AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 30 March 1904, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Mr T. York has some 10 acres under cultivation in his orehaic's at Woolston (says the Lyttelton Times), and about half the area is devoted to poars, tho orchard containing some 800 pear trees. These, though young, arc laden with fruit, in most cases of exceptional size and very regular formation. Thoro/aro about 25 varieties of peard, early and late, and most of them are grown for export. A largo number of cases, each containing; from 401b to 451b, have been sent to Wellington already this season, and have realised excellent prices, ranging from 9s 2d to 10s 2d p&r case. Mr York estimates his crop at about 1500 cases, and in the light of the figures quoted one hardly needs his assurance thr.t it pays to grow good fruit. Pears and plums are his specialty, and in each he is equally successful. This season's crop of plums filled 1500 cases, and sold weJl, the fruit being in fine condition. Evidence of tho care, and thoroughne s of Mr York's methods are to be found everywhere.

Chief Stock-inspector Miller, of Hawke's Bay, has just made a visit to the northern part of Poverty Bay. He found pasture everywhere phenomenally abunchnt, but foars that the season will be a, bad one for hoggets owing to so much wet weather. Rabbis are increasing at an alarming rate in the Qucanbcyan district, New South Wales.

A North Island dairyman advertises that he "is prepared to offer milk and fresh eggs from sound, healthy cows." Bird-lime has recently' been tried to reduce the pest of the> predaceous birds in the Masterton vineyards, and it is said to havo proved to be an effective remedy. A potato grown at Xakanui and exhibited in Oamaru weighs 33b 3oz. At Wauganui last week Mr H. EyreKennedy, S.M., gave judgment for "defendants in a case where a milk vendor claimed compensation for milk rejected by a dairy factory. Plaintiff ar.d a number of v.irnesses affirmed that the milk was sweet, and the dairy manager and other witnesses declared it v>as sour. In giving judgment the magistrate said the verdict "of a creamery manager was final, and if he rejected the milk no appeal could be made. During a Jate thunderstorm lightning struck tho leg 3of a hoise at Euncervilie and completely took off the limbs. The Pateg, paper says that over 2300 dozen eggs »re in the cool storage chamoer at the West Coasfc Refrigerating Company's "U'orks, and that it is the intention of the owners to place them on the market in the winter.

Not for many yeans (says the Fr°e Press) has there been such an influx of harvest hands into iho Clutha district. Usually the cry is that there are not enough men available; but last week a local mil-owner had enough applications during one day to staff his mill thrice, over. The. majority of the men are Australians.

Mr R. E. M'Rae, of Hawera, has just returned fiom South Africa, where he has acquired a block of over 30,000 acres of land in the Ermelo distiict from the Transvaal Government for settlement by New Zealanders. Tho land is described as excellently adapted for a eri cultural and' pastoral purposes. Mr M'Sao expects to leave for the Tiansvaal with a number of Bottlers in September. Fanning prospects i'j the Tramsvaal are reported to bo good.

The Poverty Bay Herald scys: "It will be remembered that a ie\r years ago v ethers over 701b in weight were rejected for freezirg purposes, that class of mutton being believed to be tmsuilable for the London market. "Whether there has been a change in the public taste at Home as New Zealand meat gets to be better known, or not, the remarkable fact is shown by recent account soles received by a local resident that tho 701b sho:p bring- the highest prices. Out of a parcel of 4-45 carcases, consigned to H. Fitter and Son, meat salesmen, of London, on account of a local prcchicer, five carcaso-s averaging 70 4-51b sold ai 4?, d per lb, end brought the highest prlc?a of tho consignment. Tliey grossed £1 6s 6 3-5 d each. In the «ame parcel a further 20 averaged 2s 8d per stone, or 4d per lb. Thoir individual weight was 's3 3-201b, and they each returned the grower 17s BJd. These prices must be considered very satisfactory.

A Pahiatua farmer has tried the experiment of sterilising uiilk before it is given to the calves, and since adopting this method has not lost a single calf by disease. The Auckland flax, export last month totalled 770 tons, valued at £19,250.

Only 10 out of 25 returned troopers who took up sections of waste land at Te Xuiti, near Kawhai, remain on their holdings. Those who remain have mac 7 o a request through Mr Witheford, M.FUR., to have their lands placed under ..the Bush arid Swamp Land Act.

