AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 21

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

A lady, troubled about the numerous changes in her name, called at the Lands Department for advice (says the Age). She has sern*> broad acres, which she selected in the days of maiden innocence, and although she has since selected and lost three husbands, the land remains. The lady paid the survey fees of the land in. her maiden name, the land sale deposit in the name- of her first husband, some of the instalments in the name of No. 2, more in. the name of No. 3, and now, having married for the fourth time, she wants the grant made out in her present name. Her anxiety was quickly relieved, and she was informed that there would be no difficulty in again making an alteration. "Owing to the dry weather and the short; supply of milk the colony's butter export last month was 2000 boxes less than in March of last year.

An agricultural farmer in the Feilding district is of opinion that the small-bird pest has been more destructive to crops thia year than on any previous occasion. Tb*. number of birds appears to have greatly increased.

Some prolific grain crops have been lately threshed near Rangiora. A crop o£ Garton. oats belonging to Mr Pearce produced 80 bushels to the acre, and a crop of Tuscan wheat owned by Mr Watkins gave 80 bushels per acre.

The potato blight is making great havoo down the Inangahua and Grey Valleys, and it is quite a common thing to see whole acres of fertile land destitute of all vegetation, the potato stalks having been pulled up by the f»"""™f »"""™ ->ftn r being attacked by the blight.

A leaf of an infected potato plant was submitted by the secretary of the Kaiapoi Farmers' Okib to the Agricultural Department, which replied- that the specimen was affected with potato leaf curl (Maerosporim solani). The Irish blight, adds Mr T. \V.Kirk, biologist, is almost certain to be present in the crop, but it was not present in that specimen.

Under the guidance of Mr Turner. chie£ stock inspector, a party consisting of Mr, M'Lean and Mr Donovan (from Hawlce'a Bay). Messrs Hay Bros. (3), Mr J. Taylor, Mr Hugonin, and Mr Davenport paid a visit on Thursday last to Quail Island to inspect the shorthorn bulls recently imported by Mr Davenport. All were much! pleased with the animals, and considered,,

them a great acquisition to the country. The Hawke's Bay visitors have also been _-to Lincoln College and Mr F. Murray's farm at Lincoln, and have been much pleased with what they have seen.