Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 2624, 29 June 1904, Page 7

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS

A MENAGE TO DAIRYING.

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

FARMING WITHOUT HORSES.

THE FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

A NEW HORSE BAZAAR OPENED.

AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Was sold for export to Liverpool at a loss of £3000. When the shipment arrived arbitration eases were instituted, the result being a further claim for £1200, thus leaving the unnappy importer with £800, as representing hie original outlay of £5000. The speculator's lot is not always a happy one.

A letter from Sydney, dated June 9, states that rabbits are being dealt with in enormous quantities in Sydney. The prices given, by those purchasing average about 4s 6d per dozen pairs, or from 5s 6d to Ss. The- cost of binding crates, grading. packing, freezing, and putting on tcard is Is 30d per crate of 12 pairs. The freezing rooms in Sydney are pretty well full np, and the Government freezing stores have closed down, as they cannot take any more. Ih-e [Fresh Food and Ice Company treats upwards of 1500 crates per day.

The thousand miles of fresh rabbit fencing to be erected in Western Australia will be 78 miles to the westward of the first fence just erected. The Government has decided to carry out the work by day labour, and to erect the fences in conjunction with the survey of the route.

With the object of protecting local crchardists against tie importation oi eai-ly Australian fruit, the Gisborne Frr.it--jrcw< I rs' Association Committse. ha* decided to request the Government to impose the cluty of Id per lb on imported fruit on November 30, instead of December 31 as at present.

It is stated that Mr Moore, of Momona, has successfully bored for' artesian^ water in tliat portion of the Taieri lying between the Otttram-Allanton road and Waihola. The •water has been tapped at an average depth of 65ft, and it runs at a, good pressure, and is said to be perfectly clear, soft, and wholesome, except in a few places where it ha» an iron taste, caused by a deposit of ironsand.

At a meeting of the. Sheep Breeders' Association at Palmarston Nor.th it was decided not to admit Corriedale sheep into the Northern Stud Book.

A speaker at the National Do.iry Association meeting, held at Palmerstcn North, stated that there was one mill in the North Island which was sending away four million feet of white pine timber annually, and that, he said, was only one of many mills. Th-e only place, he added, where white pin© is left in any quantity is in the northern part of the North Island. At Tennika on Tuesday a "Waitohi farmer ■•was feied for having sold meat within thre« imiles of the borough of Temuka, contrary to the provisions of the Slaughtering Act. On the same day an Orari butcher was fined for failing- to keep his slaughterhouse an a satisfactory condition.

At Addington yards on Wednesday a line of 106 prime lambs sold at 22s 4d, and another lot of 60 broug-ht 21s 3d. Mr Kinsella has forwai-ded a report to Sir J. 6. Ward on the prospects of trade with South Africa for different lines of Ke-w Zealand produce. He regards the prospects for a large and lasting tradfr between the colony and the Cape as almost assured. New Zealand, he says, should -endeavour to give the .purchaser in South Africa exactly what he requires. Unless producers were alive to this fact they would be out of the swim. Only the finest quality of dairy produce and meat should be shipped. If New Zealand butter -makers would send their best, the Argentine would not be able to touoh them in quality.

A Christchurch telegram state-s that the diifotors of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company have declared a dividend of 4per oenit. for the half-year. A line of 200 fat wethers changed hands this week in Ciutha at 21s 9d net on the ground.

At the sale of the Mesopotamia Run on Thursday (the Lyttelton Times says) the auctioneer said a few words regarding the decreasing numbers of merino sheep in the colony. It was generally recognised, he remarked, that Canterbury's supremacy as regarded frozen mutton was due in a large degree to the merino flocks, and it was unfortunate that the merinos were be-ing replaced by halfbreds and other sheep which gave a more immediate return. The Cheviot correspondent of fche Lyttelton Times writes: — Feed is still fairly plentiful, while stock oE all descriptions look as it they could stanl a rousfh winter easily. ,Th« prices paid and prices asked for stack, especially sheep,, are still very high, and a-s apparently no one in Cheviot is overstocked, very few are changing hands. This- state of thinga is Jiofc the ease with the holdings. Too maaiy axe changing ownership to do any (benefit to the district, as most of those who ceil fchefi" faxms go away, and no cmo comes in tneiv place. Their farms are generally transferred to their neighbours or to some other settler. During the last 18 months- 13 families, to my knowledge, have left the rli?triot, and in all cases but two fcheir farms and runs went to- residents of the place «vho already were holders of sections. la r-hesd cases there- is- no- doubt whatever that £fe is the big puiee* obtained for their goodwill which induced the landholders to sell, '-iomft that l>ave «one have been enabled to Purchase freeholds in other parts of the s x>lonv; ofchere have got more Government Jaad "in the North Island, and, I daresay, hi<e waiting for more unearned increment. Ctofi ot 4»r tesideoU obtained, a larm in the

-I-^S JCjk ww *L*JELaJt&& JL <LJ Jt& 3t •

Annan Settlement, another got one in the Rosewill, and yet another, who has balI ioted regularly for years, seemed a block in tho Matamata ballot. i It is understood that the Govern me«t will, at an early date, consider the question whether New Zealand is to be represnte-d at the South African Exhibition to be opend !in Capetown in March next. According to ' the New Zealand Times, Mr J. A. Kinsella, who is now in England, expresses the opinion in a letter received in Wellington that it would be a good thing for t>ie colony to b? I so represented, as it would prove a good ( means of introducing New Zealand products in the African markets. There is, He says, a great future in South Africa for New ZeaI land poultry, meat, and butter, aud if asi exhibit could be made under the supervision of the trade represent ative in that countvy.it j would be )f great ben-sfit to the colony. I Moi-eover. it would be a greet advantage if j the grading system adopted in New Zealand were explained at the exhibition. The Sydney Morning Herald states that the position of principal of the Roseworthy Agricultural College, New South Wales, in succession to Professor Towar, hai ben offered to Mr W. J. Colebatch, who is at present lecturer at the Lincoln Agricultural College, Xew Zealand. He wa« formerly a student at the Rcesoworthy College, but subsequently •nrocedet! to Edinburgh, whore he took the degre-s of B.Sc. and iI.K.C.T.S. In a late number of the Rural New Yoikor Mr J. B. Jenkins, of Es-'-ex County, Mass., has this to say of Angoras: — "I am a farmer I in a small way compared with Western ideas. We keep cows for butter-making', hens, gee«e, turkeys, sheep, and la=;t. but not least. Angoras. I have a rocky, hilly pasture of more than 100 acre* with bushes of all kinds, in-eluding birch. For many years we have mown the bushes, but seldom kill any, but now that the Angoia. ba-s com« the bushes have to staaid back. T4iey are the best payj ing of all stock enumerated with us, and r they have come to slay. It is bu*hes with th«m, and, for a relish, gras= ; they are always fat, ready for the butcher, *.nd no : better meat do we liave on our table ; no sickness, none killed by dogs ; they come to their house every night without help. The most care we have is dipping them twice a year. The kdd<3 are hard}'. We have saved one fcr every doe that kids. Most of them kid in January. They are out every day except when rainy." Mr Crowe, of the Victoria Agricultural r Department, who recently vi-dted tbe Pareora Freezing Works, say® that for arrangement and 1 convenience of working they are the best he has seen. Mr Augliss, a Mcl- - bourne bii'teher in a. lare*? way of business, who accompanied Mr Crowe, said he had seen killing- works -at Chicago and other j places in America, but had) seen nothing equal to the Fa-rear a. works. The necessity of "concentration" in conI Ret-tion with the marketing' of produce was insisted upon at the meeting of the Canter* ' bury Fruit-growers' Association held at j Christchurch on Thiirsday la.st. It was ! stated that in Dunedin th« fruit from Can- , terbury was consigned to- half a dozen «a!e=j men, with the result that prices were cut and growers received very little. Were the 1 fruit consigned 1 to only one firm, it was con- ! tended that die results to the growers would Ibe much more satisfactory. The Bay of Inlands County Council is asking for the assistance of other county councils throughout the colony in obtaining legislation entitling local bodies- to a share of the royalties paid 1 en timber and flax from Crown re-ryes. It is stated that these re-s&rv-es pay no rates, while the roads ofte-n suffer ce\ere!y from the heavy loads carted from them.