The thirty-eighth annual meeting of the Tl'naru A. and P. Association. wa« held on the 19th imst. Mr W. Hay (president) occupied the chair, and there were about 30 members present. The retiiing committee's report showed that it had begun the year with £378 18s 5d in hand, and ended it with Sol 11s Bd. A sum of £376 18 7d had been spent on extra horse stalls and boxes, and £49 had be"n disbursed in additional prizeman c-y. The- entry fees ha.l been £60 above those of the pievious year, but, owinpr to bad weather, ths gate receipts had been Jess. The membership had bom increased by 158, the laimber no\i boirsf fbou'i 380. The association's assets exceed its liabilities by £1600. The President congratulated tho members on having had a prosperous year and on prescmt bright prospects of the agricultural and .pastoral industu'es. A special vote of thanks was passed to Mr M. Maze ior having nominated about 15C new members during the year, and the retiring president, Mr W. Hay, was warmly thanked on vacating the chair. Mr Dcmald Grant, Temuka, was unanimously elected president ; Mr Alexander Scott, vice-provident ; Mr W. Priest was elected treasurer : and Mr J. T. Warron was appointed auditor. The new prafcident suggested that an effort should be made to make the first day of the show mors attractive. The inoojnino: committee

was i-ecommended to reduce the entry fees at its- shows, at all events to members.

Re-gardiag tho recurring outbreaks of arthrax, tho Colonial Executive of the Farmers' Union has decided, to communicate with the Govoi-nment to tho eff-eet that the union deplores the delay in dealing efficaciously v.ith the matter, and expresses strongly the. indignation felt by tho farming: community in gen-cial at the. ncn-erection of the nccss-ary stciilUing plants m the colony. Tho union holds tho Governments responsible for anj further outbreak of anthiax iv tho colony, and considers, notwithstanding that there, is great necessity i» eoms portions of the colony for tha importation of bones, yet for the safety o£ live stock acid those who have to attend to them the importation of bones should be>' absolutely prohibited until the sterilising works are established.

To those having the progress of Cheviot at heart (oL-s&rvos the Jbyttehon Times) ifc will be a matter for regret that it has been, found necessary to close the dairy factory. Ths factory had been in operation for about ewht years. During seven, yeors it w-\3 worked by Mr F. A. Cook, and the shareholders then decided to take, it over and run. it on. tho co-operative plan, believing ife woiild thereby be more to their advantage. Unfoitunatciy, however, this did not provo to be tho cese, and about a month ago it ■was decided to wind up the company' and close th? factory. Tha cow keepers had then to look 'after themselves in the> matter of tlio disposal of their milk, amd tho result has b-oen that a number hare installed butter-making plants. About £600 worth, of dairying machinery and appliances hao been placed in tho settlement during tho past month, and the enterprising owners of the plants profess themselves highly pleased with the result of their venture. They have, an assured market in Christchurch for all the butter they can turn out, and they find that the price obtained pays them better than supplying the factory. With increased facilities for transport _to the city market, scparator-bufcter-producimg will in time be<come< an important industry in the settlement. In connection with the* closing of! the factory on the 17th inst. advantage wag taken of Mr F. A. Cook's presence in Cheviot to present him, on behalf of the old! milk suppliers, with a igold Mai test cross, "in appreciation of the satisfactory manner in which ho carried on the Cheviot Dairy Factory for ©even years."

Adjoining the railway line at "Waikari there is a paddock, about 50 acres in extent, so infested with Scotch thistles that sheep can only got through it with great difficulty, Rind at present tho seed is being scattered bioadcpst in regular clouds of fluff all ever the surrounding country, and is even finding its way into the la'lway carriages, hladi the. paddock been attended to in time the noxious weed could have -bec-n laid low in one day by a rcapjeig machine, and much land would have escaped being infested with. It.

