INTERCOLONIAL AGRICULTURAL' AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 8

INTERCOLONIAL AGRICULTURAL' AND PASTORAL NEWS.

(From Correspondents of the Pastoralists* Revie w f o r Fe br va ry . ) QUEENSLAND. Brisbane, February 7. After the scorching heat, accompanied by disastrous bash fires, whiah ushered in. th<> new year, the splendid rains which, have fallen •during the past month were exceedingly welcome. Although a large portion of the State, particularly in the Central ard Warrego districts, had ample supplies of feed and water, there were many large areas where rain was hsdly wanted*, particularly -where bush fires had swept the country. Ihere is very litfcl? stock changing hands as yet, as only a few odd lines have beem offered at what buyers consider payable I rices, and, needless to say, tbero has been: no difficulty >n quitting these. "With mother lambing, owners will be more disposed to sell, and a considerable increase in stock bu^in >ss may bs looked forward to in the near hiture. ]\lixed weaners are offering at 9s to 9s 6d off shears, whilst ■wether weaners have been sold at 6s 66!, though the majority of lines offering art> above this figure. There is little demand for old ewos, and many owners appear to consider the best course is to hold these, and get as many lambs from them ag possible. The wheat market has shown a hardening tendency during the month, and the resumption of public auction sales by one of th 3 selling firms was marked by considerable competition amongst the millers and! by an advance of from Id to 2d per bushel. From particulars now coming to hand it is apparent that there has been a very considerable amount of private selling by farmers on the Downs, and whilst this continues, it is bound to prove a source- of weakness to the local sales, even if it doe^ not ultimately cause their relinquishmer-t. A noted feature during the past fe^tf weeks has been the advance in the price of butter f.0.b. , sales having been effected! ii this market at 9|d. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Adelaide, February 10. There can be no mistaking the season of the year when the thermometer stands at over'lOOdeg for a week. At one place in the north the heat averaged 106 for 28 clays. Still, there was nothing particularly disagreeable about the weather, excepting that the nights were only a shade less hot than the days. The heat, though excessive, was dry and healthy. January was particularly warm, even for January, but February has so far quite failed to maintain its" reputation. The weather during the past week has been mild, with a few nights almost as cold as is the weather ia midwinter. The country is now feeling the effects o£ th 3 dry winter last year and the absence of any summer rams. Feed and water aro becoming scarce in nearly all the settled districts, and pastorahsts and farmers will welcome an early hreaJr-up of the summer an. l good rains early in the autumn. This is the driest season experienced in the south-eastern portion of the State for 20 year. So far the position is not serious, but it will be a relief when the rains come. Therf is a stoady increase in the cultivation of fodder plants — lucerne especially — and where irrigation is not practicable, the crops are having rather a set-back, owing to the dry weather.

The outlook for the pastoral industry as a whole is good, and lessees are workings with far more confidence than for many years past. The rabbits are a great nuisance, but systematic poisoning keeps the) vermin down, while the heat waves have claimed more victims than. e-\en phosphorised pollard.

There_ is a mild boom on in pastoral affairs in the Northern Territory of Soutli Australia. Fine tableland country that has been lying idle for years is now being takeii up and stock-cd, and lessees seem determined; to make a bid for the meat trad©

of the East, as well as for the markets of Southern Australia

South Australia has been such a healt'iy country for stock tha', considerable alarm has been felt at the outbreak of swine fever, some disease thax is casing mortality among horses, and trouble among ±he cattle. The subject was recently referred to by the Agricultural Council. One member pointed out that it had been stated •that last year 1000 head were lest. The farmers had been baffled in their endeavours to adopt preventive measures. Recently some of the test of the dairy cattle had died.

There has been an epidemic of grass fires an various part* of the State, but considering the quantity of grass about and the excessive summer weather, stock owners Lave escaped lightly this year. Several outbreaks were traced to careless swagmen, while in one or two cases there has been a strong suspicion that the fires wera wilfully started. The Register's estimate of the last grain harvest was made public recently. This shows that 1,770,000 acres were reaped, producing 13,717,U00 bushels, or 7| bushels per acre. ° This will give a surplus of 275,000 tons for export. The quality of the grain as excellent. South Australia is in the fortunate, position of having more grain for sale than any other State of the Commonwealth.

The lamb export season was brought to a, close a few days ago, when the last shipment was made. Total shipments amounted to over 190.000 carcases, which was close up to the forecast made early in the season—viz., 200,000 carcases.