Some time ago I referred to tin? steps being

taken by wool producers and Tho Draft exporters in the Australasian

on Wool. colonies to endeavour to get the "craft"' en wool removed. This draft is a deduction of lib per cwt frooi the weight of all colonial wool received in London, and foT which deducticra there appears ro be no valid reason. The Sydney wool producers and wool brokers took the matter up, and their action was erij } dorsed by those hi the other colonies. In due course the application for the removal of this impost was sent to the London TV col Brokers' Association, and wa» by them handed to the- Importing Committee, who simply and flatly refused to abolish it, withi out stating tt«ii reasons for the refusal asnd without justifying the practice. They know that v/e are helpless in tbio matter, and that the .greater padt of our wool liuut go to ' London, and therefore they are determined I to adhere to the deduction, which is an imI warranted chaige oi the value of 31b of wool , in «very bale.

Practical, hard-headed' farmers are Inclined to sneer at th© idea of science Scie»c« Ih beiag of any use to the f arFarmißg. mer, and are apt- to boast that they have faamed and prospered without paying- any attention, to what they term scientific farming. But if they were to consider a while they would realise ths fact that, they are largely indebted. to scientific research, aad that, m fact, no man oan farm nowadays without making us* ©i the result* of scientific i»v«v;tigati<m e*a

e-xperimeEt'. Ho cannot grow good roots witho'jt using aitifioial manures, and thesa would not ha\c been discovered without ihe aid of science, nor can they b° made without the employment of scientific methods. A limited auea can bp grown by means, of farm-yard manure, but. speaking generally and in a broad sensp, I can safely say that good farming cannot be carried ou without the ad of chemically -manufactured manures. All modern impiovements in the qua>lii,y of fanri stock have boon carried on upon a scientific basis. Brtcdisig good stock is a science, and one, too, that requires to be used with the inmost care and ehevimspect;on. He who rushes into the brooding of purebred stcck invariably comes to grief. We are indebted to science, combined with practice, for improved shorthorns Leice.steTs and other excellent improved breeds of faim stock, to say nothing of entirely new varieties of pig* raid poultiy that have been brought out during, recent years. Then, also, with regard to farm crops, men of se'ence have d»voted years of patient study to the development of new varieties of prrain and roots. The Garton Brothers, who have given us new breeds of oa(«. wheat, and barley by means of hybridisation, .spent, I believe. 20 years in suidyjng and experimenting- befce th?y ventured to put a new oat upon the market. Selection, cultivation, and hybridisation can produce a t ahiabl-e grain or rcot from r. wild plant, but not without scintific knowledge. What immense improvements have been made in our farm implements and machinery. A gencrat.on ago the village carpenter made the ploughs, mould-beards and all — but now everything is made on strict mathematical line', aud science has given us the proper eet of the mouldboard of a plough, foes mathematics are a science. The power of steam was discovered in a simple- mourner, but science has appl.ed its force in the most acl\?*n<ageous manner for transporting our produce to market by land and by water.

As rye>grass is the basis of most colonial pastures, I give the. followHnnuriiig ing lesults for the benefit of Kjegrass. those who top die=9 their

grass land, either for increasing the yield of hay or to improve its grazing value. The Wost of Scotland Agricultural College made a .series of experiments i« top-dressing ryegra^s, and publishes the following deductions it arrived at:

1. The application of suitable artificial manures to ryegra^s and clever hay produces a large and profitable increase of crop, even in a season when the cicp is naturahy heavy.

2 Potash forms a necessary and effective constituent oi « hay rusimie on clay soils as ■well as on light asnd moorish soils. 3. The most piofitable quantity of potash to apply in a complete hay manure, such as was employed in tbtse experiments, is that supplied in about lov;t. muriate of potash of 75 to 80 per cent, purity.

4. Potash is equally effective whether applied 1 id the form o£ muriate or sulphate.

3. A mj-xrtuire of nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia has not provEct itself to be superior to either of these manures used separately.

C. In the ccmpaiision between nilrate of soda pud sulphate of ammonia no uniform superiority of the one over the other has been shown in the past year.

7. Faimyarcl manure gives >?. much larger ciop and a more profitable return when nitrate of sociia or sulphate of ammonia is applied with it than when it is applied alone. As showing what heavy applications of manure' arc ecivsi tiered nccessaiy in the Old Country, I app-end a li s c of what are termed ,gcod_ manure m'xlures for In«.h foils, and published- by order of the Iri-h Board of Agriculture :

— Oats ant! Barley — • lewt. sulphate of ammenu (gas-lime). 3iiwt. superphosphate. 3cwt. kaimt.

— Turnips.— • 10 tons faimyaicl mantue. 4cv. t. superphosphate. 3cvt. kiinit. lewt. sulphate of ammonia. (Or withoiu farmyard manure.* 2cwt. srpeiphosphate. 2cwt. pure dissolved bones, lewt. hone fiour. Scwt. stiluhale of ammonia.

2cwt. kaimt.

— Mange's.—. 15 to<a 9 farmyard manure. 4cwt. superphosphate. 2cwt. sulphate of ammonia. 2e\vt. kainil.

— Potatoes. — 15 tons farmyard mamu-e. lewt. sulpha.t* of ammonia. 4owt. superphosphate, lcwt. muriate of potash. I fancy our profits would be enthely swallowed up in the co--t of such expensive do<?e3 oC msmuie as ths abo*v>, for 1 do u_ot think the increased production would be commensurate with the expenditure in manure, a? some of the above mixtures would cost us about £3 per acre.

For some lime the scientists &t the Pasteur Institute of Paris have been. Microbes trying to discover a microbe Tor Killing that will kill rodents (rat=, Rats ami Mice, mice, and rabbits), and yet

be harmless to domestic animals. It is said that much of the agricultural land of France is bacUy infested with field rats and mice, hence the attempts to discgver a des:ruciiva agent of a wlwlgsale

kind. The doctors announced a short time ago that they had discovered a suitable microbe, and jt has How been tested on a laigc scale wilh most satisfactory results. The bait consists of bread, 'chopped into little squares, similar to those of our pollard po son, and crushed oats. The bread and oats were first soaked in a soup-like liquid containing millions of the microbes, and then laid systematically over about 30C0 acres of farm land infested with rats and mice. Eight thousand pounds of bread and 20,0C01b of oats were laid by large gangs of men. the State bearing the cost of the whole. A report says that the destruction of the vermin was almost a complete success, at least 95 per cent, being destroyed, and in consequence of the good results, it is proposed to petition the President to -vote a large sum for going on with the wonk.

l ' I Quicklime, is used in the manufacture of I coal gas for the purpose of Gas-lime. aVo-bing and removing impurities in the gas. Tho i lime is then called gas-lime, the technical ' name being sulphate, of ammonia, because it is chiefly a combination of ammonia and j sulphuric acid. Good gas-lime contains a large peicentago cf sulphate of ammonia, ' but, the quality in this respect \aries con- | sk'erably, and df-pouds chiefly upon its I 'treatment after leaving the- gasworks. It sometimes contains a subslanc© known to chemists a« sulpho-cyanate o f ammonium, which is injurious to plant lite. Sulphate ' of arumorua is the chief rival of the manure known as n'trare of soda, and there _ was recently a protracted wordy warfare- carried on in Britain by the- suppoiters of the^o two rival manures. Nitrate of soda is more expense e and also much. more soluble, s 0 much so that it is \isually applied as a top-dressing to grass or growing crop*; whereas sulphate of ammonia, not being so soluble, can be applied earlier in (the season without running so much risk of it being washed down through the soil by the rain that falls. Gas-lime, as I have said, !• contains certain su'phur compounds which, I if applied directly, in a fresh state, to any crop may have a poisonous effect, theiefore it -is usual to alow it to become somej what stale before using it. The oxygen of the atmosphere destroys the injurious effect by changing the sulphur compounds into sulphate of lime, which is better known by the name of gypsum. Fre%h gas-lime can always be known by its strong and disagreeable «niell of sulphuretted hydrogen. This is the evil-smelling gas that issues- from a rotten egg when broken. This manure can be used with superphosphate" of lime, and it contains a good deal of quicklime in addi-t-on to tbe other .substances absorbed by it while in the gas-purifiers. Any that is imported is of course fit for use at once; but caution is needed in using that which comes from local casworks.

