INTERCOLONIAL AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 9

INTERCOLONIAL AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

(From Correspondents of the Pastoralists' Review for March.)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Adelaide, March 10.

Everyone is anxiously waiting for a breakup of the dry weather. There has been an abspnc© of summer rains, and the winter of 1904 was characterised by patchy showers. It was the moisture that fell late in the spring that saved the position, but this was not enough to make good the deficiency. The result is that the country throughout the State badly wants a good downpour at the present time. It cannot be said that the situation is critical, for the feed supply is good, thotj'gh surface waters are- rapidly drying up. Stock owners are beginning to feel ' a little anxious lest they should b& pushed for water, and later on discover that they are carrying too much stock. Farmers are practically at a standstill, for until there is a break in the season they cannot begin seeding operations. No less a statistical authority than Mr Coghlan has stated that a return of seven bushels per acre in South Australia is financially as satisfactory as is 15 bushels in Npw South Wales or 20 bushels in New Zealand. The land is more easily cultivated in this State, and this at on© time misled many wheat growers into the error of merely scratching the soil. Farming methods have undergone a great change during recent years, and the productive capacity of the State has been thereby increased. A discussion was recently initiated as to whether wheat-growing pays, and; a number of farmers have supplied details, which go to show that it can be made very profitable in those districts where the rainfall is fair. Large quantities of artificial manures are used by the farmers of this State. Wheat is now flowing 1 towards the shipping ports, and a large export trade in grain is being conducted. There is very little movement in pastoral circles. Lessees in the outside country are a good deal troubled with rabbits and dingoes, and in order to live they find it necessary to extend their vermin-proof fences. The liberal laws now on our statute books are giving pastoralists more confidence, and there is a tendency to extend operations. The industry is in a more flourishing condition than it has been for many years.

The autumn fixture of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society was held in Adelaide- on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th March. There were splendid entries, and the attendances were good throughout. The society has the largest membership (1601) of any similar society in the Commonwealth. There is no live stock exhibited at this show, with the exception of a few horse classes and tho usual display of jumping 1 . Chief interest, from a pastoral point of view, was centred in the wool entries. There wa<9 a magnificent display of merino wooh. and the liurrajr

Bros. — John Murray (Rhine Park), T. Hope Murray (Mount Bccvor), and Alick J. Murray (Mount Crawford) — took all tlvo prizes but one, which went to thoir nephew, Mr Murray Dawson. The judges icinarkorl that they were well pleased with the exhibits cho wool being of excellent length, =ofb, elastic, and good to hpndle. The fleeces wero weighed, and were subsequently valued, Avith the following results, which give the weight and the cash value: — Ram, under 0110 and a-half years : Fnv>t prize, 69.91b, -162^d cash value ; second, 6^.141b, 45s 7d ; third, 61.61b, 43s o^d. Aged ram: First. 61.61b, 54s 3i-d ; second, 81.11b. s is o|d ; third, 72.21b, 51s lid. Aged ewe: First. 55.11b, 43s 2%d; second, 52.131b, 42s 2d ; third, 51.41b. 40s lOd. Ewe uncW 0110 and a-half years: First, 46.91b, 41s 8d ; second. 48.3ib, "41s 2d; third, 47.51b, 38s 4d. TASMANIA. Launcestcn. March 1. The month of February has upset all previous forecasts as to the usual summer weath-er expected at thio time of year. Rain has fallen in most districts to the ■extent of over 6in, causing a growth moreresembling our best October... the usual mild spring flowers being seen in tho natural pasture. The earlier weeks were very wet and cold, which has caused hop-picking to be quite a fortnig-ht later in starting, but before this appears in print on many properties hop-pickirg will have commenced. The rains have had a beneficial effect on fruit crops, and we can now expect to s-se some- of the finest fruit for years past placed on the market — in fact, peaches were never better, some of the fruit being of beautiful colour and size. Altogether, the fruitgrowers aro in for a real good crop of all sort?., but buyers are wanted from the other States to attend the weekly sales in Hobart, where quits surprising bargains can be picked up when a large quantity is put on the market. The wool sales are over for another year, and I feel sure I shall not overstate the result when I say sellers were satisfied, prices in many instances for some clips, being quite up to those obtained in Australian markets. It is ornly the third year that foreign buyers have seen fit to cross the straits, but it is pleasing to say each year there has been an increnso in tho number of bales offered, as also in the number of buyers. During the month nearly 200 Shropshire sheep have been shipped for the other States, Messrs Kcrmode, Wellard, T. J. Burbury, Burbury Bros., Button Bros.. Simmonds, Brain Bros., and Exton being amongst the shippers, the largest proportion going to New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. Early as it is, quite a number of buyers from the different States are looking for sheep. A shipment of nine Angora goats was made to New Zealand, where quite a demand is springing up. They were s-elected by tho chief inspector of stock (Mr T. A. Tabart).

The shipment of anples to England commenced on the 18th February, when the s.s. Sarpedon sailed with about 13,000 cases, the s.s. " Ortona on the 25th with over 16,000 cases, making a total for February of about 30,000. Lat-er on some rery large consignments are to follow, and no difficulty will be experienced in finding either quantity or quality, the season having- latterly been very favourable. Butter, though not exported in as large quantities as we should like, is proving of good quality. Advices have been received of a shipment recently being sold at the- top price — 102s per cwt, and there is no reason why a very large export trade should not be worked up. The dairy expert (Mr Conlan) is quite sanguine that in a few years Tasmanian butter will be in request on the London market.

The frozen lamb trade is only working along slowly, prices offered not tempting many producer*, to sell tc the companies. It was proved last year on the. London market that Tasmanian crossbred Shropshire lambs w!=v& second to none, the buyeis/riting in the**? words to the company in Hobart. I shall be able to give the number of frozen lambs exported in my next ; last year, being the first, only 5000 were sent to London.

Another new feature in our export tradp in the near future will be poultry, frozen and canned. Great care is being taken that the best and most suitable birds aye to be sent, and every care taken in canning only prime heallhy fowls by the two firms, H. Jones and Co., Limited, and W. D. Peacock and Co., of Hobart. The Government expert, Mr Terry, is very enthusiastic as to the possibilities of the business, and i? tuging all farmers to go in for the best lines of utility poultry.

Potatoes are beginning to loom largely in ths exports from north-west, some 30,000 sacks beinor shipped during tht month, mostly to Sydney. The price paid was a very remunerative one for the grower : a record was reached on one occasion of £9

7-. 6d at Devonport, the pric: nov/ being from £6 (o £7 per ton.

Already a good* deal of land is being broken up on the north side of the Wailaki Kiver (say- the Noith Otago Times), and even in North Otago a few similar sights wore to be observed last week.