At the ballot- for the Lovels Estate on the 18th inst. (says th". Timaru Post) the Commissioner mcnlion-od that the Xaud Board! had determined to use every means in their powec to prevent ■= ambling in Crown lands. This reirark wps occasioned through a selector who had be«n successful at tha ballot in. the morning making application in the afternoon to be allowed to forfeit his section and have it re-baJlotod. The Commissioner said the board set its free against this kind qf thing. If ih<? applicant had niado the- request immediately he secured his section it might have been allowed, but ho had let ovpi* an hour elapse, and the board did not know what might have transpired in the meantime, though he would not foi a moment think of suggesting that any dishonesty had been intended in this case. But if they allowed the requ r st it would b& opening a door which thsy had determined to jlose, and successful applicants who refused to take- up their eections would havei to forfeit their deposits, even though such deposits amounted to £100. Another thing the Commissioner mentioned was that ai Rood many applicants had resented beiiig so strictly examined as to their financ'al position. But he co'ald assure thd's- people thafc if they knsw the decoi-stion that had been practised cv the board in the past they would agree, that the inquiries now mado were none too strict. To use a common expression, the board had been "had" in tho past, and they La-1 dofceimined. as far as possible, to prevent a repetition of thia kind of thing in the future.

Orchardiste and gardeners should note that tho Orchprd and Garden Pests Act of la?t session, which rei^ca's and rtp'ao^s tb& act of th-p ssama n title in 18S6, cemes into force ion April 1. The inspectors appointed iinder the act ha-se,very wide> powers, and the oiius of eradicating disease and preventing Jfc spreading is thrown upon, th-e occupier of an orchard, Vv"ho is also, within 48 hours after discovering- the exi*-te-nce of disease in i.is orchard, to <=end written notice to the S'cretaiy for Agriculture at "Wellington. The dsWns-s schcduledi arc: — American blight, aup'.e-ecib, codlin. moth, mussel or oyster scale, and red mite. Any or all of the. diseases scheduled m;iy bo suspended by any County Council (and for this purpose bor,ou2fh? within the boimdaries of a county are to be deemed part oc the coimty) by special order, which must be> gazetted.

An echo of^ the many* discussions which have lately iaken place in connection w'th, the sizs> of ocrnsacks wa-3 heard yestcrdar (says the Christclmrch Pro=s of the 22nd hist.) at Messrs ICave and Carter's offioe in this city. Mr Kave, at the last conference' held by tho Chamber of Commerca on the question, expressed the. opinion that the South Australian sack, measuring M-iin by 26^in, would hold 2501b of New Z-i-land v/hc-ai, and that it held from 2701b to 2901b of South Australian wheat. Some amount of incredulity was exLvesred l.v at least one speaker at the conferonce-, and! Mr Kave, to demonstrate the matter, imported live sacks of Australian wheat. Some of thcje- were weighed in the presence of lle-crs YV. D. Mc-ares (piesident of th© Chamber of Commerce), E. (i. Stavclpv. Henry "NToofl, 11. Quane, and H. Aniill Adley (secretary to the Chamber). The two cacks weighed 2661b and 2801b respectively, and the general opinion was expressed thafc a similar--izcd ba<? would easily contain 2501b of New Zealand wheat. As a side issue, it was pointed out that the South' Australian lumper has nol found the heavy, weight* of corn-ack.3 beyond his capacity, and has not agitated, as his New Zealand

The special Gap.den Fertiliser made up b? Kimmo and Blaih will be found to give ex. cellent results when used for Flowers and Vegetables; also for Pot Plants, in and out or greenhouse. It is put rp in 71b bags, at la &* each. Ask roar etoreieeDer for it.