AGRICOLA.

A BANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH

(Fbom Our Owv Corkespondent )

PALMERSTOX NORTH, Juno 22

Mr J. A. Gilruth, clref Government ■veterinaiian, speaking at the Dairy Conference to-day, rai=ed a question of great importance to tho future cf the dairy industry. Addressing the conference on the subject " A Memie-o to the Dairy laic'lutry,' 1 he drew attention to the presence of inammites, or contagious infismmauon of the uddei m cows. The existence of this di-ease in th-e colony, be said, was brought under k.a notics 'bjaly a yea.. a.go by an inspector of t'*e Veterinary Department iti Otago. At that time it was thought the disease was confined to that particular area, but since t'-en a great number of cases had been discovered in both islands. It had a considerable hold on the- West Coast of the North Inland, al?o in Canterbury and Otago. In the majority of cases it affected the animals so slightly as to be scarcely perceptible, but in some instances it caused suppuration, and evai death. Describing the symptoms of the disease, Mr Gilruth said that one of its characteristics was that it produced a tendency on the part of the milk to coagulate. The microbe might be conveyed T>y the hand* of ibe milker. He had always found great difficulty in getting the dairy farmers to report this disease, as they seemed to imagine that in doing so they would involve live seller of the animal in trouble. This idea be repudiated on behalf of the Veterinary Department. There was dajjg-or to the general public in the use of the milk of cows affected with this disease. It had been found that an affection oE the threat had resulted in some case?. He recommended the injection of a. 4- per cent, solution of boracic acid for the cows affected. Mr Gilruth urged that, energecic measures should be taken to staanp out the disease. He suggested' what he bad dofle years ago — viz., compulsory notification of all diseases of the udder, registration of dairy herds, compulsory pasteurising of milk at the factories, and periodical and frequent inspection, of dairy herds. Mr Gilruth emphasised the last proposal. He suggested that dairy farmers tax themselves, say, at the rate of Is c?r cow pei aunviajj to piovide the u,«ces-

sary funds for the inspectors' salaries &.ncl expenses. The delegates appointed the executive of the National Dairy Association a committee, with power to add to their number,, to consider the proposals made by Mr Gilruth. A hearty vcte of thanks was passed to Mr Giliuth for hio address.

Br DnoTEK.

Weekly Slorlc Sales : j Fortn'ghthj : B'irnside, Wednesdays | I-vorc rgi 1, Tuesdays A shburton, Tuesdays j * Monthly: Ad iiagton,^ edne*dayi cli af § Palri3ersf Forlnitihth) : AViatop, and WaiBalchitba, Fiiilny, kcuait\ U.re, Tue'day-j Pefodicalhf Oamaru, Tuo^cayj Meriot, Kelso, and Kye« bu:n. About 140 head of cit'lo were- yarded at Burnside la^t week, and prices, mo-ie especially foi anything short of pr me, werf decidedly lower A few prime bullocks brought £10 and slightly o\ei: medium to good. £3 to £9; I'oht. abcut £6 10.; <>ood, cows and heifer* about JS7 ; inferior, about £5.- 3Io;i of tho larsr-ci* butchers haw -tocfc bought and mow coaxing forward, cpJ thera is apparently a good supply to oonif forward. Prices will probably eas.^> do.vn further.

A litt'e over 2000 «-heep ivve yarded, but quality was far short of prpvicu-. ft-w weeks' yarding. Expor-ers we. -a careful not to touch any but the few prime lots, aad lower quality show a decided decline in puice. A^ few prime extra lots* brought up to 245. but 20rt to 22s may be quoted a-> the price ot prima wethers : medium, 180 to 19s ; inferior, about 16s; prime ene=, 20s to 22s 6d ; medium, about 18s : inferior, about 14-s.

About ?40 lamb= brought from 12s to 17s. Xeithcir quantity nor quality tempted exporters, and prices were down about 2s per head.

At Addington last week, wit.i only a v<ry small yard 'nig — about 100 — ths sale was a dull one. ai\4r cattle brought abo-it £1 per head! less than at Bui'nside. Boet mles these at fiom 19s to 23°. Had rhe yarding not been a small one prices wou'd have been easier. Prices fcr fat sheep and lambs were about equal to rates inling* at Burn«ide,*and lower by about Is 6d pt v r head than these of the previous week. Expcrtcrs are not keen afe all, as the latest cables from London are byno means cheerful. Pries 5 seem, however, good enough, there. May they never go lower. I nevPi* ha>o pxppcted prices there to rise to cone-pond with the very high rates thai lave prevailed here lately. Competition among buyers here has kept ptices, I think, at a higher level than waswarranted by either present or prospective value on the London marfcpi.

The winter show ar, Palvnorston Xo. ill lasfe week \\a- ;\ decided succes- in every respect, and reflects great credit on the ■enterprise of the secretary and sub-comnvtte-e of the. Mana,watn A. and P. Society, who oi-gaui-e aud iu:i the show. The clerk of the weather also must net be left out in looking for tho cause of the great attendance and consequent financial success, for the weather waa ali that could be wished foi — bright, End clear. The National lM ; ry Association by iheir co-operation also -ecntvibu-t-cd largely to the successful is.-ue of the whole affair, for, in addition to t'"e:r an t nual meeting, which in itself, is always ot great interest- to farmers, they iaeS ar- angped a confeience. afc which niosi interesting papers were read. Further, both t':'© Now Zealand Institute of Dairy Faetoiy Sec - -etavie>a and the New Zealaaid Buttor and! Cheesemakei's' Association held their annual meetings, at which papers were read and interesting discussions followed. Tho attendance was very good at all these meetings, anel indicates how much these gatherings are appreciated. I ca-n at present onlydeal with a few of tho matters discussed, bnfc as all the papers road aro of great practical interest, to dairymen and farmeis generally I shall have more to say ou several of themlater on.

The annual meeting of tire National DairyAssociation was lively and interesting, and there was a good deal of discussion, bnfc very little resulted beyond setting up committees to inquiue into the main proposals or suggestions of tho committee. These were the questions of erecting co-operative freezing works at Wellington, on similar lines to tin? ilofcorua Co-operativo Freezing Works at New Plymouth, and the subject of arranging a better system of distribution of our produce hi London. With regard to the latter the Chairman moved the following resolution: — "That the National Dairy Association be the medium of exchange between, buyer a-nd seller ; that factories joining th« combine be free to consign or sell at a fixed price ; that in the case of consignment that commission charged should not exceed 3i<!

