AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2669, 10 May 1905, Page 22

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS.

It has been decided to discontinue temporarily the weed-destroying 1 operations at Totara after May 18, taking up the work again in the spring The growth is checked at this season of the year, and no evidence of efficacy of the various specifics could be provided. The Oamaru Mail learns that the majority of the preparations appeared to stimulate rather than prevent the growth of thistles. The treatment was satisfactory enough until the cross roots were reached, after which it failed to do any good whatever as long as the fibres appear to thrive on that which contemplated their destruction. However, the actual results ■will not be ascerlainable until the spring, when in the ordinary turn of affairs the growth should come away again strongly. Chatting with a- Chrislchurch Press reporter, Mr M. Murphy, F.L.S., warmly endorsed the suggestion of a milk competition, to be run on the lines of the egg-laying , competition at Lincoln College. He pointed Lout, hoTiavar. that such a scheme would cost

a great deal, and agricultural and pastoral associations were hardly in. a position to find the money required It was a national question, he said, and ought to be taken up by the State. The various State farms were admirably adapted for such experiments. The question will probably come ur» for discussion at the next meeting of the Canterbury A. and P. Association.

At the Magistrate's Court, Ashburton, on Friday last, before Mr C. A. Wray, S.M., D. F. Knight was charged with neglecting to destroy l-ab-bits on his property at Rangitata. After hearing evidence, the Magistrate held that defendant had failed to poison after having been served with notice to do so, and that he had not done -all that was necessary to destroy the rabbits. A fine of £5 was imposed.

Negotiations have been proceeding between the Government and the owners for the purchase of the Dry River Estate, near llartinfaorouarh, but thov are not expected to be completed, if at all, for some months yet. Mr 'Kinsplia. speaking at the Woodville farmers' cfcnner, deplored the fact that there was d'rty milking still carried en in New Zealand, and hope-d it would soon cease. He said it wo aid pay New Zealand people well to look to the question of the expert of butter, cheese, oats, barley, and other produce to South Africa.