brother has done, for the reduction of the size of cornsaeks. "Wairarapa"' writes to the New Zealand Times, wanting to know the killing capacity and storage of the companies exporting frozen meat from New Zealand to Home , markets. The Times supplies the following figures: — Auckland Freezing Company, killing capacity of sheep per day, 2000, storage capacity, 30,000; Waitara, 1100, 30.000; Gisborne Sheep Farmers' Company, 2000,. 50,000; Nelson Bros 1 ., Gisborne, 2000, 45,000; Nelson Bros., Tomoana, 3000, 60,000; North British and Hawke's Bay Company, 1500, 30,000; Wanganui, 2000, 40,000; Aramoho, 800, 13,000; Longburn, 1400, 20,000; Gear Company, Petone, 6000, 180,000; Wellington Meat Export Company, Ngahauranga, 5000, 150,000; Picton, 2000, 40,000; Hornby, 1000, 55,000; Belfast, Canterbury, 6000, 90,000; Fairfield, 5000, 80,000; Pareora, 4500, 100,000; Islington, 8000, 140,000;' Smithfield, 6000, 100,000; Burnside, 2500, 50,000; Oamaru, 1000, 20,000; Ocean Beach, 1200, 50,000; Mataura, 2500, 110,000; Wallacetown, 2500, ; Bluff, , 55,000. The scarcity of sheep and lambs in the 'Adelaide market ia exemplified by ths record, prices obtaining there. _ Drafts of laxnbg were recently sold at. prices ranging from 17s to 28s 6d pei head, and merino wethers at from 24s to 275. From January 1 to February 6 of the current year, the wheat exports of Argentina amounted to 6,000,000 bushels, and by _ last mail we were informed that prospects indicate that no less than 6,500,000 tons of wheat, linseed, and maize will be exported during the year. During 1902 4,500,000 tons 1 of maize, linseed, and wheat were exported from the Republic. The mealy grub has arrived in the Wairarapa, and is devastating the grape vines of the district.- The grub is an insect an eighth of an inch in length, but its attackon vines is as deadly as that of a poisoned dart. Should it continue its depredations in the- Wairarapa for another month, the graps crop will be ruined. It is impervious to eheop dip. Captured specimens of the grub have been forwarded to the Agricultural Department for examination by experts. Lord Onslow, as chairman of ths Board ot Agriculture, has stated many wise things •in his time (says the Dublin Farmers' Gazette), and so it is not surprising to see that at Newcastle the N other day he made some very sensible observations anent sheepworrying by stray dogs. It seems that, go where you will, this scourge, so far from decreasing, is on the increase, and our farming friends north of the Border are. at the moment the worst sufferers. Not that it matters much whose position is the worst ; for, looked at from a common-sense point of view, the matter should be capable of easy remedy. It is nothing short of monstrous that one's she&p and lambs should be practically at the mercy of wandering curs, which in many parts are a curse pure and simple. Lord Onflow says that there should be a "Curfew Be-11" tolled at nightfall, and that any dog found at large after that hour in a sheep or Gtock-raising district should b& shot on sight. The annual rffm fair in connection with the Timaru A. and P. Association was held on the 22nd inst. Tha calries totalL d 600, and the sale was a, good one, prices showing an improvement on those ruling at the Christchurch rsm. fair. Nearly all the entries were sold. _ The greatest demand was for Border Leicesters, which sold at from 3£g>3 to B|gs, the latter price being y.aid by Mr D. Grant, of Temuka, for a oneehear Border Leicester ram bred by Mr William Great. This was the top price for the sale, the next highest being 6£-gs, paid for a four-shear English Leicester stud ram bred by Mr Donald Grant. Shropshires were neglected. Mr W. Hay offered two eleven months old Ky eland rams, the progeny of some ewes recently imported from Home. A reserve of 50gs was plaoed or, one, and of lOgs on the other, but neither was sold. This is the first time this breed of sheep has been submitted to auction in South Canterbury. General prices were: — English Leicesters, l? r qs tc 4igs ; Shropshire^, l£gs ; Border Leicesters, 3|gs to sigs ; Oorriedales, l|gs to 2igs ; merinos, lias. The annual show and sale- of Abeideen'Amjrus cattle was held at Perth on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 16 and 17, when. no fewer than 642 animals were catalogued. Qf the gross total 433 were bulls, and 204cows and heifers, and the exhibition was of an imposing character. All the classes were judged on Tuesday, and the cows amd •heifers were sold the same afternoon. There was a steady demand for females of a useful description, as is indicated by the fact that for the 169 that found purchasers an averagei •of £27 Is 4d was obtained, compared with £27 6s 9d for 129 head last year. The highest price wae 135g(3, and four others exceeded lOOgs. Five years ago (writes the Field of February 20), when the council of the Smithfield Sludi suddenly resolved to adopt the singlejudge system throughout at their shows, to Ventured to express a deeply-rooted conviction that the application of- th© new principle -.hould be restricted to the breed classes alone. No one denies that the< method of single judging possesses welldefined advantages, and if confined in scope to the exclusive breed contests, it is easy enough to oanceiva that it more nearly