The Ikpehial. Brass Spray Pump: "WltK Stream and Fine Spray Nozzle. — Made c$ American noted manufacturers. Are obtainable from Kmiuo and Burnt, Dvraedin. EVscfcgrowcrj; au<i- OBjba^^ts skould use them.

per oent. ; that in tlie case of a sale through the association at a fixed' price, the .associaifcion be entitled 1 to a rebate of i per cent., irofc in, the evemt of the association not being 1 feSbie to sell, and a sale being made by the factories direct, the rebate to the association Jjhall be & per> cent. ; that the association tunre the right to inspect all books and ac-fco-umts in connection with the consignments if they consider it. necessary; that the assoBdaticHi invite offers from firms in Great Pritaim to do business on the lines sug- • Rested ; that the association, obtain reliabla information as to the probable value of dairy produce, so as to advise factories as to j value." ! Mr Parlane moved the following a.mendjne>nt: — "That the National Dairy Association be constituted a legally qualified! body *o control the export and disposal of all Hairy produce ; that all producers of dairy produce throughout the colony, whether cooperative, proprietary, or private, be invited to join on an equitable and legal basis ; *hat all joining the .association execute a legal bond to only deal, sell, consign, or otherwise place for disposal daiiy produce »?ith those firms or individuals who are mem"hers of a British-New Zealand Dairy Pro-■id-uee Association to ba formed ; that an office ba formed in London by the Dairy Association, in charge of a thoroughly qualified man, to act as tlie association's agents, a-nd look after the interests jf New Zealand dairy _produoers ; that all merchants idealing in New Zealand dairy produce be invited to form an association in Britain, to , regulate the trade; that the- members of , the British Association elect four member®, jwho, together with the London agent of the New Zealand Dairy Association as chairman, shall form an executive in Britain to fix the minimum eellinig: prices and regulate terms from tirae to time, to be binding on nil membeis. That -the New Zealand Association, and thia British Association may, ky mutual arrangement, ilo- j

limits stated a

cafco the cost of management, adjust the contributions of members, and do all things necessary for the carrying out of the principles set foi th ; that il is an express stipulation that within the limits stated all numbers are free to do their business \vpon the terms and conditions rKos<fc suitable to themselves." I Mr Pa'rlane's amendment was genially I looked upon as a move to kill the proposal ! ox suggestion of, the. committee, a.s moved ! by the chairman, in the interests of the agents, and whether this was the case or not it had that effect, for after a ws.ndering de- [ bate, indicating anything but unanimity on ' the part of member". # a committee of six members and the exeutive were appointed to formulate a scheme, to be submitted to factory directors for approval. Beth met ion and amendment were withdrawn. The discussion may do 'good, but in my opinion it would have been bettor had the executiyo come down with a definite scheme, and stood by it. Some would have supported it, and a trial of it would have been made. As it is, the whole question will now have to be oonsid'oned do novo, and, J think, discussed again at mext annual meeting. Tho question of tho South African and West Coast of England' service was discussed in connection with the motion re the report and balance sheet, and although no motion was passed the feeling of the meeting was distinctly that the service as conducted was of little use to the dairy industry, and* euch was also the opinion of the South Island Association at its meeting ,' on June 1. Mr Marks (Mangatoki) inquired ' if nothing could be done to improve mattens in regard to the service? The Chairman said it was really a Federal service, and was under contract to the Government to run to South Africa. For som,3 reason or other New Zealand' trade had not taken root in South Afiiea, and for some time past had been a diminishhiig quantity. The 'difficulty in regard to the West of Engkuad

service was that when the boats left New Zealand, they visited two or three Australian ports to take cargo, and thence to the Cape and Britain. The lcsiilfc was that the trip took about 90 days from New Zealand to Cardiff, and that was too long. Ho wzrt afraid no representation could effect an alteration, as tho boatg wrro bemad by contract to go round the Cape. Mr Meadows (Wellington! said he thought it vva^ due to the h regular and unsatisfactory pfceam communication the colony had with South Africa that the trade to that market was a diminishing qupditiiy. There was fomatiines a gap of fix weeks between departing boats and a mccjth wa.s sometimes mis~ed altogether. Mr J. R Scott (Dunedin) said the folino- down south was strong against the "<i\icp, and tome of the exporters intended to ship by the Union boats to Melbourne, and tranship tbere by mea.n>* of the regx^ar service. In his district it was considered that the £36,000 subsidy was an absolute waste. They would like to fee tho meney spent m subsidising a p:oper line. At present it. was really an Australian line that was I eing sub idi°cd. Ho thought the iroeting should pass a resolution on the matter.

The question of the enormous export of white pine for butler boxes was discussed, and ar motion was passed urging the Government to protect the export of white pine in the interest-) of the colony. One large-hearted exporter pleaded in the interests of the mi lowner, but Mr Dive, of Eitham, who has a considerable inteiest in white pine forest land, said he considered that if a heavier export duty were passed he would not mind, as the quantity required for use in the colony was large enough for the supply available. Mr Karkness, secretary, said, "Australia is using 20,000,000 ft of white pine per annum, and that is on the increase. The Commonwealth put 3d on our butter, and 2d on our chee&e, and it is not right that we -should go on supplying them with that which we shall one day want, and wake up and find we haven't got." — (Applause.)

It appears that Customs regulations re dairy machinery have been altered, and Mr Harkness explained that lately tho deppvtment decided to charge full duty, unless machinery was specially and directly imported, the result being that importers be-eping stocks in bond to supply breakages and fresh orders for immediate delivery had to pay full duty. It is well known that machinery, both large and small, is constantly required, and ue&ds to be delivered promptly, and factories are at a disadvantage if they have to place orders which cannot be delivered at once. The matter was left to the executive to arrange, and it is fully expected that the Minister in charge of the Customs Department will take a sensible view of the representations and not enforce the new regulation, but let matters remain as heretofore. The members voted £20 to the chairman and £40 between the members of committee, and a bonus of £25 to the secretary, in recognition of ilheir valuable services.

The chairman and memb&r3 of committee, with Mr J. R. Scott, secretary South Island Association, interviewed tli3 Minister of Agrieultme re the suggested withdrawal of the present payment made by Government towards the freezing of butter at the grading stores. Government at present pays 2^d and the factories 4£d per box, or more at some works. The Hon. T. Y. Duncan spok& with Ministerial caution, but said lie would consider the matter. He said Government were going to start the experimental station at Levin, and that the money would be required for this purpose. The deputation pointed out the value of tho dairy industry, and the immense benefit it was to tho country ; that the benefit of the experimental station wotild not be in evidence for more than a" year, at anyrato; that in view of anticipated low prices, the time to withdraw a subsidy which had been of great benefit was inopportune ; lhafc ir had already been reduced annually from 9d down to 2^.d ; and, further, that factories were even now considering the question of co-operative freezing stores both for butler and cheese, and hoped thereby to reduce the cost, buc that time was needed to effect this change. All factories shotdd in 'this, as in other matters, bring argument to bear on members of Parliament now about to sit. It is evident that the Government intend to apply the pruning knife do expenditure all round. No doubt Borne of this is needed, but seeing the great success of their efforts in the intcr&sta of the dairy industry in tho past, and the immense number of people settled on the. land through the=c efforts, members should be asked not to bo too economical with the dairy industry. It pays the country,, and is of immense vulue, and f urthei expexiditure to develop it is both needed and amply justified. Shifting or hindering it in any way will be veiy disastrous.

About 100 persons interested went out from Pahnerston North to Makino on Thutsday moaning, by invitation from Mr D. J. Nathan, who provided a specjal train, to see the process of dry-milk manufacture. The process, briefly, is that two cylinders, 20hi in diameter and sft in length, revolve inwards, making seven and a-half revolutions do "the minute. The milk passes over the cylinders from two pip-es, very similar to an ordinary spouting pipe, with small holes in it, from which the mi;k drops on to the cylindeis. These latter are heated to a very considerable degree, and the milk, after passing over them, comes off in flakes, very much ithe same as tissue paper and like a she&t emerging- from a printing machine. Several specimens % of the milk were obtained by delegates, and they were particularly iuteiested in the process. Subsequently Mr Foreman, chairman of the National Dairy Association, in thanking Mr D. J. Nathan for his courteous invitation to the delegates, said the industry was at present in its experimental stage, but it was in th© proper hands to find! out its value. The dairying companies could not have done anything with ifc owing to the expense involved, bufc if the experiments were successful, the process would prove of very great value to the dairying industry. Mr Natfhan, replying, said though the industry was, as stated by Mr Foreman, still in its experimental stages, it rested with the farmers themselves to make it sucoessful by providing good pure milk. He pointed out thaiti in the Continental eoimtries, the United Kingdom, and United State 3of America, where tho industry was in operation, skim milk could bo obtained at one farthing per gallon. The difference in price in the colony would make lhe industry prohibitive unless milk could be obtained at a fair value to all of lbedj» /2«lfi-

gates returned to town shortly after noon, extremely well pleased with the opportunity of witnessing the latest dairying industry.