According to official returns, lamb and mutton exports, the produce of South Australia during 1904 amounted to 6,715,6191b, valued at £108,386. Destinations were: — XJnited Kingdom, 6,700.5371b, £103,080; Natal, 15,0321b, £306. During the calendar year 1903 aggregate exports were 8.309,6371b of frozen meat, of which 7,749,fc001b went oversea. In these statements, however, the seasons overlap. In 1904 nothing was done between January and August, but from the latter month to the end of December, exports were 6.324.0201b, . valued at £102,072, of which 6.303,9381b, £101.765, went to the United Kingdom, and 15.0821b, £305, to Natal. For a trade that has only been in existence about 10 years and which" at the outset was ridiculed by leadinsr authorities, the above record is a creditable one. In 1895-6 only 1691 carcases were sent away, and in the following season 10,609 carcases. By 18S91800 the aggregate had reached 90,014 carcases, and of more recent years the >'eoord has. been : — ISOI-2, 69.302 carcases; 1902-3, 104,639 carcases; ISO 3-4, 158,806 carcases; 1904-5, 191.301 carcases. It is expected thai tlese figures will --be increased to 250,000 carcases next season. The quality throughout was excellent, and it is qtiite evident that breeders are exercising great care. TASIMANIA. -Launeeston, February S. The month of January, 1905. will be long remembered for quite a few things of interest to -farmers in general. We have passed through one of the driest springs on record, and some of the hottest weather on record, and at- the end of the month we have had one -of the very best rains we liave known for many years. The prospects for pasioralists were very depressing at the iogiiming of the year in all southern and midland districts; but, fortunately, as is generally the case .in Tasmania, when things get to their worst, they mend, and so it is with the pastoralists at this time Glass and feed of all descrrpions is coming on apace, and we new have a splend'd prospect for autumn feed. The cereal crops will not reach more than half the quantitj'. of last year, and this may be said to apply to hay also. Potatoes will be an average crop, while fruit will be only medium. Still, for all that, with the Jess quantity lx>oked lor the English market, supplies for colonial and South African ports will be ample. The hop crop will be later this year, owing to the very dry weather in spring, but the crop, with favourable weather, should be quite an average one. The timber industry is still booming, and very large shipments of sleepers are being sent to South Africa, Mauritius, and interstate, ports.

The month, of January has see?i another addition to the stud Shropshire sheep m Tasmania — six rams and 40 ewes. Twenty of the ewes were consigned to Button Bros., Oatlands, purchased at the Evens disperB : on sals in England some five months ago. The othar 20 ewes were imported by the bieeder, T. A. Buttar. of Obis ton, Scotland, and sold by auetioa in Hcbart. the whole 20 averaging £21 3s per head. There •wag a large attendance, and bidding brisk. Tbf Imyers were: Geo. Pie^se. 6: Jamas and Sons, 5; Blyth, 2; J. F. Walker, 2; T. Burgess, 2; Simonds, 1; Fisher, 1; ir^sh. 1. Of the rams imported, two were. for R. O. Kermode, two for H. Willia/:-s. and two were offered for sale on account of T. S. Minton. The breeder onp was sold to Burbury Bros, for 52qi3. The other is (held over for private sale. Accompanying «hese sheep were six very beautiful Southdown ewes, imported by Messrs Lewis Bros., Cambridge, from the best flocks in Englind. These- sheep shou'J greaily 3ielp to improve the Southdown studs, of which ihere should be more in this State, new blcod being very much needed ' for come years past.

Buyers of merinos will be glad to know that the sheep to be offered by breeders ttis season are considered much ahead of last year's on the whole, and the favourable season row being experienced will '/end to put the stud sheep of all breeds in good forward condition for the she-ep sales of IPCS. It is quite on the oards that an exhibition of Shropshire sheep will be made by Tasmanian breeders 'at the coming HGyal shoj? in Sydney at Easter time. Some spirited owners think they cannot lhave a better advertisement than' phowing some of their favourites to the crowds thatattend that great exhibition.

Miscellaneous items :— Anthrax has broken out in the Sorell district. Southern Tasmania. The stock is beinsi inoculated. — Tasmania is slowly but surely building up B, poultry export trade. A Government iJepot for the reception of birds for the freezing chambers has been established at Hobarfc.— Mr S. Mason, of DTcei store, recently lost some sheep through the animals Laving fed on rape on which bonodust had fallen. — At a recent meeting of the Southdown Sihe-epbreedors'- Association it was decided to fix the minimum price for spiling sheep at £5 5s for fiibt studs and £2 2s for select rams.