought-resisting grasses are those that form hard, more or less cane-like stems (Which are left standing by stock, and which, on the advent of ever to small a fall of train, burst into leafy growth at the joints •)f the stems as well as at the liaso. and thus furnish food for .stock in greater quantity .than perennial grasses of the ordinary growth.

The Auckland Land Board has decided to submit to the Government a proposal to experiment m the direction ot tapping tho kauri trees for gum. The remit of local trials were phenomenal.

At the Ashburton Court on Thursday last, jbefore a bench of justices, G. W Osborno iwae charged with taking to a sale sheep which were infected with lice. Mr B. Fuliarton prosecuted on behalf of the Stock (Department. A fine of 20s and costs was inflicted.

The number of applications rccoived for gpace at the Royal Agricultuial Society of •Victoria's show, to be held in Melbourne in the first week in September, are far in excess of any previous year.

The drought in New South Wales is giving B large amount of employment in the way of keeping stock alive; it is a moderate tpti mate that it takes one man to feed e\ cry 1000 sheep (one station near Forbes if em ploying 250 men). When the drought breaks one. man can attend to 30,000 sheep, so a VJtst'«nny will be added to the unemployed lists Wtor ttie rain «ow«i. Of course ekaax-

ing will take a good many, but the bad time will be when that is well through — besides there will be only half the sheep to shear this year. The Gothic brought 11 Dorset sheep to the colony, consigned to Mr Hay, of Pigeon Bay, who intends to establish a flock of them. These animals are the first of the breed to be imported into tho colony. They are now in quarantine at Somes Island. Tlie sheep show a fine sound carcase, and give promise of turning out oxcelent mutton sheep. It is chiefly for this purpose they are imported, as the breed somewhat resembles merino in the matter of lambing early and often.