The machine was putting through 70gal per hour. Ihc steam power requited seems ronsidciab'.e, as the milk is heated to oOOdeg I'ahr. One cannot =ay how far tho industry will pay, but I reckon that the feed %alue of skim milk is not more than id per gallon. Much depends on how faimers view this matter. The dry milk is certa.nly excellent, and fir before any condensed or concentrated milk I ever lasted. It will undoubtedly knock out both of these, I should say; but. whether ifc will kill the town milkman also, as some of its enthusiastic supporters a=seit, I don't know. Much depends upon the cost of manufacture. That ifc is ithc next best thing in taste to fresh milk I am sure, and that it is very much safer to use than some milk is also certain.

Some exporters in Wellington are still trying to alter our branding regulations in their own interests, and against those of the producers and the industry at large. The following- is from an Australian paper on the subject: —

The oucsiion of the branding of butter box?? has lately attracted consideralxe attention m Kew Zealand. It seems that several exporteis made application to the Agricultural Department to be allowed to place then rwn brands on butter they tiad boaght for shipment, instead of the brand ot the factory from wlx.ch the butter was purchased. The department objected, as it was considered to be detrimental to the best interests of the industry. A rigid adherence to this system ensures the honesty of the butter packed, whilst it also acts as a stimulus to producers to turn out p qua lty that will always obtain first price in the market. The opposition shown by a section of butter -manipulators in Victoria *o the enforcement of a strict tystera of grading all butter Cor export, foreign oi inter-State, h?s been one of the drawbacks of the trade, and has opened the dtysv to practices that if permitted to continue will have far-reaching and disastrous effects.

The Butter Commission there has opened their eyes. I strongly urge factories to ask ilheir members of Parliament to resist this, and support the views on this subject of our Dah-y Commissioner and both associations. Our Dairy Depaitment has refused their request, and an attempt is 'now bedng made to secure the end aimed at (through our Industries and Commerce Department. We must be- active in resisting this attempted innovation.

{Feou Oms Special Correspondent.)

BRADFORD, April 29. EFFECT OF SIZE OF CARCASE OX

THE FLEECE

Look where we will see on every hand sheep-breeders alive to their own' best interests and trying to evolve a sheep well fitted and suited to meet tho demands of tb.e present day. It is very true that the L-c-it&gter cheep of Bakeweli days is not tho sheep to fuifc Mr George Harrison, Gainiotd Hall, Darlington, or Mr E. F. Gordon, Ei.stbourne, Dnffield, while Mr H. Pudding, could not rest satisfied wit-h possessing a Lincoln, such as was known evei 25 years ago, and M'Caughey, Horsfall, or Gibson would not be satisfied with the merino of Marsden's days. There has been in all countries of Ute world where the sheep is known, quite as much headway made as in other breeds of live «tock, and to-day excellent work is still being clone in eveiy breed of sheep in order to establisa and .strengthen tho leading characteristics 1-erculiar to that breed. I cannot help but think that in the siz3 of the animal tho Lincoln, for instance, has gone far enough, and it will have to be the work of the breeders of the various classes in future to ccnrolidate the good qualities rather than seek an increase in size.

W<» arc asked if it is possible for breeders of fine-woolled^sheep (why not of all sheep?) to get great weight of carcase with smoothr.e.'s of bedy of the sheep, without a saorifico of density, strength, and quality of the fleece. Is it noL a detriment to a sheep to carry such an •enormous fleeca as 201b t<i 30lb? Does merino wool require a difference in quantity of yo'k to protect the fibre? Is there a sufficient demand for the fine, dense, j-nd short-stapled m&rino wool to justify a breeder to make such a sheep a sp.eciality? These are questions of more than passing iuterest to the man handling sheep and wool, and so far as one can judge the points raiaed are most practical. Upon the first, which is essentially a breeder's question, the size of the carcass must affect the weight of tho fleece and determine more or les3 the general characteristics of the wool.

Auy man can see that from a small merino carcase no man is going to clip 201b of good woo!, but all tho tamo there ia no earthly reason to prevent that breeder getting fiom th( v animal as big a weight of wool as Nature ever Intended him. In sucii nuestions as tho first one propounded, we must reverb back to the first principles of sheep-br-cedina; for a .'.-oration. Now, let iis do this. .Special breeds of sheep vary in tho c uiisity of the fleece — that is, as to the number of fibro-i of wool growing in ar square inch of the skin. This is what wo call density of fleece, and is a characteristic, cf the breed, be that breed th& small Saxony or Australian merino, or the bigfrnniicd Lincoln. Necessarily "this density 13 based en the fineness of the stable, and if this were increased fourfolk or more the number of fibres could not find room on the akin of the animal. Experience has demonstrated that as a rule the surface of a sheep's body is enlarged by a special lit. 1 © of breeding and feeding-, tho fleece decreases in fineness to about an equivalent extent, but increases in qranhty or weight, length, and density. All that is sacrificed is the exquisite flnene-s of the staple, which used to be got in 21b and 31b fioe-oes from a 4-Oi'b sheep. There is no demand of any moment for such fine, short ■wool as this now. to tempt anyone to keep flocks of these sheep. It is the manufacturer and not the wool-grower who makies the demand for wool, and the wool-grow cr is concerned only in supplying what ihomanufacturer will pay the most for. At the same time quality should nob be lost sight of in the present rag,e for density of fleece, for this characteristic still ranks as the first essential in determining: price per Ib. Fine, dense fleeces, or, for th?t matter, even a Lincoln or blackface, need ample yolk to pre>enfc sotting aud lelting on tlie sheep's

back. A heavy flceco is not necessarily aj severe tax on a healthy, well-bred sheep. CROSSBREDS STILL TO THE FRONT.

There i-s not a great change to be noted) in the Home -ncol maike-t, but what littles alteration is discernible is all on the side of improvement. There continues to be a» good deal of ii'torosl manifest in cro*sbre<Ls ;. in fact,' they about dominate everything. Ife is really surprising how little actual development takes place m fine wools, and all along the line there is bitter complaint as fo the neglect of both interest and: support. Even the best topmakers state. emphatically that what is going out; are parcels of only a shopping and that spinners are going 'tnctly from hand to momh. Prices are .certainly no lower but they cannot be reported as anyhigher, and 23id> will still buy a first-clasa ■rnper 60's top. It is leally little u=e trying to foice fine tops on to the market, for spmners cannot bo found who are busy and who are willing to buy forward. Nob for years b?ok ha« there been in existence so few future contracts for merino tops as obtains to-day, and with some there is a, feeling that next sea ion wo shall see materially lower pr'ces for botany tops. It is certain that men arc going from hand' to mouth for some considerable time, for present leports' all indicates a record season in Australia so far as fine- wools are eonccrtied. What is wanted is a development in conmmption, and uutil that comes off we are bound to have slack times in merinos.