approaches the ideal than either of the more cumbersome' systems it has largely superseded. It does not fellow, however, that the. system which answers best in classes ■ restricted to one brocdi is also ths beet m tho ca?-3 of contests open to all breeds. In fact, we should be inclined to think that ! precisely the reverse would be the result, j and for reasons that must be obvious to anyone who will give to tho peculiar complexity .of the case- a moment's serious con- " sideration. Ths requirement? as to the qualifications of the judge appointed axe sufficiently dissimilar in the two cares of breed , classes and inter-breed classes to suggest that j they are not likely to be equally vrell served Iby tho same svstcm. In the- one case a. judge is wanted who holds clearly defined ideas in regard to breed characteristic's, and also, of course, in respect to utility, and with this description most stock-owners will v claim fitness to comply. The ideal judge of classes where representatives of all breeds meet, and 1 are entitled to equal consideration, obviously must b& a man of entirely different type. He must b& a man of strong mind, and possess confidence in his own judgment, but above all things he must be absolutely free from breed prejudice. It may be left to stockownors to suggest where such a man can be found. It was bcoau&s cl the difficulty that would be met with in finding; .suitable judges that we took exception to the decision of the SmithfiVd Council in so far as the application of the sin-gle-judgo system to the championship contests was concerned. Five years' experience of the method, although it must- be admitted | that it has operated ■■ better than imigbt re-a-1 sonably have been expected 1 , has served to bring a, majority of the council to the same way of thinking, with the result that in future the awards in the inter-breed contests will be made by two judges, or, failing their ability to agree-, by a referee. The British-New Zealand Meat and Produce Company have recently given demonfcliations in Hawke's Bay, under the auspices of Mr R. D. M'Lean, of the company's defrosting: process. A large number hi samples of meat treated' by the process wer& distributed amongst prominent men in the district, and their verdict was that so far as the quality and flavour of the meat wc-r^ concerned 1 they had never tasted better, and' it was undistinmiishable from fresh meat. Amongst those who tested- the defrosted meat were- Sir William Russell and the Hon. J. D. Ormond'. One of the successful applicants for a section on the Roeewill settlement was Mr G. L. liimbrick, formerly of Tai Tapu, who drew the homestead block rt the Cave, comprising 626 acres of good downs. The pection is weighted with £1050 worch cf improvements, which include the woolshed, yards, and sheep dip, and 1 a good house. The woolshed and dip will form a source o£ revenue, as they will be convenient for settlers in that part of the settlement to shear and dip th&ir sheep. At la&t Thursday's sale at the Levels, Mr Lirobrick gave 19s Id for a line of 800 six-tooth crossbred ewes, so that he will start with a good flock. Whilst the Premier -was in Chiistehuroh (says the Press) he was waited upon by Mr H. F. Reeee, one of the directors of the. British-New Zealand Meat and Prochice Company, in connection with the inauguration of the company's business in England. Mr Reeca referred to the fact that the Government intend spending £5000 in advertising New Zealand meat in England, andi pointed out that the steps proposed to be taken foy the company were the best- possible to effect this object. They thought that the Government in, their advertisements, whaever shape they took, might state that the British-New Zealand Meat and Produce Company was composed of New Zealand farmers anxious to place their meat before the British public in the best possible way. They did not want a direct ad vevti&ement. but thought the Government might be able to indirectly draw attention to tho company and 1 convey the informaticci that it was a genuine concern. Mr Recce also asked if there would be any objection to the New Zealand coat of arms being displayed over the company's shops im England, and also if Mr Seddon would writo a letter, as Premier of the colony, to the effect that the company was a genuine one of New Zealand farmers, and that all the meat sent to England by the company would be killed under the inspection of a Government veterinary surgeon. This would be a guarantee to the British public that 'they would 1 only get the best of meat, free from disease of any kind, through the company. Mr Seddon, in reply, eaid be could not grant the privileges asked foi to a private company. If he did so he would probably have half the mining companies in the colony .coming to him and asking the Government to qua rantee that there was gold in their mines. He referred Mr Recce, who left Jaist Thursday on 'his >way to England 1 , to the Ag&ntgeneral and the Government's Produce Commissioner in London, as the matters dealt with by Mr Hee-ce were in their departments. Mr J. " G. Wilson, colonial president of the Farmers' Union, has addressed a letter to the Minister of Lands deploring the delay which has taken place in the erection of bone sterilising works in the colony. He pointed out the indignation felt by the farming community at the apparent disregard of public safety. He considered that the Government should be held responsible for any further outbreak, of anthrax. The

necessity for the importation of bones in certain parts of the eoleny wds admitted, but he held that for the taf^tv cf <-tock and these attending- it the further importation of bones should be absolutely prohibited until it can be treated at tho sterilising works.