The iscord in crossbreds is certainly good. Another ri>e seems certain in London next week for anything fioin 44' s and downwards. There i^ no selling to-day unless on that proviso, and as far as 1 can judge the calf will be very satisfactory from both a broker's and grower's standpoint. Export; continues to give very material support in. this dpparfcment, and so long as there is a good call so long will prices be maintained. Continental users of Bradford-spun yarns are gradually coming round to the higher level of pr.ces, and this means that good business is going to be done. Irish wools aie scarce and wanted, and already there is a move in anticipating new clip wools. Present prices bid fair to be maintained, and possibly improved xipon.

The Ivel agricultural motor, which is attracting world-wide attention at the present time, points, by its wonderful performances, to *he approach of a new era in the farming industry. This simple and compact, yeb powerful, motor facilitates and cheapens the work on the farm in every department. The speed with which each operation can be performed will free the farmer from anxiety, regarding the weather and other unforseem difficulties which genrally k&ep the graingrower on tenterhooks till his crop is garnered. A double-furrow plough drawn byfour horses in chaiige of one man will plough about three -acres in eight hours, whereas a three-furrow plough, driven by an Ivel motor and iv charge of one ma,n and a youth, wiM plough about five aud a-quart*>r acres in tho same time. This gives a saving if 14- days in ploughing 100 acres. Apart from the saving in horseflesh, the motor, attended! simply by a man and a youth, is more expeditious and. may be worked longer hours— f two important points not to be^ overlooked, especially during unsettled weather. In the harvest field the Ivel motor is a. subtle yet effective force. At an actual tr^al this motor, drawing a reaper and! binder, cut 19" aores of wheat in 10 hours, whilst afc a chaff-cutting trial it cut on« ton on© hundredweight and a-half of chaff to a 3.8 gauge in 47 minutes, the total cost of the work being 2s 6d. For driving pumps or any star-ionary machinery and for hauling heavy loads of g'raiai it is -without a rival. Ifc may be mentioned that at t ;- e Part Royal (London) show ifc was the only motor to receive ppecial mention from the judges. Messrs Mason, Struthers, and Co. (Limited), of Cliris'Lchurch, the New Zealand agents, will be glad to give full particulars regarding the Ivel agricultural motor, the. first consignment of which will arrive in the colony in time for the Christchurch metropolitan show in Novembor next.

WHO jINYENTED -REFRIGERATING-

MACHINERY? (By Mr James Widdle, of Wellington.)

As an Australian resideiat of 1852 I haA"© had the opportunity of wateh'Ag' the steps take-n towards maturing the refrigerating process. During the early fifties Melbourne's supply of ice was imported from the noith of Europe and America. Later ice ws.3 locally manufactured, and Harrison and Umpelby were among the first to supply artificial ice. Others followed, pud ice was msuiufactured in Bendigo in 1860-61. Then Mr Hanison's name came prominently before the public through making great efforts to discover a process by which cold 1 air could; be utilised for preserving meat for export or otherwise.

Aitificial ice 'raving been, in use fcr many years, it seems strange there should have been to nvuch difficulty in. utilising the cold! air. Well, in the mid-sixties Mr Harrison achieved success. Meetings were held iim Melbourne, amidst considerable excitement, and sundry graziers ag^e-ed to contribute 50(J fat s-heep. Mr Harrison went ahead, chartered space in a vessel, built a large chamber on beard to hold the carcases, and away the ship sailed. The machinery producing the cold aii" worked splendidly, yet, alas! trouble came. Anyone would suppose most particular care would have been taken, ffith the storingchamber, and Ihat only the best seasonect timber and double boards would be used. In-tead, on'y single boaids jf gi-een timber were used in construction. The boards warped, the cold air got out and the hot sir get in, a.nd 500 fat theop went to feed! the "fishes. Mr Harrison w?s 4ieard of no me aas aa inventor of refrigeration. Meanwhile Mr Mcrt, of Sydney, was at work;j he, being quite determined to make it ai success, was spending money freely.

My slight connection in the matter arose ■thus: — lii 1867 I was carrying on brewing operations some 200 miles inland from Melbourne, in a very hot district. Most folk know that to make good beer ifc is necessary, to reduce tho went to a temperature o5 nearly 60t!eg. Now, wiih the tihermomete \ standing all night afc 85de.g or 90deg, thr» wa9 impossible, and such appliances as coita and refrigerators, now go common, were t<_> me then unknown. One day I came acic'a long story about Mr Mori's faith, in co!' air, and. his efforts t-o make it a sur<x-=-and how he had at Sydney fitted up a larr • labortUoiy, cud had t.no cuniyyit cLcxixj •*

constantly at work. It struck me that this "was jui3fc what I wanted to make good beer, so I wrote to Mr Mort, and we exchanged E-evoral letters. Mr Morfe was very pleased to receive my letters, and regretted not being able to assist me, but was satisfied that it would only be a question of time, and lie was right. Thousands of the sort of machines I required are now in use at breweries, butter, factories, etc. Success crowned Mr McrtV efforts, and he Boon shipped a line of sheep to the United Kingdom, which arrived there in ,scod oraier. 'Mr Mort died shortly after, but his process attracted attention ; others took it up, and; soon great improvements in the cold air process we.re made, until it is mow perfection. Messrs M'llwraith and Co I think, fitted up vessels arc.d went iv strongly for exporting. The business was enthusiastically taken up in Victoria, and large works were ereeb&dj but things did not prosper, and after losing lots of money the works were closed again. One serious source of trouble and loss was that the works were erected several miles inland ; while* during shipping the meat was exposed to the strong 1 heat of the sun, consequently it thawed, getting soft and damp. When pint in the freezing chamber it scon got hard again, and though it got to London untainted, it was all spotted, and moat unsightly, a>nd would only call at a very low pi.ice. New Zealand then took up th& industry, and mad© it a great success. The benfit to this colony has been immense ; without refrigcraticai not a pound- of ,jood butter coxild fee exported, and sheep selling at 20s to 25s ■would 1 have just been good for tallow. Mr Mort's business was on the sam© lings &g that of the Loan and Mercantile Co. It 13 now incorporated' with Groldsbrough and Co. He also owned large docks, a foundry fr.ow tho property of a company), and other affairs. Hig-fellow oitizems erected a marble monument in Sydney to show their esteem for him.

OTAGO

A meeting of the Hampden branch toot place on the 18th inst., when there was a very fair attendance of members. A letter was received from the Otago executive with reference to the mutual fiire insurance scheme, andi it was decided that the canvassers should endeavour to get further promises of insurance for the association. — The Otago Employers' Association wrote re the Juabour party's programme, and the delegate was instructed to vote against the proposed' platform. — Mr Findlay brought up the- matter of holding an annual reunion of early settler* in the district. The suggestion was favourably received, and it was decided to call a special meeting to make arrangements in connection with the proposed gathering.

An enthusiastic meeting of farmers was held at Morton Mains on ithe 17th inst. Mr Hugh M'Call was voted to the chair, and Mr M'Lauchlan, of Wyndham, was requested to act as secretary for the evening. The' Chairman explained that the meeting ■was called to ' discuss the desirability of forming a branch of the Farmers' Union, to comprise the Seaward Downs and Morton Mains districts. A well-attended meeting had already been held at Seaward Downs, at which it was unanimously decided that the Seaward Downs portion should now withdraw from the Mataura Islana branch, the latter body being a 6ferong enough fcb3y within itself, and form tho suggested new branch. 'Meetings would be held" aliernetely in the two stated centres, and it would be expected of members that they would attend at each meeting in good nnmbera. He .referred to the aims and objects of the union, and the necessity of forming a strong bond (throughout the farming, community. Mr Sheat moved — "That a branch of the Farmers' Union be formed, to be called! the 'Seaward Downs-Morton Mains' branch." Seconded by Mr Cunningiham., and carried.— The following officebearers and committee were elected : — Chairman, Mr Hugh. M'Call; vice-chairman, Mr John Calder; joint secretaries and treasurers, Messrs H. Sheat and A. Home; committee^ — Messrs D. Calder, Wm. I/owe, E. G. Sheafc, H. Blackmore, P. J. Cunningham, D. Morton, T. Haining, J. Baxter, Thos. Morton, R. S. Wil=on, and H. J. Kitfco; auditor, Mr Wm. Lowe. — Mr A. M. Paterson, organising secretary, who met with a cordial reception, addressed the meeting, touching on Labour legislation, ithe taxation of the land-holder as compared with other sections of the community, freehold v. leasehold, and finally dealing in an exhaustive and succinct way with the mutual fire insurance scheme. A few questions were asked and satisfactorily answered. Mr Paterson was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

The annual meeting of the Lawrence branch took place on the 16th inst., when ■there was a large attendance of members. Mr A. Fraser (president) occupied the chair. The Chairman gave a verbal report of work done by the union during ihe past year, and the benefits resulting to members and the farming- community generally through its existence. He explained that the Provincial Executive had this year fixed its Jevy at ss, 2s of which went to th& Colonial Executive, and members would therefor© recognise the importance of fixing the mem(bership fee this year at a sum that would allow them a margin for working expenses. — The secretary submitted the balance sheet for the year ending May 31, which showed receipts amounting to £14- 0s 6d, and expenditure £11 14s, leaving a balanos of- £2 6s 6d. — The election of officers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with. Mr Fraser was unanimously re-elected president. Mr I». Dalziell was appointed vicepresident, and Mr J. C. Browne secretary and treasurer, and the old committee, with the addition o-f Messrs Menzies (Miller's Flat) and Woods (Beaumont), were reelected, with power to add to their numhev. — On the motion of Messrs Dalziell and Beard, the annual subscription was fixed at 103. an amendment that it be 7s 6d finding little support. A meeting of the Pukerau branch was fceld on the 20th insK, Mr W. Scoufar (president) in the chair. About 20 members were president. Mr A. M. Paterson. organising secretary, addressed the meeting on the mutual fire insurance scheme. He mentioned incidentally tha* the tabour party bad made a number of extravagant demands at th* reeMtt meeting of delegates at Christphnreh, among which was the riiquesfc tha* HH& Government should take insurance risk 1 ? -;hat companies had refused. This would "ac nothing short of insanity. They »l?o .-•sked that the liability of employers should ""& raised to £600, and that all labour ,C-«M be forced into the unions. The> also v= -d that the Government should giant

£500 ito each city to build trades and lahour ha'ls. If that were done, farmers would be equally entitled ito grant? for agricultural ha' ls. He refeired to the demands for leasehold tenure and for revaluation, which would work prejudically to the farmers' interests in tho:e ca=es where they held leaseholds from the Crown. The Labour unions also asked for equal pay for male and female labour. This was not done for the purpose of benefiting the female woikers, but to squeeze them out altogether. He directed attention to these matters in order that his hearers might study them. The speaker then leferred to the. small loss theio had teen from fir© upon farmers' property fn Southland during the past few yecus, and explained at length the effect of the premium rates, and the small chance there was of their being called up. Mr Pur\is said he had been present at the Otago Conference recently, when the mutual lire scheme had been explained T>y Mr Donald Reid, of Millon. Otago farmers were much iuiersted in the matter. Mr Reid achised that the premium shouM be high for the first few years. Mr Paterson said that Mr Reid was an insurance agent who from experience had found that the farmers paid too much for their insurance. There was an agent in Fortrosa who also supported the mutual scheme, as although he had collected premiums from farmers in his district for 25 years, he had never had to return any of his clients a sixpence for losses. Mr Herron : We used to have a fire in Pukerau every week. — (Laughter). Mr Paterson said that was an evidence that the farmers' risks should be separated from the towns. In answer to the chairman, Mr Paterson said that no doubt mortgagees would fall in with ithe scheme when they understood it. Mr Paterson again explained at length the liability attached to the premium notes, which was really very little. — Mr Paterson then dealt with the diseases in stock which were most Hke2y to be met with The first he spoke of was braxy. He described tlie mode by which scientists traced the life of the organism. Hoggets should never be allowed to eat clown turnips too low, but older sheep should be turned on after the hoggets had been transferred to a new breafc. The sheep should not be put on the turnips early on frosty mornings. Carcases of sbe&p which had died of this disease should be burned oi buried very deep. The reason black le;g was so prevalent in Taranalci was that due care had not been taken to burn or bury carcases of animals which had died of the trouble. The disease, prevalent last and this winter, of swellings on the bally and other parts he attributed to inferior, chaff, which should be got rid of. He described strangles in horses, which disease was much the same a,s measles or mumps in children, and was not dangeious if proper precautions were taken. These piecautions he explained, and said that the animal should be kept warm, the throat poulticed and afterwards kneed, the method of doing which he described. Red water in cows was caused by too much iron and albumen leaving the animal. It was necessary to alter the food and provide *in abundance of tho?& constituents in what was given her. In answer to questions, Mr Paterson said that a- hide-bound foal should be treated for indigestion. It should be given the most easily digested food, such as bran and cat-mea-1, in which was mixed linseed which had been prepared with boiling water. The poultie-3 he used for strangles was of lin.^fid meal, a boiled turnip, and a little oatmeal. The Chairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Paterson. He was pleased there was such a good nieetiai,?. Mr Peterson, in acknowledging the vote, urged them to endeavour to increase the membership of the union.

Thi& members of the Waikaka "Valley branch met on the 21st inst. Mr G. P. Johnston (president) occupied the chair, and Mr A. 11. Patereon (organising secretary) was in attendance. The Secretary reported that subscriptions w&re 00-ming in freely.— Mr Paterson delivered a lengthy address on. the mutual fire insuraaioe scheme. At the conclusion of his remarks on this question, Mr Paterson dealt with several diseases ia sheep and horses, on similar lines to his address the previous evening at Pukerau. Several questions relating to district cases were answered to the entire satisfaction of members. Mr Gilchrist asked wheiher Mr Pat&rson thou.-gsht that, more horses were killed by medicime than by not giving it. This 'had been suggested by a farmer he had met' in Gore, who had informed him that lii 3 hor.2'3 hadi been ill, and he had givc-n it a dose of s2lts (not a good thing for horses), a spoonful of saltpetre, and m addition 22 drops of aconite. Tho hoise died in three days, and it could scaicely have been for want of medicine. — (Laughter.) Mr Pate-rscia said he had observed a similai* mistake lately. A man became possessed of the idea that his horses were suffering- from bots, and reading in an American journal of a cure by tansy and about 14 other ingredients, lie went into his yard, clipped up a lot of ragwort, mixed the lot, and drenched his animals with it. They died ; he did not kmiow whe'their from the effects of bo.ts oinot, but probably not. People were likely to mistake ragwort for tansy. The latter grew in many places in the Western district. Mr H. Sbanks asked if it was possible to kill the. bots -without killing the horse. Mr Pater-:on thought it would bs difficult to say. He had piocured bots and placed some in a bottle of caibolic acid, some in sulphuric acid, and so on in half a dcezn equally deadly pcisoniS. At the <cid' of two and a,-half hours the bots we;e removed, and were still plive. The acids used were such as would in the time have burned through the hand of a human being. The poisons would kill the horse if administered. On the motion of Messrs Gilchrisfe and Cruickshank Mr Paterson was. accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. — Th<B next meeting will lx> held in. August, when Mr H. Smith wiil deliver a paper cv "Land Tenure."

A meeting of the Mataura branch was held on. the 17th iost. Mr James Mitchell (president) occupied the chair, and gave a brief resume of the proceedings at the conference held in Invereargill, at which he was present as delegate for the Mataura bia-nch. — The> Chairman stated that the most important business to be dealt with was the question of the umion's arrears of £336 8s 6d. Two courses were open — each member to pay an a<idituoaial 5s by way of a, levy or asking guarantors to pay 16s in the £. Mr Jolm Gray considered that the 5s levy was the fairest way. Some guarantors would no doubt be willing to pay. Otheis would ask their branch possibly to pay up for them, byifc fche 5s levy woxt\A cover all members, pnd the burden would be equally distributed. Mr Allison strongly opposed the 5s levy. Some would pay and others would cot. ' Th-e better »la>n would bfi to call up

tine- guarantees, ?nd a fresh start oould be made, upon a clear £001111?. If tho levies did not bring about a. sati'factoiy i-e^ult, the guarantois wcrild agrin be called upon and confusion result ; whereas if tho guarantors paid up now financial matters ay( ukl c tart on a clear footing. Mr (Jray askocl if, in tho event of the guarantor ■> being called upon to pay subsequent 10 the imposition of the 5h levy> tho levy would bo included as pait of the gucp-rntce sum? Mr W. Piyd-j considered that it would. Tho Chairman thought it wa« a pomewhat delicate point. On the motion of Mpsts John Gi'ay and W. Pryde, it was decided to fall in with the sup'jestioa of the executive, and that a 5s levy be made, Mr Allison dissenting. Mr Gray considered that the 5s levy should be counted as part of the guarajiteo should the latter at any time be called up. On the motion of Messrs W. Pryde and John Gray, it was decided — "That, in thf< event of the 5s not being sufficient, and the airaraaitccs being called up, the 5s he deducted from the guarantee." — Mr Pryde read th.R outline of the fire insurance paper, and wished to draw attention to clause 2: — "We hereby bind ourseh.es to form a mutual fire insurance association, under the provis'ion^ of the act of 1903 of New Zealand, for the purpose cf mutual insurance against fire, and further respectively effeefc insurance in the said association against loss or damage by fire to the amount of not less than the sum set out in the third column opposite our respective signatures." The speaker said that he had intended going round soliciting signatures, but the binding nature of the clause just read made him refrain from doling 50. Regarding that clause, he had received' the following reply from the provincial secretary (Mr Allen): — "Replying to yours of 23rd re mutual insurance, I be,g to say that the wording of the dec'araticai shows clearly that each one signing dce3 bind himself to insure, and it would be making a great mistake to get anyone to sign except on this condition. In regard to insurances under the Advances to Settlers Act, we have approached the Government to find out if they would acoept our policies, but have had no iunver, and theiefore cannot say. At the Colonial Conference in Wellington next month the matter will be pressed, but in the meantime- only such as are free and can choose their own insurance company should sign the declaration." The matter was held over until after tie meeting of the Colonial Conference. — Regarding further subscription io the Dairyman, the Chairman said that fche pa.por mentioned did take an. active part in the cause at first, but it- was merely a North Island affair, and was supplied to union members at a special rate. He considered that the. local papers met all requhements. On <he motion, of Messrs Allison a.ncl H. Towiishond. it was decided that the subscription to the Dairyman newspaper be discontimied.

The Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association's new horse bazaar in Crawford street was opened on Saturday morning under most auspicious circumstance 1 :. The association's managing director (Mr J. Harrison) introduced Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., to the very considerable gathering present, and it fell to Mr Mackenzie to declare the . new building open. Iv so doing he expressed the pleasure- he had on the occasion. Cooperative associations, he said, in other parts of the colony had been a marked success, mainly owing to the capacity shown in the management, tho control of capital they, enjoyed, and the loyalty of the 1 shareholders. Such societies sometimes failed for the lack of proper management, but in Otago there was undoubtedly room for suchan association. That the Otago Farmeis' Co-operative Association had enterpri«r3 was evident from the opening that day, and, with capable management and loyal shareholders, there could be no doubt of their ultimate success. Mr Mackenzie then called for three cheers for the Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association, which were given with enthusiasm. The first sale in the new bazaar was then proce-eded with, and proved a great success, large entries being forward. Particulars of the association's convenient and commodious new building have already appea: 1 in thes« columns.

WELLINGTON, June 21

Retxirns prepared by the Department of Agriculture show that during the year 1803-4 the area of land occupied in the colony was 36,476,481 acies, made up as follows: — Crops, 1,493,76+ acres; faflow land, 61,069 acres ; grass, 11,809,171 acres ; native grass, 22,877,322 acres : orchards, gardens, etc., 95,155 acres. The various orop-s were: — • Wheat, 230,959 acres; oa J s, 620,798 acres; barley, 37,262 acres: maize, 12,919 acres; peas said beans, 13,360 acies ; potatoes, 31,778 acres; turnip*, 408.659 acres; rape, 118,662 acres The remainder were miscellaneous green crops.

The stock in the colony is given as follows:—Horses, 299,182; catik?, 1,593.549; sheep. 18,954,553; swine. 226.5.91. Sheep show a decline of 1.388,174.

WELLINGTON, June. 2 V

Details of the agricultural statistics for last year are published in the Gazette. The actual yields are now to hand, and are issued to-day in a Gazette supplement. They are:— Wheat. 34.26 bushels to the acre; oats, 38.57 bushels; barley, 33.46 bushels.

Tho area of wheat for threshing was 230,3'!6 acres, and the total yield 7,891,654 bushels, and when to this are added the amount: of wheat and flour on hand on 31st October last, and the amount imported from Ist Novemb&r to 29th February, the total is 10.140.553 bushels. The wheat and flour exported was 18^,167 bushels, and consumed 1,740,000 bushels, leaving 8,211,386 bushels for all purposes. Of this it is estimated that 500,000 bushels are required for seed and 5.340,000 for consumption until 2Blh February, 1905, so that on that date 2,371,386 bushels should form the balance in hand.

It; is stated that the prevalence of rust in the oat crop in the North Island has ■ coused a considerable area to be unfit for threshing In many localities crops have been rendered quite useless, but where less badly affected the oils have been chaffed or fed down with stock. It has. therefore, ; been deemed advisable to reduce tho area for threshing in the districts so affected. The deductions are as follow: — Auckland, 3569 acres ; Hawke's Bay, 4059 acres ; Taranaki, 3245 acres; and Wellington, 6877 Compared with the- 1902-3 season, the past geasgu shows ao. increase iv wheat £ram

7.457,915 bushels (an average of 38.37 bushels to tlu> acre) to 7,891,654 bushels (34.26 bu*l c!s to tho acre) ; a decrease in oats from 21.766,708 bushels (45 bushels to the aero) to 15,107,237 bushels (33.57 bushed to the a, -re) : and in bailey an increase from 1,135.232 busl'oh (40 69 bushels to the acre) to 1,160,504 bushels (33.16 bushels to the acre). Of other crops cocksfoot has decreased fiom 6.736,8441b to 5 228.5721b, and potatoes 1-avo incieased from 193.267 tons to 203,787 tons

The wheat yield was made up a= follows: Auckland, 86.151 bushels ; Hawke's Bay, 30,976; Wclhnqton, 219 154; Taiaiiaki. 48.4W; Mnrlbo'iouirh, 116.760: >Vson. 39 240 : Canterbury, 5/59,218 ; Otago. 1.891,711.

Oats: Auckland, 33,700 bu-hol* : Hawke's Bay, 166,320: Wellington, 5C8,384 : Taranaki, 28,032: M-irlhorough. 83.708; XeKon, 96.606; Canterbury, 6,378.362 : Otago, 7,811,075.

The highest yield of wheat per acre was 36.17 bushels in Otago, and the lowest 24 bush" Is in Marlborough. In oat- the highest was 39.49 bushels in Otago and the lowest 24- bushels in Taranaki.

A few days ago a small boy in Christchurch found a cheque for a fairly large amount, and spent twopence in stamps in informing the drawer of tho clieqae and the. person to whom it was mPide. payable. In return he i-eceived a chilling !

It is understood (says the Christchurch Press) that at the next session of the Christchurch Supreme Court there will be heard a divorce suit, in which the parties are rather prominent in social circles.